Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Mai used his chakra-draining abilities and sword techniques to kill the Cloud Shinobi who attacked him, proving devastating in the group battle. Chiba Shin'i tried to break away and target Mai, but Hyuuga Kagetora held him back so Mai could keep fighting.

• Chiba Shin'i switched opponents, leaving Uchiha Mai to face five Cloud Shinobi while he fought Hyuuga Kagetora.
• Uchiha Mai used his flaming wings and sword energy to shatter a lightning attack and kill the Cloud Shinobi who cast it.
• After appearing pressured by the remaining four opponents, Uchiha Mai exploited their lowered vigilance and killed them with Dragon Star Style: Gluttony.
• Uchiha Mai absorbed chakra from his victims and remained near full strength, showing how effectively he could fight in a group battle.
• Chiba Shin'i recognized Mai's chakra-absorbing ability and attacked more frantically, but Hyuuga Kagetora kept him occupied.

Uchiha Mai nearly struck Chiba Shin'i and Hyuuga Kagetora with a flaming sword slash, but Toroi arrived with reinforcements and saved them. Mai sent Kagetora to hold off Toroi while he attacked Chiba Shin'i, leaving Konoha’s chances dependent on who won their duel first.

• Uchiha Mai unleashed a flaming sword slash at Chiba Shin'i while Hyuuga Kagetora kept him from escaping.
• Toroi arrived with his right-flank unit and deflected Mai’s attack with a giant shuriken, allowing Chiba Shin'i to break free.
• Chiba Shin'i warned Toroi about Mai’s chakra absorption and unusual sword techniques, and Toroi focused on Mai.
• Uchiha Mai charged at Chiba Shin'i and ordered Hyuuga Kagetora to hold off Toroi.
• Hyuuga Kagetora accepted the dangerous task and charged at Toroi, determined to defend Konoha and the Hyuuga Clan.

Uchiha Mai grievously wounded Chiba Shin'i and waited out his desperate final surge, while using sword waves to help Konoha's outnumbered fighters. Just as Mai moved to finish Chiba Shin'i, a giant shuriken knocked his sword aside and saved him again.

• Chiba Shin'i fled toward Toroi, but Uchiha Mai used a flaming sword wave to stop him and close the distance.
• Uchiha Mai cut through Chiba Shin'i's steel Kunai and slashed him from his left shoulder to his waist, severing his arm and several ribs.
• Chiba Shin'i fought with renewed strength after accepting his likely death, so Uchiha Mai kept his distance and sent sword waves to aid Konoha's fighters.
• Uchiha Mai saw Chiba Shin'i's strength fade and attacked, but a giant shuriken knocked Mai's sword aside and saved Chiba Shin'i.

Uchiha Mai killed Chiba Shin'i and awakened the second tomoe in his right Sharingan before confronting Toroi. As Hyuuga Kagetora withdrew to aid the other Konoha ninja, Toroi recognized Mai as the Chunin Ninja Exams champion.

• Uchiha Mai killed Chiba Shin'i with two chakra-flame attacks, absorbing his life force and mental energy.
• The mental energy evolved Uchiha Mai's right Sharingan from one tomoe to two.
• Uchiha Mai caught his returning sword and attacked Toroi, whose Magnet Release deflected his strikes with metal weapons.
• Uchiha Mai told the badly wounded Hyuuga Kagetora to leave and help the other Konoha ninja, then intercepted Toroi's weapons aimed at Kagetora with flaming birds.
• Toroi recognized Uchiha Mai from the Chunin Ninja Exams in Sunagakure and praised his talent while lamenting that he was not from Kumogakure.

Uchiha Mai explained why Toroi’s Magnet Release could not control his heated sword, then defended himself against Toroi’s storm of steel weapons. Toroi praised Mai’s swordsmanship and charged him with a long sword, leaving their close-quarters fight about to begin.

• Toroi claimed his Magnet Release would make Mai’s swordsmanship useless, but Mai deduced that the heated Izumi no Kami Kanesada resisted Toroi’s ferromagnetic power.
• Mai explained that Toroi could still magnetize him indirectly by striking him with a ninja tool, so the sword’s resistance did not guarantee victory.
• Toroi launched dozens of steel weapons at Mai, who used his Sharingan, Twin Dragon Demon Shadow, and swordsmanship to deflect them all.
• Toroi praised Mai’s swordsmanship, drew a long sword, and charged at him.

Uchiha Mai fought Toroi in a close sword battle, using his flaming blade and drawn techniques to counter Toroi’s magnetism and traps. After both suffered minor wounds and Mai became magnetized, he unleashed Dragon Star Style: Gluttony, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Toroi and Mai clashed repeatedly until Izumi no Kami Kanesada broke Toroi’s sword, and Mai stopped the flying fragment with Super Beast Imitating Drawing.
• Toroi dodged Mai’s Deathfire Oscillating Sword and shielded himself with an enlarged shuriken, while another shuriken grazed Mai’s waist and magnetized him.
• Blue flames healed Mai’s cut by drawing life force from Toroi’s wound, and the fighters withdrew to assess each other.
• Toroi recognized that Mai’s flames could drain chakra, but Mai admitted the exchange had left him magnetized and at a disadvantage.
• Mai covered Izumi no Kami Kanesada in black flames and unleashed Dragon Star Style: Gluttony.

Uchiha Mai and Toroi exchanged powerful attacks as their duel intensified amid Kumogakure’s advantage on the battlefield. Toroi resolved to kill Mai and charged with a melee Eight-Part Light Wheel, while Mai prepared Dragon Star Style: Baxia to meet it head-on.

• Toroi unleashed Magnet Release: Shuriken Barrier, but Uchiha Mai used eight black dragons and his sword to defend against the barrage.
• Toroi hurled two enormous Eight-Part Light Wheels at Mai, who countered with sword waves and summoned beasts before knocking the slowed wheels away.
• One of Mai’s sword waves struck Toroi’s shoulder, leaving both fighters wary of the other’s strength.
• Seeing Mai as a future threat to Kumogakure, Toroi decided to kill him even if the mission failed.
• Toroi charged with an Eight-Part Light Wheel in his hand, and Mai coated his blade in black flames with Dragon Star Style: Baxia to meet the attack.

Uchiha Mai killed Toroi after overcoming the Cloud commander in a fierce duel, then broke the remaining Kumogakure force’s resolve. The surviving Cloud Shinobi fled the battlefield.

• Uchiha Mai used a tree to brace himself against Toroi’s Eight-Part Light Wheel, then wounded Toroi with a counterattack.
• Several Kumogakure ninja attacked Uchiha Mai, but he killed one, wounded another, and drove off the third before pursuing Toroi.
• Toroi continued fighting despite his worsening injuries, while Uchiha Mai defeated him and cut off his head.
• Uchiha Mai roared and attacked the remaining Cloud Shinobi, who panicked and fled.

Master Minato arrived after Konoha had routed the Kumogakure force, then pursued the retreating Cloud Shinobi and returned to learn that Uchiha Mai had killed all three enemy Jonin. Hyuuga Kagetora recounted Mai’s feats, leaving Minato stunned by the scale of his accomplishments.

• Master Minato arrived to find the Kumogakure shinobi had already retreated and pursued them after Uchiha Mai pointed out their escape route.
• Hyuuga Kagetora treated the survivors while Uchiha Mai rested from the battle’s physical and mental strain.
• Master Minato returned after killing about a dozen wounded Cloud Shinobi and explained that he had stopped pursuing the rest out of concern for Konoha’s safety.
• Hyuuga Kagetora revealed that Uchiha Mai had killed all three Kumogakure Jonin, including Toroi, and nearly twenty other enemy shinobi.
• Hyuuga Kagetora detailed Mai’s reconnaissance, ambush, and successive kills, leaving Master Minato astonished.

Uchiha Mai and Hyuuga Kagetora discussed their victory over Kumogakure with Master Minato, while Kakashi resented being overshadowed. Konoha’s fighters returned to the border to prepare for Kumogakure’s likely advance, and the chapter explained why Konoha focused on defense and destroying enemy forces rather than holding towns.

• Master Minato praised Uchiha Mai’s Dual Kekkei Genkai, and Hyuuga Kagetora credited Mai’s strength and solid understanding of them.
• Uchiha Mai acknowledged that Hyuuga Kagetora’s help had been essential to killing three Kumogakure Jonin and winning the battle.
• Kakashi recovered nearby and felt bitter that his own kills seemed insignificant beside Uchiha Mai’s achievements.
• The Konoha fighters cleared the battlefield, rested, and returned to the border to prepare for Kumogakure’s possible large-scale advance.
• Konoha’s forces prepared layered defenses while Uchiha Mai and Master Minato stayed at the border awaiting reinforcements.
• The chapter explained that Konoha prioritized destroying enemy forces over defending towns because ninja could retake territory and other villages would unite against any expansion.

After Jiraiya’s force relieved the border defenders, Uchiha Mai returned to Konoha and received recognition for his performance in battle. He spent Style Points on a draw and gained the skill Innate Time Control.

• Jiraiya arrived at the border with roughly five hundred ninja and relieved Uchiha Mai’s force.
• Jiraiya brought Sarutobi Hiruzen’s orders assigning Minato as his assistant and naming Orochimaru deputy head of the Anbu.
• Uchiha Mai led the Flower Squad back to Konoha, where he met with Sarutobi Hiruzen, Fugaku, and the family of the fallen Uchiha to settle the aftermath.
• The village gave Uchiha Mai a cash bonus and classified the operation as an S-Rank mission, but did not promote him.
• Uchiha Mai checked that he had 1,475 Style Points and spent 1,000 on a draw from the one-and-a-half-star prize pool.
• Uchiha Mai obtained Innate Time Control, a skill that let him alter time within a designated space and was adapted for use with any energy system.

Uchiha Mai assessed Innate Time Control and concluded his young body limited how much he could use it. He discovered that reaching Elite Jonin had unlocked the Two-Star Prize Pool, though each draw cost 5,000 Style Points.

• Uchiha Mai considered using Innate Time Control with Litwick's Flame to offset its physical damage, but recognized that his age and recovery rate would limit the ability.
• Uchiha Mai compared Innate Time Control to other time-based abilities and judged his current physical condition to be the main obstacle to becoming stronger.
• Uchiha Mai checked the prize pools after reaching Elite Jonin and found that the Two-Star Prize Pool had unlocked.
• Uchiha Mai learned that each Two-Star Prize Pool draw cost 5,000 Style Points and looked forward to seeing what it could offer.

Dodai reported that Uchiha Mai had annihilated Kumogakure’s force sent into the northeastern Land of Fire. The Third Raikage recognized the nine-year-old as a formidable enemy and was left shaken by his strength.

• Dodai brought the Third Raikage reports on Kumogakure’s failed mission to establish an intelligence network in the Land of Fire.
• Dodai explained that Uchiha Mai had discovered the invading force, joined Hyuuga Kagetora, and led Konoha’s ninjas into battle.
• Uchiha Mai killed Nobuhiko, Chiba Shin'i, and Toroi, along with numerous other Kumogakure ninjas.
• The Third Raikage read the report and marveled that Uchiha Mai had reached Elite Jonin strength at only nine years old.
• The Third Raikage concluded that Uchiha Mai already qualified as a formidable enemy of Kumogakure.

The Third Raikage weighed Kumogakure’s prospects against Konoha and decided to attack the Land of Fire, hoping to draw other villages into the war. Three days later, Prince A led five thousand troops toward the border, bringing the Third Shinobi World War to the brink.

• The Third Raikage ordered Kumogakure’s Jonin to kill Uchiha Mai if they encountered him, even if it meant abandoning their missions.
• Dodai advised the Third Raikage that Kumogakure could match Konoha’s ordinary forces but lagged in powerful fighters, while Konoha had reason to fear attacks from other villages.
• The Third Raikage decided to invade the Land of Fire and ordered Kumogakure to prepare for war.
• The Third Raikage ordered Prince A to lead at least five thousand troops toward the border in three days, while keeping casualties controlled.
• Three days later, Prince A marched toward the Land of Fire with five thousand troops.

While Konoha and Kumogakure settled into a low-casualty war of attrition, Uchiha Mai spent three months studying Innate Time Control and playing cards with Tsunade. After winning another large pot from her, Mai promised to save his winnings for her dowry, and Tsunade demanded dinner instead.

• Jiraiya commanded Konoha's front against Kumogakure as Sarutobi Hiruzen realized the Raikage was trying to draw other villages into the conflict.
• Konoha and Kumogakure fought for more than three months without suffering many casualties, while Mai remained mostly in Konoha and studied Innate Time Control.
• Mai visited Tsunade to play cards and reraised her after she made three tens, revealing his pocket jacks at the showdown.
• Tsunade complained that Mai had won at least ten million yen from her, and Mai said he was saving the money for her dowry.
• Tsunade insisted Mai spend the money on dinner, naming barbecue, sukiyaki, and expensive sake.

Uchiha Mai took Tsunade to Ichiraku Ramen, where their conversation about war and Madara’s dream of ending it left Tsunade unsure whether she would choose such an illusion. At the shop, Tsunade ordered a feast of ramen, tempura, and sake.

• Uchiha Mai suggested ramen for lunch, and Tsunade agreed to go with him to Ichiraku Ramen.
• As they walked through Konoha, Tsunade sighed over the war and Uchiha Mai explained that desire made war impossible to end without an all-encompassing dream illusion.
• Tsunade said she did not know whether she would choose to live in such a dream until she faced that choice.
• Uchiha Mai and Tsunade arrived at Ichiraku Ramen and Teuchi explained that the shop served ramen rather than soba or udon.
• Tsunade ordered four bowls of tonkotsu ramen, tempura, and a bottle of sake, and Uchiha Mai suspected she regarded pork as food.

Uchiha Mai and Tsunade ate ramen together before Kakashi brought him suspicious Anbu intelligence about a village massacre. The chapter ended with Mai hearing that a small ninja village in the Land of Rivers had been wiped out, with no bodies or clear evidence left behind.

• Tsunade ordered four bowls of ramen, and Teuchi gave Uchiha Mai his bowl while asking Tsunade for an autograph.
• Uchiha Mai and Tsunade discussed the ramen's taste, and Tsunade briefly accused Teuchi of bringing only two bowls before Mai revealed the other two were hidden from view.
• Tsunade apologized to Teuchi and signed a photo, then Kakashi arrived at the shop to speak with Uchiha Mai.
• Uchiha Mai told Kakashi to explain the Anbu matter plainly instead of whispering while he ate.
• Kakashi reported that a small village in the Land of Rivers had been destroyed five days earlier, leaving over a hundred dead and no bodies, and said Deputy Director Orochimaru wanted Mai's opinion.

Uchiha Mai identified Sasori of the Red Sands as the likely culprit behind a village’s disappearance and advised Konoha to monitor him discreetly. After the Hokage summoned him, Mai gave Sarutobi Hiruzen an anonymous membership card to a kabuki theater, which Hiruzen accepted while asking him to keep it secret from Biwako.

• Uchiha Mai deduced that Sasori of the Red Sands had poisoned and abducted a small shinobi village’s inhabitants, and Kakashi confirmed Orochimaru had reached the same conclusion.
• Uchiha Mai told Kakashi to keep ordinary watch on Sasori without sending conspicuous Anbu or elite Jonin after him.
• Kakashi relayed that Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted Uchiha Mai to visit the Hokage Office after lunch, disappointing Tsunade, who had hoped to spend the afternoon with him.
• Uchiha Mai spent time shopping with Tsunade, then bought small gifts before heading to the Hokage Office.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen asked Uchiha Mai to spend time with Tsunade and help her recover from her hemophobia.
• Uchiha Mai gave Sarutobi Hiruzen an anonymous kabuki theater membership card with two hundred thousand yen in credit, and Hiruzen accepted it while insisting Biwako must not find out.

Sarutobi Hiruzen asked Uchiha Mai to recruit the prodigy Tenzō into the Void Division after his graduation exam. He revealed that Tenzō was the sole survivor of Orochimaru and Danzo’s experiments with Hashirama’s cells, and Uchiha Mai began to understand Hiruzen’s tolerance for such research.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen praised the Void Division and said Konoha needed it to take on greater responsibilities.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen told Uchiha Mai that a six-year-old Ninja Academy student had applied for early graduation and ordered him to recruit the student into the Void Division.
• Uchiha Mai read Tenzō’s file and learned that the child possessed Wood Release and was under Shimura Danzō’s guardianship.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen explained that Orochimaru and Danzo had experimented on gifted infants using Hashirama’s cells, and that Danzo found and raised the only surviving subject, Tenzō.
• Uchiha Mai concluded that Hiruzen knew about the experiments and inferred that Hiruzen’s main limit was preventing people in the village from being harmed.

Uchiha Mai agreed to recruit Tenzō from Root for the Void Division after recognizing Sarutobi Hiruzen’s assignment as a political maneuver. He arrived at the Ninja Academy with his squad and Shisui, where a banner welcomed him as chief examiner for Tenzō’s early graduation exam.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen explained why Tenzō should leave Root and join Uchiha Mai’s young team, and Mai realized the assignment was meant to deepen the divide between the Uchiha and Danzo.
• Mai agreed to visit the Ninja Academy, and Sarutobi Hiruzen said Aburame Ryoma would represent Danzo as an examiner alongside Mai and Murakami Keining.
• Mai returned to the Uchiha clan, prepared for the recruitment attempt, and arranged contingencies in case Danzo retaliated.
• The next morning, Mai led Uchiha Tekka’s Mirror Squad to the Ninja Academy and brought Shisui along, telling him he was there to recruit Tenzō.
• Shisui declared that he would graduate early too, but Mai told him to remain at the Academy until he understood basic arithmetic.
• Mai and his group arrived to find a banner welcoming him as chief examiner for Tenzō’s early graduation examination.