Chapter Summaries

After reading Teacher Ueno’s memories and sealing her body, Aoba flew to a Sunagakure outpost to take revenge. With Green Lizard’s Dragon Vein chakra empowering him, he summoned a gigantic lizard that crushed the camp, and the attack’s aftermath remained unresolved.

• Aoba read Teacher Ueno’s final memories, learned she had died protecting Yumiko, and sealed her body in a scroll.
• Nara Suzaku arrived, but Aoba flew toward Sunagakure before explaining himself, prompting Suzaku to send Akimichi Maruten and a tracking squad after him.
• Aoba summoned Green Lizard and used [Shared Contract] to draw on the Dragon Vein’s chakra despite the Chip’s warnings.
• Aoba flew over a Sunagakure outpost, where Pakura recognized him and ordered an evacuation.
• Aoba used Summoning: Food Cart Destroyer Technique to drop a gigantic lizard onto the outpost, then replenished his chakra through [Shared Contract].

Aoba annihilated the Sunagakure outpost, defeated Pakura, and killed the Puppeteer who had given Teacher Ueno her fatal wound. He left before Konohagakure’s reinforcements could speak with him, then returned to the remote D13 outpost and discovered that Dragon Vein chakra had caused lizard scales and temporary petrification.

• Aoba unleashed a massive sand wave and collapsed the buried outpost into a quicksand pit, while Akimichi Maruten’s approaching squad watched in shock.
• Pakura confronted Aoba, but he used five Puppet Shadow Clones to attack the Sunagakure elites and quickly stabbed her in the abdomen.
• Ebizo used Puppet Technique: Human Body Fang Skill to pull Pakura to safety and ordered the Sunagakure forces to retreat.
• Aoba killed the Puppeteer who had inflicted Teacher Ueno’s fatal wound, and Akimichi Maruten arrived after the battle was over.
• Aoba flew away again without acknowledging the Konoha reinforcements and returned to the abandoned D13 outpost.
• Aoba discovered lizard scales on his body and learned that Dragon Vein chakra had begun petrifying his back, a condition expected to take 157 hours to resolve.

After destroying Sunagakure’s D13 stronghold, Aoba considered recruiting betrayed ninja and improving his abilities before returning to Konohagakure’s headquarters. There, he learned that Kei had awakened his Sharingan and was told to wait for the Hokage’s next orders.

• Aoba reflected on his blood samples, the limits of his Sand Manipulation Technique, and the need to develop his ninjutsu and build a power base, with Pakura as his first potential recruit.
• Kei and Ryoichi arrived at D13 with a relief squad, and Aoba handed over the garrison before leaving for headquarters.
• Kei revealed that his Sharingan had awakened after he found a dead comrade clutching a family photograph, and he told Aoba that Nara Suzaku had questioned the squad about him.
• Aoba arrived at the new Konohagakure headquarters, where Nara Suzaku praised his defense of D13 and said he had reported Aoba’s achievements to the Hokage.
• Aoba was assigned a spacious single-person tent and began listing the supplies he needed.

Aoba took charge of the depleted Medical Corps and gained admiration by saving wounded ninja, while reports of his battlefield victory made him a target of attention across the Shinobi World. Sunagakure gave him the insulting title “Konoha Sand Wall,” but Konohagakure promoted him to Jōnin, leaving him surprised that the Third Hokage had not held him back.

• Aoba took control of the Medical Corps and organized the remaining medical ninja, with Yumiko assisting him.
• Aoba used his medical skills and the Chip's analysis to treat critical injuries, remove poisons, and save patients previously considered beyond help.
• Nara Suzaku watched Aoba's work and blamed Sarutobi Shinnosuke's decisions for wasting his abilities and contributing to the command headquarters' losses.
• Battle reports spread across the Shinobi World, turning Aoba into a major intelligence target and earning him the title “Konoha Sand Wall” from Sunagakure.
• Aoba angrily threatened anyone who repeated the title, then learned that the Hokage had promoted him to Jōnin.

After receiving a direct promotion to Jōnin, Aoba studied Uchiha Kei’s newly awakened Sharingan and discovered that White Zetsu Cells had greatly boosted Kei’s Chakra and potential. The chapter left Aoba testing the Sharingan’s ability to copy techniques as Kei began matching his ninjutsu and Genjutsu.

• Aoba handed the Medical Corps over to Yumiko and watched Uchiha Kei use his Sharingan to defeat Ishida Ryoichi in a spar.
• Aoba encouraged Kei not to rely solely on his Kekkei Genkai and gave Ryoichi a scroll for an improved Chakra Scalpel.
• Aoba scanned Kei’s activated Sharingan and found that its transformation had increased Kei’s Chakra reserves toward Jōnin level.
• Aoba concluded that White Zetsu Cells had caused Kei’s unusual growth, while Ryoichi had also gained greater toughness, vitality, and recovery.
• Aoba began a combat test, and Kei copied his Great Fireball Technique and Genjutsu with precision.

Aoba tested Uchiha Kei’s Sharingan and concluded that its insight and hypnosis had clear limits. After Kei used Genjutsu to confront Uchiha Yao over his narrow ideas of clan honor, Aoba watched through Green Lizard and confirmed his suspicions.

• Aoba tested Kei’s Sharingan against his Body Flicker Technique and Sand Manipulation, finding that Kei could perceive chakra but could not copy techniques that depended on physical ability or Fuinjutsu.
• Aoba explained that the Sharingan’s core abilities were insight and hypnosis, and that copying required understanding and the skills to execute what the user saw.
• Uchiha Yao confronted Kei for letting an outsider study the Sharingan, but Kei trapped him in Genjutsu and criticized his fixation on clan honor.
• After the Genjutsu broke, Yao decided to report Kei to the clan, while Green Lizard secretly observed him and returned to Aoba.
• Aoba cut off his shared vision with Green Lizard and said the encounter had confirmed his suspicions.

Aoba studied how the Sharingan amplified Uchiha Kei’s emotions, then transplanted Kei’s eye into himself to investigate its powers. After testing it in combat, Aoba used the Chip to stop the Sharingan from draining his chakra constantly, leaving Kei and Ryoichi astonished.

• Aoba compared Kei’s personality before and after his Sharingan awakened and concluded that its Yin Release chakra magnified emotions by affecting the brain and optic nerves.
• Kei agreed at once to let Aoba transplant one of his Sharingan, and Aoba successfully implanted it in his own right eye.
• Aoba tested the Two-Tomoe Sharingan and found that it sharpened his vision, seemed to slow the world, and let him predict Ryoichi’s attacks, but rapidly consumed his chakra.
• Aoba used the Chip to analyze the eye’s chakra circulation and build miniature meridians that allowed him to deactivate the Sharingan.
• Kei and Ryoichi stared in disbelief as Aoba’s right eye returned to an ordinary black pupil.

Aoba returned from the Land of Rivers front after studying Kei’s Sharingan and encountered Hyuga Soya, a Main Branch ninja determined to bridge the divide with the Branch Family. Suspecting Soya was heading toward the danger surrounding the Byakugan on the Kirigakure front, Aoba secretly sent a lizard after the Hyuga supply wagon, then arrived back in Konohagakure to a hero’s welcome he recognized as a political performance.

• Aoba and Kei swapped Kei’s Sharingan back after Aoba finished studying its structure and ocular power.
• Aoba reunited with Ryuichi, Yuta, and Sarutobi Shuichiro during the handover and began his return to Konohagakure.
• At a rear supply camp, Hyuga Soya told Aoba he wanted the Main Branch and Branch Family to fight as equals, and Aoba warned him about the risks of taking the Byakugan to war.
• Ryoichi told Aoba that Soya’s Hyuga unit was bound for the Kirigakure front, prompting Aoba to send a camouflaged lizard after their supply wagon.
• Aoba returned to Konohagakure to cheering villagers and recognized the welcome as a morale-raising performance arranged by Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Rasa became Sunagakure’s de facto leader and sent Pakura and several clan shinobi to contain Kirigakure, using the mission to weaken rivals. In Konohagakure, Aoba was promoted to Jōnin and received permission to choose a technique from the Scroll of Sealing, then began improving his sand-control technique during his leave.

• Rasa reviewed Sunagakure’s losses and financial crisis, then ordered Pakura and shinobi from the Kazematsuri and Tatsuya clans to the Land of Water on a containment mission against Kirigakure.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen promoted Aoba to Jōnin at a public ceremony.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen apologized to Aoba over Shinnosuke and Ueno’s deaths, promised to deal with Danzo, and gave Aoba a month of leave and permission to choose a ninjutsu from the Scroll of Sealing.
• Aoba returned home and used Chip to review his battle with Pakura, identifying the limits of ordinary sand against powerful attacks.
• Aoba examined his experiments mixing Chakra Metal into sand and concluded that he needed stronger materials and better medical equipment.

Aoba chose the Four-Symbols Seal from Konoha’s guarded technique collection and used the Chip to memorize its formula. After days of secret research at Konoha Hospital, he accepted Minato’s invitation to dinner and embarrassed Kushina by asking when they would get married.

• Aoba passed the Hokage Building’s security checks and chose the Four-Symbols Seal instead of the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Aoba scanned and memorized the Four-Symbols Seal formula in less than an hour, astonishing the watching Anbu.
• Hiruzen learned of Aoba’s choice and wondered why he had passed up the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Aoba spent the following days secretly researching the Sharingan and chakra-fusion Kekkei Genkai at Konoha Hospital.
• Minato invited Aoba to dinner, and Aoba accepted and went with him to his home.
• Aoba asked Minato and Kushina when they would marry, making Kushina blush and retreat to the kitchen.

Aoba gained Kushina's guidance in Fuinjutsu while Danzo grew suspicious of his visits to the Jinchuriki and ordered Root to monitor him. Minato later departed to reinforce the Kumogakure front, leaving Aoba free to continue visiting Kushina.

• At dinner, Aoba confirmed that Minato had met with him on the Third Hokage's orders, and Minato said the matter had gone well.
• Aoba asked Minato about the Four-Symbols Seal, and Kushina took over, impressed by Aoba's sharp questions and strong Fuinjutsu foundation.
• Minato approved Aoba's future visits to Kushina, and Aoba left after arranging to return for more instruction.
• After learning that Aoba had visited Kushina, Danzo dismissed the visit as suspicious and ordered Root to record Aoba's movements and contacts without alerting him.
• Aoba spent the following days studying Kekkei Genkai at the hospital and learning Fuinjutsu from Kushina, while Minato received orders to support the Kumogakure front and departed.

Aoba intervened in a Kirigakure ambush against Hyuga Soya, but Soya was killed and Ao escaped with one Byakugan. Aoba recovered Soya’s other eye and right hand before Konohagakure’s reinforcements arrived, then fled underground.

• Hyuga Tokugawa sent a shadow clone to escort Hyuga Soya away while he stayed behind to fight the Kirigakure shinobi.
• An explosive-tagged kunai dispersed Tokugawa’s clone, leaving Soya surrounded; as Soya tried to destroy his Byakugan, Aoba’s genjutsu disrupted him, and Ao severed his arm and killed him.
• Ao removed Soya’s right Byakugan, then fled when Aoba, disguised as Uchiha Kei through a possessed White Zetsu, attacked him with a Flame Bullet.
• Aoba recovered Soya’s remaining Byakugan and severed right hand, then used White Zetsu’s Root Concealment to escape as Konohagakure reinforcements arrived.
• The reinforcements found Soya’s corpse and launched a red signal flare.

After Kirigakure stole a Byakugan from a Hyuga reconnaissance team, Konohagakure's leaders convened an emergency meeting. Aoba honored the fallen Hyuga Soya, then argued that someone in the village had leaked secret deployment maps to enable the precise attack, pointedly implicating Danzo.

• An Anbu summoned Aoba to an emergency Jōnin meeting, where the Third Hokage announced that Kirigakure had wiped out a Hyuga team and taken a Byakugan.
• Aoba and Danzo exchanged hostile looks as the assembled ninja debated how the Byakugan could have been stolen despite the Hyuga's protective seals.
• The Hyuga Clan Head explained that the victim, Hyuga Soya, belonged to the Main Branch and lacked the Caged Bird seal, then accepted responsibility and offered to resign.
• Aoba praised Soya's wish to unite the Main and Branch families, then said the attack's precision suggested Kirigakure knew the team's route and defenses.
• Aoba declared that someone in Konohagakure's rear had stolen and leaked the front line's secret deployment maps, while staring directly at Danzo.

Aoba was assigned to the Iwagakure front and set out alone for the Land of Grass after Kirigakure’s attack prompted the village to mobilize clan forces. On the way, he found a grim battlefield and detected a large fight nearby, flying toward the smoke.

• Aoba implied Root was responsible for leaking the Byakugan intelligence, prompting the Third Hokage to order an investigation and summon clan leaders to provide reinforcements for the Kirigakure front.
• Uchiha Fugaku and the other clan representatives agreed to send additional ninja, while Aoba visited Kushina and received her fuinjutsu notes and advice to stay safe.
• An Anbu order sent Aoba to the Iwagakure front in the Land of Grass to report to Jiraiya, and he decided to travel alone rather than with the main force.
• Aoba flew from Konohagakure and reached the Land of Grass on the third day, where he saw signs of intense fighting and a broken Konohagakure forehead protector.
• Aoba’s Chip detected unstable chakra fluctuations from a battle about 4.7 kilometers southeast, so he flew toward the smoke rising in that direction.

Aoba rescued Kenta’s squad from an Iwagakure ambush and defeated the enemy with his Sand Control Technique. After treating the wounded, he reunited with Jiraiya, who praised his strength, and the group headed back to the outpost.

• Kenta led his patrol squad to answer a distress signal, but they found a trap and were surrounded by Iwagakure ninja.
• Aoba arrived and used his sand to kill several attackers, defeat their Jōnin leader, and drive the remaining enemy ninja into retreat.
• Aoba created Sand Clones that used Medical Ninjutsu to stabilize Kenta’s wounded teammates.
• A concealed Iwagakure ninja tried to attack Aoba, but Jiraiya summoned a toad that caught and incapacitated him.
• Aoba told Kenta’s squad to seek further treatment after returning, then asked Jiraiya why he had watched from the sidelines.
• Jiraiya praised Aoba’s growth and sand technique before leading the group back to the outpost.

Aoba settled into his role as a flying rescue shinobi on the Iwagakure front, gaining experience and a growing reputation while learning tactics from Jiraiya. After Might Duy stopped Han with the Seventh Gate and helped stabilize the front, Duy earned the title “Azure Iron Fist,” while Minato’s fame as the Yellow Flash continued to spread.

• Aoba kept a low profile at Jiraiya’s command headquarters and asked him for guidance on maps, tactics, and enemy commanders.
• Jiraiya assigned Aoba to rescue squads in danger, and Aoba repeatedly used flight and Sand Release to save Konoha forces and stabilize defensive zones.
• Aoba gained real combat experience, collected Earth Release knowledge, and obtained a blood sample from an Iwagakure Explosion Release shinobi.
• Might Duy opened the Seventh Gate to hold back Han, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, until Jiraiya arrived with reinforcements.
• Might Duy’s rescue squad later helped the Sealing Squad nearly seal Han, earning Duy the title “Azure Iron Fist.”
• Namikaze Minato’s name as the Yellow Flash continued to resound throughout the Shinobi World.

Aoba reached the battlefield after Rōshi, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, had killed several Konohagakure ninjas, and learned that Rōshi had come looking for Might Duy. Aoba challenged him to a fight, and the chapter ended as Rōshi's lava attacks hit Aoba's shifting clones.

• Jiraiya praised Minato for surpassing him after hearing how Minato had held back the A-B Duo and Kumogakure's forces.
• Aoba spotted a Signal Flare from Might Duy's patrol zone and rushed to the battlefield.
• Aoba found several dead Konohagakure ninjas and identified Rōshi as the Four-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Rōshi said he had come to fight Might Duy, then decided to deal with Aoba instead.
• Aoba struck Rōshi with a powerful punch, and Rōshi retaliated with Lava Release fireballs.
• Aoba dodged and split one lava fireball with his chakra blade, then used Body Flicker to attack from multiple directions as Rōshi's attacks struck his clones.

Aoba fought Rōshi, drawing out the Four-Tails jinchūriki’s Lava Release power while using illusions, sand, and a summoned lizard to set up his attacks. The chapter ended with Rōshi immobilized by an unknown metallic substance as Aoba taunted him.

• Aoba wounded Rōshi with illusion-assisted strikes, prompting Rōshi to unleash Lava Release Chakra Mode.
• Aoba summoned a lizard that cast a genjutsu mist, then attacked Rōshi with sand and a Giant Rasengan after Son Goku warned him of the illusion.
• Rōshi hardened his lava into Granite Armor to withstand the Giant Rasengan, then became trapped inside Aoba’s Sand Prison.
• As Rōshi tried to burn through the sand, Aoba’s summoned lizard disappeared after spitting water, and Rōshi discovered an unknown metallic substance had immobilized him.

Aoba defeated and captured Rōshi, sealed off his connection to the Four-Tails, and collected a Lava Release blood sample. As he considered taking Rōshi back to Konohagakure, the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki attacked him from the sky, leaving Aoba facing a new threat.

• Aoba trapped Rōshi in solidified Chakra Metal, drained his chakra with four Chakra Absorption Techniques, and used the Four-Symbols Seal to sever his connection to Son Goku.
• Rōshi's Tailed Beast chakra was absorbed, and he lost consciousness while still held upright by the metal restraints.
• Aoba drew Rōshi's blood for a Lava Release sample and decided to take the Four-Tails Jinchuriki back to Konohagakure.
• Ōnoki's Dust Release attack erased the ground and a Puppet Clone where Aoba had stood, but Aoba escaped the beam.
• Aoba recognized the hovering attacker as the Third Tsuchikage, and Ōnoki looked down at the captured Rōshi.

After defeating Rōshi, Yamashiro Aoba escaped Ōnoki using Reverse Summoning, and the Third Tsuchikage withdrew with the unconscious Jinchuriki. Iwagakure then spread exaggerated stories about Aoba to make other villages fear Konohagakure, while Jiraiya and the village chose not to respond.

• Ōnoki praised Aoba but decided against attacking him again, and Aoba summoned a giant gray lizard that swallowed him and vanished with him.
• Kitsuchi arrived with Iwagakure ninjas, tore open the metal shell trapping Rōshi, and retrieved the unconscious Jinchuriki.
• Jiraiya reached the battlefield ready to enter Sage Mode, learned from Ōnoki that Aoba had left, and concluded that Aoba had escaped by Reverse Summoning.
• Ōnoki and Kitsuchi withdrew with Rōshi, and Iwagakure pulled back its front lines as news of Aoba's victory spread across the Shinobi World.
• Iwagakure's Intelligence Division exaggerated Aoba's achievements to make Konohagakure appear more threatening, and Jiraiya recognized the scheme as praise meant to provoke other villages.
• Jiraiya told a worried Jōnin that Konohagakure would neither confirm nor deny the reports.