Chapter Summaries

Xing Ran broke free from Obito’s three-tomoe Sharingan genjutsu with help from his Glass Necklace, then fought off Obito’s fire attack. With Mist Ninja arriving at the burning treasury, Xing Ran challenged Obito to flee, leaving their confrontation unresolved.

• Obito used his Sharingan to trap Xing Ran in a genjutsu, but Xing Ran’s Spiritual Power and Glass Necklace helped him escape as his Transformation Technique dispelled.
• Xing Ran used the Body Flicker Technique to reach a helmet, then reappeared with his eyes shut while charging the Glass Necklace.
• Obito attacked with Fire Release: Exploding Wind Dance, and Xing Ran used his freeze breath to keep the flames away from himself as the treasury caught fire.
• Mist Ninja rushed in and flooded the room with Water Release, forcing Obito to weigh fighting against retreating.
• Xing Ran told Obito to run now that the Mist Ninja had arrived.

Xing Ran escaped Obito’s attempt to pull him into Kamui Space and fought his way out of the Mizukage Building with Hiramekarei. He emerged onto the street and encountered Zabuza, Mei, and Kisame as Obito returned to the building.

• Obito tried to drag Xing Ran into Kamui Space, but Xing Ran used Nuibari’s wire to break free.
• Xing Ran scattered Explosive Tags to drive back the Mist Ninja, then took Flounder and Halibut and left the other swords behind.
• Xing Ran used Hiramekarei Release to blast through the ceilings and evade the Mist Ninja pursuing him through the building.
• Xing Ran emerged in the street and came face to face with Zabuza, Mei, and Kisame.
• Zetsu discussed Obito’s delay and Kirigakure’s losses in the Mizukage’s office, and Obito returned through a Spatial Vortex.

Obito ordered Yagura to use the Three-Tails' power against the rebels, but Ao discovered that Yagura was under genjutsu, prompting Mei Terumi to prioritize Kirigakure's survival. As Yagura approached through the mist, Zabuza attacked Xing Ran, leaving their clash unresolved.

• Obito learned that the Mizukage's forces were being battered by the Kaguya Clan, the advisors, and Zabuza's forces, and ordered Yagura to use the Tailed Beast's power.
• Ao discovered through his Byakugan that Yagura was under a powerful genjutsu and told Mei Terumi.
• Mei Terumi ordered Ao to notify the Elder Advisors and preserve Kirigakure's strength, sparing as many fighters as possible.
• Xing Ran overheard Mei Terumi and Ao, then noticed the advisors were using the Mist Veil Technique to isolate the battlefield.
• Yagura raced toward the battlefield in the Three-Tails' chakra cloak as Zabuza charged Xing Ran, and their swords clashed.

Xing Ran escaped the fighting in Kirigakure, obtained Kaguya Kimimaro’s blood for Orochimaru’s research, and turned his attention to acquiring Haku. He returned to his base with valuable weapons, Water Release materials, and blood samples, having also improved his resistance to genjutsu.

• Mei Terumi and the other ninja retreated into the thick fog, and Xing Ran escaped Zabuza using Shadow Clones and the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• When Orochimaru failed to return to their meeting point, Xing Ran left a clone there and went back to Kirigakure to track Zabuza and plan to take Haku.
• Xing Ran’s clone reported that Orochimaru had finished, and Xing Ran saw that Orochimaru had taken an interest in Kaguya Kimimaro.
• Xing Ran drew Kimimaro’s blood and advised Orochimaru to take more Kaguya clansmen before the clan was exterminated.
• Xing Ran reviewed his gains, including nearly thirty million ryo, two of the Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist, Water Release materials, and greater resistance to genjutsu.
• Xing Ran returned to his Land of Marshes base with blood samples from Kimimaro and other ninja for future experiments.

Danzo plotted to pressure the Uchiha Clan into cooperating with Root, while Xing Ran’s cloning experiments struggled to succeed. After learning that Zabuza had met Haku, Xing Ran left his laboratory and traveled to a snowbound village in the Land of Water.

• Danzo rejected a Root member’s proposal to threaten the Uchiha Clan directly, then ordered his people to dig up and spread damaging information about them.
• Danzo punished Huang Hei Hong by assigning him toilet-cleaning duty after Huang Hei Hong praised his plan.
• Xing Ran reviewed his failed mixed-blood clones and the unstable Kimimaro clones, noting that one Kimimaro clone had survived for seven days.
• Xing Ran received a Shadow Clone’s report that Zabuza had met Haku and suspended his laboratory work to investigate.
• Xing Ran arrived at a dilapidated village in the Land of Water where snow fell throughout the year.

Xing Ran ambushed Zabuza and Haku in the mountain mist, hoping to take Haku for himself. Zabuza survived Xing Ran’s opening slash with Water Substitution and trapped his arm in a Water Prison, but Xing Ran’s strength made the technique seem unlikely to hold him.

• Xing Ran tracked Zabuza and young Haku along a muddy road and watched Haku struggle to keep up.
• Xing Ran used the Mist Veil Technique to conceal himself and attack the pair on an uninhabited mountain path.
• Zabuza sensed danger, drew the Kubikiribōchō, and deflected or dodged Xing Ran’s three kunai while Haku crouched nearby.
• Xing Ran used Flying Thunder God to slash Zabuza from shoulder to abdomen, but Zabuza escaped the blow with Water Substitution.
• Zabuza used Water Release: Water Prison Technique to seize Xing Ran’s kunai-wielding arm, but Xing Ran relied on his Steel Body and Super Strength Technique to resist.

Xing Ran killed Zabuza and disguised himself as him to bring Haku to his laboratory as an assistant. Haku quickly suspected the deception, and Xing Ran admitted that he had killed Zabuza.

• Xing Ran broke Zabuza's Water Prison Technique, pursued him with Flying Thunder God, and slit his throat.
• Xing Ran sealed Zabuza's body in a scroll and decided to take Haku in.
• Xing Ran used a Shadow Clone transformed into Zabuza to lead Haku to him, then sent the clone away with a strange excuse.
• Xing Ran told Haku that his laboratory needed an assistant and invited him to come along.
• Haku questioned Xing Ran about Zabuza, and Xing Ran confessed that he had killed him earlier and that the Zabuza Haku saw was a transformed Shadow Clone.

After Haku agreed to follow him, Xing Ran brought him to his secret base in the Land of Marshes and made him his assistant. Xing Ran began planning Haku’s training while noting that he still had time before Tsunade’s revived family members would die.

• Haku agreed to go with Xing Ran, choosing to transfer the loyalty he had once given Zabuza to him.
• Xing Ran resolved to take Haku under his wing and considered returning to Konoha to explain his actions to its leaders.
• Xing Ran used the Flying Thunder God Technique to bring Haku to his secret base in the Land of Marshes.
• Xing Ran showed Haku the laboratory, set aside the Kubikiribōchō and other ninja swords, and assigned him books to study before they found food.

Xing Ran left Bai in charge of watching the laboratory clones and returned to Konoha to make an appearance, while Bai continued his medical training. After entering the village, Xing Ran witnessed a chaotic street fight and wondered where the Konoha Military Police Force was.

• Xing Ran’s Kimimaro clone deteriorated into a mass of flesh and bone spikes, ruining its culture tank.
• Over the next month, Bai studied medical knowledge and Ice Shield ninjutsu while Xing Ran continued his cloning experiments.
• Xing Ran told Bai to watch the culture tanks and seek help from his dormant Shadow Clone if anything went wrong, then left for Konoha.
• Xing Ran entered Konoha through the main gate and signed the village register while the ninja at the desk dozed.
• Two drunken men started a violent fight in the street, and Xing Ran wondered why the Konoha Military Police Force had not intervened.

Xing Ran witnessed Konoha Military Police officers violently beating two men during a staged incident that stirred public hostility toward the Uchiha. He realized the men were impostors and suspected Danzo’s Root was behind the setup, then continued to Hai Yi’s home instead of reporting to the Hokage.

• A young Uchiha officer beat two drunks after one spat on his uniform, and the other officers failed to stop the assault from escalating.
• Bystanders condemned the Uchiha, and the squad leader used his Sharingan to silence the crowd, increasing their resentment.
• The two supposed drunks launched a sudden attack, prompting the Uchiha officers to retaliate while the crowd’s accusations grew louder.
• Xing Ran noticed Root members nearby and used his enhanced senses to determine that the two men were faking their drunkenness.
• Xing Ran suspected Danzo had arranged the incident and headed to Hai Yi’s home after seeing Hai Yi and young Ino in the courtyard.

Xing Ran tried to avoid being taken by Root, but confronted its ninjas when they led him away from the Hokage Building. After he fought them off, Danzo appeared to challenge him.

• Xing Ran headed for Hai Yi's home, realized he had forgotten a gift, and turned back toward his house.
• Three Root ninjas intercepted Xing Ran and ordered him to come with them.
• Xing Ran followed them until they left the road to the Hokage Building, then accused them of not being Anbu and tried to leave.
• The Root leader stabbed Xing Ran in the heart, but his Steel Body stopped the kunai, and Xing Ran punched the leader and kicked away the other two ninjas.
• Danzo appeared and said he wanted to see how much Xing Ran had grown.

Danzo surrounded Xing Ran with Root ninjas and tried to force him into joining Root, but Xing Ran refused and fought back. Danzo had prepared a space-time barrier to block Flying Thunder God, and the chapter ended with Xing Ran destroying Root’s Shadow Clone assault with four water dragons.

• Danzo arrived with Root ninjas and again offered to recruit Xing Ran, who mocked him and criticized Root.
• Danzo gave Xing Ran the choice of joining Root or being beaten into submission, and Xing Ran rejected him.
• Danzo activated a space-time barrier to prevent Xing Ran from escaping with Flying Thunder God and sent Root’s Shadow Clones to attack.
• Xing Ran used Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Barrage to sweep away the Shadow Clones and dismantle Root’s attack.
• Danzo watched the attack fail and remarked on Xing Ran’s Water Release as Xing Ran prepared to show him more.

Xing Ran fought Danzo and Root's coordinated Ino-Shika-Cho attacks, using the Eight Gates and overwhelming strength to injure Root members. He defeated a Root ninja from the Akimichi Clan with a Super Strength Fist, leaving the surrounding ninja stunned.

• Xing Ran dodged a Yamanaka Clan member's Mind Body Switch Technique and opened the Fifth Gate before charging Danzo.
• Xing Ran's attack missed Danzo, who reappeared under Root's protection, while Aburame insects concealed a Shadow Secret Technique attack that Xing Ran evaded.
• Xing Ran hurled shuriken into Root's ranks, killing one ninja and badly injuring several others, but Root continued its assault without reacting.
• A Root ninja used the Partial Expansion Jutsu to attack Xing Ran with an enormous palm, and Xing Ran canceled the Fifth Gate and countered with a Super Strength Fist.
• Xing Ran sent the Akimichi Clan ninja flying more than a hundred meters, astonishing the ninja who witnessed the clash.

Xing Ran fought off Root’s attacks while using his Shadow Clones to sense and decipher the Space-Time Machine Seal. He broke through the sealing technique in front of Danzo, leaving Root’s forces stunned.

• Xing Ran caught the sickle meant to trigger the Puppet Body Switch Technique and spotted the puppet hidden with a Root ninja.
• Root formed a defensive formation around the puppet carrier, but Xing Ran filled the battlefield with Shadow Clones.
• Xing Ran used his clones to sense the sealing formulae while pretending to focus on the puppet and its technique.
• Danzo unleashed Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, sweeping away Xing Ran’s clones as they returned their gathered memories.
• Xing Ran struck the ground and broke the Space-Time Machine Seal after rapidly deciphering its encryption.

Xing Ran used Flying Thunder God to cripple nearly all of Danzo’s Root ninja by severing their left arms, then confronted Danzo. The chapter ended as Xing Ran launched a kunai at Danzo and Danzo countered with Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere.

• Xing Ran escaped the gel-like space with Reverse Temporal Space Solution and scattered Flying Thunder God kunai around the battlefield.
• Xing Ran located the unconscious Yamanaka clan member controlling a puppet and severed his left arm, making the Puppet Mind Transfer Technique collapse.
• Xing Ran overwhelmed Danzo’s Root forces, severing left arms and crippling ninety-nine percent of the ninja in less than five minutes.
• Danzo accused Xing Ran of viciously attacking comrades, and Xing Ran answered that he could be even more ruthless.
• Xing Ran saw the Sharingan embedded in Danzo’s arm and recognized that Izanagi would make killing him permanently difficult.
• Xing Ran fired a Flying Thunder God kunai at Danzo, who countered with Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere.

Yamanaka Xingran fought Danzo and crushed him with a devastating kick, but Danzo’s remains vanished before Xingran could take his Sharingan arm. The Third Hokage learned that Root had taken Xingran and sent Anbu to retrieve him safely.

• Danzo deflected Xingran’s kunai with Vacuum Bullets, but Xingran teleported behind him and struck what appeared to be Danzo’s real body after exposing an Earth Substitute.
• Xingran killed Danzo with a Heavenly Guardian Kick, leaving the surrounding Root ninjas stunned and unable to challenge him.
• Danzo’s remains vanished as Xingran approached the Sharingan arm, and Xingran realized Danzo had arranged a delayed resurrection from a safe house.
• The Third Hokage learned that Root had taken Xingran toward the Naka River and ordered Squad Three and Squad Four to bring him back safely.

Xing Ran returned to Konoha and told Hiruzen Sarutobi that he had killed Shimura Danzō in self-defense. Hiruzen was shocked, then weighed the village’s need for Xing Ran against his grief and anger.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi failed to recognize Xing Ran when he appeared at the Hokage’s Office, but eventually realized he was his disciple-grandson.
• Xing Ran admitted that he had used excessive force and killed someone on his way back to the village.
• Hiruzen suspected Xing Ran had fought Root operatives and assumed he had accidentally killed one of them.
• Xing Ran revealed that the person he killed was Shimura Danzō, leaving Hiruzen coughing and stunned.
• Hiruzen briefly turned hostile, then decided Konoha could not afford to lose a young fighter as powerful as Xing Ran.

Yamanaka Xingran visited the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, but Uzuki Yugao tried to keep him away until Hiruzen chose to trust him. Danzo then arrived alive and demanded that Hiruzen hand Xingran over to Root for interrogation.

• Uzuki Yugao stepped between Xingran and Hiruzen and offered Hiruzen medicine that was about to expire.
• Hiruzen refused the medicine and let Xingran examine him to show that he trusted him.
• Danzo entered the Hokage's Office alive, surprising Xingran and Uzuki Yugao.
• Danzo accused Xingran of crippling twenty-eight Konoha ninja and demanded that Hiruzen send him to Root for interrogation.

Third Hokage questioned Xing Ran after Danzo demanded control over him and the Flying Thunder God technique. When a Root ninja died from injuries sustained in the fight, Third Hokage told Xing Ran to earn redemption by explaining what he had learned from Tsunade and Orochimaru.

• Third Hokage grew furious after learning that twenty-eight Root ninjas had been injured, but Xing Ran assured him their severed arms could be reattached.
• Danzo ordered Anbu to seize Xing Ran, but Third Hokage dismissed them and questioned Xing Ran about the fight and the Root ninjas’ injuries.
• Third Hokage and Danzo argued over who would control Xing Ran and the Flying Thunder God technique, and Danzo left vowing to keep watch.
• An Anbu informed Third Hokage that a Root ninja had died, and Third Hokage told Xing Ran to make amends by reporting his progress with Tsunade and Orochimaru.
• Xing Ran prepared a misleading account that portrayed his research with Orochimaru as service to Tsunade and emphasized his medical and other training.

After Xing Ran reported his fight with Root, the Third Hokage assigned him as Konoha’s one-man Special Mobile Unit and dangled the prospect of becoming the village’s next Flash. Xing Ran pretended to accept the role while planning to exploit it, leaving determined to undermine the Hokage’s attempt to use him as cheap labor.

• Xing Ran gave the Third Hokage vague explanations for his late return and described developing Water Release, Earth Release, and possibly Ice Release.
• The Third Hokage appointed Xing Ran to a Special Mobile Unit that would rush to aid teams in trouble, with Xing Ran as its only member for now.
• The Third Hokage promised that Xing Ran might become Konoha’s next Flash while reminding him that he was expected to serve the village.
• Xing Ran accepted the assignment outwardly, then resolved to save stranded Konoha ninjas while deliberately causing missions to fail.
• Xing Ran planned to report the damage his approach caused and force the Third Hokage either to let him retire or face worsening consequences.