Chapter Summaries

Xing Ran returned to Konoha and reunited with the Yamanaka family, then discussed mind techniques with Hai Yi. Meanwhile, Fugaku struggled to get the Uchiha leadership to take the village’s growing hostility seriously, and an Anbu interrupted Xing Ran’s lazy days at home.

• Yamanaka Sae welcomed Xing Ran home and gathered the family to celebrate his return and belated fifteenth birthday.
• Xing Ran bonded with Ino over dinner, then asked Hai Yi for advice on the Mind Reading Technique and Mind Communication Technique.
• Fugaku warned the Uchiha elders that hostile rumors could signal danger, but they dismissed his concerns and joked about a coup and Shisui’s Mangekyo.
• After two days of sleeping in and eating at the Yamanaka home, Xing Ran was woken when an Anbu wearing a Dog mask barged into his room.

Xing Ran repeatedly used Flying Thunder God to rescue Konoha squads while deliberately allowing their missions to fail, then returned to his laboratory in the Land of Marshes. He continued experiments with clones and the Curse Mark, finding that ordinary clones offered little enhancement to his soul or abilities.

• Junpei delivered the Hokage's order, and Xing Ran traveled to the Land of Water to support a surrounded Konoha squad.
• After waiting until the squad's defense collapsed, Xing Ran used Flying Thunder God to bring its Chunin and two Genin back to Konoha, leaving their mission unfinished.
• The Third Hokage scolded Xing Ran, and two days later Xing Ran again failed a support mission in the Land of Rain while driving off wandering Iwa rogue ninja.
• Over three months, Xing Ran kept Konoha Ninja alive while every mission he supported failed, and his Konoha presence was maintained by a Shadow Clone while his main body worked in the Land of Marshes.
• Xing Ran perfected a two-way Curse Mark mechanism for soulless clones and tested it on ordinary and Shikotsumyaku clones, but found little enhancement to his soul or Kryptonian abilities.

Xing Ran found that adapting his soul to different bodies strengthened his Spiritual Power and solar-radiation absorption, but diminishing medicine and a lack of funds limited his experiments. After entering Haku's clone, he left the story as Danzo learned that villagers were calling for Xing Ran to become the Fifth Hokage and ordered Root to investigate, suspecting Hiruzen.

• Xing Ran concluded that soul adaptation strengthened him, though clones with familiar or simpler genes no longer helped, and he found that sunlight eased the medicine's side effects.
• Xing Ran removed Haku's clone from its tank and used the Spirit Transformation Technique to enter it, while suspending the Kimimaro clone project for lack of funds.
• A Root ninja told Danzo that grateful families and supporters of the Fourth Hokage were praising Xing Ran and calling for him to become the Fifth Hokage.
• Danzo suspected Hiruzen was secretly promoting Xing Ran and ordered Root to investigate the people behind the talk.

Xing Ran successfully used Ice Release in his original body after fusing with an Ice Release clone, and he explained the experiment and its benefits to Haku. He then encouraged Haku to train his sensory abilities, hinting that he might have a major gift for him in the future.

• Danzo approved Huang Hei Hong's proposal to smear Yamanaka Xingran using fabricated accusations and ordered him to proceed.
• Xing Ran and Haku practiced Ice Shuriken, and Xing Ran explained that he had gained Ice Release through his clone experiment rather than Snow Clan ancestry.
• Xing Ran reflected on the gains from fusing with the Ice Release clone, including stronger Kryptonian abilities, increased speed, and the emergence of Wind chakra traits.
• Xing Ran told Haku to train his sensory abilities and suggested mastery of the Spirit Transformation Technique might earn him a great gift.

Xing Ran left Haku to practice the Yamanaka Clan’s spiritual cultivation method and returned to Konoha to meet the leaders of the Ino-Shika-Cho families. They warned him that accusations over injured ninja had turned public opinion against him, and he realized the campaign might be tied to his growing reputation as a Hokage candidate.

• Xing Ran gave Haku a scroll with the Yamanaka Clan’s spiritual cultivation method and basic sensory techniques, then left to return to Konoha.
• Shikaku Nara, Choji Akimichi, and Yamanaka Hai Yi asked Xing Ran about rumors that he had fought village ninja, and he admitted Root ninja had tried to kill him.
• Shikaku explained that injured Nara and Akimichi clan members were demanding justice, while Hai Yi said Yamanaka clan members had also accused Xing Ran.
• Hai Yi told Xing Ran that some villagers had backed him as a possible successor to the Fourth Hokage, while an Aburame clan member with a severed arm was rallying support against him.
• Xing Ran suspected Danzo was attacking his reputation because of his potential Hokage candidacy, while Hai Yi and Shikaku considered the Uchiha and other possible instigators.

After learning that Danzo was behind the rumors against him, Xingran avoided confronting the Third Hokage and went to his base to continue his research. His disciple quickly mastered the Yamanaka mental cultivation method, but Xingran was left short on funds and searching for a way to finance his experiments.

• Xingran reassured the Ino-Shika-Cho members that the rumors would not drive him to harm himself, and they left after offering encouragement.
• Xingran used his enhanced hearing and vision to survey Konoha, found Root operatives spreading rumors about him, and identified Huang Hei Hong as one of them.
• Xingran left a Shadow Clone at home and used the Flying Thunder God to travel to his Land of Marshes base instead of confronting the Third Hokage.
• Xingran finished teaching his disciple the Yamanaka Clan's mental cultivation method, then realized his experiments had exhausted his money and Kimimaro's gene sample had repeatedly failed to clone.
• Xingran considered ways to raise research money, rejected casino withdrawals as too slow, and thought about taking Kakuzu's bounty heads.

Xing Ran presented Hiruzen Sarutobi with a report showing that Konoha’s mission performance and ninja quality had declined as his frequent rescues encouraged dependence. He used the report to draw Hiruzen into a discussion of other ways to strengthen the village, then began explaining what he knew about Orochimaru’s defection.

• Xing Ran devised a plan to fund his research while obstructing Danzo and the Hokage’s plans.
• Xing Ran brought Hiruzen Sarutobi a report on Konoha’s rising mission failures and declining acceptance rates.
• Hiruzen read the report and learned that frequent rescues had encouraged Konoha’s ninja to take missions less seriously.
• Xing Ran argued that reducing casualties was not the only way to keep the village strong and stable.
• Xing Ran began telling Hiruzen about assisting Tsunade with Orochimaru’s Living Corpse Reincarnation research and what he had learned about Orochimaru’s defection.

Xing Ran tried to persuade the Third Hokage to restart Wood Style research at Konoha Hospital, explaining that a major achievement would support his bid to become Fifth Hokage and address village rumors. The Third Hokage agreed to discuss the proposal with the higher-ups, while deciding that getting Xing Ran out of sight and reducing Konoha’s reliance on his Flying Thunder God was urgent.

• Xing Ran proposed restarting the Wood Style Ninja project under Konoha Hospital’s supervision, but the Third Hokage initially rejected it because of the deadly past experiments.
• The Third Hokage asked why Xing Ran had suddenly become interested in Wood Style research, and Xing Ran explained that rumors about his ties to Root threatened his hopes of becoming Fifth Hokage.
• Xing Ran argued that developing Wood Style would silence his critics, benefit Konoha, and earn the Third Hokage credit, while keeping him from using Flying Thunder God to put out fires.
• The Third Hokage said he would discuss the proposal with the higher-ups and considered how to reduce Konoha’s dependence on Xing Ran’s firefighting.

The Third Hokage approved Xing Ran’s plan to restart Wood Style research, while Danzo tried to use the project to catch Xing Ran conducting illicit experiments. Xing Ran began work at the new institute under Root’s surveillance, but he seemed unconcerned because the situation fit his plans.

• The Third Hokage considered the village’s research and Tenzo’s existence grounds to restart the Wood Style Ninja project and brought the advisory council into the decision.
• Danzo promoted Huang Hei Hong after Root’s public-opinion campaign advanced, believing the project would give him evidence to use against Xing Ran.
• A Root ninja warned Danzo that Xing Ran could evade surveillance by conducting experiments outside the village with Flying Thunder God, and Danzo assigned the messenger to scrub toilets.
• Three days later, Xing Ran received the village’s approval, research funding and materials, Wood Style training scrolls, and Tenzo as a research assistant.
• Xing Ran found Root’s researchers and monitors waiting at the Konoha Hospital institute, but he smiled, confident that their surveillance was within his expectations.

Xing Ran laid out a plan to use Konoha’s Wood Style research project to secure funding, reduce the Third Hokage’s demands on him, and give Danzo a target to focus on. At the Konoha laboratory, he encountered Yakushi Kabuto again and reflected on their research partnership and Kabuto’s ties to Orochimaru.

• Xing Ran planned to propose a Wood Style Ninja project that would fund his research, help him shed his role as the Third Hokage’s Flying Thunder God tool, and divert Danzo’s attention.
• Xing Ran spotted Yakushi Kabuto among the Root researchers at his laboratory.
• In February, Xing Ran invited Yakushi Kabuto to take a break outside, but Kabuto stayed behind to watch the culture dishes.
• Xing Ran recalled that Kabuto had joined the project to monitor his research for Danzo while also serving Orochimaru.
• Xing Ran remembered that he and Yakushi Kabuto had grown closer and had previously exchanged a favor for research materials.

Xing Ran learned that Yakushi Kabuto was reporting to Orochimaru and considered expanding his research to clone Uchiha for use as Sharingan containers. After seeing Naruto and Hinata in the park, Xing Ran approached the abandoned Naruto, while Gaara’s latest outburst left Rasa considering a drastic decision.

• Yakushi Kabuto told Xing Ran that he would report the laboratory’s research to Orochimaru, whose goal was to obtain Xing Ran’s completed research data for Danzo.
• Xing Ran considered using Uchiha clones as containers for Sharingan and decided the idea was worth researching.
• Xing Ran watched older children beat Naruto while Hinata tried to intervene, then saw Hinata taken away and approached the injured Naruto.
• Medical staff carried two dead ninjas from Gaara’s room after Gaara killed them during another loss of control over Shukaku.
• Yashamaru agreed to stay with frightened Gaara, while Rasa received news of the deaths and began contemplating a ruthless response.

Yamanaka Xingran grew closer to Naruto over ramen and agreed to teach him Chakra Extraction if he followed a nutritious meal plan. After offering Naruto a hospital meal card and suggesting he become his disciple, Xingran arrived at the research institute, where his good mood quickly faded.

• Xingran treated Naruto to ramen to celebrate the first month since they had met.
• Naruto asked Xingran to teach him ninjutsu, and Xingran offered to start with Chakra Extraction if Naruto followed a meal plan.
• Xingran promised Naruto a Konoha Hospital meal card and said Naruto could repay him after becoming a ninja.
• Naruto thanked Xingran and offered to treat him to cup noodles, while Xingran asked him to become his disciple instead.
• Xingran reached the research institute and used X-ray Vision to check what everyone was doing, but his good mood vanished.

Xing Ran struggled to make Hashirama Senju's cells safe for transplantation, but Yakushi Kabuto's report inspired him to pursue a new way to release their excess vitality. A question from Naruto finally brought the missing idea to mind, though the chapter ended before Xing Ran revealed it.

• Xing Ran found that his clone experiments failed because Hashirama Senju's cells absorbed Natural Energy and transformed the clones into plants.
• Xing Ran avoided experimenting on children and instead spent money testing Tenzo's cellular genes against tens of thousands of samples.
• Yakushi Kabuto reported that diluting the Wood Style cells would fail unless Xing Ran could weaken or release their berserk vitality.
• Yakushi Kabuto's analysis inspired Xing Ran to consider releasing Hashirama Senju's cells' excess vitality so he could grow a clone and use the Curse Mark: Spirit Transformation Technique on it.
• Xing Ran spent the afternoon searching for the idea, then recalled it after Naruto asked him a question over dinner.

Yamanaka Xingran sought Sunagakure’s life-transfer technique to control the First Hokage’s cells and advance his Wood Style clone research. Hiruzen explained the political obstacle and heard Xingran argue that Konoha should trade its tailed-beast sealing techniques before Sunagakure developed its own.

• Hiruzen learned that Xingran had befriended Naruto without knowing Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and ordered continued surveillance.
• Xingran told Hiruzen he had found a way to control the First Hokage’s cells using a technique that transferred life force.
• Xingran asked Hiruzen to obtain Sunagakure’s One’s Own Life Reincarnation technique, but Hiruzen warned that Kazekage Rasa would likely refuse.
• Hiruzen revealed that Rasa had previously asked Konoha for tailed-beast sealing techniques, which Konoha had refused to share.
• Xingran argued that Sunagakure would eventually develop its own sealing methods and that Konoha should trade its techniques now.

Xing Ran argued that Konoha should exchange sealing techniques with Sunagakure for One's Own Life Reincarnation, which he hoped to use in the Wood Style Ninja research. The Hokage and advisors debated the trade, but Danzo remained opposed as the discussion turned to which techniques Konoha could safely offer.

• Xing Ran persuaded the Third Hokage to summon the advisors and proposed obtaining One's Own Life Reincarnation in exchange for Konoha's sealing techniques.
• Danzo challenged the Wood Style research's chances of success, and Xing Ran claimed he would personally make the trade and share the forbidden technique with the village.
• Xing Ran told Mitokado Homura that the project had at least an eighty percent chance of success if his hypothesis was right, but admitted the technique might prove unusable.
• Utatane Koharu supported the exchange, arguing that the Four Symbols Sealing was a worthwhile price for an S-rank technique capable of reviving the dead.
• Danzo objected that the Four Symbols Sealing could not fully contain a tailed beast, and the Third Hokage warned that Konoha's Eight Trigrams Seal could not be revealed.
• Xing Ran suggested offering the Five Elements Sealing as well, prompting the Third Hokage to react with exasperation.

Xing Ran questioned whether Kazekage Rasa would accept Konoha’s proposed trade, then left for the Land of Wind with Yakushi Kabuto and Huang Hei Hong to confirm the deal. The team arrived at a marked location near Sunagakure, still a day’s journey from the village.

• Danzo questioned whether Rasa would accept Konoha’s Sealing Technique trade proposal, then left the meeting in apparent frustration.
• Xing Ran gave Naruto Uzumaki a hospital meal card and menu before departing Konoha on the mission.
• Yakushi Kabuto and the Root ninja Huang Hei Hong joined Xing Ran as his assigned teammates, despite his reluctance.
• Xing Ran used Flying Thunder God to transport the team from Konoha to a marked location in the Land of Wind.
• Xing Ran noted that reaching Sunagakure from their arrival point would take a full day at a normal pace.

Xing Ran and his companions arrived in Sunagakure for an academic exchange, but the Kazekage delayed meeting them. When Maki, the village’s assigned host, came to receive them, Xing Ran persuaded her to show them around because he wanted to get close to Pakura and her Scorch Release Kekkei Genkai.

• Xing Ran and his companions reached Sunagakure, registered as Konoha’s delegation, and checked into a hotel.
• After two days without an official meeting, Maki arrived on the Kazekage’s behalf and recognized Xing Ran as the Flying Thunder God user who had outmaneuvered her before.
• Maki said the Kazekage was unavailable and refused to give Xing Ran a meeting date.
• Xing Ran threatened that his sightseeing might cause a diplomatic incident, then asked Maki to take the delegation around Sunagakure.
• Xing Ran hoped to use Maki, Pakura’s disciple, to approach Pakura and learn about her Scorch Release, but Maki refused to accompany them.

Xing Ran spent several days touring Sunagakure with Maki while secretly investigating the village’s heroes’ graves. After Rasa finally agreed to meet the Konoha visitors, he found them cheerful and well entertained rather than cowed by his neglect.

• Maki reluctantly guided Xing Ran, Huang Hei Hong, and Yakushi Kabuto around Sunagakure after Xing Ran shamelessly persuaded her.
• Huang Hei Hong asked Xing Ran for romantic advice, but Xing Ran told him to seek a blind date, and Yakushi Kabuto mocked him.
• Xing Ran asked Maki to take the group to the heroes’ graves, where he confirmed that Pakura’s body was in her coffin and the Third Kazekage’s grave was empty.
• After several days of sightseeing and local food, Maki told the Konoha group that Rasa was ready to receive them.
• Xing Ran greeted Rasa on behalf of the Third Hokage, while Rasa’s mood soured at seeing how content the visitors looked.

Xing Ran negotiated with Rasa for Sunagakure’s One's Own Life Reincarnation, offering Konoha’s tailed-beast sealing techniques instead of the Flying Thunder God Technique or Eight Gates. Rasa summoned Chiyo to discuss the proposal, while Xing Ran’s companions and Danzo’s covert plans waited in the background.

• Rasa challenged Xing Ran to demonstrate the Flying Thunder God Technique, then asked whether Konoha would trade it for One's Own Life Reincarnation.
• Xing Ran refused to trade the Flying Thunder God Technique or the Eight Gates and asked whether Rasa would accept Konoha’s tailed-beast sealing techniques.
• Chiyo pretended to be dead while fishing with Ebizo, then agreed to go to the Kazekage Building after Rasa sent for her repeatedly.
• Rasa explained Xing Ran’s request and proposed terms to Chiyo, who had retired from village affairs.
• Xing Ran waited with Yakushi Kabuto and Huang Hei Hong, unaware that Danzo hoped to sabotage the exchange and use the Wood Style Ninja research to advance his ambition.

Yamanaka Xingran used his knowledge of Sunagakure’s bottom line to demand only a guarantee that Konoha’s Sealing Technique would work on Shukaku, despite the Kazekage’s attempts to negotiate additional support. After Chiyo inspected part of the Four Symbols Sealing, the deal seemed possible, while Xing Ran restrained Huang Hei Hong for trying to provoke a fight.

• Xing Ran recalled overhearing the Kazekage and Chiyo discuss their conditions and learned that a working seal on Shukaku was their essential requirement.
• The Kazekage offered food aid, investment, and money alongside a guarantee, but Xing Ran refused every condition beyond the guarantee and threatened to return to Konoha.
• Chiyo, who had been dozing through the negotiations, asked to inspect Konoha’s Sealing Technique, and Xing Ran handed her a section of the Four Symbols Sealing.
• Chiyo considered the sample authentic, while Rasa stopped her from attacking Xing Ran and dismissed the guards after the room nearly erupted into a fight.
• Xing Ran restrained Huang Hei Hong with Medical Ninjutsu Chakra and realized that he had tried to sabotage the negotiations.