Chapter Summaries

Hanfu filled the crystals in Ryūchi Cave with Chakra, but the Three Snake Princesses kept him trapped until Manda intervened and was driven away. After Hanfu handed over the crystals, the princesses agreed to take him to meet the White Snake Sage, and he followed while secretly laying Flying Thunder God Marks.

• Hanfu poured Chakra into the giant rock’s crystals until he had filled them all.
• The Three Snake Princesses waited for Hanfu to run out of Chakra, while Manda arrived and urged them to keep him trapped for Orochimaru.
• The princesses rebuked Manda and forced him to leave, then moved the rock aside and declared that Hanfu had passed their test.
• Hanfu handed over his crystals, and the princesses agreed to lead him to the White Snake Sage.
• Hanfu left a Flying Thunder God Coordinate at the entrance and followed the princesses down the tunnel while laying more marks.

The Cloud Ninja Leader attempted to kidnap Hinata Hyuga but was ambushed by Hanfu's Shadow Clone and taken toward Anbu headquarters. At Ryūchi Cave, Manda summoned Orochimaru after Moonlight Hayate passed the Three Snake Princesses' test, and Orochimaru demanded to see him.

• The Cloud Ninja Leader used a Shadow Clone to mislead Konoha's watchers while he sneaked toward the Hyuga compound to capture Hinata Hyuga.
• Hanfu's Shadow Clone struck the Cloud Ninja Leader with a Ring Shockwave, paralyzing him and stopping the kidnapping attempt.
• Hanfu's Shadow Clone warned that the Cloud Ninja Leader could be sent back to Kumogakure in disgrace, then carried him toward Anbu headquarters.
• Manda used the Reverse Summoning Technique to bring Orochimaru to Ryūchi Cave after Moonlight Hayate passed the Three Snake Princesses' test.
• Orochimaru scolded Manda for not alerting him sooner, then ordered Manda to take him to Moonlight Hayate.

Hayate reached the White Snake Sage in Ryūchi Cave and asked to learn Senjutsu. She injected Senjutsu Chakra into him to test whether his body could adapt, leaving him enduring intense pain.

• The Three Snake Princesses led Hayate through Ryūchi Cave, where Manda broke through a tunnel wall and brought Orochimaru to meet him.
• Orochimaru tried to stop Hayate from seeing the White Snake Sage, but the Three Snake Princesses said Hayate had passed their test and ordered Orochimaru aside.
• The Three Snake Princesses took Hayate to a vast bronze temple and presented him to the White Snake Sage.
• The White Snake Sage asked whether Hayate was ready to learn Senjutsu, and Hayate firmly agreed.
• The White Snake Sage transformed, bit Hayate, and injected Senjutsu Chakra into his body to test whether he could adapt.

Hanfu endured the White Snake Sage’s brutal Senjutsu Chakra treatment, escaped Ryūchi Cave with Flying Thunder God, and warned Shisui that Orochimaru was inside. Orochimaru discovered Hanfu’s escape and pursued them, convinced Hanfu’s condition would let him seize his body.

• Hanfu suffered as Senjutsu Chakra spread through his body and caused snake-scale-like marks to appear on his skin.
• Hearing footsteps, Hanfu used Flying Thunder God to escape the cavern before Orochimaru arrived.
• Orochimaru found the cavern empty, suspected Hanfu had used Flying Thunder God, and decided to find him so he could take over Hanfu’s body.
• Hanfu reached Shisui outside Ryūchi Cave, warned him about Orochimaru, and was carried away.
• Orochimaru emerged from the Miasma Poison Fog, identified Shisui’s tracks, and began pursuing them.

Minato arranged the Cloud Ninja Leader’s return to Kumogakure after using the Yamanaka Clan to prevent him from taking his own life. Meanwhile, Hanfu survived the rampaging Senjutsu Chakra by luring it into his Four Symbols Seal, but Orochimaru caught up with him and Shisui.

• Minato told the Cloud Ninja Leader he would be sent home and had Inoichi Yamanaka and the Yamanaka Clan elites implant a temporary mental suggestion preventing suicide.
• Minato dispatched an Anbu squad to escort the Cloud Ninja Leader to Kumogakure and kept his ten subordinates in Konoha until their leader returned.
• Hanfu tried using the Collection Technique, controlling the Senjutsu Chakra, expending it with Ninjutsu, and flooding his body with Ryūmyaku Chakra, but none of those attempts worked.
• Hanfu released Nine-Tails Chakra from his Four Symbols Seal, causing it to clash with the Senjutsu Chakra inside his body.
• Hanfu lured the Senjutsu Chakra into the Four Symbols Seal, easing his pain and making his flesh scales disappear.
• Orochimaru caught up with Hanfu and Uchiha Shisui.

Orochimaru confronted Shisui while Hanfeng was recovering from Ryūchi Cave’s Senjutsu Chakra, hoping to claim Hanfeng’s body by pretending he could save him. After Hanfeng stopped transforming, Orochimaru withdrew, and Hanfeng explained his escape to Shisui, who considered seeking Senjutsu training at Mount Myoboku.

• Orochimaru blocked Shisui and claimed Hanfeng had only three hours to live unless Shisui handed him over.
• Hanfeng secretly signaled Shisui to stall while the scales on his hands disappeared, showing that his transformation had stopped.
• Orochimaru realized Hanfeng had adapted to the Senjutsu Chakra and became even more eager to take his body, but his Shadow Clone vanished before Shisui could capture him.
• Hanfeng told Shisui how he had sealed the Senjutsu Chakra inside the Four Symbols Seal with the help of Nine-Tails Chakra.
• Hanfeng suggested Shisui ask the Hokage about training at Mount Myoboku, and Shisui resolved to pursue that possibility.

Hanfu returned to Ryūchi Cave to sign its summoning contract and seek a way to collect Senjutsu. He left with a contract and a clue about Garaga, but realized he had failed to win the Three Snake Princesses’ favor.

• Hanfu chose Ryūchi Cave over returning to Konoha and used the Flying Thunder God to reach it.
• The White Snake Sage sent the Three Snake Princesses to decide what to do with Hanfu, and they agreed he qualified to sign the contract because he had survived their Senjutsu test.
• Ichikishimahime had Hanfu write his name and leave his bloody handprint on Ryūchi Cave’s contract scroll, but kept the scroll for Orochimaru as the stronger successor.
• The Three Snake Princesses told Hanfu he could not form a Blood Pact with them until he mastered Senjutsu, and suggested he seek a contract with the powerful, belligerent Garaga.
• Hanfu tried to flatter the Three Snake Princesses, who revealed that pulling Garaga’s Reverse Scale would make him gentle, then left with the contract scroll.

Hanfu searched Ryūchi Cave for Garaga and fought the giant Azure Snake after it demanded he prove his strength. After Hanfu defeated it, the Azure Snake agreed to reveal Garaga’s whereabouts and answer his other questions.

• Hanfu searched Ryūchi Cave for a talking snake and eventually found the giant Azure Snake, which said it would reveal Garaga’s location only if he beat it.
• The Azure Snake struck Hanfu with its tail, and Hanfu damaged it with the Strength of a Hundred Technique before escaping with the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Hanfu returned to retrieve his Kusanagi Sword, then came back and wounded the Azure Snake with a wind-infused sword strike.
• Hanfu fought the Azure Snake until it was overwhelmed by his attacks and begged him to stop, offering to tell him where Garaga was.
• Hanfu stood between the Azure Snake’s eyes and said he also wanted answers to other questions, and the Azure Snake agreed.

Hanfu forced Aoda to guide him toward Garaga in Ryūchi Cave. Meanwhile, Orochimaru recruited Sasori to help capture Gekko Hayate, and Obito Uchiha learned of their plan and began considering revenge.

• Hanfu learned about Ryūchi Cave’s hierarchy, Aoda’s Senjutsu Chakra, and Garaga’s location in the Great Snake Nest.
• After Aoda attacked him, Hanfu subdued him again and forced him to lead the way to Garaga.
• Orochimaru asked Deva Path Pain to help capture Gekko Hayate, but Pain refused to involve Akatsuki members beyond supplying intelligence.
• Orochimaru offered Sasori puppet materials in exchange for helping capture Hayate alive, and Sasori agreed in return for Hayate’s body.
• Zetsu told Obito Uchiha that Orochimaru and Sasori were working together, prompting Obito to dwell on his grudge against Hayate.

Hanfu entered Ryūchi Cave’s Great Snake Nest and traveled to its deepest cavern to confront Garaga. He sent dozens of Shadow Clones toward the lake to target Garaga’s Reverse Scale, while urgently replenishing the Nine-Tails Chakra that was restraining dangerous Senjutsu Chakra inside his seal.

• Hanfu made Aoda carry him into the Great Snake Nest, hiding inside Aoda’s mouth while marking the tunnels with Flying Thunder God kunai.
• Hanfu and Aoda passed giant snakes fighting in the tunnels and reached the cavern containing Garaga’s lake two days later.
• Hanfu asked Aoda whether he wanted revenge on Garaga, but Aoda left the cavern rather than fight him.
• Hanfu created dozens of Shadow Clones, ordering them to target Garaga’s Reverse Scale.
• Hanfu discovered that his Shadow Clones were drawing Nine-Tails Chakra from the Four Symbols Seal and used Leyline Chakra to replenish it before the Senjutsu Chakra could escape.
• Hanfu’s Shadow Clones charged toward the lake.

Obito Uchiha recruited Orochimaru and Sasori of the Red Sands to help kill Gekko Hayate, while Hayate attempted to subdue Garaga in Ryūchi Cave. Garaga broke free and smashed through Hayate’s defenses as a sudden flash lit the cavern.

• Obito Uchiha appeared before Orochimaru and Sasori of the Red Sands, and Orochimaru recognized him as Obito despite his claim to be Uchiha Madara.
• Orochimaru tried to take Obito’s Sharingan, but his hand passed through Obito before Obito kicked him away and revealed his space-time ability.
• Obito proposed working with Orochimaru and Sasori to take down Gekko Hayate, and they agreed to pursue him at Ryūchi Cave.
• Hayate’s Shadow Clones trapped Garaga in a Water Prison and reached for his Reverse Scale, but Garaga woke and unleashed overwhelming Senjutsu Chakra.
• Garaga shattered the Water Prison, killed many of Hayate’s Shadow Clones, and charged through a Shadow Clone’s Earth Dragon Spears as a flash suddenly illuminated the cavern.

Hanfu and his Shadow Clones battled Garaga with repeated Lightning, Fire, and Earth Release attacks while keeping their numbers at thirty to balance the chakra inside Hanfu. Ao returned and helped drag Garaga aboveground, but the Clones attacked both snakes, leaving them trapped together beneath a barrage of flames and lightning.

• Hanfu used Shadow Clones and Tailed Beast Cloaks to bombard Garaga, who evaded attacks by burrowing through the cave floor and retaliated by wrecking the terrain.
• Hanfu replenished his Shadow Clones while monitoring the struggle between Senjutsu Chakra and Nine-Tails Chakra inside his Four Symbols Seal, limiting the Clones to thirty.
• Ao returned and offered to help, and Hanfu told him to drag Garaga out of the ground and hold him still.
• Ao burrowed underground and emerged tangled with Garaga, prompting the Shadow Clones to unleash Fire and Lightning Release techniques on both snakes.
• Garaga and Ao roared as the barrage struck them, with Garaga's scales beginning to crack and Ao trapped in his grip.

Hanfu removed Garaga’s Reverse Scale, calming the snake enough to sign a Summoning Contract with him. Garaga agreed to let Hanfu stay and learn Senjutsu, while Aoda angrily protested being left out.

• Hanfu’s Shadow Clones battered Garaga and Aoda with lightning and fire jutsu until both snakes were badly injured.
• Hanfu found and pulled out Garaga’s Reverse Scale, with Aoda knocking Garaga’s jaws aside to help him.
• Garaga’s temperament softened after the scale was removed, and Hanfu stopped Aoda from teasing him.
• Hanfu persuaded Garaga to sign a Summoning Contract by invoking the Three Snake Princesses and the White Snake Sage.
• Garaga agreed to let Hanfu stay and learn Senjutsu, while Aoda accused Hanfu of abandoning him after using his help.

Shisui told Minato that using the Mangekyō Sharingan would eventually leave him blind and asked to learn Senjutsu at Mount Myoboku. After Fugaku learned about the possibility of Senjutsu, he backed Shisui’s pursuit and pledged the clan’s support.

• Shisui told Minato that the Mangekyō Sharingan’s power would not recover once exhausted, and Minato agreed to recommend him to Jiraiya for Mount Myoboku.
• Kakashi stopped Shisui and learned that he and Hanfu had gone to Ryūchi Cave to learn Senjutsu.
• Shisui visited Fugaku and confessed that he had revealed the Mangekyō’s secret to Minato.
• Fugaku found an old Uchiha logbook describing Senjutsu in Madara’s battles with Hashirama.
• Fugaku urged Shisui to master Senjutsu and promised that the clan would help him.

Hanfeng trained to endure Senjutsu Chakra in Garaga’s cave while waiting for the Three Snake Princesses. Orochimaru arrived claiming he had important information, but Hanfeng’s suspicion stalled his attempt to draw him away, and an invisible vortex appeared behind Orochimaru.

• Hanfeng practiced controlling a wisp of Senjutsu Chakra with Garaga’s guidance and learned that Garaga could not transform into human form because he struggled to control it.
• Hanfeng asked what the Three Snake Princesses liked, and Garaga said they enjoyed eating living people and serving the White Snake Sage.
• Orochimaru arrived at the Great Snake Nest with Manda and revealed that Garaga had also signed a Summoning Contract with him.
• Hanfeng refused to leave the cave or discuss Orochimaru’s information privately, and Orochimaru recalled his plan with Sasori of the Red Sands and Obito Uchiha to ambush Hanfeng.
• Garaga left the cave, and Orochimaru sent Manda outside before an invisible vortex appeared behind him.

Hanfu used Garaga and dozens of Nine-Tails-enhanced Shadow Clones to hold off Orochimaru, Sasori, and Obito Uchiha inside Ryūchi Cave. As the battle continued, the White Snake Sage’s snakes failed to intervene, and Sasori brought out the Third Kazekage puppet.

• Hanfu accused Orochimaru of bringing outsiders into Ryūchi Cave, then fought back against Orochimaru and Sasori with Garaga’s help.
• Obito Uchiha used his Mangekyō Sharingan to control Garaga, but the snake resisted the Genjutsu even as it was kept occupied.
• The White Snake Sage sensed Obito Uchiha and Sasori and summoned the Three Snake Princesses, while the other snakes hesitated or pretended to hibernate.
• Hanfu’s thirty Tailed Beast Cloak Shadow Clones attacked Orochimaru and Sasori with Five-Element Ninjutsu while Hanfu’s real body hid nearby.
• Orochimaru was forced to dodge the clones’ attacks, and Sasori lost Hiruko and his Parents puppets before deploying the Third Kazekage puppet.

Hanfu’s Shadow Clones battled Orochimaru, Obito Uchiha, and Sasori of the Red Sands, who survived by merging his core with the Third Kazekage Puppet. The Three Snake Princesses arrived at the cave, and the fight continued as Hanfu’s forces grew to thirty clones.

• Sasori used the Third Kazekage Puppet’s Magnet Release to defend against the Shadow Clones, while three invisible clones attacked and tore his body apart.
• Sasori’s regeneration core flew into the falling puppet, and Obito Uchiha’s warning helped him avoid destruction; Hanfu’s clones then taunted Obito.
• Obito Uchiha attacked with Fire Release, but the clones countered with Water Release and forced him to rely on intangibility.
• Sasori used Iron Sand World Method to kill more than ten clones, just as Orochimaru noticed the Three Snake Princesses had arrived.
• Manda yielded to Tagitsuhime, Ichikishimahime, and Tagorihime, who entered the cave to test the intruders.
• More than ten Tailed Beast Cloak-wearing clones joined the battle, bringing Hanfu’s total to thirty, and Sasori sent Black Sand tendrils toward them.

Hanfeng and the Three Snake Princesses failed to stop Obito Uchiha from rescuing Sasori of the Red Sands, then confronted Orochimaru over Ryūchi Cave’s location. While Hanfeng went with the Snake Princesses to seek the White Snake Sage’s judgment, his Shadow Clone destroyed Sasori’s stored puppets and materials, leaving Sasori furious when he returned.

• Hanfeng’s Shadow Clones attacked Sasori of the Red Sands with lightning, but Tagitsuhime discovered Sasori was a puppet before Obito Uchiha used Kamui to escape with him.
• Sinya demanded an explanation from Orochimaru, who offered a thousand living people as compensation for revealing Ryūchi Cave’s location.
• Hanfeng challenged Orochimaru to face the White Snake Sage and prove whether Genjutsu had forced him to reveal the cave’s location, then followed the Three Snake Princesses out.
• Hanfeng secretly left a Shadow Clone behind, and it found Sasori’s scrolls containing Red Puppets and puppet materials.
• Hanfeng’s Shadow Clone smashed the puppets and burned them and the materials to ashes before Obito Uchiha returned with the Third Kazekage Puppet, whose voice carried Sasori’s fury.

Hanfu left the Bronze Temple determined to master Senjutsu before facing Obito Uchiha and Sasori of the Red Sands again. After more than half a year of winning Ichikishimahime’s favor by filling her cave’s crystals with Chakra, he finally heard her offer to help despite his body’s inability to adapt to Senjutsu Chakra.

• The White Snake Sage settled Orochimaru’s betrayal with an unspecified price, leaving Hanfu dissatisfied, and Garaga told him that the Snake Princesses ate people because the Sage did too.
• Orochimaru warned Hanfu that Obito Uchiha and Sasori of the Red Sands would pursue him, so Hanfu vowed to remain in Ryūchi Cave until he mastered Senjutsu.
• Hanfu visited Ichikishimahime, agreed to fill the crystals in her cave with Chakra, and spent time flattering her while asking about Senjutsu.
• Hanfu filled all the crystals over more than half a year, and Ichikishimahime acknowledged that his body could not safely adapt to Senjutsu Chakra but said they were friends.

Hanfu used his Collection Technique to obtain three incomplete Sage Mode light spots from Ichikishimahime and reviewed his recent progress and troubles in Ryūchi Cave. He then considered whether to target Tagorihime or Tagitsuhime next.

• Ichikishimahime advised Hanfu to master Orochimaru's snake transformation technique before attempting Ryūchi Cave's Sage Arts, but Hanfu persuaded her to explain the training instead.
• Hanfu used the Collection Technique on Ichikishimahime three times and collected three incomplete Sage Mode light spots.
• Hanfu returned to the Great Snake Nest, where he reviewed the ninjutsu, sealing techniques, and other abilities he had collected over the past six months.
• Hanfu recalled that Kakuzu and Juzo Biwa had killed Yuki Kanpyo, after which Hanfu escaped from the lake and recreated Yuki Kanpyo.
• Hanfu weighed targeting Tagorihime or Tagitsuhime for his next collection but could not think of a sure way to get either one to teach him Sage Arts.