Recaps

Sarutobi Toru gave Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Kanao Perfect Potions that greatly increased their chakra and abilities. After training with Tsunade, he returned to Shikkotsu Forest and continued working toward instantly entering Sage Mode.

• Sarutobi Toru reassured Uzumaki Kushina about her Medical Ninjutsu progress and offered her and Uzumaki Kanao Perfect Potions.
• Sarutobi Toru and Tsunade injected both girls, who slept for more than thirty hours as the potions remodeled their bodies.
• Uzumaki Kushina used her enhanced chakra to create powerful Adamantine Sealing Chains, while Uzumaki Kanao sensed chakra across nearly all of Konoha with the Mind's Eye of the Kagura.
• Sarutobi Toru suggested that the girls might awaken Sage Bodies through the Yang God Martial Way, and Tsunade eagerly agreed they should try.
• Sarutobi Toru returned to Shikkotsu Forest and found he could immerse nearly his whole body in Natural Energy, leaving him close to instantly entering Sage Mode.

Sarutobi Toru mastered Sage Mode after training in Shikkotsu Forest, though he concluded it would not help him become immortal. Months later, he joined Orochimaru, Hiruko, and Tsunade to discuss White Zetsu research, where Hiruko presented his Chimera Technique.

• Sarutobi Toru submerged himself in the Natural Energy pool with a Shadow Clone ready to pull him out, converting most of his Chakra into Sage Art Chakra.
• Sarutobi Toru completed his Sage Mode training, and Sage Katsuyu praised his technique as the most perfect in history.
• Sarutobi Toru concluded that Sage Mode only temporarily enhanced Chakra and considered pursuing immortality through his fruit ability.
• Tsunade suspected White Zetsu was connected to her grandfather, while Orochimaru and Hiruko speculated that the Second Hokage had created them before Sarutobi Toru redirected the discussion.
• Hiruko explained that White Zetsu could fuse with humans and introduced his Chimera Technique for combining multiple Kekkei Genkai.

Orochimaru presented his Life-Replacing Clone Technique, while Sarutobi Toru demonstrated how he cultivated and strengthened White Zetsu. The group learned that a cultivated White Zetsu could gain Kage-level Chakra and Wood Release after receiving Hashirama Cells.

• Hiruko shared scrolls describing the Chimera Technique with Orochimaru and the others.
• Orochimaru revealed a White Zetsu-based second body that could preserve his life if his main body died.
• Sarutobi Toru summoned his powerful White Zetsu, which demonstrated its ability to use Wood Release.
• Sarutobi Toru shared scrolls explaining how to cultivate loyal White Zetsu using his Chakra and hormone-regulating medicine.
• Orochimaru noted the Chakra loss involved in cultivation and saw that Hashirama Cells could double White Zetsu's Chakra and awaken Wood Release.

Sarutobi Toru, Orochimaru, Hiruko, and Tsunade exchanged their White Zetsu research, giving Toru new techniques and an idea for further experiments. The next morning, he and Tsunade shared breakfast with Kushina and Kanao, while Toru realized Tsunade’s gambling partner was the Nine-Tails and believed its bond with her was nearing completion.

• Hiruko celebrated the prospect of combining his Chimera Technique with Wood Release, but Sarutobi Toru warned him that the fusion could turn him into wood.
• Tsunade presented her White Zetsu Copy Technique, Lightweight Healing Potions, and Healing Spray, while Orochimaru and Hiruko accepted her research scrolls.
• Sarutobi Toru reviewed Hiruko’s Bloodline Fusion Technique and Orochimaru’s White Zetsu Incarnation Technique, and began forming a new idea.
• Tsunade joined Sarutobi Toru for breakfast with Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Kanao, whom she taught Medical Ninjutsu and the Yang God Martial Way.
• Sarutobi Toru realized that the Nine-Tails had been gambling in Tsunade’s place and concluded that the two were approaching a close bond.

Uchiha Madara decided to send the amnesiac Nawaki away after the child’s chaotic behavior overwhelmed him and threatened to ruin his upbringing. Meanwhile, Sarutobi Toru completed a Substitute Seed and prepared to test his new Parasitic Technique.

• Nawaki’s destructive antics drove Uchiha Madara to decide he could no longer raise the child himself.
• Uchiha Madara considered sending Nawaki to a small country without a ninja village, where Konoha would be less likely to discover him.
• Nawaki urinated on Uchiha Madara from atop the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and Uchiha Madara ordered Tobi to get him out immediately.
• Sarutobi Toru realized Orochimaru’s soul fragments remained connected as one through Yin Release Chakra.
• Sarutobi Toru completed a Substitute Seed containing a fragment of his soul and prepared to choose a target for the Parasitic Technique.

Sarutobi Toru chose Sunagakure as the place to test his Parasitic Technique and selected Kinnara, a young descendant of Shamon, as his host. After taking over Kinnara’s body, he examined the boy’s inherited soul potential and planned to remain hidden in Sunagakure.

• Sarutobi Toru decided to use the Parasitic Technique to gain another body for experiments and access to other villages’ ninjutsu.
• He chose Sunagakure because of its expertise in soul techniques and vitality, then searched its intelligence reports for a suitable young host.
• Sarutobi Toru selected Kinnara, Shamon’s orphaned grandson, whose younger siblings were Karura and Yashamaru.
• Using the Spirit Transformation Technique, Sarutobi Toru entered Sunagakure and took over Kinnara’s body while the boy slept.
• Sarutobi Toru found that Kinnara had unusually strong soul potential and an inherited family scroll, and prepared to test whether the Parasitic Technique had worked.

Sarutobi Toru created a new identity by implanting a Substitute Seed into Kinnara and linking the boy’s body to his own soul. Kinnara adapted to his new body in Sunagakure, where he planned to blend in while the seed gradually strengthened him.

• Sarutobi Toru returned his soul to his body in the Reincarnation Warehouse and implanted a Substitute Seed in Kinnara.
• The seed revived Kinnara and linked his perceptions to Sarutobi Toru, who adapted to controlling two bodies.
• Sarutobi Toru found that Kinnara’s Chakra and constitution had increased slightly, while a fragment of Toru’s powerful soul greatly enhanced his mental strength.
• Sarutobi Toru left Sunagakure using the Spirit Transformation Technique and Flying Thunder God, while Kinnara stayed behind to adjust to his new body.
• Kinnara discovered he retained limited control over his hormones and could release a scent that increased his affinity with others, then went to sleep.

Sarutobi Toru told the Third Hokage and Danzo that he controlled Kinnara, a talented Sunagakure ninja, and they discussed how to use him. The Third Hokage proposed helping Kinnara become the Fourth Kazekage, and Toru agreed to stall while considering how Konoha might eventually remove the Third Kazekage.

• Sarutobi Toru assured the Third Hokage that Kinnara could not escape his control without dying, while concealing the Parasitic Technique.
• Danzo proposed using Kinnara to assassinate the Third Kazekage and blame the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth, but the Third Hokage dismissed the plan.
• Sarutobi Toru said Kinnara would become Kage-level before turning twenty, and the Third Hokage asked how likely he was to become the Fourth Kazekage.
• Sarutobi Toru recognized that Kinnara's Wood Release could make him invaluable to Sunagakure, but agreed only to give the plan a try and stall for time.
• Sarutobi Toru suspected Konoha might kill the Third Kazekage within a decade, creating an opening for Kinnara.

Sarutobi Toru secured the Third Hokage’s promise to secretly support Kinnara’s rise in Sunagakure. Kinnara tested his improved body and began adapting Sand Manipulation Technique to his fighting style, learning to form sand armor around his arms.

• The Third Hokage agreed that Konoha would secretly help Kinnara rise through Sunagakure’s ranks, even if it meant sacrificing some of Konoha’s interests.
• Kinnara assessed Sunagakure’s harsh environment and learned that he and his siblings received support as the Second Kazekage’s grandchildren.
• Kinnara trained in the courtyard and found that absorbing the Substitute Seed had brought his physical abilities close to Chunin level.
• Kinnara practiced Sand Manipulation Technique and decided to develop it alongside his established taijutsu path while concealing his Wood Release for two years.
• Kinnara learned Sand Armor and formed protective bracers around his arms, shattering a wooden post with a punch.

Kinnara trained with a new ninjutsu while Konoha sent Sarutobi Toru to Amegakure to oversee the River of Rain Plan. Hanzo of the Salamander welcomed Toru but grew suspicious about why Konoha had sent such a powerful ninja.

• Karura praised Kinnara's progress and called him to breakfast, while Kinnara decided he would apply for early graduation.
• Sarutobi Toru received orders to supervise the River of Rain Plan in the Land of Rain and prepared to lead a squad of more than ten Konoha ninja.
• Sarutobi Toru led the squad to Amegakure after two days of travel.
• Hanzo of the Salamander personally welcomed the Konoha group and was surprised to see Sarutobi Toru leading it.
• Hanzo of the Salamander wondered what Konoha might be plotting by sending such a powerful ninja to oversee the plan.

Sarutobi Toru supervised the River of Rain Plan as Amegakure and Sunagakure began construction, then spent three years training, researching, and completing Root missions. His attempt to absorb Natural Energy through hormones from Sage Katsuyu failed, but his experiments let him maintain Sage Mode permanently.

• Sarutobi Toru arrived in Amegakure with Hanzo of the Salamander and met Kosa, the newly appointed Third Kazekage.
• Hanzo of the Salamander explained the River of Rain Plan, and Amegakure and Sunagakure began building reservoirs, dams, and river channels under Konoha's supervision.
• Sarutobi Toru spent most of his time in Konoha training and researching, while a Shadow Clone remained in Amegakure to inspect construction.
• Over the next three years, Sarutobi Toru completed difficult Root missions and sometimes instructed Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Kanao.
• Sarutobi Toru's hormone experiments with Sage Katsuyu's Natural Energy failed to make him a sage, but allowed him to maintain Sage Mode permanently.

Kinnara and his two companions confronted and killed four rogue Iwa ninja in the Land of Wind. Afterward, Kinnara defended his effort to develop Wood Release, saying he already had some leads.

• Kinnara reflected that his Sage Mode had reached its limit and decided to seek research on vitality and mental strength from his clone in Sunagakure.
• Four rogue Iwa ninja fled through the Land of Wind desert and prepared to fight when Kinnara and his two companions intercepted them.
• The girl attacked with an orange fireball, while the brown-haired boy captured one rogue with Sand Binding Burial.
• Kinnara used Yellow Sand Armor to shatter an Earth Release boulder and then killed the leading rogue with a punch.
• Kinnara's companions finished off the other rogues, and Rasa urged him to study Magnet Release instead of pursuing Wood Release.
• Kinnara said he had leads on developing Wood Release, and the girl encouraged him to keep trying.

Kinnara revealed that he had developed Wood Release, astonishing Pakura and Rasa. The three decided to return to Sunagakure before showing the ability at the Chunin Exam, while a red-haired observer discovered Kinnara’s secret.

• Kinnara used Wood Release to bind Rasa, proving that his ability was real rather than genjutsu.
• Pakura celebrated Kinnara’s achievement, while Rasa warned that displaying Wood Release at the Chunin Exam could put Kinnara in danger.
• Kinnara, Rasa, and Pakura agreed to return to Sunagakure and consult the village’s higher-ups before deciding what to do.
• The trio cut off the heads of the four Iwagakure shinobi they had defeated and left the area.
• A red-haired figure emerged from the sand, examined Kinnara’s tree, and revealed that he had been assigned to observe and protect him.

Keiji secretly protected Kinnara and the other young Sunagakure shinobi, while the Third Kazekage considered how to respond to Kinnara's newly awakened Wood Release. He settled on seeking Iwagakure's cooperation to deter Konoha, then turned his attention to Rasa's failure to master Magnet Release.

• Keiji, Chiyo's son, vanished into a sandstorm after noting that Kosa would have another problem to handle.
• After Keiji reported Kinnara's Wood Release, the Third Kazekage celebrated privately before worrying that Konoha might threaten Sunagakure over it.
• The Third Kazekage considered an alliance with Iwagakure, reasoning that their shared interests could help deter Konoha from interfering with Kinnara.
• The Third Kazekage decided Kinnara would need to watch for Konoha's underhanded moves and felt hopeful about Sunagakure's gifted young generation.
• The Third Kazekage wondered why Rasa still had not mastered Magnet Release and decided he needed more training.
• Rasa, waiting in the Kazekage's office, felt a sudden chill without knowing that his teacher had just called him a disgrace.

After the Third Kazekage urged his disciples to prepare for the Chunin Exam, Kinnara took Rasa and Pakura to train in taijutsu. Their spar escalated when Rasa attacked with sand techniques, but Kinnara easily evaded his Sand Burial.

• The Third Kazekage praised the mission but told Kinnara that his Wood Release would be kept secret and urged all three disciples to train hard for the Chunin Exam.
• Kinnara challenged Rasa to taijutsu sparring, and Pakura joined them, while Kinnara privately worried about the romantic complications between them.
• At the Training Ground, Kinnara knocked away Rasa's Shuriken, spun him around, and threw him across the ground.
• Rasa protested the taijutsu-only match, then attacked Kinnara with Sand Shuriken, which Kinnara's Yellow Sand Armor blocked.
• Rasa used Sand Burial against Kinnara, but Kinnara vanished from the attack's range.

Kinnara demonstrated how his Yellow Sand Armor enhanced his speed, strength, and ability to fly, then defeated Rasa after Rasa trapped himself with Sand Burial. The chapter ended with Kinnara beating up the surrendered Rasa and the two repairing the Training Ground.

• Rasa questioned how Kinnara had become faster in his Yellow Sand Armor, and Kinnara explained how he controlled its weight with the Sand Control Technique.
• Rasa used Sand Burial across the Training Ground, but Kinnara stayed above the quicksand and revealed that his armor could let him fly.
• Kinnara struck Rasa, who turned into sand and emerged from the ground to surrender after becoming trapped by his own Sand Burial.
• Kinnara beat up Rasa despite his pleas not to hit his face, and Rasa later complained while applying medicine.
• Rasa and Kinnara used Earth Release to level the Training Ground after the Sand Burial's suction faded.

After the Third Kazekage gave Kinnara access to Sunagakure’s Forbidden Book Repository, Kinnara explored its research while Sarutobi Toru drew on its knowledge from afar. In Konoha, Tsunade told Toru he had been asked to train new graduates for the upcoming Chunin Exam, leaving him to suspect that Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted him to help Kinnara.

• Kinnara briefly sparred with Pakura, corrected her taijutsu, and hurried away from her affectionate gaze.
• The Third Kazekage permitted Kinnara to study in Sunagakure’s Forbidden Book Repository, where Kinnara examined its accumulated ninjutsu research and secret techniques.
• Tsunade noticed Sarutobi Toru had been distracted and making rapid progress in his research, and Toru explained that he had gained new insights.
• Tsunade told Sarutobi Toru that Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted him to train a group of Ninja Academy graduates for the Chunin Exam in three months.
• Sarutobi Toru suspected that Sarutobi Hiruzen intended him to leak information to Kinnara and undermine Konoha’s candidates.

Sarutobi Toru explained why Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Kanao would not enter the Chunin Exam, then learned that the Third Hokage had assigned him Uchiha Fugaku, Hyuga Hiashi, and Akimichi Choza as Genin. He recognized the team’s rivalry and poor chemistry but believed he could train them to cooperate.

• Sarutobi Toru told Tsunade that Kushina and Kanao had no need to expose their abilities in the Chunin Exam because they could advance quietly.
• The Third Hokage assigned Uchiha Fugaku, Hyuga Hiashi, and Akimichi Choza to Sarutobi Toru.
• Sarutobi Toru judged that Fugaku and Hiashi’s clan rivalry and Choza’s lack of influence would make the team difficult to unite.
• Sarutobi Toru recalled that Kushina was the strongest student in their generation, while Minato had been kept out of the exam.
• Sarutobi Toru decided that he could still train Fugaku, Hiashi, and Choza to work together.

Sarutobi Toru explained why the Chunin Exam was being held in the neutral Land of Iron, then gathered Uchiha Fugaku, Hyuga Hiashi, and Akimichi Choza to prepare them for the exam. He began testing their combat abilities, starting with Hyuga Hiashi.

• The Five Great Nations agreed to hold the Chunin Exam in the Land of Iron to improve its reputation for fairness and share the event's profits.
• Sarutobi Toru brought Uchiha Fugaku, Hyuga Hiashi, and Akimichi Choza to Training Ground 3 and told them to focus on teamwork and combat strength for the exam in three months.
• Sarutobi Toru asked the three students to fight him individually before testing their coordination as a team.
• Hyuga Hiashi activated his Byakugan and prepared to face Sarutobi Toru, who took a Tai Chi stance without activating Speed Chakra Mode.

Sarutobi Toru sparred with Hyuga Hiashi and Uchiha Fugaku to assess their abilities, demonstrating Tai Chi and deciding to help Fugaku awaken his Sharingan. The chapter ended with Toru gripping Fugaku’s heart and urging him to awaken his eyes before he died.

• Hyuga Hiashi attacked Sarutobi Toru with Gentle Fist, but Toru dodged his strikes and sent him rolling with a Tai Chi counter.
• Sarutobi Toru asked for the next challenger, and Uchiha Fugaku stepped forward despite not having awakened his Sharingan.
• Uchiha Fugaku demonstrated his shuriken throwing and Fire Release, but Sarutobi Toru judged his abilities insufficient.
• Sarutobi Toru struck Fugaku in the chest and gripped his heart, telling him that he could still save him if he awakened his eyes quickly.

Sarutobi Toru forced Uchiha Fugaku to the brink of death to awaken and strengthen his Sharingan, then tested his three students’ abilities and teamwork. He ended by promising the squad hellish training to prepare them for the Chunin Exam.

• Sarutobi Toru pulled his hand from Uchiha Fugaku’s chest after Fugaku awakened a one-tomoe Sharingan, then secretly intensified Fugaku’s fear until the Sharingan gained a second tomoe.
• Uchiha Fugaku woke, confirmed his new Sharingan in a mirror, and privately decided that Sarutobi Toru had a terrible personality.
• Sarutobi Toru reviewed Akimichi Choza’s abilities and had Fugaku, Choza, and Hyuga Hiashi attack him together to assess their teamwork.
• Sarutobi Toru identified the squad’s weak coordination and limited ranged attacks, then promised special training to increase their strength three or fourfold before the exam.

In the Land of Iron, Uchiha Hitomi agreed to leave with Black Zetsu for the Land of Rain to observe the fighting ninja, while Black Zetsu secretly hoped to corrupt him. Meanwhile, Sarutobi Toru used a new hormone on Pakura, who woke stronger but found Rasa regarding her with disgust.

• Black Zetsu urged Uchiha Hitomi to leave the Land of Iron before Konoha discovered him, and Hitomi agreed to travel to the Land of Rain.
• Uchiha Hitomi said he wanted to see ninja from the other great nations before Konoha's arrived, and Black Zetsu agreed.
• Sarutobi Toru abducted the sleeping Pakura to the Reincarnation Warehouse and used his newly developed hormone on her.
• Pakura woke feeling healthier and found that her strength, speed, and Chakra had increased, so she went to train with Kinnara.
• Pakura found Rasa at Training Ground No. 9, where Rasa felt disgust toward her and thought she was arrogant and irritating.

Kinnara secretly altered Pakura’s hormones to make others feel disgust toward her, hoping to drive her away from Sunagakure. In Konoha, Sarutobi Toru ended two months of brutal training for Uchiha Fugaku, Hyuga Hiashi, and Akimichi Choza after their abilities had improved dramatically.

• Kinnara noticed Rasa and Pakura had grown more hostile toward each other after his main body modified Pakura’s hormones.
• Pakura invited Kinnara to train, unaware that he planned to make her despair of Sunagakure and eventually defect.
• Sarutobi Toru’s special training left Uchiha Fugaku in agony, Hyuga Hiashi badly injured, and Akimichi Choza unconscious.
• Sarutobi Toru treated Hiashi and Choza with Light Healing Potions and Medical Ninjutsu, then declared the training over.
• Fugaku had awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan, Hiashi had greatly advanced his Gentle Fist with Tai Chi, and Choza had mastered all but his clan’s Butterfly Transformation Secret Technique.

Sarutobi Toru prepared his three disciples for their first real combat mission, taking them to hunt rogue ninja from Iwagakure. Meanwhile, Pakura and Kinnara joined Keiji’s party bound for the Chunin Exam, with Sunagakure secretly planning talks and an alliance with Iwagakure centered on Kinnara’s Wood Release.

• Sarutobi Toru told his disciples their training had improved them and announced that they would kill rogue ninja on a mission.
• Sarutobi Toru led Uchiha Fugaku and the other two disciples out of Konoha to target rogue ninja from Iwagakure.
• Pakura noticed Sunagakure’s people growing distant, while Kinnara remained kind to her and deepened her feelings for him.
• Keiji told Pakura, Kinnara, and their companion that they would travel through the Land of Earth and might face conflict with Iwagakure.
• Kosa arranged for the group to use the Chunin Exam and negotiations to pursue an alliance with Iwagakure, while Chiyo secretly followed to protect Kinnara.

Kinnara, Rasa, and Pakura traveled toward Iwagakure so the Third Kazekage could demonstrate Kinnara’s Wood Release to Ōnoki. Black Zetsu’s agents ambushed them in the Land of Rain, but Kinnara realized the attack was meant to provoke a war, and the team fought back.

• The Third Kazekage sent Kinnara, Rasa, and Pakura to Iwagakure, with Keiji accompanying them, to seek an agreement with Ōnoki.
• At the Land of Rain border, Keiji assigned the watches and warned the team to stay alert; Kinnara mediated between the increasingly hostile Rasa and Pakura.
• Black Zetsu planned to disguise an attack as an Iwagakure ambush and blame Konoha if his agents were exposed.
• Kinnara sensed White Zetsu approaching and woke the others before more than ten apparent Iwagakure shinobi attacked them.
• Kinnara charged into the enemy formation while Rasa used Gold Dust Burial to divide the battlefield and Pakura struck with Scorch Release.
• Pakura learned that Rasa had developed Magnet Release after he used Gold Dust Burial against the attackers.