Chapter Summaries

Mei Terumi became Jiogan’s disciple, while Jiogan studied the Three-Tails’ seal and spoke with Isobu inside the jar. He improved Isobu’s cramped sealing space and promised to find a way to free the Tailed Beasts.

• Mei Terumi knelt before Jiogan and asked him to accept her as his master, and Jiogan agreed to teach her Water Release on weekends and during school breaks.
• After Jiogan left the Terumi Clan gathering, Miho Terumi warned Mei not to reveal her awakened Kekkei Genkai while training under the Mizukage.
• Jiogan entered the Three-Tails’ sealing jar while Karatachi Yagura stood guard outside.
• Jiogan introduced himself to Isobu, explained his connection to Kurama, and said he would not become Isobu’s Jinchuriki.
• Jiogan enlarged Isobu’s cage and brightened the sealing space, then promised to seek a way to free him and the other Tailed Beasts.

Jiogan subdued Six-Tails Saiken, earned its trust, and made two acid-based gifts for Mei Terumi. After returning to the Yuki Clan grounds, he learned that Suikazan Fuguki and Jinin Akebino were obstructing the port's opening and trafficking people, and decided to arrange their deaths.

• Jiogan entered Six-Tails' sealing space, contained its acidic mist and liquid, and calmed Saiken by explaining who he was and why he had come.
• Saiken trusted Jiogan because Kurama trusted him, and Jiogan modified its sealing space before leaving.
• Jiogan created Corrosion Ball from Saiken's acidic mist and Decay Bottle from its acidic liquid as gifts for Mei Terumi.
• Yuki Hyouga reported that Suikazan Fuguki and Jinin Akebino were obstructing the port's opening and secretly trafficking people.
• Jiogan rejected simply removing the two men from their posts and told Yuki Hyouga he wanted to use special methods to kill them.

Suikazan Fuguki and Jinin Akebino faced an investigation into their human trafficking and plotted to assassinate the Third Mizukage, Jiogan. Jiogan anticipated their betrayal, killed them and their accomplices, and cleared the way for his reforms to take effect.

• After learning the Third Mizukage was investigating them, Suikazan Fuguki and Jinin Akebino discussed eliminating witnesses and cutting off the evidence.
• Jiogan summoned Suikazan Fuguki, ordered him to surrender his illegal gains, and suspended him from his post.
• Fuguki rejected Jinin Akebino's suggestion to defect and proposed ambushing Jiogan when he came to collect the profits.
• Jiogan arrived alone at Fuguki's residence, where Fuguki and Jinin Akebino launched their assassination attempt, but Jiogan killed them and their participating accomplices.
• Kirigakure announced the executions and repossession of Samehada and Kabutowari; Jiogan's reforms then began moving forward.

Jiogan’s victory over Suikazan Fuguki and Jinin Akebino strengthened his authority and helped Kirigakure’s reforms advance. As trade brought Kirigakure’s fruits to Konoha and foreign goods to Kirigakure, Jiogan explained his plans to Mei Terumi and proposed a Joint Chunin Exam.

• The Hozuki, Kaguya, and Terumi Clans reacted to Suikazan Fuguki and Jinin Akebino’s deaths, while the Third Mizukage’s authority went unchallenged and reforms proceeded more smoothly.
• Jiogan arranged for Konoha’s Fruit Shop to buy Kirigakure specialty fruits and hired Konoha ninja to escort the purchasing teams, spreading news of Kirigakure’s open ports.
• Mei Terumi visited Jiogan for her first training session and worried about her father’s warning to conceal her awakened Kekkei Genkai and report Jiogan’s words and actions.
• Jiogan served Mei Terumi Longjing Tea from the Land of Fire and explained how opening Kirigakure’s ports would improve supplies and people’s lives.
• Jiogan told Mei Terumi that he planned to invite Konoha to hold a Joint Chunin Exam the following spring, and she was surprised that he intended to create a first in the Ninja World.

Jiogan trained Mei in Water Release, demonstrating how profound understanding could transform basic techniques into powerful, versatile forms. His grilled fish reminded Mei of A Xin, and the chapter ended with Jiogan comforting her over the loss.

• Jiogan took Mei to his private training ground and asked her to demonstrate Water Wall.
• Mei showed her standard Water Wall, and Jiogan demonstrated a powerful technique that combined Water Wall and Water Wave.
• Jiogan taught Mei that deep understanding of water could let a ninja shape it freely, then demonstrated water forms without hand seals.
• Jiogan grilled fish for Mei, whose taste reminded her of A Xin and brought her to tears.
• Mei explained that A Xin had been killed during a spy attack before the Second Shinobi World War, and Jiogan comforted her.

Jiogan taught Mei Terumi how Water Release could combine with other elements and trained her to strengthen her foundation, then gave her a Corrosion Ball for emergencies. After reporting the lesson to her father, Mei returned to memories of Brother Xin and fell asleep holding his wooden carving.

• Jiogan explained Water Release's ability to combine with other elements and told Mei that her Water and Earth Release might give her the potential for a second Kekkei Genkai.
• Mei trained in Water Release under Jiogan's guidance, and he gave her a sealed Corrosion Ball made from the Six-Tails' acidic mist for self-defense.
• Mei put the Corrosion Ball away and told her father, Miho Terumi, about Jiogan's Water Release knowledge.
• Mei remembered Brother Xin while thinking about Jiogan's grilled fish, then took out Xin's recipe book and kept his wooden carving beside her.
• Mei fell asleep holding the wooden carving and dreamed of Brother Xin.

Jiogan applied for Kirigakure and Konoha to hold a Joint Chunin Exam, intending to use it to promote exchanges and display Kirigakure’s reforms. Hiruzen Sarutobi expanded the proposal into an invitation to every shinobi village, and the exam became a major topic across the Ninja World.

• Jiogan sent Hiruzen Sarutobi Kirigakure’s application for a Joint Chunin Exam and returned to Konoha to visit Feiyun, whose pregnancy had reached three months.
• Jiogan told Feiyun he would participate as Yuki Hyouba, while Kushina had mastered ten Water Release techniques but could not enter the exam.
• Kirigakure’s proposal reached Konoha, where Hiruzen Sarutobi and his advisors discussed its risks and potential benefits.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to invite every shinobi village to the Joint Chunin Exam and sent invitations across the Ninja World.
• News of Kirigakure’s participation spread, making the Joint Chunin Exam a major topic across the Ninja World.

Jiogan arranged Kirigakure’s six teams for the Joint Chunin Exam and planned to attend as a Yuki Clan candidate. In Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi organized preparations for the exam and persuaded Orochimaru to become chief examiner.

• At a Kirigakure Jonin Meeting, Jiogan allocated two places on each team to shinobi outside the five major clans and reserved one team entirely for them.
• Jiogan told Yuki Hyouga and Yuki Sora that he would join the exam as a Yuki Clan Genin after awakening Ice Release, and one month later his teammates were named Ringo Koizumi and Megure Juichi.
• Jiogan sent a clone to Kirigakure’s three months of team training, while registration closed with Konoha, Kirigakure, four smaller villages, and Uzushio Village participating.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned preparations, accommodations, and security duties to his advisers and ordered Fuyou Uchiha to strengthen public security.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi refused Shimura Danzō’s request to be chief examiner and persuaded Orochimaru to take the position.

Jiogan led Kirigakure’s delegation to Konoha for the Joint Chunin Exam and settled the examinees into their accommodations. As the group explored the village, Yuki Hyouba drew a crowd of admiring onlookers and hurried into Ichiraku Ramen with his teammates.

• Jiogan appointed Jūzō Biwa and Raiga Kurosuki as his guards, announced a Blade Seizing Tournament, and named Karatachi Yagura acting Mizukage while he was away.
• Jiogan departed Kirigakure with the eighteen examinees and his guards, then challenged the teams to race to Konoha and rewarded the Hozuki Clan team with Ninjutsu Scrolls for winning.
• Hatake Sakumo welcomed Jiogan’s delegation to Konoha, where Jiogan warned the examinees to avoid sensitive places and conflicts before the exam began.
• Yuki Hyouba went sightseeing with Ringo Koizumi and Megure Juichi, attracting attention from Konoha residents because of his beauty.
• Yuki Hyouba and his teammates fled the admiring crowd and ducked into Ichiraku Ramen.

Jiogan, Megure Juichi, and Ringo Koizumi ate at Ichiraku Ramen, where they met Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki and discussed Kirigakure’s reforms and the Chunin Exam. After exploring Konoha’s shops, Jiogan showed his companions the busy fruit supermarket he owned, while the Third Mizukage departed for a welcome banquet with Hiruzen Sarutobi.

• Jiogan took Megure Juichi and Ringo Koizumi to Ichiraku Ramen, where they enjoyed the food.
• Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki entered, noticed Jiogan, and spoke with him about the Chunin Exam and Kirigakure’s trade reforms.
• Jiogan encouraged Kushina after she complained that she could not take the Chunin Exam, then invited Minato to fight him during the exam.
• Jiogan, Megure Juichi, and Ringo Koizumi toured Konoha Commercial Street and visited Jiogan’s crowded fruit supermarket.
• The Third Mizukage set out with Jūzō Biwa and Raiga Kurosuki to attend the welcome banquet hosted by Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Jiogan and the other Kirigakure examinees prepared for the Joint Chunin Exam, whose first round was a written test. As the test unfolded, Jiogan blocked cheating attempts with an Ice Cube Mirror while the Third Hokage and Third Mizukage traded pointed remarks about Konoha and Kirigakure’s history.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi hosted a welcoming banquet for the Third Mizukage, and the two Kage agreed to hold a summit after the Joint Chunin Exam.
• Jiogan learned that the exam would have four rounds and that ninety examinees from several villages would participate.
• Kiyokatsu Sarutobi explained the written-test rules, and the examinees began the first round at the Konoha Ninja Academy.
• Jiogan finished his test quickly, then used an Ice Cube Mirror to prevent other examinees from copying his answers.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Third Mizukage discussed Yuki Hyouba’s counter-surveillance and recalled Kirigakure’s losses to Konoha and Little Water God's Kamui.

Yamanaka Chōjō tried to use her Mind Body Switch Technique on Yuki Hyouba to obtain answers, but he overwhelmed her in his icy consciousness and sent her back with answers for her team. After the written exam, all six Kirigakure teams passed and the successful examinees headed to the Forest of Death for the second round.

• Yamanaka Chōjō failed to reach her Nara teammate with her Mind Body Switch Technique, so she targeted Yuki Hyouba instead.
• Yuki Hyouba resisted Yamanaka Chōjō's invasion, froze her spiritual body, then returned her to her body with copied answers.
• Yamanaka Chōjō completed her test and her Akamichi teammate's test, while Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Third Mizukage watched the exam monitors.
• The written exam eliminated ten teams, but all six Kirigakure teams and ten Konoha teams passed.
• The successful examinees went to the Forest of Death, where Jiraiya would lead the second round.

Yuki Hyouba and Minato Namikaze agreed to duel for their teams’ scrolls in the Forest of Death, drawing the attention of the watching Konoha and Kirigakure leaders. Yuki gained the upper hand in their opening sword and kunai exchange, and Minato prepared to counter with ninjutsu.

• Jiraiya explained the second exam’s scroll-collection rules, and the teams entered the Forest of Death.
• Yuki Hyouba led his team toward Minato Namikaze’s team, whose Heaven Scroll matched their Earth Scroll.
• Yuki proposed that only he and Minato fight for the scrolls, and both teams accepted the arrangement.
• Yuki and Minato formed the Opposing Seal and began their duel as the high-ranking observers watched.
• Yuki pressured Minato through more than sixty exchanges and knocked the kunai from his hand.
• Minato pulled away and launched a ninjutsu attack as Hiruzen Sarutobi anticipated the fight’s next stage.

Yuki Hyouba and Minato Namikaze fought with Water Release and Ice Release in the Forest of Death, unleashing techniques powerful enough to draw nearby examinees and alarm the observers. With no clear winner and the area filling with spectators, Yuki gave Minato his Earth Scroll, and both teams departed on friendly terms.

• Minato Namikaze and Yuki Hyouba traded Water Release attacks until the battlefield was submerged.
• Minato used the Water Needle Technique, but Yuki defended with Ice Release and turned Minato's Water Wall into an Ice Tornado.
• Minato shattered the Ice Tornado with a full-power Water Wave that swept Yuki, their teammates, and nearby spectators away.
• Yuki gave Minato his Earth Scroll, saying Minato had been one move ahead, and Minato accepted after agreeing to treat him to ramen after the exam.
• Yuki and Minato completed the Seal of Reconciliation, and Minato led his team away.

After the Second Exam, Yuki Hyouba and Minato Namikaze spoke privately about their rivalry, Minato’s teacher, and the upcoming matches. Minato overcame his nervousness about the Kage watching, and the elimination matches produced twelve finalists who would compete in half a month.

• Yuki Hyouba’s team reached the Central Tower after Minato Namikaze’s team, and ten teams passed the Second Exam.
• Minato Namikaze visited Yuki Hyouba, and the two went outside the Central Tower to talk.
• Minato Namikaze revealed that the Water God was his teacher, and Yuki Hyouba asked what Minato thought of him.
• Yuki Hyouba encouraged Minato Namikaze not to feel nervous about the Hokage and Mizukage watching the matches, and Minato thanked him by agreeing to treat him to ramen.
• The elimination matches advanced twelve competitors: six from Konoha, five from Kirigakure, and one from Amegakure; the Final Match was scheduled for half a month later.

The Third Mizukage and Hiruzen Sarutobi finalized a framework cooperation agreement, and Kirigakure announced reforms focused on exchange, dialogue, and avoiding aggressive conflict. The communiqués stirred strong reactions across the Ninja World, while Yuki Hyouba discussed their meaning with Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki over dinner.

• The Third Mizukage and Hiruzen Sarutobi completed negotiations and signed a framework cooperation agreement between Kirigakure and Konoha.
• Kirigakure issued a communiqué announcing reforms, peaceful dialogue, exchanges with other villages, and annual participation in the Joint Chunin Exam; Konoha released a supportive communiqué of its own.
• Ōnoki condemned the policies as a scheme, the Third Kazekage regretted missing the exam and considered contacting the Third Mizukage, and Kumogakure mocked both villages' intentions.
• Yuki Hyouba met Minato Namikaze for dinner and joined him, Kushina Uzumaki, and Minato's teammates at an Akimichi Clan yakiniku restaurant.
• Yuki Hyouba said Kirigakure's desire for peace was genuine, and Minato Namikaze connected the new policies to Yuki's use of the Opposing Seal and Seal of Reconciliation during their fight.

Yuki Hyouba and Minato Namikaze fought the Joint Chunin Exam finals match, trading taijutsu and Water Release before bringing their specialized techniques into play. Yuki stopped Minato’s water wave with ice and formed a giant Ice Ball, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Orochimaru began the finals, and Yuki Hyouba and Minato Namikaze were assigned the last match.
• Yuki and Minato exchanged punches and weapons strikes, with Yuki gaining the advantage in taijutsu.
• The two used Water Release: Water Wave, flooding the arena and then trading smaller techniques under its limitations.
• Minato unleashed Water Needle Technique, while Yuki countered with Ice Release and Ice Feather Technique.
• Minato swept the ice-laden feathers toward Yuki with a water wave, but Yuki stopped it with ice and formed a giant Ice Ball.

Minato Namikaze trapped Yuki Hyouba in a Water Palm Prison, but Yuki’s real body escaped while ice spread across the arena. Yuki then used the ice to ambush Minato, who prepared to unleash a powerful move as Kushina remained confident he could outlast him.

• Yuki Hyouba’s Water Dragon Ice Cannon destroyed Minato Namikaze’s clone, and Minato caught Yuki in the Water Palm Prison Technique.
• Yuki vanished from the prison as ice rapidly spread across the arena, forcing Minato to attack the ice and dodge Yuki’s ice spikes.
• The ice covered the arena, and Yuki used Ice Mirrors to appear behind Minato and knock him down onto the ice.
• As Yuki kept ambushing Minato, experienced ninjas suspected Yuki had spent too much Chakra, while Kushina believed Minato could win a battle of attrition.
• Minato decided to use One Force Breaks All Laws as Yuki continued attacking him.

Minato Namikaze unleashed the Water God Palm against Yuki Hyouba, who survived by hiding beneath the ice while his clone took the blow. Yuki won the final match, and the two formed the Seal of Reconciliation as the Joint Chunin Exam ended.

• Minato Namikaze adapted to Yuki Hyouba’s Ice Mirror Technique and eventually grabbed him, then hurled him into the sky and struck him with Water God Palm.
• Orochimaru protected the spectators with a barrier while the Water God Palm shattered the arena and flooded it with waves.
• Minato Namikaze feared he had killed Yuki Hyouba, but Yuki appeared behind him with a blade at his throat and revealed that a clone had taken the hit.
• Minato Namikaze admitted defeat, and Yuki Hyouba won the final match before the two formed the Seal of Reconciliation.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Third Mizukage declared the Joint Chunin Exam over and discussed the possibility of a more understanding Ninja World.

After the Joint Chunin Exam ended, Yuki Hyouba and Minato Namikaze shared a meal and reflected on their battles. Jiogan comforted Minato over his defeat and advised him to choose the Flying Thunder God from the Scroll of Seals.

• Yuki Hyouba and Minato Namikaze ate ramen with Kushina Uzumaki and discussed the exam and their fights.
• Jiraiya joined them, praised Minato's performance, and complimented Yuki Hyouba's Ice Mirror Technique and Water Dragon Ice Cannon.
• Jiogan visited Feiyun at home, reassured her, and recounted events from the exam.
• Minato stayed awake replaying his loss until Jiogan visited and told him he was proud of his performance.
• Jiogan warned Minato not to use Water God Palm again before reaching the One Sea Realm and urged him to choose Flying Thunder God from the Scroll of Seals.