Chapter Summaries

Ruri tested the Iburi Clan’s smoke abilities after they attacked him, then demonstrated that his Bloodline Seal could protect Naota from wind. He left the clan a sealing scroll and promised to solve their problem when they reached Takigakure in a month.

• Godai attacked Ruri with the Smoke Transformation Technique, but Ruri forced the smoke out with Sage Mode and defeated the Iburi clansmen who joined the fight.
• Hikodai apologized for the attack, and Godai and the others knelt after learning Ruri was Miyamoto Musashi, general of the Land of Iron.
• Ruri placed a Bloodline Seal on Naota and showed that the boy could withstand wind without harm.
• Hikodai begged Ruri to save the Iburi Clan and offered their loyalty.
• Ruri took Naota away, left the clan a sealing scroll, and promised to resolve their problem when they reached Takigakure in a month.

Ruri and Naota reached Hoshigakure, where Ransei recruited Ruri to help overthrow the Second Hoshikage, Hakusei, and promised him the Star and the Mysterious Peacock Method. The coup began the next night, but Ruri and Ransei found their informants unconscious and the Star missing.

• Ruri and Naota crossed the poisonous mist barrier and arrived in Hoshigakure, where Ruri learned about the village's reliance on the Star for training.
• Ransei identified Ruri as Miyamoto Musashi and asked him to help overthrow Hakusei; Ruri agreed in exchange for the Star.
• Ransei offered Ruri the Mysterious Peacock Method as well, and they set the coup for the following night.
• Ruri, Naota, and Ransei's group attacked the Star's training ground, but found Ransei's informants lying unconscious and the Star gone.

Ruri confronted Hakusei after the Second Hoshikage arrived with a Fire Crossbow squad and challenged Ransei’s rebellion. Hakusei unleashed the star’s power, but Ruri cut down his chakra tiger and killed him with one slash.

• Hakusei entered the training ground and claimed that his twenty-man Fire Crossbow squad and the star’s power had defeated Ransei’s forces.
• Ransei looked to Ruri for help, while Hakusei realized he could not sense chakra from the armored samurai and learned that he was Miyamoto Musashi.
• Hakusei merged with the star’s power and formed a chakra tiger with the Mysterious Peacock Method, which shattered the training ground around Ruri and the others.
• Ruri shielded the group as his Chakra Armor absorbed the tiger’s chakra, then he slashed through the tiger and pierced Hakusei’s chest, killing two Hoshinin behind him as well.

Ruri fought Hakusei, whose star-powered Chakra Dragon could recover from being cut apart. Ruri discovered that Hakusei’s power weakened with each recovery and continued attacking until the star was nearly within his reach.

• Ikkakusei surrendered after Ruri effortlessly cut through Hakusei’s Mysterious Peacock Method, but Ransei warned that the star would not be defeated so easily.
• The star restored Hakusei and formed a powerful Chakra Dragon that attacked everyone nearby, while Hakusei boasted that he could not be killed.
• Ruri activated Sage Mode and cut Hakusei and the Chakra Dragon apart, but the star revived him again.
• Ruri sensed that each revival weakened Hakusei and the Chakra Dragon, then repeatedly slashed them to exhaust the star’s power.
• Hakusei’s recovery slowed and the Chakra Dragon grew nearly transparent, as Ruri prepared to claim the star.

Ruri defeated Hakusei, took the Star, and helped Ransei secure control of Hoshigakure. After spending seven days investigating the meteorite and arranging trade ties, Ruri took Naota to the Land of Fire and headed for Konoha to meet Orochimaru.

• Ruri overwhelmed Hakusei’s Star-enhanced transformations, then struck him down with Sage Art—Iaijutsu as Hakusei tried to flee.
• Ruri revealed his identity as Amamiya Ruri, and Hakusei died; Ruri took the Star and burned the body to prevent information from being extracted through Impure World Reincarnation.
• Ruri returned to the training-ground ruins, confirmed Hakusei’s death to Ransei, and agreed to remain in Hoshigakure for a few more days.
• Ruri investigated the meteorite crater, gathered samples and documents, and taught Naota Kenjutsu while Ransei took charge of Hoshigakure and agreed to pursue trade with Takumigakure.
• Ruri used the Flying Thunder God Technique to bring Naota to the Land of Fire and set out for Konoha to give Orochimaru scientific guidance.

Ruri and Naota visited five-year-old Orochimaru in Konoha, where Ruri posed as an old friend of Orochimaru’s grandfather and began steering him toward research into life and inherited abilities. The chapter ended with Ruri planting ideas that he hoped would influence Orochimaru’s future path.

• Ruri and Naota entered Konoha disguised as merchants and found Orochimaru training alone.
• Ruri claimed to have known Orochimaru’s grandfather and learned that Orochimaru’s parents had died in battle.
• Naota fought Orochimaru, then used his smoke transformation to overwhelm him after undoing the Bloodline Seal.
• Ruri explained the smoke transformation as a hereditary ability and gave Orochimaru advice about fighting and training.
• Ruri healed a white snake and linked the feat to Orochimaru’s grandfather, encouraging Orochimaru to consider life’s fragility and reversibility.

Ruri encouraged Orochimaru to seek answers about life through research, then infiltrated a hidden Root base and confronted Shimura Danzō. Danzō welcomed him while reassessing the danger posed by his strength and insight.

• Ruri told Orochimaru that human potential might hold the key to overcoming death, and Orochimaru began pondering the limits of a lifetime.
• Ruri and Naota disappeared after Ruri touched Orochimaru's neck, and Orochimaru took the White Snake with him.
• Ruri crossed Konoha at night, used Sage Mode to locate the guards and barriers around a hidden base, and knocked out the sentries and two jonin.
• Ruri entered the base and met Shimura Danzō, who had built Root to expand his influence and prepare for a struggle over power.
• Danzō called the security test routine, but privately recognized that Ruri had defeated his guards effortlessly and seen through his intentions.

Ruri, disguised as Miyamoto Musashi, considered Danzo’s offer of cooperation and examined Root’s ninjutsu archive, especially the rare Kenjutsu scrolls. After demanding all the scrolls, Ruri swiftly subdued Danzo, who recognized him as Senju Tobirama and accused him of plotting against Takigakure.

• Danzo secretly invited Miyamoto Musashi to cooperate with Root, offering Konoha’s ninjutsu and cultivation methods in exchange for support.
• Danzo showed Ruri Root’s underground archive and offered him scrolls containing Hatake, Uchiha, and former Land of Iron general Kenjutsu experiences.
• Danzo promised Ruri one scroll immediately and the rest as their cooperation deepened, but Ruri said he wanted them all.
• Ruri vanished, pressed a kunai to Danzo’s neck, and placed a curse mark on his arm.
• Danzo recognized Ruri as Senju Tobirama from his Flying Thunder God Technique and accused him of using the Land of Iron to prepare revenge against Takigakure.

Ruri deceived Danzo into believing he was Senju Tobirama, took Root’s scrolls, and escaped with the Flying Thunder God. Danzo began secretly preparing to break Ruri’s control and build enough power to kill him, while Ruri later returned to Konoha and prepared to go back to Takigakure.

• Ruri used a stolen Face-Shifting Technique to make Danzo believe he was Senju Tobirama, then persuaded Danzo that cooperation could help them both control more of Konoha.
• Ruri took every scroll from Root’s shelves and escaped with the Flying Thunder God, leaving Danzo to vow revenge.
• Danzo ordered Kinoe to recover materials from Tobirama’s old laboratory and Kinoto to bring death-row prisoners to Root for secret research.
• Ruri spent a night at the Fujiwara clan grounds, then took Naota around Konoha while Danzo watched helplessly.
• Ruri judged that the Iburi Clan had likely reached Takigakure, bought local specialties, and prepared to return to the village.

After nearly ten days of safety and comfort in Takigakure, the Iburi Clan learned they would receive temporary residence rights and assigned work. Amamiya Ruri prepared to use their smoke-control abilities to warm the village through underground tunnels.

• Iburi Godai and Rika collected food from a Takigakure genin, reflecting on how their new life differed from surviving in the forest.
• Anbu informed the genin that the First Takikage was arranging work for the Iburi Clan, and he explained their temporary residence and path to permanent status.
• The Iburi clansmen explored Takigakure's local network and learned about the village's arrangements for them.
• Amamiya Ruri came to meet the clan and planned to have them guide warm smoke through underground tunnels to heat Takigakure.

Ruri welcomed the Iburi Clan into Takigakure and offered them work using their smoke transformation ability, including mining and smokeless barbecue. The clan accepted his offer and celebrated their new home with a meal of grilled fish.

• Ruri revealed his true appearance to the Iburi Clan, and Hikodai signaled everyone to keep his identity as the God of Samurai and First Takikage secret.
• Ruri offered the clan work heating the village and prospecting in mines, promising to improve their Bloodline Seal and describing the wages and benefits.
• Godai and the other clansmen agreed to work for Takigakure, and Hikodai ultimately accepted the arrangement.
• Ruri summoned fresh fish and grilled a sturgeon, asking Godai to control the smoke so it would not affect the flavor.
• The Iburi Clan eagerly ate the fish, and Ruri suggested that the children work at barbecue shops using their smokeless grilling ability.

Ruri reunited with Kakuzu and learned that A-Zheng and A-Mamoru had died, then visited Hanzo to examine his research into Military Ration Pills and cellular energy. Hanzo’s findings suggested a possible path to preserving vitality, and he offered Ruri a bottle that might aid his longevity research.

• Ruri ate sushi with Kakuzu, who told him that A-Mamoru had died and A-Zheng had followed him soon afterward.
• Kakuzu showed Ruri an ancient text claiming that only people with powerful chakra could reach the Pure Land.
• Hanzo invited Ruri to his laboratory and explained that his unusual constitution had inspired him to study animal and plant biology.
• Hanzo demonstrated that Mandrake roots could increase the body’s extraction of cellular energy, explaining how Military Ration Pills supplied chakra and caused harmful side effects.
• Hanzo suggested that replenishing cellular energy might preserve vitality and offered Ruri a bottle that could help with his research.

Hanzo presented Ruri with his research into the jellyfish Turritopsis dohrnii, which could repeatedly revert to a juvenile form and might offer a path to longevity. Inspired by Hanzo’s findings, Ruri weighed several ways to escape death, but none offered a certain or immediate solution.

• Hanzo showed Ruri how Turritopsis dohrnii could revert between mature and juvenile forms and potentially renew itself indefinitely.
• Hanzo explained that he had pursued the research for Ruri, whom he regarded as his teacher and family, and Ruri thanked him.
• Ruri took a Turritopsis dohrnii polyp back to his laboratory and considered whether jellyfish cells could be used to give humans similar abilities.
• Ruri compared three possible routes to longevity: Impure World Reincarnation, Jashin’s blessing, and fusing with Turritopsis dohrnii cells.
• Ruri considered combining multiple methods but encountered a serious problem.

Ruri investigated ways to extend his life so he could pursue research into resurrection techniques and Hashirama cells. After developing a method to slow the heartbeat and control breathing, he learned that Danzo had sent a secret letter to Miyamoto Musashi, the Land of Iron's general.

• Ruri decided to research a life-force transfer technique after considering Impure World Reincarnation and the delay before Chiyo could develop One's Own Life Reincarnation.
• Ruri studied Root's records and used Hyuga Tensaku's chakra-based heartbeat control method to investigate longevity with Hanzo.
• Ruri discovered that slower heartbeats and breathing reduced bodily consumption, while the Seven Heavens Breathing Method shortened practitioners' lifespans.
• Ruri ordered Akito not to use the Seven Heavens Breathing Method except in emergencies.
• Ruri developed a technique to use chakra to slow the heartbeat and control breathing, then received a letter from Mifune reporting Danzo's secret message to Miyamoto Musashi.

Ruri learned that Suisai was intensifying Kirigakure’s oppression of outsider clans, which Danzo hoped to exploit by sending “Miyamoto Musashi” to provoke a crisis. Ruri agreed to go, suspecting Madara was controlling Suisai, and planned to use the turmoil to benefit Takigakure and possibly awaken Madara’s eye.

• Danzo’s letter described Suisai’s coup and his escalating suppression of the Yuki, Hozuki, and Kaguya clans, which were considering joining forces to launch a coup.
• Danzo wanted Ruri, as “Miyamoto Musashi,” to provoke Suisai and deepen Kirigakure’s internal conflict so Konoha and Root could gain influence.
• Ruri agreed to go to Kirigakure and suspected Madara was manipulating Suisai because the Mizukage’s actions seemed too reckless for his usual schemes.
• Ruri considered how the Senju Bridge had made it easier for outsider clans to seek help or flee, and decided their kekkei genkai could strengthen Takigakure.
• Ruri unsealed Madara’s left eye and hoped the operation would push it to awaken into the Rinnegan.

Danzo’s rumors pushed the Yuki, Kaguya, and Hozuki clan heads toward a coup against Suisai, but the Seven Ninja Swordsmen attacked their clansmen before they could act. Ruri watched from the Kaguya Clan grounds as the clans prepared to strike back that night and screams erupted nearby.

• Danzo sent Root ninja to spread rumors in Kirigakure, driving the three clan heads to meet at the Kaguya Clan grounds.
• Kaguya Daiki, Yuki Hana, and Hozuki Oborozuki agreed to wait for their clansmen to return from missions before launching a coup.
• Wounded Netsuki arrived and warned the clan heads that Suisai had sent the Seven Ninja Swordsmen against them.
• Kaguya Daiki realized Suisai had used dangerous missions to isolate and target the outsider clans, then urged the others to attack Suisai that night.
• Ruri observed the meeting from a tree as screams rang out across the Kaguya Clan grounds.

Tochimochi Kusaki led Kirigakure Ninja in an attack on the Kaguya clan, whose fighters were overwhelmed by Shibuki and their superior numbers. As Kaguya Daiki prepared a desperate final move, Ruri entered the battle in Seven-Tails Chakra Mode and attacked Tochimochi Kusaki.

• Tochimochi Kusaki used Shibuki to blast the Kaguya defenders as the Kirigakure Ninja raided their grounds.
• Kaguya Daiki led the clan's fighters against the attackers, killing several Kirigakure Ninja with Shikotsumyaku.
• Tochimochi Kusaki used an explosive formula on a Kaguya bone and fought Kaguya Daiki, who cut off his own right hand to escape another blast.
• Kaguya Daiki lost ground as the Kaguya clan suffered heavy casualties, then transformed his body for a final attack.
• Ruri entered Seven-Tails Chakra Mode, rushed toward Tochimochi Kusaki, and slashed at him.

Ruri rescued the Kaguya Clan from Tochimochi Kusaki and prepared to relocate them to Takigakure. After defeating Mutō Shijin, he hurried to the Yuki Clan compound to save more clansmen.

• Ruri killed Tochimochi Kusaki with a single slash and took the Exploding Blade Shibuki.
• Ruri ordered Kaguya Daiki to lead his clansmen away, and the surviving Kirigakure Ninja fled.
• Mutō Shijin arrived with twenty Kirigakure Anbu, recognized Ruri, and sent them to warn the Mizukage.
• Mutō Shijin attacked Ruri to buy time, but Ruri cut Kubikiribōchō in two and defeated him.
• Ruri had Kaguya Daiki bind the unconscious Mutō Shijin, then hurried to the Yuki Clan compound.

Ruri arrived at the Yuki clan grounds as Yuki Hana used Ice Release to trap the Kirigakure Ninja, but Hakuto Okayama broke free and defeated him. Ruri killed Hakuto with a single slash, took Kabutowari, and drove the remaining Kirigakure Ninja into retreat.

• Ruri concealed himself near the Yuki clan grounds and watched Yuki Hana unleash Ice Age, freezing and immobilizing many Kirigakure Ninja.
• Yuki Hana attacked the immobilized enemies with ice senbon, but Hakuto Okayama smashed the senbon with Kabutowari and broke Yuki Hana’s ice blade, leaving him unable to fight.
• Hakuto Okayama shattered the frozen ground and led the Kirigakure Ninja in a counterattack against the Yuki clan.
• Ruri made a dramatic entrance and cut Hakuto Okayama in two with a single cyan blade strike, sending Kabutowari flying onto a nearby roof.
• Ruri sealed Kabutowari into a scroll and warned the Kirigakure Ninja that he would form hand seals if they tried to flee, prompting them to retreat.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ruri saves the Yuki Clan and convinces them to relocate to Takigakure.
• The Hozuki Clan is under attack by Kirigakure Ninja, with nearly half of their members dead or wounded.
• Ruri intervenes, using his Fire Style to separate the Hozuki Ninja from their attackers and giving him time to negotiate with Hozuki Oborozuki.
• Black Jiao, a powerful summon of the first Mizukage, appears, controlled by Madara.
• Kirigakure's military strength, including the second Mizukage Suisai and elite jonin, gathers to confront Ruri.

Character Developments

• Ruri demonstrates his overwhelming strength and saves the Yuki Clan, earning their trust and loyalty.
• Suisai is revealed to be under Madara's control, acting as a pawn in his scheme.
• Hozuki Oborozuki shows concern for his clan's survival and is willing to negotiate with Ruri.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and the role of strength in conflict resolution.
• The consequences of underestimating one's opponent.
• The influence of external forces (like Madara) on political and military decisions.

Character Interactions

• Ruri interacts with Yuki Hana, showing him respect and earning his trust.
• Ruri and Hozuki Oborozuki negotiate, with Ruri offering protection in exchange for the Hozuki Clan's support.
• Suisai, Kumamoto Kan, Sato Nishiki, Toyomizu Mitsuba, and Yamagata Sakura confront Ruri, displaying their unity and determination.