Recaps

Akaseki prepared to investigate the Flower Capital’s black market while the team arranged a way to share intelligence. When he could not learn the Shadow Clone Technique, the three split into two groups using Earth, Water, and Shadow Clones.

• Ranwu woke Akaseki and confirmed that he knew where the black market was, then warned him to signal for help rather than play hero.
• Minato suggested that Akaseki use a Shadow Clone to relay intelligence, and Ranwu offered to teach him the technique.
• Akaseki failed to copy the Shadow Clone Technique and proposed using an Earth Clone instead.
• Akaseki created an Earth Clone, Ranwu created a Water Clone, and Minato created a Shadow Clone, dividing the three into two groups of three.

Akaseki, Ranwu, and Minato used a pawnshop sting to expose the gang behind Flower Street’s thefts and their connection to Constable Heiji. After defeating the thugs and capturing Heiji, they left Akaseki’s Great Fireball Technique noticeably stronger than before.

• Akaseki posed as a reckless seller at a west-city pawnshop while Ranwu and Minato’s clones listened as he bargained with the proprietor.
• A brute interrupted the deal, and the proprietor sent the three outside, where more than a dozen armed men accused them of poaching on their turf.
• Ranwu and Minato questioned the gang about the thefts and the Konoha Ninja, and Minato vanished in a puff of smoke, revealing the trio’s ninja identities.
• Minato learned of the confrontation through his clone, then knocked out Constable Heiji when Heiji attacked him with a hidden blade.
• Akaseki and Ranwu returned to their original appearances, and Akaseki burned the thugs with a Great Fireball Technique that Ranwu said seemed stronger than before.

Akaseki, Ranwu, and Minato completed the Flower Capital theft-ring mission ahead of schedule and returned to Konoha with Jiraiya and Hiruko's team. Akaseki earned his first mission reward and celebrated with his teammates.

• Akaseki burned and defeated the street thugs while Minato captured the fleeing Heiji, exposing his role in the theft ring.
• Naiku confronted Heiji, who admitted to the crimes and complained about the catchers' pay; the ninjas handed the case over to the Flower Capital authorities.
• Jiraiya praised the team for finishing early, covered their food and lodging, and arranged to return to Konoha the next day with Hiruko's team.
• On the journey home, Yashiro found Akaseki secretly practicing ninjutsu, checked that his Dojutsu Power was holding up, and helped him copy Earth Style techniques.
• On March 27, Jiraiya gave Akaseki, Ranwu, and Minato 8,200 ryo each, and Ranwu chose Pine Leaf BBQ to celebrate their first mission pay.

Akaseki attended his first Uchiha Clan monthly meeting, where the clan discussed Danzo’s secret organization and the Third Hokage’s refusal to reveal its purpose or members. After the meeting, Inuzuka Claw stopped Akaseki and reminded him that he had arranged for her to come over.

• Jiancheng introduced Akaseki to the clan members at his first regular meeting.
• The clan members reported their progress and complained about Danzo’s secret organization after Jiancheng said the Third Hokage had refused to disclose its functions or roster.
• Fugaku offered to help Akaseki copy more Lightning Style ninjutsu, but Akaseki declined so he could finish watching Family Happiness.
• Akaseki left the meeting without copying any ninjutsu and prepared to begin Immersion at home.
• Inuzuka Claw rode up to Akaseki on her dog and told him not to leave because he had arranged for her to visit.

Akaseki received custom ninja tools from Inuzuka Tsume and arranged a Taijutsu spar with her at Training Ground Six. Back at home, he continued training his Fire Style Chakra Nature Transformation and assessed how difficult progress became at key thresholds.

• Akaseki guessed that Inuzuka Tsume was delivering an order from the Cat Ninja Tool Shop and agreed to spar with her that evening, with the loser paying for Ichiraku Ramen.
• Tsume delivered Akaseki's custom Kunai, Shuriken, Fuma Shuriken, and short sword, and Akaseki explained that he was training in Uchiha Clan Shurikenjutsu Manipulation.
• Akaseki returned home and used Immersion to stimulate his Fire Style Chakra Nature Transformation.
• Akaseki checked his progress, noting that Scorching Heat exceeded 10%, Incineration was at 9.56%, Overspread Burning was at 3.71%, and Swift Flame was below 1%.

After Immersion in Family Happiness ended, Akaseki’s Sharingan evolved as his emotions surged, and Liu-Liu Recycling bought the ninja tool set he had just received. The chapter left Akaseki with a Quasi-Two-Tomoe Sharingan and a theory about how Immersion had triggered its transformation.

• After enduring the finale of Family Happiness, Akaseki’s hypothalamus was freed and his emotions burst forth, sending special chakra toward his left eye.
• Clan Leader Jiancheng and Clan Elder Lanyu sensed the Sharingan’s chakra and went to check on Akaseki, keeping the other clan members outside.
• Liu-Liu Recycling offered to buy Akaseki’s items, and he selected his new ninja tool set, which vanished when the transaction completed.
• Jiancheng and Lanyu congratulated Akaseki, and Lanyu told him to look in the mirror.
• Akaseki saw that his left eye had gained two tomoe, giving him a Quasi-Two-Tomoe Sharingan.
• Akaseki theorized that the emotions he felt during Immersion and their release afterward had combined to trigger the transformation.

Akaseki learned the limits of his newly awakened Sharingan and considered how to spend his recycled credits, while Jiancheng and Lanyu discussed his Immersion Curse. He went to Training Ground Six for his spar with Claw, who confronted him as soon as he arrived.

• Jiancheng warned Akaseki that his one-sided Two-Tomoe Sharingan offered limited chakra and vision gains, and advised him to finish copying One-Tomoe ninjutsu before learning stronger techniques.
• Lanyu asked whether Akaseki's Immersion Curse was Genjutsu, and Jiancheng said it seemed to affect the brain and might not help Uchiha awaken their Sharingan.
• Jiancheng reassured Lanyu that the Uchiha could withstand pressure from Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō, and predicted another Shinobi World War would strengthen the clan.
• Akaseki regretted forgetting to ask for money for ninja tools, examined his 150 credits, and rejected buying a membership because it offered no benefits.
• Akaseki arrived at Training Ground Six for his spar with Claw, who sprang to his feet and accused him of not daring to show up.

At Training Ground Six, Akaseki sparred with Tsume and was surprised by how much her Taijutsu had improved. Tsume called Kuromaru into the fight and used the Human-Beast Combination Technique, leaving Akaseki facing two Kuromarus.

• Akaseki revealed that his Sharingan had advanced to Two-Tomoe, surprising Tsume.
• Tsume used the Four-Legs Technique and attacked Akaseki, but he parried her strike and countered with a precise blow to her face.
• After praising Akaseki's skill, Tsume called Kuromaru to join the spar and used the Human-Beast Combination Technique.
• Tsume and Kuromaru became two Kuromarus and charged Akaseki, who dodged too early, nearly got bitten, and retreated with the Substitution Technique.
• Akaseki complained about the undignified attack, and Tsume clarified that Kuromaru had been trying to bite his hand.

After sparring with Tsume and Kuromaru, Akaseki learned that his squad would likely take the Chunin Ninja Exams in two months and continued his nighttime training. He started a new immersive drama, which opened with Hong Yan being arrested after saving a villager’s life.

• Akaseki, Tsume, and Kuromaru sparred for more than two hours, with Akaseki winning more rounds than he lost.
• Tsume told Akaseki that the Chunin Ninja Exams were two months away, and Akaseki decided his squad would probably take them.
• Akaseki went to the edge of the Forest of Death to train and chose a new immersive drama after finishing Family Happiness.
• Akaseki declined the drama’s default control settings and entered You Call Me a Quack, So I'll Become a Veterinarian, Then.
• Hong Yan shouted at villagers as he was arrested for practicing medicine without a license after saving someone’s life.

Akaseki endured Hong Yan’s drawn-out trial and opened a clinic for Ninja Beasts before discovering someone had slipped into the Forest of Death through a Cursed Seal. He formed a Warning Seal and pursued the intruder through the closing gap in the barrier.

• Akaseki endured Hong Yan’s trial, where the villagers’ lies were exposed after a patient fell ill, and Hong Yan received a hefty fine and a ban on practicing medicine.
• Akaseki received Massage Device rewards and pushed himself through strenuous weighted push-ups to vent his frustration.
• Hong Yan opened a clinic for Ninja Beasts, where villagers spent most of the hour pressuring him to return and treat them.
• Akaseki bought the Physical Examination Device with his balance and later received an Eye Protection Device that replenished his Dojutsu Power.
• Akaseki spotted a figure entering the Forest of Death and found Cursed Seal markings that had opened a gap in the barrier.
• Akaseki formed a Warning Seal, then squeezed through the closing gap to follow the intruder.

Jiancheng and Lanyu followed a warning left by Akaseki and learned that Kumogakure ninja had entered the Forest of Death, where Kushina was being tested as a possible Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Akaseki joined Minato in tracking her, and the two found a strand of Kushina’s hair as they continued after her trail.

• Jiancheng and Lanyu saw the Warning Eye above the Forest of Death and went to investigate while the other Uchiha stayed in the compound.
• Kagami told Jiancheng and Lanyu that three Kumogakure ninja had entered Konoha and were following Kushina, while the Third Hokage watched to assess her suitability as a Jinchuriki.
• Lanyu criticized the Third Hokage’s test and suggested the Uchiha could become the Jinchuriki instead.
• Akaseki tracked a trail through the Forest of Death, then confronted Minato when Minato approached him from behind.
• Minato explained that Kushina was in danger and asked Akaseki to search for her red hair, and Akaseki spotted a strand nearby with chakra still clinging to it.

Akaseki and Minato rescued Kushina from three Kumogakure ninja before they could take her beyond Konoha’s borders. As the fight continued, Sarutobi rejected Danzo’s attempt to recruit Minato, while Danzo urged him to keep watch on Akaseki.

• Akaseki and Minato found Kushina being escorted toward the edge of the Forest of Death by three Kumogakure ninja, and Minato insisted they rescue her before she was taken beyond Konoha’s borders.
• Akaseki trapped the three enemies in a Genjutsu while Minato ambushed Soku, grabbed Kushina, and moved her to safety.
• Hope and Boku broke free of the Genjutsu, but Minato wounded Boku with a powerful Wind Style: Gale Palm, and Akaseki attacked Hope with a Great Fireball Technique.
• Danzo praised Minato and tried to claim him for his own purposes, but Sarutobi said Jiraiya was already teaching him.
• Danzo warned Sarutobi to watch Akaseki, accusing him of harboring ill intentions toward Kushina.

Akaseki and Minato rescued Kushina from Cloud Ninja kidnappers, defeated their captors, and brought back a prisoner. The Anbu took custody of the prisoner and arranged Kushina’s treatment, while Akaseki and Minato faced a formal questioning about the attempted kidnapping.

• Akaseki burned Hope with his Great Fireball Technique, dodged his lightning attack, and knocked him out with an Earth Style-enhanced punch.
• Akaseki killed his defeated opponent while Minato went to Kushina, and the two helped her escape with their sole surviving prisoner.
• Minato carried the unsteady Kushina while Akaseki escorted the prisoner, and they explained that they had rescued her because she was one of Konoha’s own.
• Konoha’s elders watched the group return, while Danzo frowned at Akaseki’s remarks about the village’s clans and outsiders.
• Anbu took custody of the prisoner and arranged medical care for Kushina, then formally questioned Akaseki and Minato about the attempted kidnapping.

Akaseki, Minato, and Ranwu joined Jiraiya for a mission assigned personally by the Third Hokage. At the Hokage’s office, they discovered that Torifu Akimichi and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio would also be involved, and Hiruzen began explaining the mission.

• Akaseki and Minato went straight to the Hokage Building after leaving Anbu headquarters, and Ranwu joined them there.
• Akaseki and Ranwu traded taunts about sparring until Jiraiya offered them a B-Rank Mission, which they eagerly accepted.
• Jiraiya led Team 7 to the Hokage’s office, explaining that the Third Hokage had personally assigned the mission.
• Akaseki recognized Torifu Akimichi and the young Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Choza Akimichi in the office.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi began outlining the mission to Jiraiya and Torifu Akimichi.

Akaseki and the others accepted a B-rank mission to protect the Land of Waves from pirates, though Sarutobi and Danzo treated it as unusually important. Jiraiya explained that the mission marked the first time a major organization from the sea islands had hired Konoha, then began recounting Kirigakure’s past leadership change.

• Danzo questioned whether Genin should join the mission, but Sarutobi approved it after Torifu Akimichi and Jiraiya vouched for the youngsters.
• Sarutobi explained that the Land of Waves’ merchant association wanted Konoha to eliminate pirates who might include Chunin or Jonin, and all eight participants agreed to take the mission.
• Torifu Akimichi set the joint squad’s departure for two o’clock, and the group discussed Minato’s early graduation and Akaseki’s awakened eyes.
• Akaseki asked Jiraiya why the mission mattered, and Jiraiya explained that the Land of Waves was an island nation with no ninja village and had never before sent a mission to Konoha.
• Jiraiya described the tensions that followed the First Hokage’s death and asked why Byakuren had chosen Hozuki Gengetsu over his intended successor, prompting Akaseki to guess that the reason was democracy.

Jiraiya explained Kirigakure’s history and civil war as Team Jiraiya prepared for a sea voyage to the Land of Waves. At the coast, Torifu planned to visit the ruined Uzushio Village, and Minato, Akaseki, and Ranwu asked to join him.

• Jiraiya told Akaseki, Minato, and Ranwu how Kirigakure’s civil war began and why rogue shinobi and island nations were seeking help.
• Akaseki, Minato, and Ranwu bought supplies, then traveled with Team Jiraiya and Team Torifu Akimichi to the coast.
• Jiraiya explained that the Land of Waves’ merchant association envoy would meet them at the port on May 6, while Torifu announced he would visit the Land of Whirlpools.
• Jiraiya decided to accompany Torifu to pay respects to the destroyed Uzushio Village, Konoha’s former ally.
• Minato, Akaseki, and Ranwu each asked to go with them, and Akaseki cited the Uzumaki Clan’s ties to the Senju Clan and Konoha.

Akaseki, Jiraiya, and their companions visited the ruins of Uzushio Village to pay respects to the Uzumaki Clan. That night, Jiraiya told Akaseki, Minato, and Ranwu that Kumogakure was the likely culprit and began explaining how the First Hokage had prevented war.

• Akaseki, Ranwu, and the younger Ino-Shika-Cho joined Torifu and Jiraiya on a trip to Uzushio Village.
• Torifu paid respects in the Mask Storage Hall, while the others saw the devastation and learned that the Uzumaki bodies and possessions had been taken.
• Jiraiya explained that the Uzumaki Clan's destruction had united Konoha's clans behind Hiruzen Sarutobi after they had challenged his succession as Hokage.
• Akaseki, Minato, and Ranwu questioned Jiraiya during his night watch, and he said Kumogakure was the most likely force behind the attack.
• Jiraiya distinguished Kumogakure from the Second Raikage and began revealing how the First Hokage had secured peace by distributing the Tailed Beasts.

Jiraiya explained how the Tailed Beasts were distributed and how Kumogakure’s pro-war faction rose to power. He revealed why Tobirama stayed behind during the coup, and the chapter ended with Konoha uniting under the Third Hokage to deter Kumogakure.

• Hashirama captured and distributed the Tailed Beasts, while Sunagakure kept Shukaku and demanded territory and resources instead.
• Jiraiya explained that villages relied on Jinchuriki and described Kumogakure’s use of the Amber Purifying Pot and the Gold and Silver Brothers.
• Ranwu described Kumogakure’s Raikage succession, and Jiraiya explained how the pro-war faction gained influence over the village.
• Jiraiya said the Gold and Silver Brothers killed the Second Raikage at an alliance meeting and suggested the Yotsuki Clan may have helped enable the coup.
• Tobirama stayed behind to face the Gold and Silver Brothers, allowing six others to escape while he sealed away the Six Paths Tools.
• After clues linked Kumogakure to the Uzumaki Clan’s extermination, the Uchiha Clan supported the Third Hokage and Konoha prepared for war, prompting Kumogakure to back down.

Jiraiya discussed the political causes behind Kirigakure’s and Kumogakure’s conflicts with Akaseki, Minato, and Ranwu, then sent them to rest. Akaseki began his final Immersion in a veterinarian drama, gained a boost to Swift Flame, and received a mysterious Big Red Bite reward that searched for a target.

• Jiraiya explained that Kumogakure had attacked the Uzumaki Clan to obtain their Sealing Techniques but had gained only incomplete inheritances.
• Minato analyzed how internal divisions and neglected factions had fueled conflict in Kirigakure and Kumogakure, while Akaseki called for revenge against Kumogakure.
• Jiraiya warned Akaseki against letting anger and hatred cloud his judgment, then sent the students to rest before their return to the Land of Fire.
• Akaseki began his final Immersion in <You Called Me a Quack, So I Became a Veterinarian, All Right?> and watched Hong Yan’s pet hospital prosper.
• Akaseki’s Swift Flame progress surged to 3%, and a Big Red Bite reward began searching for a target, leaving him wondering whether Choza Akimichi would be chosen.

Akaseki discovered a dying Uzumaki Clan Ninja Beast Tanuki sealed inside the Mask Storage Hall and used the Big Red Bite system to revive it. Jiraiya recognized the tanuki, and Akaseki bought more nourishment as it weakened again.

• Akaseki followed the system marker to the Mask Storage Hall and found a small creature behind the Three-Eyed Pointed-Ear Mask.
• After Akaseki claimed the mask, the system priced it at five hundred ryo, and he fed the creature with the Big Red Bite system.
• Jiraiya arrived and saw the revived creature emerge from its hiding place; he recognized it as the Uzumaki Clan's Ninja Beast Tanuki.
• The tanuki asked for more nourishment, then weakened, so Akaseki agreed to use more of his limited power on it.
• Akaseki bought ten discounted servings through the Big Red Bite system to try to restore the tanuki.

Akaseki discovered that the Tanuki Beast could not yet leave the Mask Storage Hall, so Torifu and Jiraiya decided that Akaseki, Minato, and Ranwu would stay behind while they went to the Land of Waves. The others departed by boat, leaving the three young ninja to care for the Tanuki and return or gather intelligence if the mission team did not come back within ten days.

• After Akaseki fed it Big Red Bite, the Tanuki woke, knocked down a mask, then fell asleep with the mask attached to its back.
• The Tanuki struggled when Akaseki tried to carry it away from the Mask Storage Hall and bit his pant leg when he tried to leave it behind.
• Torifu recognized that the mask might let the Tanuki use the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Techniques and agreed it should not be left alone.
• Torifu proposed that Akaseki stay behind while Jiraiya took Minato and Ranwu to the Land of Waves, but Jiraiya decided the three young ninja would remain instead.
• Ranwu and Minato agreed to stay with Akaseki, and Jiraiya told them to return or gather intelligence if the Tanuki recovered or the others had not returned after ten days.
• Jiraiya and Torifu left by boat to complete the mission in the Land of Waves.

Akaseki watched The One Who Died Is Your Mom, a drama about Hong Yan and his unfaithful wife, Shen Qingqing, and suffered another burst of anger when she refused to return to the hospital for her ill mother. After the first hour, he received a Temple Run immersion in which he had to flee a monster, and began using it to train his running and obstacle-avoidance skills.

• Akaseki chose the short show The One Who Died Is Your Mom and entered its story as Hong Yan, the live-in son-in-law of Shen Qingqing’s family.
• Hong Yan’s mother-in-law confronted him about Shen Qingqing using overtime as an excuse to meet her first love, An Ruhai.
• Shen Qingqing’s mother suffered a medical emergency, but Shen Qingqing dismissed calls from Hong Yan and the hospital and refused to come back.
• Akaseki finished his first hour of immersion, felt his anger flare, and received a Temple Run immersion as his reward.
• Akaseki discovered he could only run from a monster with no ninjutsu and began training by dodging obstacles.

Akaseki used repeated Immersion sessions to train his physical skills, then got caught in a hospital drama where Shen Qingqing repeatedly refused to believe Hong Yan that her mother was in danger. After the old woman died, Akaseki checked his progress and found Overspread Burning had risen to 9.51%.

• Akaseki tested the physical skills he gained during the trial run and began another Immersion session.
• Akaseki, acting as Hong Yan, rushed to bring Shen Qingqing to the hospital, but she believed An Ruhai and refused to go.
• Hong Yan returned to the hospital as the vice president began operating on the old woman, while Shen Qingqing arrived and was misled into thinking the patient was Hong Yan's mother.
• Shen Qingqing refused to operate, and the vice president emerged to report that the patient had died.
• Akaseki completed two hours of Immersion and found that Overspread Burning had reached 9.51%, while Scorching Heat and Incineration had reached 12% and 11%.

Akaseki tried a survival game where he could fuse ninjutsu and use the Sharingan to copy the resulting techniques. He learned that copying progress persisted between attempts, but balancing survival and copying was difficult; the trial ended when the Little Tanuki Beast woke him.

• Akaseki discovered that treasure chests granted techniques he already knew, but the game performed them automatically after he made the hand seals, limiting their value for training.
• Akaseki fused the Great Fireball Technique and Earth Prison Dome of Nothingness into the Roasting Hell Technique, then used his Sharingan to copy it and found that failed copying progress was preserved.
• Akaseki chose two Earth Clones, which increased his damage and appeared to improve his copying efficiency, but he died before reaching the fifth wave.
• Akaseki realized he had to balance game strength with copying opportunities and ended the trial without successfully copying a ninjutsu, though he thought a few more attempts could let him learn a simple combination technique.
• The immersion was interrupted, and Akaseki woke to the Little Tanuki Beast nudging him.

Akaseki and Ranwu trained their Genjutsu together, with Ranwu testing her unfinished Bringer-of-Darkness Technique against Akaseki’s Sharingan. The chapter left Minato training his sensory abilities on the island shore.

• Akaseki fed the Little Tanuki Beast a Big Red Bite, and it freed a second animal mask before falling asleep again.
• Ranwu brought Akaseki grilled fish, and they ate before beginning their planned training.
• Akaseki and Ranwu practiced Genjutsu against each other, with Ranwu using the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique to challenge his Sharingan.
• Akaseki stopped the session after Ranwu’s technique repeatedly interfered with his Sharingan, and Ranwu said Jiraiya knew she was learning it.
• Jiraiya continued guiding Minato’s sensory training, and Minato practiced detecting crab burrows in the sand.