Recaps

Orochimaru learned that Rain Ninja forces and poison-mist squads were pressing the Land of Iron, while Akaseki used the chance to resume Immersion and pursue Wind Release. Immersion brought Akaseki through Hong Yan’s final ordeal, where Ling Xiao’s fraud was exposed after Hong Yan developed sepsis, and Shen Qingqiu suddenly began to repent.

• Orochimaru learned from Tetsuji that the Rain Ninja front had advanced quickly and their poison-mist squads were attacking the Land of Iron’s rear.
• After Orochimaru’s offer failed, Jiraiya asked Tetsuji where Konoha could help, and Tetsuji gladly told him where support was needed.
• Orochimaru prompted Akaseki to stop hiding Immersion, and Akaseki decided to use the rest break to advance his Wind Release against the Rain Ninja’s poison mist.
• During Immersion, Hong Yan reached Stillness as Ling Xiao covered up the surgical problem, falsified test results, and increased Hong Yan’s painkillers.
• Hong Yan developed sepsis and signs of multiple organ failure as Ling Xiao’s false credentials and actions were exposed and he was arrested.
• Akaseki estimated that Stillness would greatly advance his Heavy Rock transformation, while Shen Qingqiu abruptly began to repent.

Akaseki used the Immersion System’s Air Quilt to awaken Wind Release while sleeping, and Orochimaru recognized the change. After Akaseki woke, Jiraiya urged Orochimaru to teach him Wind Release ninjutsu for their mission in the Land of Iron.

• Akaseki bought the Air Quilt after completing the Immersion storyline and began using it to develop Wind Release.
• Orochimaru stopped Jiraiya from waking Akaseki and explained that he was awakening Wind Release Chakra nature transformation while dreaming.
• Ranwu recalled Akaseki’s unusual dreaming habits, and Jiraiya and Minato realized they might explain his difficulty waking.
• Akaseki slept for more than ten hours until his Wind Release talent fully awakened, while Orochimaru watched.
• Jiraiya asked Orochimaru to teach Akaseki Wind Release ninjutsu, arguing that it was important in the Land of Iron.

Akaseki copied several Wind Release techniques from Orochimaru, who explained how Wind Release interacted with Hanzō’s poison mist. Minato grasped the lesson and demonstrated a hand-seal-free Gale Palm, impressing Orochimaru and drawing Jiraiya out of hiding.

• Akaseki copied practical C-rank and B-rank Wind Release techniques and the A-rank Airflow Wild Dance and Wind Blade from Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru explained that Wind Release manipulated air movement, so using it from inside poison mist might only churn the poisonous air unless the technique was strong enough to overwhelm it.
• Orochimaru used eggs to illustrate how Wind Release could disperse poison mist from outside but struggle to clear it from within, and Akaseki concluded that range was important.
• Minato emerged from his thoughts and used Gale Palm without hand seals, carving marks into a distant tree.
• Orochimaru praised Minato’s talent, and Jiraiya revealed he had been watching from the shadows and argued with Orochimaru over his assessment.

Orochimaru tried to teach Akaseki about the essence of chakra transformation, while Minato quickly grasped the lesson and detected Rain Ninja at a supply point. Akaseki used a powerful Wind Release to clear the poisonous mist and began to understand how his technique moved the air.

• Minato understood Orochimaru's explanation of Wind Release, while Akaseki struggled with Orochimaru's lesson and Jiraiya blamed Orochimaru for being a poor teacher.
• Orochimaru fed Akaseki an unusually large breakfast of egg cuisine before the group set out for a heavily defended supply point in the Land of Iron.
• Yakushi Nonō explained that the Land of Iron's swordmasters were generally weaker than Konoha's Jonin, while their armor chiefly helped lower-ranked samurai.
• Minato detected Rain Ninja near a northern supply point with the Thousand Worlds Awareness Technique, and Orochimaru led the group toward them.
• At the entrance to a river valley filled with purple poisonous mist, Akaseki used Wind Release: Airflow Wild Dance to clear the air and noticed that his technique drew surrounding air toward its starting point.

Akaseki and his team fought the Rain Ninja who had poisoned River Valley Village, killing the three Chunin and driving their Jonin leader to flee. Orochimaru trapped the giant salamander before it could be dismissed, while the team treated and organized the poisoned villagers.

• Akaseki's team confronted Miasma Wind and his Rain Ninja at the supply point, and Akaseki refused to leave after learning they had poisoned the villagers.
• Akaseki blew away the salamander's poison mist as Minato and Ranwu charged, while Yakushi Nonō remained behind to watch.
• The Rain Chunin used underground attacks and visual clones, but Akaseki and Yakushi Nonō exposed the deception and Akaseki killed all three with Wind Release: Wind Blade.
• Miasma Wind fled underground, but Orochimaru sealed the giant salamander inside the Four Black Mist Formation and prevented its summoning from being dismissed.
• Ranwu and Yakushi Nonō treated the villagers while Akaseki and Minato gathered them and sorted them by the severity of their poisoning.

After rescuing a village, Akaseki and his companions learned that the Rain Ninja’s campaign in the Land of Iron faced severe supply problems and that Konoha was moving against them in the Land of Rivers. Jiraiya found a gathering point for Rain Ninja supply teams, prompting Orochimaru to split the group so he and Minato could join the attack while Akaseki stayed behind.

• Akaseki and his group received the rescued villagers’ thanks, while Orochimaru emerged with the Giant Salamander’s venom sac.
• Orochimaru explained that the Rain Ninja had invaded the Land of Iron to obtain supplies, and Akaseki concluded their advance would falter once Iwagakure and Konoha disrupted their plans.
• Orochimaru revealed that Tsunade had gone to the Land of Rivers to prevent Sunagakure from claiming the mission of liberating it.
• Minato summoned Gamaken, who relayed Jiraiya’s message that at least six Rain Ninja Jonin and their teams would gather behind the battle lines to send supplies to the front.
• Orochimaru ordered Minato to join him in attacking the Rain Ninja rendezvous point and told Akaseki to remain with Ranwu and Yakushi Nonō until they met in Severed Mountain City.

Akaseki guarded a village supply point, then secretly followed Yakushi Nonō after catching her sneaking out before dawn. He found her treating poisoned children, but remained suspicious as he led Ranwu and Nonō toward Severed Mountain City; a blizzard forced them to shelter at another supply point, where Akaseki presented himself and his companions as the only Konoha ninja present.

• Akaseki created Mirror Clones to keep watch while he and Ranwu rested, and one clone spotted Yakushi Nonō slipping out before dawn.
• Akaseki followed Yakushi Nonō underground and saw her quietly treat the poisoned children in a granary, but he still suspected she might be recruiting them for Root.
• Patrolling samurai arrived, and Akaseki warned them to watch the children before setting off with Ranwu and Yakushi Nonō toward Severed Mountain City.
• A blizzard forced Akaseki to change their route and seek shelter at a cave village, where he used a Mirror Clone to scout ahead.
• At the cave supply point, Akaseki showed the guards Orochimaru's token and said that only he, Ranwu, and Yakushi Nonō were there to rest.

Akaseki finished the Immersion drama The Truth Behind Favoritism, whose family accepted Father Hong’s accounting of years of loans as the explanation for his unequal division of the demolition money. Furious at the drama’s absurd ending, Akaseki gained a boost to his Dojutsu Power, reported the show, and received compensation that automatically topped up Sacred Spire; he decided to try climbing its tower despite disliking the game.

• Akaseki watched Hong Yan’s family receive only 200,000 yuan from the demolition compensation while Hong Hong received 9.5 million, and Hong Yan repeatedly insisted that Father Hong knew what he was doing.
• Hong Hong’s family gambled away their money and returned to ask Father Hong and Hong Yan for another two million, prompting Father Hong to reveal records of their past loans and claim the 9.5 million had repaid their debts.
• Hong Yan’s family accepted Father Hong’s explanation and settled in to wrap dumplings, while Akaseki woke from the Immersion furious enough to punch the stone wall and awaken his Sharingan.
• Akaseki reported the drama as artificial stupidity and received 10,000 yuan in compensation, which the platform used to top up his Sacred Spire account and unlock VIP benefits.
• Akaseki complained that the bonus had gone to Sacred Spire rather than a more useful game, but decided to play more runs and climb the tower.

Akaseki used Sacred Spire to develop Wind Release: Wind Pressure Technique, a C-rank ninjutsu designed to clear poison mist and other mists. As he experimented with a mixed Wind and Lightning deck, six Rain Ninja carrying sealing scrolls headed toward Mountain Hollow Village.

• Akaseki unlocked the Wind Release deck and experimented with its transformations, then used Fire Style runs to improve his understanding of ninjutsu.
• Akaseki built a deck around [Vast Expanse] and defeated the third-spire boss, creating Wind Release: Wind Pressure Technique to clear mist over a wider area than Great Breakthrough.
• Akaseki started another run, replaced three Wind Release transformations with Lightning Style transformations, and quickly advanced through two spires with the mixed deck.
• Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Minato failed to capture the Rain Ninja mobile unit’s full force, as six Jonin escaped with the sealing scrolls.
• The six escaped Rain Ninja traveled through a blizzard toward Mountain Hollow Village, intending to stop there.

Six Rain Ninja attacked Mountain Hollow Village with poison mist after learning Konoha ninja were inside, while Akaseki’s Mirror Clone fought their sickle-wielding Jonin in the fog. The clone vanished after being wounded, leaving two gunbai-wielding copies facing the enemy’s spinning blades.

• Yin Yan killed a villager after learning that Konoha ninja were staying in Mountain Hollow Village, and the six Rain Ninja decided to attack.
• Akaseki tested a Lightning and Wind combination in his game before his Shadow Clone warned him that the village entrance was filling with poison smoke.
• Akaseki woke Ranwu and Yakushi Nonō and sent his Mirror Clone to investigate the Rain Ninja attack.
• The Mirror Clone blocked three chained sickles with the Uchiha Gunbai but was dragged off balance and struck by a sickle Jonin.
• The wounded Mirror Clone vanished, and two gunbai-wielding figures appeared as the sickle Jonin spun around with both blades.

Akaseki and his allies fought Rain Ninja in Mountain Hollow Village while poisonous mist filled the enclosed settlement. After thinning the poison with coordinated Wind Release, Akaseki withdrew with his strength and chakra nearly spent, and considered trying a new technique.

• Akaseki used Airflow Wild Dance to push poisonous air toward the exit, but the enclosed hollow allowed only a small amount to escape.
• Akaseki summoned Tanuki Treasure in the White Tiger, while Ranwu and Yakushi Nonō used Hidden Mist Technique to obscure the battlefield and track the Rain Ninja.
• Akaseki’s Mirror Clone struck Muddy Current with a kunai while Tanuki Treasure’s White Tiger attacked the giant salamanders blocking the exit.
• Akaseki and his Mirror Clones coordinated Wind Release along the path of the Great Dragon Fire Technique, driving nearly a third of the poisonous mist out of the cavern.
• Akaseki’s Mirror Clones disappeared and Tanuki Treasure returned to recover, so Akaseki, Ranwu, and Yakushi Nonō retreated as Akaseki considered trying a new technique.

Akaseki used a newly discovered Air Release technique to expel most of the poison gas from Mountain Hollow Village, but the blast left him injured and disoriented. Ranwu carried him toward the exit as Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Minato heard the explosion and spotted Giant Salamander poison gas rising from the mountains.

• Akaseki, Ranwu, and Yakushi Nonō used the Detoxification Technique while waiting for the Giant Salamanders to release more poison.
• As the villagers weakened and the poison worsened, Akaseki chose to attack without testing the route with a Mirror Clone.
• Akaseki used Air Release: Air Burst Technique, forcing most of the poison gas out of the mountain hollow and diluting what returned.
• The technique's pressure change made Akaseki bleed from his ears and nose and left him dazed, so Ranwu carried him toward the exit.
• Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Minato heard the blast and saw purple poison gas rising from the mountains near Mountain Hollow Village.

Ranwu and Yakushi Nonō tried to escape Mountain Hollow Village with the incapacitated Akaseki while the Rain Ninja pursued them. They broke through the salamanders at the exit, and an avalanche gave them a chance to escape as Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and another companion spotted them.

• Ranwu and Yakushi Nonō used Hidden Mist Technique and disguises to mislead the Rain Ninja while carrying Akaseki toward the exit.
• Dark Drizzle realized that Ranwu and Yakushi Nonō had impersonated Haze Marsh, but giant salamanders blocked the way out.
• Yakushi Nonō attacked Muddy Current as Ranwu unleashed Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave to force a path through the entrance.
• Ranwu escaped on the current while Yakushi Nonō turned back to cover her and Akaseki from the pursuing Rain Ninja.
• Ranwu spotted the avalanche triggered by Akaseki's earlier technique and urged Yakushi Nonō to flee with them.
• Jiraiya saw figures ahead of the avalanche as Orochimaru and the others watched from afar.

Orochimaru and Jiraiya arrived at Mountain Hollow Village and used Triple Rashōmon to stop the avalanche, then captured the six Rain Ninja. Akaseki recovered after oxygen therapy and explained his new Air Release technique, leaving Orochimaru intrigued by how he had developed it.

• Orochimaru summoned Triple Rashōmon to block the avalanche, and Minato stopped Dark Drizzle as the Rain Ninja tried to flee.
• Orochimaru bound all six Rain Ninja and demanded that they summon the Giant Salamander, while Jiraiya examined Akaseki and joined Yakushi Nonō in rescuing villagers.
• Ranwu treated Akaseki with oxygen therapy, and he soon regained consciousness at the supply station.
• Akaseki told Orochimaru about his Air Burst Technique, and Orochimaru identified it as Air Release that made air expand violently.
• Orochimaru explained that Akaseki had injured himself with his own technique rather than suffering backlash, then questioned whether he had created the technique to push the poison mist away.

Akaseki tested his new Air Burst Technique with Orochimaru, who judged it an A-rank technique but noted that its use of Air Release limited its wider value. Akaseki then demonstrated his C-rank Wind Pressure Technique, which Orochimaru approved for use against poisonous mist and ordered him to record for Konoha.

• Akaseki used a Mirror Clone to test the Air Burst Technique, but its clones were left dazed by oxygen deprivation.
• Orochimaru analyzed Air Burst and rated it A-rank, while Akaseki realized that the rank reflected difficulty and cost rather than practical strength.
• Akaseki demonstrated the Wind Pressure Technique, and Orochimaru praised its broad, sustained airflow for dispersing poisonous mist and Hidden Mist.
• Akaseki gave an elaborate explanation for inventing the technique, and Orochimaru told him to write it down for Jiraiya to send to Konoha.
• Jiraiya praised Akaseki, while Ranwu pointed out that Konoha could teach the useful C-rank technique to thousands of ninjas.

Orochimaru offered Akaseki a chance to take Rashomon’s trial, but Ranwu revealed her clan could provide the same opportunity, and Akaseki insisted he had acted for Konoha rather than for a reward. The squad rested in Mountain Hollow Village after sending Akaseki’s Wind Pressure Technique to Konoha, while Orochimaru released two Rain Ninja despite Jiraiya’s concerns.

• Orochimaru offered Akaseki the chance to undergo Rashomon’s difficult trial, and Jiraiya recalled how he had failed before finding Mount Myoboku’s contract scroll and passing the Toad Sage’s trial.
• Ranwu claimed that her elders had already promised Akaseki a chance at Rashomon’s trial, prompting Orochimaru to say he had nothing left to teach him; Akaseki declared that he had acted for Konoha, not a reward.
• Akaseki wrote down the essentials of the Wind Pressure Technique and gave the scroll to Jiraiya, who sent it to Mount Myoboku along with a letter about the squad’s situation and Akaseki’s declaration.
• Orochimaru’s squad rested in Mountain Hollow Village, where Orochimaru fed four captured Rain Ninja to Manda and took venom sacs from two others after they summoned giant salamanders.
• Orochimaru released the remaining two Rain Ninja, dismissing Jiraiya’s concerns and the anger of the Land of Iron samurai.

Orochimaru’s team entered Severed Mountain City and met with the Land of Iron’s samurai leaders, who sought compensation for their fight against the Land of Rain. Orochimaru rejected their appeal for aid while offering to trade recovered supplies for chakra metal, leaving negotiations open.

• Orochimaru’s team entered Severed Mountain City after its samurai welcomed them for rescuing people from the Land of Iron.
• Mifune prostrated himself in gratitude, then offered his renowned blade Black Marsh in exchange for supplies the Konoha ninja had recovered; Orochimaru declined the blade.
• Master Swordsman Three-Eyes argued that the Land of Iron had been dragged into war with the Land of Rain for Konoha’s sake and demanded compensation.
• Akaseki challenged the samurai’s complaints by pointing out that wandering samurai terrorized the Land of Fire, and Orochimaru backed his point without reprimanding him.
• Orochimaru offered to exchange the recovered supplies for chakra metal at equivalent value if the Land of Iron had enough in stock.

Orochimaru and Jiraiya exposed the Land of Iron’s desperate trade with Kumogakure and used its shortage of supplies to renegotiate the deal. Three-Eyes agreed to seek the General’s approval to trade the Heavenly Cloud Sword for grain, while Orochimaru also requested cattle and wine.

• Orochimaru proposed expanding the trade, but Three-Eyes admitted the Land of Iron could not provide the chakra metal ores and asked to pay later with interest.
• Jiraiya revealed that the Land of Iron had increased its trade quota with Kumogakure, and Three-Eyes disclosed that the deal was for Four-To Wine and Black-Haired Cattle rather than grain.
• Three-Eyes knelt and asked Orochimaru to make the transaction a loan, and Orochimaru refused to offer an unsecured loan.
• Orochimaru demanded the Heavenly Cloud Sword in exchange for the grain from this deal and twice as much grain previously taken from the Rain Ninja, and Three-Eyes agreed to inform the General.
• Orochimaru requested one cow and one barrel of Four-To Wine, and Three-Eyes agreed to provide them whether or not the main transaction succeeded.

While Orochimaru’s squad rested in Severed Mountain City, Akaseki tried to develop Air Release chakra so he could create an Air Release Shadow Clone. Jiraiya offered limited advice, and Orochimaru arrived to ask Akaseki how he planned to develop the technique.

• Akaseki and the others ate black yak beef and drank liquor presented as a congratulatory gift, while Ranwu defended Yakushi Nonō from Akaseki’s teasing.
• Orochimaru told Jiraiya that Konoha only needed to prevent the Land of Iron from collapsing, and Jiraiya worried about Orochimaru’s growing ideological differences with their teacher.
• Akaseki, Ranwu, and Minato practiced ninjutsu outside the city, with Akaseki repeatedly using the Air Burst Technique to improve his Air Release control.
• Jiraiya told Akaseki that repeated use of the corresponding ninjutsu might help him adapt to his newly developing kekkei genkai.
• Orochimaru came to observe Akaseki’s practice and asked what he thought about developing Air Release further.

Akaseki discussed developing Air Release with Orochimaru, then learned that Konoha would aid the Land of Iron at Severed Mountain City. Orochimaru agreed to join the fighting while making clear that Konoha would not face Hanzō.

• Akaseki proposed mastering Air Release Chakra and creating an Air Release Shadow Clone, and Orochimaru explained that Air Release controlled air density and could become deadly if sustained.
• Akaseki, Ranwu, and Minato noticed samurai frequently traveling near the eastern side of Severed Mountain City, and Minato guessed they were searching for hidden supplies.
• The Land of Iron's general sent Orochimaru the Heavenly Cloud Sword and supplies in exchange for two Kusanagi swords, and Orochimaru revealed his stored provisions to Three-Eyes.
• Three-Eyes asked Konoha's squad to stay and help defend Severed Mountain City, and Orochimaru agreed while refusing to confront Hanzō.
• Orochimaru told Jiraiya, Akaseki, and the others they would seek chances to join the fighting that afternoon as Rain ninja and Iron samurai continued their war of attrition.

At Severed Mountain City, Akaseki and the Konoha team learned why the Land of Iron had agreed to daily challenge bouts with Amegakure and suspected Hanzō might be preparing to withdraw. When three Sword Masters fell and Mifune was stopped from answering the latest challenge, Akaseki, Minato, and Ranwu stepped forward to fight the three Amegakure jonin.

• Jiraiya explained that Hanzō and the Land of Iron had agreed to daily bouts in which samurai kept fighting until they won once, often paying with their lives.
• Akaseki reasoned that Hanzō might have withdrawn most of his forces or even left, but Jiraiya warned him not to jump to conclusions, and Orochimaru said the situation was the Land of Iron's responsibility.
• After three Sword Masters lost, Mifune prepared to answer the Amegakure jonin's taunts, but Three-Eyes ordered him to stand down.
• Three-Eyes approached Orochimaru, and Akaseki, Minato, and Ranwu stepped forward to handle the challenge.
• The Amegakure jonin mocked the three Konoha Chunin, and Akaseki revealed his Sharingan and taunted them in return.

Akaseki and Ranwu countered the Rain Ninja’s poison mist with their techniques, revealing Ranwu’s new Water Release application. Their success impressed the Land of Iron samurai, while Mifune remained committed to advancing swordsmanship through chakra projection.

• Three-Eyes silenced Mifune when he offered to fight, while the giant salamanders and Rain Ninja released poison mist below the gate.
• Akaseki used four Wind Pressure Techniques to blow most of the poison mist away, then dismissed his shadow clone to conserve chakra.
• Ranwu used a concentrated Hidden Mist Technique to absorb poison particles and slow the remaining mist’s spread.
• Orochimaru explained that Ranwu had developed the technique by adapting her efforts to counter giant salamander poison, though it demanded exceptional Water Style chakra control.
• The Land of Iron samurai were shaken by the young Konoha Ninja’s abilities, but Mifune resolved to pursue chakra projection as the future of swordsmanship.

Minato, Ranwu, and Akaseki used Wind Release: Snare to carry the Hidden Mist Technique through the poison mist, clearing safer paths as they attacked the giant salamanders. Akaseki trapped an underground Rain Ninja with Hell's Gate, then used Air Burst Technique and his clones to knock the Rain Ninja unconscious while forcing more toxins to settle.

• Minato used Wind Release: Snare to spread the Hidden Mist Technique through the poison mist and create low-toxicity corridors.
• Akaseki, Minato, and Ranwu charged the giant salamanders, dodging or countering the Rain Ninja's underground attacks.
• Akaseki's Mirror Clones used Hell's Gate to heat the ground, forcing a Rain Ninja out of hiding with damaged protective gear.
• Akaseki ambushed the injured Rain Ninja and used Air Release: Air Burst Technique to disorient him.
• Akaseki's clones repeated Air Release: Air Burst Technique, rendering the Rain Ninja unconscious and making poisonous particles settle from the air.

Akaseki, Ranwu, and Minato overwhelmed the Rain Ninja forces outside Severed Mountain City, then withdrew when reinforcements blocked their pursuit. The Land of Iron samurai prepared to attack the Rain Ninja position after concluding Hanzō had left, while Orochimaru declined to commit Konoha to their assault.

• Akaseki's Air Burst Technique dropped toxins onto the ground and knocked a Rain Ninja unconscious, while Ranwu and Minato gained the upper hand against their opponents.
• Akaseki ambushed a Giant Salamander from underground, and Minato killed the Rain Ninja who lost his balance when the summon disappeared.
• The last Rain Ninja fled to his main force, where Earth Style walls stopped Akaseki, Ranwu, and Minato; the one-eyed Rain Ninja leader called off the confrontation.
• Mifune thanked the Konoha ninja for driving off the enemy, and Orochimaru remarked that Hanzō had not personally interfered with their mission.
• Three-Eyes announced that the samurai would attack the Rain Ninja position that night, but Orochimaru led the Konoha group away without promising support.
• The samurai resolved to fight anyway, believing Hanzō had taken part of the Rain Ninja force with him and that they outnumbered those left behind.

Orochimaru’s squad planned to ambush the Rain Ninja force while the Land of Iron samurai engaged Hanzō’s bait force. The samurai’s raid began, but Orochimaru’s team waited for confirmation that Hanzō had appeared elsewhere before attacking.

• Jiraiya and Orochimaru warned Akaseki and Ranwu that Hanzō was likely still with the Rain Ninja and outlined a plan to strike an ambush force while the samurai fought him.
• Orochimaru arranged contingencies for the attack, and his squad rested before leaving Severed Mountain City at night.
• Three-Eyes led over a thousand samurai on a night raid, while Mifune stayed behind to guard the city after refusing to surrender Black Marsh.
• The samurai pushed the Rain Ninja back through the poison mist, as Orochimaru’s Shadow Clone watched from a nearby slope.
• Orochimaru’s squad waited outside the valley hiding more than three hundred Rain Ninja, planning to attack only after confirming Hanzō was with the bait force.