Chapter Summaries

Lin Qing confronted Mei Terumi, learned how she had tracked him to Snowfall Village, and let her observe him as a traveler. The next morning, he intervened when samurai tried to seize villagers’ food and Xiaotao, then went to the blacksmith to have Samehada reforged.

• Lin Qing questioned Mei Terumi, who explained that she had deduced his route and suspected he planned to reforge Samehada; he released her after she promised to keep her distance.
• Lin Qing returned to Haku’s home, cured Haku’s mother’s cold with Ripple Qigong, and warned Sasuke to be cautious around Mei Terumi.
• The next morning, Lin Qing learned from Haku that a new County Magistrate had imposed harsh taxes, including a heating tax, and that samurai were taking villagers’ food and wives to collect them.
• When a samurai threatened Xiaotao, Lin Qing broke his arm and told Sasuke to break the samurai’s legs; Xiaotao said she was no longer afraid.
• Lin Qing visited the blacksmith, who recognized him and asked how he wanted Samehada reforged.

Lin Qing worked with Blade Master to plan a Ripple-compatible reforging of Samehada, leaving the swordsmith to complete the work over the next half month. As Mei Terumi followed Lin Qing through Snowfall Village, she questioned his choices and began to understand why he had protected Xiaotao.

• Blade Master explained Samehada’s layers and asked Lin Qing to demonstrate his power on an unfinished blade.
• After examining Ripple’s effects and discussing the sword’s needs, Lin Qing and Blade Master planned to replace Samehada’s teeth and flesh while preserving its bones and soul.
• Blade Master asked Lin Qing to stay in the village and return in half a month to test the reforged sword.
• Mei Terumi offered Lin Qing a rice ball and teased him as he left Blade Master’s home.
• Mei Terumi asked why Lin Qing had released the samurai and risked drawing the County Magistrate’s attention, and Lin Qing explained that he had acted to protect Xiaotao from feeling powerless again.
• Mei Terumi recognized Lin Qing’s gentle, principled nature as she walked with him.

Lin Qing broke through to the Ripple’s second stage while treating villagers in Snowfall Village, gaining several new ways to shape its power. Meanwhile, County Magistrate Morimura learned that Lin Qing and Sasuke had defeated his tax collectors and sent a gift to the village.

• Lin Qing used the villagers’ chill to break through his Ripple bottleneck and discovered crimson, cyan, silver, and stronger Sunlight Yellow Ripple techniques.
• Lin Qing joked with Sasuke and Xiaotao about what might happen if another group captured Sasuke for his Sharingan.
• County Magistrate Morimura heard that Lin Qing and Sasuke had broken the legs of the samurai sent to collect Snowfall Village’s heating tax.
• Morimura ordered gold and silver jewelry, cloth, and two women prepared as gifts, and sent the Dire Wolf Squad to Snowfall Village.

Dire Wolf and his squad arrived in Snowfall Village to find Lin Qing after County Magistrate Senmura sent them with gifts and threats. When the Village Chief claimed Lin Qing was away, Dire Wolf set out to extort five times the heating tax from every household.

• Dire Wolf explained that County Magistrate Senmura had sent him to offer Lin Qing wealth and an honored position, but the squad was prepared to force him to comply.
• Third Brother burned a village house and threatened the family inside, drawing the villagers out.
• Dire Wolf showed the villagers the gifts and asked them to identify Lin Qing, but the Village Chief claimed Lin Qing had gone away.
• Dire Wolf decided the squad would stay until Lin Qing returned and demanded the previous month's heating tax.
• Dire Wolf wounded a villager who tried to leave, then added travel expenses, a late fee, a fine, and the current month's tax to demand five times the usual amount from every household.

Dire Wolf’s men brutalized Snowfall Village and took the Lame Man’s wife, while Lin Qing trained to master his Ripple and explained his wish to give people the power to choose. The Lame Man reached Lin Qing with a plea to save the village, and Lin Qing set out to confront the men responsible.

• Dire Wolf imposed a fivefold tax on Snowfall Village, and his men forced villagers to pay, die, or be taken away as laborers.
• After Dire Wolf received word that two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had arrived, he took dozens of villagers toward the county seat and left the elderly, disabled, and poor behind.
• The Lame Man asked Blade Master for a knife to rescue his wife, but Blade Master sent him north to find Lin Qing while he stayed to forge Lin Qing a blade.
• Lin Qing trained beneath a frozen lake, then told Mei Terumi that he wanted people to have the power to choose rather than submit to fate.
• The Lame Man reached Lin Qing gravely injured and asked him to save Snowfall Village; Lin Qing agreed, and the Lame Man died.

Lin Qing returned to Snowfall Village and killed the men who had captured its people and tried to recruit him for County Magistrate Senmura. After Second Brother warned that two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were coming for him, Lin Qing revealed that he intended to kill them.

• Second Brother explained that capturing Snowfall Village would force Lin Qing to accept the magistrate’s offer, flee, or die, but Lin Qing suddenly appeared and killed Fifth Brother.
• Second Brother offered Lin Qing treasure, women, and a place in County Magistrate Senmura’s ranks, but Lin Qing refused and asked if it was his last request.
• Fourth Brother, Third Brother, and Second Brother attacked Lin Qing together, but Lin Qing sent Fourth Brother flying and killed Third Brother with his Ripple-powered attacks.
• Second Brother tried to escape and warned Lin Qing that two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were searching for him, while Mei Terumi, Sasuke, and Xiaotao arrived.
• Lin Qing punched Second Brother and declared that he would kill the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.

Lin Qing rode through the night to confront County Magistrate Senmura and the Mist Village shinobi holding Snowfall Village's people. At the County Magistrate's Mansion, Senmura and Dire Wolf offered Haku to Raiga Kurosuki, just as Lin Qing arrived in the county seat.

• Lin Qing left Mei Terumi, Sasuke, and the villagers behind, taking a sword and supplies as he rode toward the county seat to rescue the captives.
• Mei Terumi stayed behind despite wanting to follow Lin Qing, and Sasuke reassured her that she was not the kind of person who would use him.
• Lin Qing drove his horse with Ripple and reached the county seat in less than twenty-four hours, spotting the brightly lit County Magistrate's Mansion.
• At a banquet, Biwa Juzo agreed to serve County Magistrate Senmura when the magistrate became powerful, while Raiga Kurosuki showed no interest in the women present.
• Dire Wolf mentioned that Haku was among the captives and suggested Raiga Kurosuki might want him, so Senmura ordered Haku brought in.

Lin Qing arrived at the courtyard where County Magistrate Senmura was coercing Haku’s family and the villagers, stopping Haku’s Father from killing Haku’s Mother. He introduced himself and challenged the people who had threatened to kill him.

• Raiga Kurosuki went with County Magistrate Senmura, Biwa Juzo, and Dire Wolf to inspect the imprisoned villagers and became interested in Haku.
• Raiga Kurosuki tried to seize Haku, but Haku’s Mother unleashed her Ice Release and drove him back.
• County Magistrate Senmura threatened the village and ordered Haku’s Father to kill Haku’s Mother in exchange for sparing the others.
• Haku’s Father raised his sword against Haku’s Mother, while Haku and the villagers watched.
• Lin Qing hurled a greatsword through the wall, severed Haku’s Father’s hands, and arrived on horseback to confront the people in the courtyard.

Lin Qing attacked County Magistrate Senmura’s gathering and used a sudden maneuver to isolate Biwa Juzo. After Biwa Juzo hid in mist, Lin Qing struck him with miniature missiles as Raiga Kurosuki and the others arrived.

• County Magistrate Senmura ordered the Dire Wolf to help Biwa Juzo and Raiga Kurosuki kill Lin Qing, while guards went to summon reinforcements.
• Lin Qing charged Biwa Juzo, but Raiga Kurosuki intercepted his strike before Lin Qing revealed the Black Blade: Ruin and sent Raiga flying with a powerful blow.
• Raiga Kurosuki unleashed lightning across the ground as the Dire Wolf summoned three winged Ninja Wolves, but Lin Qing used Star Platinum to grab Biwa Juzo and fling them both out of the courtyard.
• Lin Qing faced Biwa Juzo alone, and Biwa Juzo used the Hidden Mist Technique to conceal himself while planning to wait for Raiga Kurosuki.
• Lin Qing told Biwa Juzo to stand still, then launched dozens of Miniature Missiles into the mist, and the blast scattered the fog as the others arrived.

Lin Qing fought off Biwa Juzo and Raiga Kurosuki, but Dire Wolf died blocking the Blade of Ruin to save Biwa Juzo. Biwa completed his jutsu and trapped Lin Qing in a massive sphere of water while Raiga bombarded him with lightning.

• Biwa Juzo survived Lin Qing's explosion by hiding underground, and Lin Qing pursued him as the enemies fled.
• Lin Qing used Hermit Purple to hurl the Blade of Ruin at Biwa Juzo, but Raiga Kurosuki deflected it with Kiba.
• Lin Qing activated Silver Ripple Overdrive and sent the Blade of Ruin crashing toward Biwa Juzo again.
• Dire Wolf charged in to block the strike, but the Blade of Ruin broke his sword and cut him in half, allowing Biwa Juzo to survive.
• Biwa Juzo completed Water Release: Super Exploding Water Colliding Wave and trapped Lin Qing in a huge sphere of water.
• Raiga Kurosuki struck the sphere with lightning as Biwa Juzo vowed to avenge Dire Wolf.

Lin Qing broke free of Biwa Juzo’s water sphere by awakening a new form of Sunlight Yellow Ripple and Qi, then killed Biwa Juzo and Raiga Kurosuki. He survived the battle and gained Soul Shards from both enemies.

• Biwa Juzo trapped Lin Qing in a water sphere while Raiga Kurosuki repeatedly struck it with lightning.
• Lin Qing resisted suffocation and lightning, rejected drawing from the system, and used Star Platinum to churn the water into a whirlpool.
• As Lin Qing neared unconsciousness, he awakened Qi and used Sunlight Yellow Ripple to wrest control of the water from Biwa Juzo.
• Mei Terumi blocked Biwa Juzo and Raiga Kurosuki with water dragons, and the whirlpool pulled them toward Lin Qing.
• Lin Qing channeled golden Ripple power into the Blade of Ruin and killed Biwa Juzo and Raiga Kurosuki with one strike.

Lin Qing killed County Magistrate Senmura after executing Biwa Juzo and Raiga Kurosuki, then spared the accountant and told the next magistrate to fend for himself. Mei Terumi realized Lin Qing understood her plans to overthrow the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, and end the Village of the Bloody Mist.

• County Magistrate Senmura panicked after Lin Qing killed Biwa Juzo and Raiga Kurosuki, then Lin Qing forced him to his knees.
• The accountant warned Lin Qing that killing County Magistrate Senmura would mean declaring war on the Land of Water, while Senmura offered him his fortune.
• Lin Qing killed County Magistrate Senmura, spared the accountant, and told him to give the next magistrate the message, “Fend for yourself.”
• Mei Terumi found Lin Qing leaving the storehouse with only candied fruit, and he offered her a piece.
• Lin Qing identified Mei Terumi’s plan to kill the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, and end the Village of the Bloody Mist, leaving her stunned.

Lin Qing deduced that Mei Terumi opposed Yagura and agreed to help her in exchange for a favor. After returning to Snowfall Village, he offered Haku and Haku's Mother a place with the group he planned to visit, then was approached by Haku's Mother for a private chat.

• Lin Qing confronted Mei Terumi about her opposition to Yagura, and she asked him to help her make Yagura step down.
• Lin Qing agreed to help Mei Terumi when needed in exchange for a favor, then left with the people of Snowfall Village.
• Sasuke and Xiaotao welcomed Lin Qing home, while the Village Chief apologized to Haku and Haku's Mother for the villagers' actions.
• Haku and Haku's Mother decided to leave Snowfall Village, and Lin Qing invited them to join him on a trip to a new village.
• Lin Qing's group shared dinner together, and Haku's Mother later came to his room to ask for a chat.

Lin Qing rejected Mayuri’s offer to serve him, accepted her family’s decision to follow him, and gave Blade Master the broken Ninja Blades to reforge. He strengthened Star Platinum before setting out for the survivor village with the children and Mayuri, while Haku’s father died by suicide after they left.

• Mayuri offered Lin Qing a letter detailing her background and Kekkei Genkai, and pledged that she and her children would follow him; Lin Qing accepted their company but refused her offer to serve him.
• Blade Master emerged from hiding and praised Lin Qing for turning Mayuri down, then took the two broken Ninja Blades to forge blades for Sasuke and Xiaotao.
• Lin Qing counted 1,760 Soul Shards and spent 830 to raise Star Platinum to Level 3, unlocking Platinum Skin.
• The next morning, Lin Qing set off for the survivor village with Sasuke, Xiaotao, Mayuri, and Haku, while the Village Chief and Blade Master saw them off.
• After the carriage departed, villagers discovered that Haku’s father had hanged himself, and the Village Chief said he had brought it on himself.

Lin Qing and his companions reached Hope Village after more than two months of travel, only to find it devastated by a massacre. After burying the dead, Lin Qing set out to find the missing survivors and learn what happened.

• Lin Qing failed to master the Great Fireball Technique because he could not properly gather chakra, so he focused on training in the Ripple Technique instead.
• Near Hope Village, Lin Qing realized Aero Smith could detect no people and hurried ahead with the others.
• Lin Qing and his companions found the village abandoned, with 103 decomposed bodies scattered among ruined houses and overgrown fields.
• Lin Qing and Sasuke burned the bodies, and Star Platinum buried the ashes while Mayuri gave Lin Qing an ice flower for the grave.
• Lin Qing noted that more than 50 of the 160 villagers were missing and decided to go to a nearby city to buy a camera and search for them.

Lin Qing found Amber Bearman working at Matsumoto Brewery and learned that a serial killer had massacred Hope Village, leaving only thirty-four survivors. After Amber led him to the killer’s wanted notice, a white-haired man appeared and introduced himself as the Toad Sage.

• Lin Qing used Hermit Purple and Star Platinum to discover a Matsumoto Brewery clue in a photograph of Amber Bearman.
• Lin Qing found Amber working at the brewery, where Amber explained that a shape-shifting madman had attacked Hope Village and that only thirty-four survivors remained.
• Amber told Lin Qing that the survivors were struggling to afford food and medical care, with only five people able to work.
• Amber led Lin Qing and the others to the wanted notice for the serial killer responsible for attacks on six villages.
• Lin Qing tore down the notice, and a white-haired man warned him before identifying himself as the Toad Sage.

Jiraiya met Lin Qing and warned him that the bounty target was connected to Orochimaru, then tested whether Lin Qing would accept a lucrative kidnapping job. Lin Qing refused and chose to pursue the target; Jiraiya revealed his identity as the Toad Sage, and Senjutsu Chakra appeared in his palm.

• Jiraiya invited Lin Qing, Sasuke, Xiaotao, and Mayuri to an izakaya and explained that the wanted killer was one of Orochimaru's creations.
• Jiraiya offered Lin Qing six gold bars to kidnap the daughter of the Daimyo of the Land of Iron, but Lin Qing and his companions rejected the job.
• Lin Qing paid Jiraiya for the information and said he would pursue the killer because Orochimaru had picked a fight with him.
• Jiraiya admitted that he had lied about being a broker, introduced himself as the Toad Sage, and offered his hand to prove who he was.
• Jiraiya revealed Senjutsu Chakra in his palm.

Lin Qing and Jiraiya compared their powers, discussed Senjutsu, and agreed to work together to investigate Hope Village’s destruction and Orochimaru. On the way back with supplies, Lin Qing told Sasuke not to sacrifice his principles for power and revealed that he had already mastered Natural Energy.

• Lin Qing touched Jiraiya’s hand and discovered that the Ripple resonated with Senjutsu Chakra formed by combining chakra and Natural Energy.
• Jiraiya offered to teach Lin Qing Senjutsu if he returned to Konoha, but Lin Qing questioned why Jiraiya himself stayed away, and Jiraiya apologized for pressuring him.
• Lin Qing and Jiraiya shared a meal, exchanged information about Orochimaru and Itachi Uchiha, and agreed to work together the next day to investigate Hope Village’s destruction and the artificial humans.
• Lin Qing bought food and medicine for thirty people, and Amber pushed the supplies back with him and Sasuke.
• Sasuke said he wanted power to protect ordinary people and was willing to set aside his hatred, but Lin Qing told him not to abandon his principles while Lin Qing could protect him.
• Lin Qing gathered blue-green energy at his fingertip and told Sasuke he had already mastered Natural Energy.

Lin Qing used Ripple to absorb Natural Energy and set out with Sasuke and Jiraiya to stop Jugo and Kimimaro’s massacres. He found them attacking another village and charged Kimimaro, who recognized him but could think of no counter.

• Lin Qing absorbed Natural Energy through Ripple, grew stronger, and promised to teach Sasuke once he had mastered the method.
• Jugo begged Kimimaro to lock him up after killing civilians, but Kimimaro followed Orochimaru’s orders and continued leading him on massacres alongside Root ninja.
• Lin Qing identified White Box Village as the likely target and split up the group, leaving Xiaotao, Mayuri, Haku, and Amber to tend to Hope Village’s injured.
• Lin Qing, Sasuke, and Jiraiya pursued the killers without resting, while Sasuke said he did not want another clan to suffer a massacre.
• Lin Qing spotted Jugo and Kimimaro amid the latest attack, launched himself forward with Star Platinum’s help, and charged Kimimaro with the Blade of Ruin.

Lin Qing defeated Kimimaro and Jugo, then confronted five Root shinobi who tried to take custody of them. He exposed Orochimaru hiding inside Jugo, and Orochimaru emerged to greet him as Jiraiya arrived.

• Kimimaro's Earth Curse Mark activated, letting him block Lin Qing's attack briefly, but Lin Qing shattered his bone blade and Jugo shoved him out of danger.
• Jugo entered a berserk state and attacked Lin Qing, but Star Platinum overpowered him and destroyed the cannons he had grown across his body.
• Kimimaro begged Lin Qing to spare Jugo and take his life instead, while five Root shinobi arrived and demanded that Lin Qing hand the fugitives over to Konoha.
• Lin Qing refused the Root shinobi's demand and stabbed Jugo in the abdomen, revealing Orochimaru hiding inside him.
• Orochimaru emerged from Jugo and greeted Lin Qing as Jiraiya roared nearby.