Recaps

Taiichi returned from the destroyed village after eliminating the Mist Village ninja and rejoined Hizashi, Guy, Ebisu, and Genma Shiranui on the journey back to Camp. He found Tsunade drunk and asleep in his tent, confronted her after she sobered up, and was interrupted by Guy arriving for their promised training.

• Taiichi's Shadow Clone killed the fleeing Mist Ninja, and Taiichi received the clone's memories before returning to the destroyed village.
• Taiichi told Hizashi that all eight Mist Village ninja were dead, then traveled back toward Camp with Hizashi, Guy, Ebisu, and Genma Shiranui.
• Guy asked about Kakashi, Rin, and Obito, and Taiichi said they were fighting on the Western Front under Minato.
• Taiichi discovered Tsunade asleep amid empty bottles in his tent, covered her with a blanket, and spent the night in the tent's corner.
• Tsunade explained that she had waited in Taiichi's tent to hear about his mission and then drank while waiting; Taiichi scolded her, and she promised not to drink on the battlefield again.
• Guy arrived with Ebisu and Genma Shiranui to take Taiichi to train.

Taiichi trained Guy, Ebisu, and Genma, helping them develop their combat skills while advancing his own swordsmanship and sensing Natural Energy. Meanwhile, Mist Village escalated its raids into ambushes against Konoha’s pursuers, prompting Tsunade to demand a solution from her Jonin.

• Taiichi assessed Guy, Ebisu, and Genma in sparring, then assigned Guy to fight Shadow Clones and taught Genma Earth Style: Earth Wall and Ebisu Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.
• Taiichi’s swordsmanship reached Lv8 after he entered a state of enlightenment and sensed Natural Energy; his physique also increased.
• Guy, Ebisu, and Genma finished their grueling training, thanked Taiichi, and received treatment for their superficial injuries.
• Mist Village continued raiding coastal villages and began using them to ambush Konoha pursuit teams, killing the first team and changing the nature of the defense.
• Tsunade angrily asked the Jonin how they would respond to Mist Village’s new tactics.

Taiichi helped Tsunade approve a strategy that weakened Konoha’s village defenses in order to strike Mist Village at sea, then used his abilities to pin Mist Village’s camp in place. Mist Village secretly abandoned its offshore camp, and Taiichi returned to Konoha with the news, leaving its destination unknown.

• Taiichi proposed taking the fight to Mist Village at sea, and Tsunade scolded him for accepting the blame before agreeing with his reasoning.
• Konoha intensified its offshore attacks while Taiichi used Shadow Clones to watch Mist Village’s camp and prevent further raids on villages.
• The Third Mizukage ordered Mist Village to move its camp to a distant location near the ruins of the Land of Whirlpools.
• Taiichi advanced his Advanced Taijutsu to Lv8 and gained Strength and Agility after a breakthrough during training.
• Taiichi found Mist Village’s camp deserted and hurried to Tsunade’s tent to report that its forces had vanished.

Taiichi discovered that Mist Village had abandoned its original camp and later tracked its forces to a new battlefield in the south of the Land of Fire. He confronted the Third Mizukage and fought him, ending surrounded by a coordinated attack as the Mizukage retreated.

• Taiichi reported Mist Village's empty camp, and Tsunade sent him with Hizashi Hyuga and Tsume Inuzuka to investigate.
• Tsume and Dabai found that Mist Village had sailed south, so Taiichi returned to report the clue to Tsunade.
• After Mist Village landed in the south of the Land of Fire, Tsunade moved the camp south while Taiichi flew ahead to scout.
• Taiichi confronted the Third Mizukage, mocked Mist Village over its alleged slaughter of civilians, and challenged the Mizukage's claims.
• The Third Mizukage and Taiichi exchanged water and ice techniques before fighting at close range.
• The Third Mizukage retreated after a whistle sounded, and Mist Ninja launched a coordinated attack that trapped Taiichi beneath a barrage.

Taiichi Matsushita drove off the Mist Village forces, who then abandoned their campaign against Konoha and sailed south. Tsunade positioned her troops to respond to a possible attack on the Southern Front, while Taiichi continued tracking the Mist fleet and headed to Jiraiya’s camp with her warning.

• Taiichi escaped the Mist Ninja’s attacks, impaled a Jonin with an Earth Spear, and flew away as the Mist forces watched.
• The Third Mizukage ordered a meeting and persuaded the Mist Jonin to abandon the campaign against Konoha and target Sunagakure instead.
• Taiichi saw the Mist forces retreat to their ships and sail south, then sent a Shadow Clone to inform Tsunade.
• Tsunade ordered her troops to rest near the Land of Rivers, warned Jiraiya about a possible Mist landing or joint attack, and told Taiichi to keep watching the fleet.
• Taiichi received Tsunade’s message at sea, left a Shadow Clone to track the ships, and used Flying Thunder God to reach a mark near Jiraiya’s camp.

Taiichi warned Jiraiya and Nara Shikaku that the Mist Village fleet might threaten the Southern Front and that the camp had grown dangerously complacent. While watching the fleet from the Land of Rivers coast, Taiichi connected with Natural Energy but lost control of his expanding mental energy and struggled to pull it back.

• Taiichi delivered Tsunade's letter to Jiraiya, and he and Nara Shikaku learned that the Mist Village fleet was sailing south toward an uncertain destination.
• Taiichi pointed out the fleet's location, and Jiraiya ordered more coastal and border patrols to watch for danger.
• Taiichi warned Jiraiya that the Southern Front camp's relaxed attitude could leave its ninja vulnerable in another major battle, so Jiraiya took Nara Shikaku to inspect the camp.
• Taiichi used the Flying Thunder God to reach the Land of Rivers coast and watched the sunrise while meditating.
• Taiichi sensed and began guiding Natural Energy, but his mental energy spread beyond its normal range and became difficult to control.
• Taiichi fought to draw his scattered mental energy back, abandoning the farthest portion as he feared being consumed by nature.

Taiichi nearly lost his mind while attempting to control natural energy, then reported the Mist Village fleet’s movements to Jiraiya and Tsunade. The fleet entered the Land of Wind’s waters and turned toward shore to attack Sunagakure, leaving Taiichi wondering whether the Mist Village planned to betray it rather than ally with it.

• Taiichi’s first attempt at controlling natural energy nearly caused spiritual assimilation and cost him one point of Spirit, so he returned to report to Jiraiya.
• Jiraiya admitted he could not advise Taiichi yet and decided to seek guidance from Mount Myoboku’s sages.
• Taiichi told Jiraiya and Tsunade that the Mist Village fleet was approaching the Land of Wind, and they prepared for possible conflict without assuming its intentions.
• The Third Mizukage ordered the Mist Village fleet to attack Linchuan City and prioritize taking spoils back to Kirigakure.
• After resting, Taiichi learned that the fleet had turned toward shore and suspected the Mist Village intended to strike Sunagakure rather than join forces with it.

Taiichi reported Mist Village’s raid on Sunagakure to Tsunade’s forces, then used Skill Points to overcome his inability to sense Natural Energy and master Sage Mode. After testing its dramatic boosts to his abilities, he lost the transformation when its duration expired.

• Mist Village’s forces raided Linchuan City, seized Sunagakure’s supplies, and advanced farther into the Land of Wind.
• Taiichi reported the attack to Tsunade, who said Konoha’s fighting would mostly stop while the East Front remained on guard.
• Taiichi tried to sense Natural Energy but failed, so he spent a Skill Point to raise Sage Mode to Lv1 and adjust his body for it.
• Taiichi sensed Natural Energy, formed Senjutsu Chakra, and entered Sage Mode, gaining golden eyes and a temporary increase to all four physical attributes.
• Taiichi tested his enhanced ninjutsu and found each style more than twice as powerful, then his first Sage Mode duration ran out.

Taiichi tested his Sage Mode and found that he could maintain it for ninety minutes with minimal consumption and train his body without harmful effects. Meanwhile, Konoha welcomed the Mist Village’s attack on Sunagakure, and Hiruzen Sarutobi approved Taiichi’s transfer back to the village as Rasa struggled to respond to the invasion.

• Taiichi reviewed his Sage Mode, then activated it again and measured how long it lasted while he remained still.
• Taiichi maintained Sage Mode for ninety minutes before it ended, concluding that prolonged use strengthened his body and caused no harm.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Utatane Koharu celebrated how the Mist Village’s attack on Sunagakure eased pressure on Konoha, while Mitokado Homura proposed forcing Sunagakure to surrender.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to transfer Taiichi back to Konoha and assigned Mitokado Homura to prepare the transfer order with Tsunade’s unit commendation.
• Rasa learned that the Mist Village had attacked Linchuan City, demanded information about its forces, and ordered his ninja to locate them.

Rasa and Chiyo rallied Sunagakure’s clans to form a 2,000-ninja force that marched toward Konoha’s Southern Front. At camp, Taiichi found Tsunade sleeping off a night of drinking and finally got the chance to ask why she had summoned him.

• Chiyo warned Rasa that Konoha posed a greater threat than Mist Village and advised him to prepare for a truce without admitting defeat.
• Rasa convened the Jonin Council and committed his clan’s fighters, while Sunagakure assembled a 2,000-ninja force and sent it north toward Konoha’s Southern Front.
• Taiichi visited the Central Army Tent, found Tsunade absent, and learned from Fugaku that she had been sleeping late.
• Taiichi discovered that Tsunade was still asleep and circled her tent until she angrily called him inside.
• Taiichi noticed the alcohol bottles in Tsunade’s tent, waited while she cleaned up, and asked what she wanted from him.

Taiichi revealed to Tsunade that he had learned to enter Sage Mode, and she took him to the shore to witness it and test his abilities. After explaining what she knew about senjutsu, Tsunade encouraged him to ask Katsuyu about its drawbacks, and Taiichi summoned her.

• Taiichi told Tsunade that he had sensed Natural Energy and had already tried Sage Mode.
• Tsunade dragged Taiichi to a quiet shore, where he entered Sage Mode and showed her his faintly golden eyes.
• Taiichi sparred with Tsunade, overwhelming her with his speed and strength before she ended the fight.
• Tsunade told Taiichi that Hashirama had developed a Sage Mode based on Shikkotsu Forest's senjutsu, but it was tailored to his Wood Style and unsuitable for ordinary practitioners.
• Tsunade advised Taiichi to ask Katsuyu whether the Three Great Sage Regions' Sage Modes had drawbacks, so Taiichi summoned Katsuyu.

Taiichi and Tsunade consulted Katsuyu about Sage Art, and Katsuyu confirmed that Taiichi had developed a stable, entirely new Sage Mode by accident. Katsuyu also revealed fragments of ancient history before stopping herself, leaving Tsunade and Taiichi with clues about the Sage of Six Paths and the clans descended from him.

• Katsuyu told Tsunade she was not ready to practice Sage Art, then declared that Taiichi met the requirements, prompting Tsunade to reflect on her lack of effort.
• Katsuyu explained that the Three Great Sage Regions' methods could not extend human lifespans and that mistakes during training could lead to assimilation by Natural Energy.
• Taiichi revealed that he had accidentally entered Sage Mode, and Katsuyu examined his chakra and confirmed that his stable, golden-eyed form was a new Sage Art cultivation method.
• Katsuyu explained that Sage Markings appeared on humans according to their compatibility with Sage Art and said the three Sage Regions were not the only places with ancient cultivation traditions.
• Katsuyu described an ancient era of gods and demons cut short by a disaster, then said an agreement with the Sage of Six Paths forbade her from revealing more.
• Katsuyu confirmed that the Senju and Uchiha descended from the Sage of Six Paths and were his two most orthodox branches.

Taiichi and Tsunade discussed exploring the world beyond the Ninja World before returning to Camp, where a commendation order praised the troops but ordered Taiichi back to Konoha with a Root escort. Taiichi learned of the order and headed to confront the Root ninja, while the gathered Jonin waited to see what he would do.

• Taiichi told Tsunade that he wanted to explore beyond the Ninja World someday, and Tsunade promised to support him and go with him.
• Tsunade returned to Camp and hurried Kaoru Nara to the Central Army Tent to deal with pending documents, then greeted Fugaku Uchiha awkwardly before Taiichi and Fugaku went sparring.
• A Root messenger read the village's commendation order, honoring the fallen and rewarding the troops, then ordered Taiichi Matsushita to return to Konoha immediately with him.
• Tsunade questioned the Root messenger about the order and his escort assignment, while the Jonin objected and Hyuga Hiashi went to find Taiichi.
• Hiashi found Taiichi practicing Taijutsu and told him about the order; Taiichi blamed Mitokado Homura and Root, then set off with Hiashi to meet the messenger.

Taiichi challenged Hiruzen Sarutobi over Root’s coercive recall order, secured a replacement commendation order for the front, and returned to Konoha to rest and train. Meanwhile, Jiraiya faced heavy losses against Sunagakure and reported the stalemate to the village before answering a Reverse Summoning call.

• Taiichi accused the Root messenger of forging Hokage-sama’s orders, sealed him, and took him to Hiruzen Sarutobi to demand an explanation.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to handle the Root ninja and send a replacement commendation order to the frontline, then told Taiichi to rest in Konoha.
• Taiichi returned home and trained to enter Sage Mode faster, while planning to send Shadow Clones to travel the Ninja World.
• Jiraiya and Shikaku assessed the costly fighting against Sunagakure, and Jiraiya ordered the front to report its situation and lack of strong fighters to the village.
• Jiraiya answered a third Reverse Summoning call with his real body, leaving a Shadow Clone to manage his paperwork.

Jiraiya was summoned to Mount Myoboku, where the Great Toad Sage revealed a vague prophecy of a world-changing battle and an unknown figure rising above all living beings. Jiraiya returned to the Southern Front Konoha Camp, troubled by the prophecy and the damage the fighting had done to morale.

• Gamabunta brought Jiraiya to Mount Myoboku and mocked him for being a lonely single dog before leaving him to meet Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima.
• Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima took Jiraiya to the Great Toad Sage, who eventually told them that a prophecy had changed and described a battle that would destroy the old order.
• The Great Toad Sage said the Child of Prophecy still existed but could not identify the figure behind the upheaval before falling asleep again.
• Jiraiya left Mount Myoboku, declined Sage Shima's Green Caterpillar Mushroom Soup, and returned to the Southern Front Konoha Camp.
• Jiraiya surveyed the camp and saw that heavy casualties had badly weakened the Konoha Ninja's morale.

Jiraiya struggled to contain Sunagakure’s increasingly fierce attacks while the Southern Front’s understaffed Medical Camp became overwhelmed with casualties. Tsunade sent Shizune and twenty-two Medical Ninja to help after learning Taiichi had been recalled to the village, while Hiruzen Sarutobi rejected a proposal to send Taiichi to the front.

• Jiraiya learned that the Southern Front’s Medical Camp could not keep up with the wounded and ordered Shikaku to request reinforcements and summon Taiichi.
• Tsunade told Jiraiya’s messenger that Taiichi had returned to the village, then sent Shizune and twenty-two Medical Ninja to assist the Southern Front.
• Jiraiya and Shikaku prepared for worsening casualties as Sunagakure, led by Rasa, intensified its attacks and inflicted heavy losses.
• Shizune arrived with the Medical Ninja, saw the overwhelmed Medical Camp, and began treating the wounded with them.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi read Jiraiya’s request for aid, heard Utatane Koharu suggest sending Taiichi, and refused.

Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to seek a ceasefire with Sunagakure as Konoha struggled to sustain the war. Meanwhile, Taiichi intervened in a spy arrest in Konoha and ended up confronting Anbu over their hostility toward the Uchiha Military Police Force.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi recognized that Konoha could not endure a prolonged war and ordered Utatane Koharu to negotiate a ceasefire with Sunagakure.
• Taiichi spent his time training and visiting the Orphanage before going to Konoha’s market streets for lunch.
• Taiichi saw Anbu fighting spies in public, mistook their handling of the situation for incompetence, and approached the scene.
• A blue-haired ninja handed a scroll to a spy and tried to frame Taiichi, but Taiichi subdued an Anbu ninja and identified himself as Taichi Matsushita.
• Taiichi caught and killed the fleeing blue-haired ninja with one punch, allowing Anbu to capture the two spies.
• Uchiha Inabi arrived with the Military Police Force, recognized Taiichi, and lowered his men’s weapons; Taiichi challenged the Anbu for keeping their weapons trained on fellow Konoha ninja.

Taiichi intervened after an Anbu raid in Konoha injured civilians, arranging for the Military Police Force to treat the wounded and manage compensation. Hiruzen Sarutobi considered recruiting Taiichi into the Anbu, while Taiichi continued training in Sage Mode, unaware that his role might soon change.

• Taiichi asked the Anbu and Uchiha Inabi who would care for the injured civilians and cover the damage, then persuaded the Military Police Force to handle the work while compensation was arranged.
• Taiichi treated the seriously wounded with a Shadow Clone and ordered the Horse-Mask Anbu to report the incident fully to Hokage-sama.
• Uchiha Inabi told Xinhuo that strength commanded respect and that Taichi Matsushita possessed such strength.
• Kosuke reported the failed mission to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who learned that Taiichi had impressed the Uchiha and considered bringing him into the Anbu.
• Taiichi practiced Taijutsu in Sage Mode and noted that it accelerated his training, though Natural Energy was harder to gather in crowded Konoha.

Kakashi decided to seek solo missions after struggling to keep up with Minato, while Taiichi was ordered to join the Anbu. Taiichi accepted the assignment, received his equipment and mask, and chose the codename Macaque.

• Obito complained that Minato’s missions left him and Rin with little to do, and Kakashi resolved to request solo missions after their current assignment.
• Rin agreed that Kakashi could take the risk because Taiichi had given them Special Flying Thunder God Kunai for emergency support.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi offered Taiichi a weekly b-rank mission’s credit for helping at Konoha Hospital and ordered him to join the Anbu immediately.
• Hiruzen assigned Soyo, an Anbu squad captain, to escort Taiichi and teach him the rules.
• Soyo led Taiichi into the Anbu base, gave him robes and weapons, and told him to choose a mask and codename.
• Taiichi put on a monkey-faced mask and chose the codename Macaque.

Taiichi began his Anbu service as Macaque, guarding Hiruzen Sarutobi while the Hokage managed village affairs. After receiving troubling news from the Southern Front, Hiruzen and Mitokado Homura arranged Konoha’s peace agreement with Sunagakure, which the village celebrated after days of fear-inducing rumors.

• Taiichi finished learning the Anbu’s basic rules, and Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned him to serve as his guard under the name Macaque.
• Taiichi concealed himself in Hiruzen’s office and watched the Hokage work through a long day of meetings and paperwork.
• Hiruzen received a report from the Southern Front, then summoned Mitokado Homura to discuss the end of the war with Sunagakure and the redeployment of Konoha’s forces.
• For three days, rumors about Konoha’s military and financial crisis spread through the village before officials announced a peace agreement with Sunagakure.
• Konoha’s residents celebrated the agreement, while Taiichi reflected that it seemed humiliating and wondered whether his own actions could have changed the outcome.

As Minato Namikaze approved Kakashi, Obito, and Rin carrying out missions independently, Taiichi left a shadow clone guarding the Hokage and traveled to Mount Asama to train. He immersed himself in the volcano’s fire-rich Natural Energy, deepening his understanding of Fire Nature Transformation before returning to the crater’s rim.

• Minato Namikaze reluctantly agreed to let Kakashi, Obito, and Rin take missions on their own after they promised to submit reports and Kakashi mentioned Taiichi’s rescue kunai.
• Taiichi grew tired of guarding the Hokage, left a shadow clone in his place, and traveled to Mount Asama to improve his Fire Nature Transformation.
• Taiichi sensed unusually active, fire-dominant Natural Energy around the volcano and jumped into its crater.
• Taiichi transformed into flame within the magma and absorbed insights about fire while the surrounding Natural Energy gathered into him.
• Taiichi changed back into human form, flew out of the crater, and landed safely on its rim.

Taiichi advanced his Fire Nature Transformation training by combining it with Sage Mode, then accepted twenty-two Mist Village Medical Ninja as subordinates after they arrived in Konoha. Their arrival gave him a first step toward building influence in the village.

• Taiichi entered Sage Mode while transformed into flame and doubled his Fire Nature Transformation gains, bringing his remaining training gap within reach.
• Nara Shikaku returned from the Southern Front and brought twenty-two Mist Village prisoner Medical Ninja to Taiichi's home after Tsunade placed them under Taiichi's management.
• Mizuki told Taiichi that the women wanted to follow him, and he agreed to take them in as subordinates.
• Taiichi warned the women to remain loyal, promised rewards for their work, gave Mizuki money for supplies, and lent her his identification papers.
• Taiichi received the Shadow Clone's memories at Mount Asama and decided to use the twenty-two Medical Ninja to build his influence in Konoha.

Taiichi arranged for the twenty-two Mist Village medical ninja in his care to settle into Konoha and work at Konoha Hospital, then secured Hokage approval for their residency. The chapter left them with identification documents and Taiichi continuing his guard duty, while he trained at Mount Asama to advance his Fire Nature Transformation.

• Taiichi sent a Shadow Clone to Konoha while continuing his Fire Nature Transformation training at Mount Asama, where his gains had slowed to four experience points per session.
• Mizuki led the twenty-two women around Konoha to buy supplies, and the Military Police Force stopped them until she showed Taiichi’s identification.
• Taiichi assigned the women to study, train, and help maintain his home while he arranged for them to work at Konoha Hospital.
• Taiichi explained the women’s circumstances and his plans to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who approved their residency and placed them under Taiichi’s supervision.
• Taiichi sent a Shadow Clone to process the women’s identification, and the Civil Affairs Department issued all twenty-two documents within about an hour.

On New Year’s Day, Taiichi welcomed Fugaku Uchiha and his family, accepted Itachi as his disciple, and gave him a training scroll. Later, Taiichi celebrated with Grandma Keiko and the orphanage children at his home.

• Taiichi sent Shadow Clones to visit his friends and prepared his home for New Year guests.
• Fugaku visited with Mikoto and Itachi to renew his request for Taiichi to teach his son and pledged the Uchiha clan’s trust.
• Taiichi accepted Itachi as his disciple, gave him a scroll of cultivation insights, and arranged for formal lessons to begin in three days.
• Taiichi reminded Mizuki that everyone in the household needed to keep training as he discussed the importance of strength.
• Grandma Keiko brought the orphanage children to Taiichi’s home, where they gave him New Year gifts and played with his Shadow Clones.

Madara Uchiha decided to intervene personally in the war and headed for Mist Village to force it back into his plan. In Konoha, Taiichi welcomed Itachi as his student and helped him relax and play with Jiangtai and Yami.

• Madara Uchiha learned that the war had stalled, Obito’s Sharingan had barely developed, and Nagato had taken control of Amegakure.
• Madara Uchiha drained his life force to regain his youth, then set out for Mist Village with Black Zetsu.
• Taiichi comforted Grandma Keiko, agreed to train Jiangtai and Yami, and saw that her natural lifespan was nearing its end.
• Fugaku brought Itachi to Taiichi to begin training, and Taiichi chatted with the tense boy while they waited for the other children.
• Jiangtai and Yami took Itachi around the house to play, and their games brought out his laughter.
• Taiichi sent the three muddy, sweaty children to bathe before lunch.