Chapter Summaries

Taiichi led Kakashi, Obito, Yohei, and the assault force into the first major clash of the battle between Konoha and Sunagakure. After Konoha countered Sunagakure’s poison smoke and struck from a raised earth wall, Taiichi charged into close combat as casualties mounted.

• Taiichi explained that Minato had sent him to protect the younger ninjas during the dangerous opening phase of the battle, and he warned his squad to stay coordinated.
• Konoha and Sunagakure met across a river, formed their battle lines, and waited through a tense standoff before Konoha’s whistles signaled the advance.
• Both sides released smoke bombs over the river, and Konoha’s forces took Antidote Pills to counter Sunagakure’s poisonous green smoke.
• Konoha Earth Style users raised a long wall, allowing Fire Style and Wind Style ninjas to bombard the Sunagakure troops who crossed the river.
• Taiichi led the assault force down the wall, used Phoenix Sage Fire to intercept incoming attacks, and charged Sunagakure with a Short Sword as Konoha’s casualties rose.

Taiichi broke through the battlefield to confront Sunagakure’s Jinchuriki, Ryosuke, after he transformed into Shukaku and fired a Tailed Beast Bomb. Taiichi battled the giant Jinchuriki while Jiraiya’s forces survived the blast and resumed their attack, and Sunagakure’s leaders finally ordered their troops to stop Taiichi.

• Taiichi led his squad through Sunagakure’s ranks, while Ryosuke’s handlers released his restraints and ordered him to attack Konoha.
• Ryosuke partially transformed into Shukaku and fired a Tailed Beast Bomb toward the Konoha Command Post; Jiraiya sheltered his forces with Earth Prison Cage, then ordered the front line to continue fighting.
• Taiichi sensed Shukaku, left Yohei in command of his squad, and raced through the enemy ranks toward Ryosuke.
• Taiichi punched Ryosuke through the air, then broke his leg with repeated Chakra Enhanced Strength Fist blows as the Jinchuriki grew larger and attacked with sand.
• Taiichi used Flying Thunder God to evade Ryosuke’s attacks and struck him with Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, prompting Sunagakure’s leaders to order their forces to stop Taiichi Matsushita.

Taiichi fought Shukaku after Ryosuke’s seal failed, while Minato and Jiraiya kept the battlefield and Fourth Kazekage Rasa occupied. Taiichi unleashed the Yin Seal and trapped Shukaku in a flood, but Shukaku caught him between its claws as he tried to stop its Tailed Beast Bomb.

• Taiichi was overwhelmed by Sunagakure ninja attacking him, allowing Ryosuke’s seal to fail and Shukaku to emerge.
• Shukaku targeted Taiichi and bombarded the battlefield with Void Condensation Spheres, while Taiichi used Flying Thunder God to evade and drew the attacks toward Sunagakure ninja.
• Minato rescued Taiichi from an explosion and left to spread Flying Thunder God Kunai, while Jiraiya engaged Fourth Kazekage Rasa.
• Taiichi released the Yin Seal and used Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave to trap Shukaku in a flood, then wounded it with Water Severing Wave.
• Shukaku began forming a Tailed Beast Bomb, and Taiichi teleported above its head, but Shukaku clapped its claws around him and declared him dead.

Taiichi killed Shukaku, triggering a rout across Sunagakure’s front line and a major Konoha victory. After Rasa escaped his assault, Jiraiya sent Taiichi to bring the medical and logistics staff forward, and Taiichi reported the victory at the rear camp.

• Taiichi used Flying Thunder God to evade Shukaku, then struck the beast with an enhanced Rasengan and killed him when the resulting explosion detonated Shukaku’s Tailed Beast Bomb.
• Sunagakure’s morale collapsed after Shukaku’s death, and its forces fled as Chiyo and Ebizo rallied a portion to retreat in order.
• Taiichi flooded the battlefield and joined Jiraiya against Rasa, but Rasa escaped into the air despite Taiichi’s Water Severing Wave.
• Jiraiya praised Taiichi and ordered him to bring the logistics staff and Medical Ninja forward after learning Konoha had won on the front line.
• Taiichi returned to the rear camp and told Director Fujita and the gathered staff that Konoha had won a great victory.

After Konoha’s crushing victory, Taiichi escorted the logistics and medical teams back to camp, where they treated the wounded and rebuilt the camp. As the fighting continued elsewhere, Yohei, Kakashi, Rin, and Obito arrived, and Taiichi began treating the gravely injured Obito.

• Taiichi announced Konoha’s victory and relayed Jiraiya’s orders for the logistics and medical units to return to camp.
• Taiichi escorted the group back, where Director Fujita organized emergency treatment and Taiichi used Shadow Clones to help heal the wounded.
• Rasa reunited with Chiyo and Ebizo, ordered the Sunagakure Ninja to withdraw to the Land of Wind, and Minato’s team watched them without attacking.
• Jiraiya and Shikaku directed Konoha’s pursuit and treatment of casualties while Taiichi guarded the camp and treated incoming wounded.
• Yohei, Kakashi, Rin, and a badly injured Obito reached the camp, and Taiichi began healing Obito with Yang Release Chakra.

Taiichi treated Obito’s severe chest injuries at the Medical Camp, then guarded the camp through the night until Jiraiya and the other commanders returned victorious. At their meeting, Konoha’s losses and Sunagakure’s defeat were reported, and the commanders chose Shikaku to negotiate for food from the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers.

• Taiichi brought Obito to the Medical Camp and warned Rin that her emergency treatment had caused harmful scar tissue.
• Taiichi used precise medical ninjutsu to repair Obito’s chest wound, then told Rin that Obito should wake soon.
• Taiichi sent Yohei, Kakashi, and Saori to patrol before returning to guard the Camp overnight.
• Jiraiya and the other commanders returned, and Shikaku reported five hundred Sunagakure deaths against Konoha’s one hundred and forty-six losses, including the death of Shukaku’s Jinchuriki.
• The departments reported supply shortages, and Taiichi suggested borrowing food from the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers.
• Jiraiya assigned Shikaku to negotiate for food from the Daimyo.

Taiichi visited Obito in the Medical Camp, teased him about his injuries, and learned that Obito had been badly hurt after the team broke formation during the pursuit. He made Obito endure itchy accelerated healing, while the fighting in the Land of Rivers gradually ended.

• Taiichi frightened Obito by claiming he would never be a ninja again, then checked his injuries and confirmed he would recover.
• Yohei explained that the team had abandoned formation during the pursuit, leaving Obito vulnerable to two Sunagakure Chunin who pierced his chest.
• Taiichi warned the team to rely on one another in battle, then accelerated Obito's healing and left him to endure the resulting itch.
• Konoha Ninja eliminated the remaining Sunagakure Ninja in the Land of Rivers and began cleaning up the battlefield as Sunagakure guarded its borders and coast.

Sunagakure struggled to recover from its devastating defeat while Konoha’s leaders debated their next move. Hiruzen chose to pull back and let the Cloud Village confront Sunagakure, while reducing Southern Front support and ordering Taichi Matsushita’s promotion and return to Konoha.

• Kazama reported that 854 Sunagakure shinobi were lost in the battle, leaving fewer than seven hundred fit for duty at the border camp.
• Chiyo proposed transferring troops from the Eastern Front and asking village clans to provide reinforcements, and Rasa resolved to hold onto the Kazekage’s seat.
• Hiruzen told his Advisors that Jiraiya should pull his camp back thirty kilometers after intelligence indicated a Cloud Village force was heading toward the Land of Wind.
• Danzo accepted Hiruzen’s plan, then argued for fewer Southern Front troops and supplies so the Western Front could receive priority.
• Hiruzen approved half of Jiraiya’s requested supplies, granted Danzo his requested supplies but no additional personnel, and ordered Taichi Matsushita promoted to Jonin and sent back to Konoha with the wounded.

After Konoha ordered Taiichi back from the Land of Rivers front, he considered how to develop stronger sealing techniques to restrain Tailed Beasts. He learned that Yohei and Saori were not being recalled with him, leaving him uncertain why the village had singled him out.

• Ōnoki and the Third Raikage reacted to Sunagakure's defeat, while Konoha and Sunagakure refrained from attacking again.
• Jiraiya received orders to reduce support for the Southern Front and noticed that Taiichi alone from his team was listed to return to Konoha.
• Taiichi trained and concluded that he needed stronger Sealing Jutsu or Genjutsu to fight Tailed Beasts without relying on his Yin Seal.
• Yuta delivered Taiichi's transfer orders, directing him to leave for Konoha the next morning.
• Taiichi discovered that Yohei and Saori had received no orders to return, and he wondered why the village had singled him out.
• Taiichi treated Yohei's blurry eyes with medical ninjutsu before leaving the camp.

Taiichi prepared to leave the Southern Front for the village, testing Yohei’s Sharingan Genjutsu before handing over his Medical Camp duties. He left his companions behind and began making arrangements for his return and future Genjutsu training.

• Taiichi reminded Yohei and Saori to keep their Flying Thunder God Kunai and promised to make Saori a replacement Sealing Talisman.
• Taiichi asked Yohei to use his Sharingan Genjutsu on him, then compared the Three-Tomoe technique with Yohei’s Mangekyo Genjutsu and explained why its ocular power made it stronger.
• Taiichi packed his belongings, obtained controlled materials from the Logistics Department, handed over his Medical Camp work, and dismissed his Shadow Clones.
• Taiichi visited Obito, Kakashi, and Rin, told them he was returning to the village alone, and encouraged them to remain together as a squad.
• Obito refused Taiichi’s offer to slow his healing and said he wanted to recover quickly so he could resume training.

Taiichi taught Saori how to make Sealing Talismans before preparing to return to the village. Jiraiya appointed him leader of the returning ninja, who set out to go home as heroes.

• Taiichi gave Yohei his Genjutsu notes, then took Saori to watch him draw and activate a Sealing Talisman formation.
• Taiichi answered Saori’s questions and made two successful talismans out of the three he attempted.
• The next morning, Jiraiya sent Yohei to find Taiichi and proposed that he lead the group returning to the village.
• Taiichi accepted the appointment, and Jiraiya announced him as the leader to the returning ninja.
• Jiraiya told the wounded and long-serving ninja to return home proudly, and they cheered for their journey.

A led a Cloud Village force into the Land of Wind, where they destroyed Sunagakure outposts and raided a mine while Pakura tried to identify the attackers. The Cloud Ninjas left with stolen ore and pressed on toward their next target.

• A and Killer B led one hundred Cloud Village ninjas to the Land of Wind and split their force to wipe out four Sunagakure outposts.
• Pakura sent scouts to investigate the silent outposts, then learned that Cloud Village ninjas had attacked and ordered warnings sent to nearby outposts and the village.
• A led the Cloud force on a night march and captured a Sunagakure mine before dawn.
• A ordered his ninjas to pack valuable ore into Sealing Scrolls within thirty minutes, and the team regrouped with its loot.
• A led the Cloud Ninjas toward another target, allowing only a brief rest along the way.

Cloud Village’s raids on the Land of Wind prompted Iwagakure and Sunagakure to declare war on Cloud Village, easing pressure on Konoha. As Konoha’s leaders chose to let the other villages weaken one another, Hiruzen Sarutobi led a public welcome for the victorious and wounded ninja returning from the Southern Front.

• Minato uncovered Cloud Village’s raids in the Land of Wind, and Jiraiya received a detailed report while Konoha’s leadership ordered him to hold position.
• The Third Tsuchikage concluded that Cloud Village might have sent a Jinchuriki with its raiders, then ordered Iwagakure to attack Cloud Village.
• Iwagakure dispatched two thousand ninja toward the Land of Lightning and declared war on Cloud Village; Sunagakure declared war the following day.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and his advisers decided Konoha would let the other villages fight and planned a celebration for the returning Southern Front ninja.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi led villagers and officials to the Konoha Gate, where they welcomed the returning heroes with cries of “Victory!”

Taiichi led the victorious frontline ninjas back to Konoha, where Hiruzen Sarutobi welcomed them and granted them leave. Hiruzen promoted Taiichi to Jonin and approved his request to join the Barrier Team, leaving him to begin there after resting.

• Taiichi brought 243 frontline ninjas to Konoha and led them through the village as Hiruzen Sarutobi and the villagers celebrated their return.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi gave the returning ninjas two months of leave and arranged hospital care for the wounded.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi explained that he had recalled Taiichi to promote him to Jonin and have him help protect Konoha.
• Taiichi asked to work with the Barrier Team so he could study Sealing Jutsu and develop techniques to restrain Tailed Beasts.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi approved Taiichi's request, gave him an authorization order and his Jonin promotion certificate, and told him to report to the Barrier Team after resting.

Taiichi completed the elaborate Jonin promotion process and returned to Konoha, where he reunited with the children at the Orphanage and met his former classmates. After describing the battlefield’s dangers and revealing his new rank, he agreed to teach Yūhi Kurenai, provoking Asuma’s jealousy.

• Taiichi completed the Jonin promotion procedures, returned home, and visited the Orphanage after resting.
• Taiichi comforted the Orphanage children with Shadow Clones and learned from Grandma Keiko that Nonō had gone to the front lines while caretakers came regularly.
• Sarutobi Asuma, Yūhi Kurenai, and Shino Aburame arrived to care for the children and asked Taiichi about the battlefield.
• Taiichi described the front lines’ danger and revealed that he was a Jonin who specialized in the Flying Thunder God.
• Yūhi Kurenai asked to learn from Taiichi, and Asuma objected jealously.

Kurenai arranged for Taiichi Matsushita to train her, prompting Yuhi Shinku to seek reassurance from Hiruzen Sarutobi. Hiruzen decided Taiichi could also tutor Asuma, while Kurenai arrived at Taiichi’s home for their first training session.

• Kurenai insisted on learning from Taiichi, who agreed to train her every day at three in the afternoon.
• Yuhi Shinku questioned Kurenai about her sudden happiness, then worried whether Taiichi could properly guide her.
• Asuma asked Hiruzen Sarutobi to train him, and Hiruzen spent the evening tutoring him before arriving exhausted at work the next day.
• Yuhi Shinku asked Hiruzen about Taiichi’s abilities, and Hiruzen decided to ask Taiichi to train Asuma alongside Kurenai.
• Kurenai followed the address to Taiichi’s home and watched several Taiichis training after his Shadow Clone brought her to the Training Ground.

Taiichi trained Yūhi Kurenai in Genjutsu and Taijutsu, learning from her clan’s techniques while she gained insight into his Yin Release. The next day, he joined Konoha’s Barrier Team and discovered its extensive underground archives, which promised a wealth of Sealing Jutsu knowledge.

• Taiichi explained the risks of using Shadow Clones for training, then tested Kurenai and found she could use Genjutsu while fighting despite her Genin-level strength.
• Taiichi arranged daily Genjutsu sparring and Taijutsu training for Kurenai, and they practiced until she exhausted her Chakra and stamina.
• Kurenai told Yuhi Shinku about her training, while Taiichi recorded the Genjutsu techniques and ideas he had gained from their practice.
• Taiichi reported to the Barrier Team, where Yamanaka Kiyoharu tested his Sealing Jutsu knowledge and found his theory was at Jonin level.
• Yamanaka Kiyoharu showed Taiichi the underground Barrier Team base and its archives, and Taiichi was eager to study their Sealing Jutsu records.

On his first day with Konoha’s Barrier Team, Taiichi studied its archives before being summoned by Hiruzen Sarutobi, who asked him to teach Asuma alongside Yūhi Kurenai. As thanks, Hiruzen taught Taiichi the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique, which Taiichi began practicing at home.

• Taiichi learned how the Barrier Team operated, sent a Shadow Clone to continue his work, and spent most of the day studying barrier and sealing scrolls in the Archives.
• An Anbu operative summoned Taiichi to the Hokage’s Office, where Hiruzen Sarutobi asked about his lessons with Yūhi Kurenai.
• Hiruzen asked Taiichi to teach Asuma, and Taiichi agreed to train both of his friends.
• Hiruzen offered Taiichi a Ninjutsu lesson as thanks, and Taiichi chose the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique.
• Taiichi studied Hiruzen’s training scroll and practiced the technique, splitting three Shuriken into sixteen on his second attempt.

Taiichi used Shadow Clones to handle Barrier Team work while his real body studied in the Archives, then arranged to manage his own schedule. As Asuma overcame his hesitation and arrived with Kurenai for training, Taiichi noticed Asuma looking at him strangely.

• Taiichi used a Shadow Clone to help the Barrier Team solve its problems, and Yamanaka Kiyoharu mistakenly thought he was lecturing the staff before apologizing.
• Taiichi persuaded Yamanaka Kiyoharu to let him arrange his own schedule, then revealed that he had been working through a Shadow Clone while his real body studied in the Archives.
• Yamanaka Kiyoharu found Taiichi in the Archives and warned him not to rely on Shadow Clones during field inspections.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi urged Asuma to set aside his pride and seek guidance from Taiichi, explaining how Taiichi had earned the respect of powerful ninjas.
• Yūhi Kurenai found Asuma hesitating outside the Senju Clan Grounds and brought him to Taiichi's home for training.
• Taiichi welcomed Yūhi Kurenai and Asuma, then wondered why Asuma was looking at him strangely.

Taiichi tested Asuma's taijutsu and ninjutsu, then demonstrated the true power of Fire and Wind Release to persuade him to learn. Back at Taiichi's home, he explained that mastering Nature Transformation was the key focus of Asuma's training, and began the first stage.

• Kurenai practiced Genjutsu with Taiichi's Shadow Clone while Taiichi assessed Asuma's fighting skills.
• Taiichi easily countered Asuma's taijutsu, Great Flame Bomb, and Great Breakthrough, then took him outside Konoha using Flying Thunder God.
• Taiichi demonstrated powerful versions of Great Flame Bomb and Great Breakthrough, leaving Asuma stunned and eager to learn.
• Taiichi explained that jutsu power depended on practice, chakra, and especially mastery of Nature Transformation.
• Taiichi began the first stage of Asuma's special training.