Chapter Summaries

Taiichi, Yohei, and Saori investigated a series of brutal bandit attacks along the Land of Fire–Land of Grass trade route. After finding matching traces at several battle sites, they concluded the bandits were ordinary fighters and headed to search a nearby hill.

• Captain Yamaguchi assigned Team 8 a C-rank mission to eliminate the bandits targeting merchant caravans and told the team he would not intervene unless they faced enemies they could not handle.
• Taiichi, Yohei, and Saori reached the trade route and agreed to search nearby battle sites, splitting up to scout within a five-kilometer radius.
• Taiichi found two attack sites, including bloodstains, chaotic blade marks, and a row of evenly spaced round holes in the ground.
• Yohei and Saori reported similar traces, and Saori recalled finding round holes like the ones Taiichi had noticed.
• Taiichi concluded the bandits were ordinary fighters and led the team toward a nearby hill as a likely hiding place.

Taiichi, Yohei, and Saori searched an abandoned mountain stronghold, then questioned villagers about the bandits. The village chief told them the bandits had fled to the Land of Grass over ten days earlier, but Taiichi remained suspicious of the village’s strength and behavior.

• Taiichi, Yohei, and Saori searched the mountain stronghold and found it mostly abandoned, with signs the bandits had left in an orderly fashion.
• Taiichi decided the nearby village might know more about the bandits, so the three headed there at dusk.
• The villagers avoided the three, but Taiichi learned from one man that the village had not suffered losses and that its people could defend themselves.
• Taiichi showed the village chief their mission commission and asked about the bandits.
• The village chief said the bandits had fled to the Land of Grass over ten days earlier and had once raided the village.
• Taiichi questioned why the village had been able to hold off the bandits and watched the chief closely.

Taiichi suspected that the village was sheltering the bandits and left a Shadow Clone to watch the village chief’s house. The clone overheard the chief and three villagers admit they had been bandits for over half a year, then vanished to report back to Taiichi.

• Taiichi questioned the village chief about the bandits and the abandoned stronghold before leaving with Yohei and Saori.
• Taiichi and his teammates discussed the villagers’ suspicious behavior, and Taiichi connected battle-site holes to pitchforks and found porcelain in a villager’s house.
• Taiichi revealed that he had left a Shadow Clone to watch the village chief’s house while the group rested outside the village.
• Wada, Xiuren, and Reiko met with the village chief and let slip that their families had recently become bandits.
• The village chief warned the three to behave like ordinary villagers until the ninja reported their mission, but Taiichi’s Shadow Clone overheard them and disappeared.
• Taiichi opened his eyes several kilometers away when he sensed the Shadow Clone’s return.

Taiichi, Yohei, and Saori discovered that the village was a bandit den and carried out their mission to kill its inhabitants. After Taiichi’s mindset changed during the slaughter, the villagers raised an alarm, and Yohei’s powerful fire jutsu scattered the crowd before Taiichi and Saori pursued the survivors.

• Taiichi used genjutsu to interrogate the village chief and learned that the villagers had murdered merchants, carried out robberies, and killed anyone who refused to join them.
• Taiichi killed the chief, then split up with Yohei and Saori to kill the villagers in their homes.
• Taiichi struggled before killing a young child, then accepted his limits and gained one Spirit point as his mindset transformed.
• A villager spotted Saori and fired a signal flare, alerting the village and drawing the armed villagers toward the team.
• Yohei unleashed Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation, killing the crowd, but exhausted his chakra and collapsed.
• Taiichi left a Shadow Clone to watch Yohei while he and Saori chased the fleeing villagers.

Taiichi, Saori, and Yohei completed a mission to wipe out a bandit group and handed it over to the City Lord of Scarlet Flow City, where Yamaguchi used the success to build ties with local authorities. As Team 8 returned to Konoha, Taiichi reflected that the real world was more complicated than the story he knew.

• Taiichi, Saori, and Yohei hunted down the scattered villagers who had become bandits, while Yamaguchi reprimanded Yohei for exhausting himself with Great Fire Annihilation and making the chase harder.
• Yohei apologized to Taiichi and Saori, and Yamaguchi praised Team 8's performance before leading them to camp by a river for the night.
• Team 8 traveled to Scarlet Flow City the next morning and handed the mission over to the City Lord, who invited them to a luncheon in gratitude.
• Yamaguchi and the City Lord exchanged praise and discussed future commissions, then Yamaguchi explained to his team how good relationships with officials helped Konoha secure missions.
• As Team 8 approached Konoha, Taiichi reminded himself that the world held complexities beyond what he knew from the original work.

After returning from the extermination mission, Taiichi wandered Konoha, shaken by what he had done, until the children and Nonō at the Orphanage helped him regain his sense of purpose. He left with renewed resolve, and his realization strengthened his swordsmanship and Blade Momentum.

• After Masasuke Yamaguchi dismissed Team 8, Taiichi watched Yohei and Saori go home and wandered Konoha alone, overwhelmed by loneliness and dark thoughts.
• Taiichi reached the Orphanage, where Yami and the other children welcomed him and drew him into their games and stories.
• After the children went to bed, Taiichi told Nonō about the mission and killing a five-year-old child.
• Nonō comforted Taiichi and reminded him that beauty and kindness remained alongside the world's cruelty, helping him reaffirm his bonds and convictions.
• Taiichi's realization increased his Blade Momentum power and advanced his swordsmanship to Advanced Swordsmanship Lv1.

Taiichi's training led him to develop two powerful Water Style techniques, though testing them nearly killed him. After returning to the village, he spotted Jiraiya peeping into a women's bathhouse and called him out.

• Taiichi used the river to refine his Great Water Prison Technique, but it collapsed and unleashed Water Arrows that tore through the surrounding area.
• Taiichi realized the technique could be used inwardly to trap enemies or outwardly as a group attack, which he named Water Style: Wild Water Dance.
• Taiichi's panel confirmed he had developed modified S-rank versions of Great Water Prison Technique and Wild Water Dance, but he ran out of chakra and headed back to the village.
• Taiichi spotted Jiraiya peeping into a new women's bathhouse from a rooftop and shouted, "Jiraiya, what are you doing?!"

Taiichi’s prank sent Jiraiya crashing into the women’s bathhouse, but the two reconciled over lunch. When Taiichi revealed that Tsunade had made him her disciple before leaving Konoha, Jiraiya was delighted, and Taiichi resolved to find a way to bring her back.

• Taiichi startled Jiraiya by transforming into Tsunade, causing Jiraiya to fall through a window into the women’s bathhouse and flee from its furious occupants.
• Taiichi found Jiraiya near Training Ground No. 3 and apologized for the prank by treating him to lunch.
• Taiichi told Jiraiya that Tsunade had left Konoha with Shizune about half a month earlier, and Jiraiya said her return might depend on Taiichi.
• Taiichi resolved to find a way to bring Tsunade back to the village.
• Jiraiya learned that Tsunade had accepted Taiichi as her disciple and passed him the Summoning Scroll, and he celebrated the news.

Taiichi met Minato and learned that Tsunade had left Konoha, then Jiraiya took him to Training Ground No. 3 to assess his progress. Their spar ended with Taiichi surprising Jiraiya with a spinning kick.

• Jiraiya introduced Taiichi to Minato as his junior disciple, and Minato congratulated Taiichi on becoming Tsunade's official student.
• Jiraiya told Minato that Tsunade had left Konoha, and Taiichi resolved to help bring her back.
• Minato declined to eat with them because Kushina was waiting at home, so Jiraiya dragged Taiichi away to avoid her cooking and promised to guide his training.
• At Training Ground No. 3, Taiichi attacked Jiraiya with his wind-coated Short Sword, and Jiraiya tested his strength with a chakra-coated Kunai.
• Taiichi relied on sword technique to press Jiraiya, then followed a missed slash with an unexpected spinning kick that forced Jiraiya to block.

Taiichi sparred with Jiraiya, demonstrated his ability to cut through fire techniques with wind-infused swordsmanship, and received advice on improving how he combined his skills. After Jiraiya left, Taiichi practiced the new sword technique and prepared to test its power.

• Taiichi used fire techniques and Shadow Clones against Jiraiya, then instinctively cut apart Jiraiya’s Great Flame Bomb with his Short Sword.
• Jiraiya launched a Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, and Taiichi refined his wind-infused sword swings to split the flames and deflect them.
• Jiraiya pressured Taiichi in close combat until Taiichi was overwhelmed, then stopped his fist just before striking Taiichi’s forehead.
• Jiraiya explained that Taiichi needed to combine his swordsmanship, taijutsu, and ninjutsu more effectively, learn One-Handed Seals, and exchange village merits for ninjutsu.
• After Jiraiya left, Taiichi practiced the sword technique, gained skill and comprehension, and poured his chakra into the blade to test it as it began to crack.

Taiichi went to a weapon shop after his sword broke and met Obito and Rin, who were buying kunai. He found a black sword that suited him, then arranged to commission a similar one with Chakra Metal added.

• Taiichi saw Obito buy two boxes of kunai and explained that the shop’s pricing meant Obito had bought an extra box rather than saved money.
• Taiichi tested swords at the shop but found none of the standard options suitable.
• Taiichi invited Rin to Training Ground 3 the next morning to help with her questions about Medical Ninjutsu, and Obito insisted on joining them.
• Taiichi tested the shop’s three best swords and found that the black sword fit his hand and preferences, but it had no Chakra Metal.
• Taiichi asked the owner, Togo Akira, to commission a similar sword with Chakra Metal, and Togo took him to be measured.

Taiichi tried to reconnect with Tsunade by sending her a letter through Katsuyu, but Tsunade rejected the reverse summon while gambling. He developed his modified Water Prison Technique further and tested Rin and Obito in combat, ending the chapter ready to teach them.

• Taiichi wrote Tsunade a letter and asked Katsuyu to deliver it, but Tsunade rejected Katsuyu's reverse summon while gambling in the Land of Hot Water.
• Taiichi practiced the Great Water Prison Technique and discovered that One-Time Proof, Permanent Skill let him reliably reproduce his progress as he developed it.
• Taiichi watched Rin and Obito spar and criticized Obito for holding back and preventing Rin from learning her true abilities.
• Taiichi fought Rin and Obito, easily defeating them and breaking apart Obito's Great Fireball Technique with Phoenix Sage Fire.
• Taiichi warned Obito to become strong enough to protect Rin, then invited him to choose between listening to the lesson and training on his own.

Taiichi joined Jiraiya and Minato for dinner at Minato's home, where he helped Kushina cook and won everyone over with the meal. After dinner, Minato offered to study One-Handed Seals with Taiichi.

• Taiichi saw Jiraiya trying to persuade Minato to invite him to Kushina's dinner and agreed to join them after Jiraiya pressed him.
• Jiraiya asked Taiichi to help Kushina cook, and Minato welcomed him to the house.
• Kushina welcomed Taiichi, who called her sister-in-law and followed her into the kitchen to help prepare dinner.
• Taiichi and Kushina served a feast, and Jiraiya and Minato praised the food while Kushina credited Taiichi for the best dishes.
• After dinner, Minato offered to study One-Handed Seals with Taiichi.

Taiichi learned the basics of One-Handed Seal from Minato and joined him, Jiraiya, and the others in a lively discussion. Meanwhile, Hiruzen approved a retaliatory mission against Cloud Village, and Taiichi went to Konoha’s Ninjutsu Exchange to trade for a technique.

• Minato explained his understanding of One-Handed Seal, and Taiichi developed a one-handed gesture while gaining progress in the skill.
• Taiichi shared his discovery with Minato, Jiraiya, and the others, and they discussed their research until evening.
• Danzo presented Hiruzen, Homura, and Koharu with a report detailing Cloud Village’s abductions of children with Kekkei Genkai.
• Hiruzen ordered Sakumo to kill those responsible for the abductions, rejecting Danzo’s demand that Root handle the mission.
• Taiichi visited Konoha’s Ninjutsu Exchange, showed the dismissive Chunin his Ninja ID, and was asked whether he wanted to exchange for a B-rank or C-rank technique.

Taiichi exchanged mission records for ninjutsu scrolls covering all five nature transformations and spent several days training with them. He then joined Yohei and Saori at Konoha’s gates for a rushed escort mission to the Border Outpost.

• Taiichi traded his three A-rank mission records for six C-rank ninjutsu scrolls, including techniques for Earth and Lightning Style.
• Taiichi trained intensively, improved his Water and Wind Style skills, and formed new Earth and Lightning Style skills.
• Jiji, Masasuke Yamaguchi’s Summoning Animal, told Taiichi to prepare for a temporary mission and gather at the village entrance in two hours.
• Taiichi met Yohei Uchiha and Saori Furukawa at Konoha’s gates, where none of them knew the mission details.
• Captain Yamaguchi arrived and ordered the team to escort overdue resupply goods to the Border Outpost immediately.

Captain Yamaguchi’s squad delivered supplies to Outpost 7 and discovered it had been devastated by a recent attack. Taiichi began treating the severely wounded, while Captain Yamaguchi and Yohei went to meet the outpost’s commander.

• Captain Yamaguchi led Taiichi, Saori, and Yohei toward the Land of Rain, explaining that each would carry a Storage Scroll of supplies.
• The squad reached Outpost 7 after nearly two days and was stopped by a warning Kunai before Tengshan verified their mission scroll.
• Tengshan told Captain Yamaguchi that the outpost had suffered serious losses, and the squad entered to find wounded comrades without medical care.
• Captain Yamaguchi sent Taiichi to treat the wounded and directed Saori to assist him, while he and Yohei went with Tengshan to meet the person in charge.
• Yukiya took Taiichi to a tent where three severely wounded people lay unconscious and bleeding through their bandages.

Taiichi used medical ninjutsu to save the outpost’s critically wounded after a surprise attack. Chiba asked Yamaguchi’s squad to help defend the vulnerable outpost until reinforcements arrived, while Taiichi began treating the rest of the injured.

• Taiichi summoned Katsuyu to stabilize two wounded ninjas, then treated three critically injured patients, though one had lost an arm that could not be reattached.
• Chiba learned that bounty ninjas had attacked the outpost to test its strength, but their leader had escaped without revealing who hired them.
• Chiba asked Yamaguchi’s squad to defend the outpost until reinforcements arrived, and Yamaguchi agreed.
• Taiichi treated Chiba’s arm and instructed Yukiya to bring him every injured ninja in the camp for treatment.

Taiichi, Yohei, Saori, and Captain Yamaguchi began guarding the outpost and went on a patrol, where they found signs of enemy activity. Taiichi and Yohei returned to warn Jonin Chiba, while Taiichi prepared to tend to the wounded in case of another attack.

• Captain Yamaguchi confirmed that his team would stay at the outpost for several days, and Taiichi collected a Short Sword from the Logistics Department.
• Captain Yamaguchi led Taiichi, Yohei, and Saori on a patrol west of the outpost and taught them what signs to watch for.
• Saori found the remains of a warm campfire, and Yohei spotted signs of several people moving through the trees about two hundred meters west.
• Captain Yamaguchi sent Taiichi and Yohei back to report the enemy traces and warn the outpost to strengthen its defenses.
• Taiichi told Jonin Chiba that the intruders might be the same enemies who had attacked before, then decided to check on the wounded.

Taiichi defended the injured soldiers’ tent during a surprise attack on the outpost and killed two attackers while the wounded helped fight off the third. The green-haired leader saw his little brother killed as the battle turned against the attackers.

• Taiichi stayed with the injured soldiers while the outpost’s defenders prepared for a surprise attack after discovering traces left by the attackers.
• The green-haired leader sent his little brother and two ninjas to kill the wounded, while the rest of the attackers charged the outpost.
• Konoha’s defenders fought back with help from reinforcements, including a Jonin, and began to overwhelm the attackers.
• Three attackers entered the injured soldiers’ tent, where Taiichi killed one and helped the wounded kill another before the last fled.
• The green-haired leader saw his little brother emerge from the tent with a blade through his chest and roared in grief.

Taiichi helped Konoha defeat the Bounty Ninja attacking the outpost, then followed a fleeing enemy with Yohei to locate their hidden base. After finding a cave, Taiichi prepared to use Earth Style to infiltrate it.

• Taiichi killed enemies with his sword, turning the battle in Konoha’s favor as the Bounty Ninja began to flee.
• Jonin Chiba assigned Taiichi to follow a deliberately released enemy and find the enemy base, and Captain Yamaguchi sent Yohei with him.
• Chiba and Masasuke Yamaguchi received the battle report: fifteen enemies were killed, nine escaped, and two Konoha ninja died.
• Taiichi and Yohei tracked the fleeing ninja through the night to a cave, using Yohei’s Sharingan to follow his winding trail.
• Taiichi asked Yohei how to enter the cave, then focused on his panel and prepared to use Earth Style Nature Transformation.