Chapter Summaries

Hatake Tachibana separated from the supply convoy with Minato Namikaze and Nawaki to prepare for the approaching Sunagakure attack. As they hid in position, Nagata Busaki’s squad advanced toward the convoy, with Iwaya Kawa warning the reckless mission leader to stay alert.

• Hatake Tachibana assigned Minato Namikaze and Nawaki separate positions to draw Sunagakure ninja away when they heard a commotion.
• After they left, Hatake Tachibana hid in a tree and planned to use his Thunder Eyes or activate Musou if the diversion failed.
• Nagata Busaki led the Sunagakure raid because his sister, Nagata Hanako, was the Third Kazekage’s wife.
• Iwaya Kawa warned Nagata Busaki to stay alert as they neared Konoha’s supply convoy, but Nagata Busaki scolded him for not using his title.
• An unnamed Sunagakure Jonin calmed the argument by reminding them the mission promised rich loot, and Iwaya Kawa let the dispute go.

Sunagakure’s squad was ambushed by an unknown Lightning Release technique, and Iwaya Kawa assessed the threat while Nagata Busaki took command. After Busaki ordered the squad to split up, Iwaya Kawa secretly continued toward their original destination.

• Three blue lightning strikes injured several Chunin in the Sunagakure squad, and Iwaya Kawa quickly judged their injuries and ordered the squad to defend itself.
• Two distant Explosive Tags went off, and Iwaya Kawa considered possible traps while questioning the sensory ninja’s reports of only two nearby Konoha Ninja.
• Nagata Busaki ordered Iwaya Kawa to capture the detected Chunin and said he would deal with the Genin himself.
• Iwaya Kawa decided to complete the mission alone and used the Body Flicker Technique to leave without telling Busaki he was still heading toward their original destination.

Hatake Tachibana pursued and killed Iwaya Kawa, a Sunagakure Elite Jonin, using Lightning Release and his Thunder Eyes. With little Chakra left, Tachibana raced back to help Nawaki, who was still in danger.

• Hatake Tachibana left the supply convoy and pursued Iwaya Kawa, hoping to defeat him quickly and return to Nawaki Senju.
• Iwaya Kawa recognized Tachibana's Lightning Release Chakra Mode and attacked him with Wind Release, but Tachibana evaded the blasts using Infinity.
• Iwaya Kawa filled the battlefield with dust using Wind Release: Airflow Dance Jutsu, and Tachibana used Infinity Perception to locate him with his eyes closed.
• Hatake Tachibana unleashed Thunder Judgment, and Iwaya Kawa survived the strike by countering with Wind Release: Pressure Damage.
• Hatake Tachibana closed in and killed Iwaya Kawa by stabbing his shadow, then hurried toward Nawaki with only 0.25 units of Chakra remaining.

Hatake Tachibana rescued Nawaki Senju, defeated the Sunagakure squad, and rejoined the Konoha supply convoy with Minato Namikaze and Nawaki. The young shinobi reached Konoha's forward camp at dawn.

• Minato Namikaze rescued Nawaki Senju from a Sunagakure Jonin, and Hatake Tachibana arrived and killed the pursuer.
• Hatake Tachibana led Minato and Nawaki through the forest, then attacked the scattered Sunagakure shinobi and killed their Jonin and Chunin.
• Hatake Tachibana found Minato and Nawaki, and the three pursued Konoha's rerouted supply convoy.
• Eiichiro Hirata scolded the three for leaving the convoy and losing supplies, then sent them to the rear of the group.
• At dawn, the young shinobi arrived at Konoha's forward camp.

Eiichiro Hirata asked Hatake Sakumo to remove him from escort duty, and Sakumo agreed before warning Hatake Tachibana about Sunagakure’s powerful Puppet Masters. The chapter ended with Sakumo recognizing that Konoha’s fragile balance against Sunagakure could not last.

• Eiichiro Hirata asked Hatake Sakumo to reassign him from leading a supply escort, and Sakumo accepted his request and ordered Araki to let him rest.
• Hatake Tachibana entered the command room and urged his injured, exhausted older brother to take care of himself.
• Hatake Sakumo praised Tachibana for handling Sunagakure ninja on the road and warned him not to risk his safety.
• Hatake Sakumo explained that Chiyo and her Chikamatsu Ten Puppets were a major threat to Konoha on the battlefield.
• Hatake Sakumo described how his repeated fights with Chiyo and raids on other Sunagakure ninja helped Konoha hold its ground, though he knew the situation could not last.

Hatake Tachibana joined Captain Araki's Elite Jonin squad as its new sensory ninja, replacing the wounded Yamanaka Kyōichi. At the training grounds, Araki began testing Tachibana's abilities by asking him to attack a target.

• Hatake Sakumo assigned Hatake Tachibana to Captain Araki's Elite Jonin squad on the front lines.
• Araki introduced Tachibana to Akimichi Chōku, Sarutobi Senkawa, Dan Katō, and Kurama Kaede.
• Araki explained that Tachibana's Thunder Eyes could track enemies within three kilometers and named him the squad's new sensory ninja.
• Sarutobi Senkawa loudly cursed Sunagakure before Araki interrupted him and proposed testing Tachibana's abilities.
• At the training grounds, Araki asked Tachibana to use his strongest offensive jutsu on a target fifty meters away.

Hatake Tachibana demonstrated his Lightning Release technique during an assessment, impressing Captain Araki and the squad. Kurama Kaede stepped forward to test him, but discovered that her powerful genjutsu still had no effect on him.

• Hatake Tachibana used Lightning Release: Lightning Snake to destroy a wooden target, and Captain Araki praised his skill and power.
• Captain Araki invited the squad to test Hatake Tachibana’s other abilities, and Sarutobi Senkawa prepared to volunteer.
• Kurama Kaede asked to face Hatake Tachibana, and Sarutobi Senkawa cautioned her not to overdo it.
• Kurama Kaede used her bloodline genjutsu on Hatake Tachibana for a second time and found that she could not affect his senses.
• Kurama Kaede realized her earlier attempt had also failed and thought of Hatake Tachibana as a monster.

Hatake Tachibana let Kurama Kaede’s genjutsu draw them into a Mental Space so he could analyze it, then overwhelmed her with his immense spiritual power. After suppressing that power enough for Kaede to regain control and free them, he asked her to continue teaching him the genjutsu.

• Hatake Tachibana voluntarily allowed Kurama Kaede’s genjutsu to seal his spiritual power inside the Mental Space so he could study it.
• Kurama Kaede saw Tachibana’s gigantic spiritual form and, frightened by his power, agreed to keep the incident secret.
• After analyzing the technique, Tachibana attempted to control the Mental Space, but Kaede warned that doing so could permanently damage her mind.
• Tachibana suppressed most of his sensory perception and spiritual pressure, allowing Kaede to regain control and release them both.
• Tachibana asked Kurama Kaede to continue teaching him the genjutsu, and she agreed.

Hatake Tachibana joined Araki’s elite squad after impressing them with his resistance to genjutsu and his Thunder Eyes sensory abilities. The newly formed squad completed an S-Rank mission to attack Sunagakure’s supply convoy with remarkable ease and headed back carrying captured supplies.

• Kurama Kaede tested Hatake Tachibana’s resistance to genjutsu, and the squad then praised his sensory abilities after testing his Thunder Eyes.
• Araki welcomed Tachibana into the squad at the camp mess hall, where the group later became known as the Ghost Ninja Squad.
• Hatake Sakumo assigned Araki’s elite squad an S-Rank mission to cross into Sunagakure’s rear and destroy a supply convoy.
• Tachibana guided the squad through the buffer zone, locating sentries, traps, and enemy weaknesses so they could win each encounter with little trouble.
• The squad destroyed Sunagakure’s convoy, killing six Jonin, fifteen Chunin, and thirty-four Genin, and Sarutobi Senkawa burned most of their supply scrolls.
• On the way back, Sarutobi Senkawa proposed attacking Chiyo, and Kurama Kaede supported the idea, but the rest of the squad opposed it.

Hatake Tachibana detected Chiyo’s trap and persuaded the Elite Squad to avoid it by harassing Sunagakure’s rear instead. During a night raid, he killed Hirata Tomohiko after learning the sensory ninja’s clan technique.

• Hatake Tachibana recalled killing a Sunagakure Chunin and realized his sensory ability could give Konoha a decisive advantage without waiting for the Sannin.
• Chiyo learned that Konoha had destroyed a supply convoy in Sunagakure’s rear and ordered the camp’s available Jonin to gather.
• Hatake Tachibana detected nearly a hundred Sunagakure Jonin waiting in a trap along the squad’s route home.
• Hatake Tachibana proposed harassing Sunagakure’s rear instead of confronting the trap, and Captain Araki and the squad followed his plan.
• Hatake Tachibana approached the sentry Hirata Tomohiko, said he had learned the Hirata Clan’s sensory technique, and stabbed him through the throat.

Hatake Tachibana revealed his Lightning Release abilities to convince his squad to follow his plan, then led the assault on the Sunagakure camp. After the squad devastated the camp, he reached Chiyo’s command tent to face the Kage Level fighter.

• Hatake Tachibana used Observation Haki Killer to eliminate the Sunagakure sentries and sensory ninjas around the camp.
• Hatake Tachibana demonstrated dozens of Lightning Release techniques, prompting Araki and the others to let him command the squad.
• Hatake Tachibana led the six Konoha Elite Jonin into the sleeping Sunagakure camp, where Sarutobi Senkawa and Araki unleashed a fire-and-wind attack.
• Dan Katō used Spirit Transformation Technique while Kurama Kaede guarded him, and Akimichi Chōku transformed into a giant Human Bullet Tank and rolled through the camp.
• Hatake Tachibana cut through Sunagakure ninjas and reached Chiyo’s command tent.

Hatake Tachibana confronted Chiyo outside her Sunagakure tent and overwhelmed her with his swordsmanship before she could summon her puppets. Chiyo revealed her hidden Chikamatsu Ten Puppets, and the ten puppets attacked Hatake Tachibana.

• Hatake Tachibana challenged Chiyo outside her tent, and she immediately attacked him with a kunai.
• Hatake Tachibana disarmed Chiyo and cut the Chakra Threads she was using to summon her puppets.
• Hatake Tachibana pressured Chiyo with his swordsmanship and severed her modified puppet arm, releasing purple smoke.
• Chiyo used the detached arm to retrieve and control her hidden puppets, summoning the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets.
• Chiyo sent all ten puppets lunging at Hatake Tachibana.

Hatake Sakumo learned that Sunagakure’s camp was under attack and hurried there, while Hatake Tachibana’s Elite Squad overwhelmed the camp with Dan Katō’s Spirit Transformation Technique and powerful ninjutsu. Tachibana decided against learning the technique after seeing its damage to the user’s soul, but continued studying how Dan controlled his disembodied soul as he fought Chiyo.

• An Anbu Ninja told Hatake Sakumo that Sunagakure’s camp was under attack, and Sakumo set out alone to investigate and check on Tachibana.
• Dan Katō used the Spirit Transformation Technique as Araki’s Elite Squad attacked the camp, killing Sunagakure ninja while Hatake Tachibana held Chiyo at bay.
• Hatake Tachibana used Infinity’s Simulation ability to learn that the Spirit Transformation Technique severely damaged its user’s soul.
• Hatake Tachibana rejected learning the technique because he feared risking his soul, but remained interested in its method of soul control.
• Hatake Tachibana continued fighting Chiyo’s Chikamatsu Ten Puppets while observing Dan Katō’s technique.

Hatake Tachibana unleashed his new lightning technique to destroy Chiyo’s Chikamatsu Ten Puppets, then fled the Sunagakure camp with his Chakra depleted. Chiyo survived, summoned her spare puppets, and pursued him, believing he could no longer fight back.

• Chiyo used Three Treasures Suction Crush to pull Hatake Tachibana toward her puppets.
• Hatake Tachibana summoned thunderclouds and struck the area with Ten Thousand Thunder Heavenly Prison Attraction, destroying the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets and draining his Chakra.
• Hatake Tachibana sensed Chiyo was alive, chose not to attack her with power beyond Chakra, and ran toward the outskirts of the Sunagakure camp.
• Chiyo emerged from underground, cursed Hatake Tachibana, and recognized that losing her ten puppets had badly weakened her.
• Chiyo summoned ten spare puppets and chased Hatake Tachibana, believing his Chakra was exhausted.

Hatake Tachibana led his exhausted teammates out of the Sunagakure camp as their pursuers closed in. When Araki tried to stay behind and hold them off, Tachibana knocked him unconscious, leaving the others stunned.

• Hatake Tachibana criticized his teammates for spending too much Chakra during their escape from the Sunagakure camp.
• Akimichi Chōku, Dan Katō, Araki, Sarutobi Senkawa, and Kurama Kaede reacted to the prospect of Sunagakure's forces catching up with them.
• Hatake Tachibana sensed that the pursuing Sunagakure ninja would catch the squad within fifteen minutes.
• Araki stopped the group and declared that he would stay behind to hold off the Sunagakure ninja.
• Hatake Tachibana struck Araki unconscious with Colorless Haki, shattering his collarbone, and the others demanded to know what he was doing.

Hatake Tachibana confronted Chiyo’s Sunagakure force and destroyed it with a single Flying Slash. Afterward, he asked his teammates to conceal his power, and they agreed.

• Hatake Tachibana warned Chiyo and the Sunagakure shinobi to return to the Land of Wind, but none of them retreated.
• Hatake Tachibana awakened his Colorless Haki and sent a Flying Slash across several kilometers, burying Chiyo and wiping out the advancing force.
• Hatake Tachibana sheathed his Ninja Blade, told his stunned teammates it was time to end the war, and asked them to keep his power secret.
• Sarutobi Senkawa urged Hatake Tachibana to unite the Shinobi World, but Hatake Tachibana said that was not his ambition and asked again for secrecy.
• Kurama Kaede swore on the honor of the Kurama Clan to keep his secret, and the other three conscious teammates agreed.

Hatake Tachibana’s defeat of Chiyo and more than five hundred Sunagakure Ninja led the Third Kazekage to surrender and ended the war early. Tsunade arrived to treat Araki, whose mysterious injuries and Tachibana’s guilty reaction hinted at what had happened.

• Hatake Sakumo reunited with Hatake Tachibana and learned that Araki had been injured, while Tachibana promised to explain later.
• After Chiyo and more than five hundred Sunagakure Ninja died, the Third Kazekage offered Sunagakure’s surrender to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who learned the scale of the losses but did not know who had caused them.
• Hatake Sakumo accepted Tachibana’s claim that his sword technique came from a unique dōjutsu, and the truce ended the Konoha-Sunagakure war before Tsunade and Orochimaru reached the front.
• Tsunade arrived to treat Araki and found that his shattered collarbone had already been skillfully reset, though he still needed her care to recover.
• Araki told Tsunade he did not know who had injured him or killed the Sunagakure force, and Tachibana asked whether Araki could remain a Ninja before visibly relaxing at Tsunade’s reassurance.

After the war ended, Hatake Tachibana rose from Chunin to Jonin while Hiruzen Sarutobi uncovered the truth about his strength and invited him to join Anbu. Jiraiya returned to Konoha and agreed to ask Tachibana for samples and a Medical Ninjutsu lesson, believing his new Sage Mode made him stronger than Orochimaru and Tsunade.

• Konoha and Sunagakure signed a non-aggression pact, and Iwagakure and Kumogakure soon ended their fighting, bringing the Second Shinobi World War to a close.
• Hatake Tachibana returned to Konoha, became a Chunin, and spent the following years training and completing missions with Minato Namikaze.
• Four years later, Hiruzen Sarutobi promoted Tachibana to Jonin and invited him to join Anbu after learning from Sarutobi Senkawa about Tachibana's immense power and Thunder Eyes.
• Jiraiya returned to Konoha after four years in the Land of Rain and reunited with Orochimaru and Tsunade, who showed little interest in his account of his experiences.
• Orochimaru asked Jiraiya to obtain blood, hair, and skin samples from Tachibana, while Tsunade asked him to persuade Tachibana to teach her a Medical Ninjutsu.
• Jiraiya agreed to make both requests and privately thought his newly mastered Sage Mode could let him defeat Orochimaru and Tsunade.

Hatake Tachibana agreed to Jiraiya’s requests for Orochimaru to study his Kekkei Genkai and for Tsunade to learn his new Medical Ninjutsu, in exchange for training in a dangerous technique. The chapter ended with Tachibana giving Jiraiya the requested materials and arranging to train alongside Minato.

• Kakashi told Might Guy that he planned to graduate early and train with Hatake Tachibana, prompting Guy to vow to graduate alongside his rival.
• Kakashi explained that Hatake Sakumo had promised to let him train and go on missions with Tachibana if he graduated early, and Tachibana accepted the arrangement.
• Jiraiya asked Tachibana to provide Orochimaru with samples for Kekkei Genkai research and to teach Tsunade a healing technique.
• Tachibana recalled how he had used Colorless Haki to save Araki and had later developed a Chakra-based Medical Ninjutsu with a similar effect.
• Tachibana agreed to both requests, asked to train with Minato as well, and gave Jiraiya the requested materials.

Tachibana advised Minato to choose the Flying Thunder God Technique from the Scroll of Seals, then joined him as Jiraiya began teaching them Sage Mode. Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta to take them to Mount Myoboku for training.

• Tachibana congratulated Minato on his relationship with Kushina and told him he could learn a technique from the Scroll of Seals.
• Minato asked Tachibana for advice, and Tachibana urged him to choose the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Jiraiya arrived at the training ground, and Tachibana used Wind Release to blow away the smell of alcohol before teasing him about Tsunade.
• Jiraiya explained Natural Energy and the risks of Sage Mode, and Tachibana and Minato agreed to train.
• Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta, who carried Jiraiya, Tachibana, and Minato to Mount Myoboku.