Chapter Summaries

Shiro explained why Kakashi should remain at the Ninja Academy, then brought him to meet Taichi, who agreed to join them pending the village’s approval. The chapter ended with Shiro saying that the village’s approval had already been arranged.

• Kakashi asked Shiro why he was being prevented from graduating, and Shiro explained that Ayue’s status made her a special case and that Kakashi should wait until his training reached a bottleneck.
• Ayue demonstrated her Mystic Eyes, immobilizing Kakashi and temporarily preventing him from using Chakra.
• Shiro invited Kakashi to meet a truly strong person, and Kakashi followed him toward the Uchiha clan compound after teasing him about his tea ceremony.
• Shiro met Shisui and Soji outside the compound and introduced Kakashi as an additional member of their group.
• Shiro and the others arrived at Taichi’s house, where Taichi agreed to join them and Shiro said the village’s approval had already been handled.

Shiro and Taichi sparred at a training field while Ayue, Shisui, Soji, and Kakashi watched. Shiro countered Taichi’s genjutsu and fire with his Noble Phantasm and Zeroing, but Taichi’s Sharingan and rapid Lightning Release attacks began to take control of the battle before Shiro unleashed his Three-Foot Sword Perimeter.

• Shiro and Taichi left the Uchiha clan grounds with their students and headed to a training field outside the village.
• Taichi opened the spar with genjutsu, but Shiro used Ring of the Beautiful Princess to resist it.
• Taichi’s Great Fireball Technique struck Shiro, but Shiro emerged unharmed after using Zeroing and charged in with Kanshou and Bakuya.
• Ayue explained Zeroing to Kakashi, Shisui, and Soji as Taichi’s Sharingan and combat rhythm began to pressure Shiro.
• Taichi unleashed a barrage of Lightning Release techniques, and Shiro summoned more swords to begin his Three-Foot Sword Perimeter.

Shiro and Taichi pushed their training match to its limits, testing each other with swordsmanship, Lightning Release, and rapid movement. Shiro broke Taichi’s magnetic-field Body Flicker, then revealed a technique that created ten versions of himself as the next round began.

• Soji was inspired by Shiro’s ability to cut through Lightning Release with swordsmanship alone, while Kakashi resolved to learn Taichi’s method for increasing hand-seal speed with Lightning Release.
• Shiro and Taichi stopped their clash as their weapons and bodies neared their limits, but Taichi immediately attacked Shiro from behind with a lightning-fast Body Flicker.
• Shiro recognized that Taichi’s speed depended on the magnetic field created by Lightning Release Chakra and used Wind Release: Gale Palm to destroy it.
• After praising each other’s techniques, Taichi prepared for another round as Shiro used Dark Foggy Metropolis to create ten versions of himself.
• The ten Shiros charged Taichi with Ten Shadows Burial.

Taichi used his Sharingan to uncover how Shiro’s Mist Clone technique worked and began gaining the upper hand. Shiro then exploited an opening with a powerful sword technique that left Taichi with no apparent option except one desperate move.

• Taichi realized Shiro’s apparent clones could swap places with the real Shiro, then used his Sharingan to track and block the attacks.
• Taichi explained that Shiro’s technique used the Body Flicker Technique to switch places with Mist Clones, while Shisui considered combining the technique with genjutsu.
• Taichi steadily countered Shiro’s attacks, and Shisui recognized that the instant of switching created an opening that could also be used to an Uchiha’s advantage.
• Shiro waited until Taichi’s strength was fading, then charged at him with an unusually long sword.
• Shiro used Secret Sword: Tsubame Gaeshi to strike Taichi with three simultaneous blade strokes, and Taichi could think of only one way to respond.

Shiro and Taichi fought to decide whose technique would prevail, with Taichi relying on Lightning Armor and Shiro countering with a decisive thrust. Shiro won and pierced Taichi’s shoulder, while the Third Hokage reconsidered the strength of Shiro and his companions.

• Taichi activated Lightning Armor to block Shiro’s Tsubame Gaeshi and sent Shiro flying with a counterattack.
• Shiro explained that Tsubame Gaeshi used pure technique to create three slashes from different time-spaces, astonishing Taichi and the watching youngsters.
• Taichi increased his Lightning Armor’s power and charged Shiro after Shiro changed the Clothesline Pole into a katana.
• Shiro used Mind’s Eye to evade Taichi’s Rai-ga and pierced Taichi’s shoulder with Mumyo Sandan-zuki, winning the fight.
• Shiro and Taichi headed toward the village to treat Taichi’s wound while arguing, and the Third Hokage watched them through a crystal ball and reassessed their strength.

At the Ninja Hospital, Shiro explained his Mumyo sword technique and cautioned Soji about how difficult it was to become a swordmaster, then encouraged him to combine swordsmanship with ninjutsu. Shiro and Taichi secretly discussed Shiro’s target and warned each other about the Telescope Technique.

• Taichi asked Shiro how Mumyo had bypassed his Lightning Armor, and Shiro explained that it struck the same spot three times at once.
• Soji said he wanted to master powerful swordsmanship, but Shiro explained the extreme talent or battle experience it would take to become a swordmaster.
• Shiro told Soji that combining ninjutsu with swordsmanship could make him strong without reaching a swordmaster’s realm, and confirmed that Soji had passed his test.
• Shiro and Taichi secretly discussed Shiro’s target, agreed that Taichi’s clan still needed to discuss the matter, and warned each other about the Telescope Technique.

Shiro trained Ayue, Shisui, and Soji while preparing for the coming war and designing a defensive and flight-capable Mystic Code. After checking Shisui and Soji’s Chakra natures, he offered Shisui genjutsu instruction to help him develop his Body Flicker Technique.

• Shiro and his students finished a water-clearing mission, then trained by the lake as rumors suggested the Third Shinobi World War was nearing.
• Shiro used Femme Fatale Baiser as the basis for a Mystic Code concept with spatial defense and flight, though both functions still needed development.
• Shiro ended Ayue’s Baji Quan practice, and she went on studying magecraft instead of resting.
• Shiro asked Shisui and Soji about their Chakra natures; Shisui had Fire, Wind, and Lightning, while Soji had Wind.
• Shiro advised Shisui to focus on one nature early on and offered to teach him genjutsu to help develop his Body Flicker Technique.

Shiro explained the limits and conditions of what he could teach Soji, then began training him in swordsmanship and ninjutsu. He taught Soji Gale Palm to boost his movement speed, while continuing to answer Shisui's and Ayue's questions.

• Shiro sent Shisui to study independently and turned his attention to Soji.
• Shiro clarified that he could teach Soji only a few C-rank ninjutsu and would not take him as a disciple.
• Soji accepted Shiro's limits and promised to maintain his dedication to the sword.
• Shiro offered to teach Soji three to four C-rank ninjutsu and guide his swordsmanship, with stronger techniques and a swordsman's style dependent on his performance.
• Shiro taught Soji Gale Palm, focusing on using it to increase his movement speed.

Shiro prepared for a meeting with Orochimaru to settle the matter of bringing him into the fold, while also promising Ayue that he would seek combat missions for her and Xiao Yu. He demonstrated that his Void Walker could protect him from an attack, and Orochimaru began to identify Shiro’s ability.

• Ayue asked Shiro when the team could take combat missions, and Shiro said he would apply for them in a few days after they practiced their new move.
• After Ayue returned from the Magecraft Workshop and went to sleep, Shiro changed into Void Walker and headed to Orochimaru’s residence.
• Shiro knocked using their agreed rhythm and entered after Orochimaru opened the door.
• Orochimaru sent a sword-bearing snake at Shiro, but Shiro let it pass through his body.
• Orochimaru stopped his writhing form and began to say, “Space-time...”

Shiro approached Orochimaru to recruit him to Minato’s new department and argued that Orochimaru’s pursuit of the Hokage position served his teacher rather than his own ambitions. Shiro then proposed forming a group to prune Konoha’s overgrown root system, and Orochimaru found the plan interesting.

• Shiro asked Orochimaru to join Minato’s new department, and Orochimaru wondered whether Shiro thought he was sure to lose the Hokage contest.
• Shiro questioned whether Orochimaru truly wanted to become Hokage, and Orochimaru attacked him with a blade from the shadows, only to see Shiro’s autonomous defense stop it.
• Shiro argued that Orochimaru wanted the position to avoid disappointing the Hokage and warned that Danzo could expose matters that would ruin his chances.
• Orochimaru recognized that Shiro had another purpose in inviting him, and Shiro explained his view of Konoha’s clans and geniuses as soil being drained by the village’s roots.
• Shiro proposed gathering people to prune the overgrown roots threatening Konoha, and Orochimaru called the plan interesting: “The Gardener?”

Shiro secured Orochimaru’s cooperation by offering him valuable knowledge, strengthening Minato’s path to becoming Hokage and setting Root’s destruction in motion. A week later, Shiro took his students on their first combat mission, where Shisui unexpectedly stabbed a bandit after their team began clearing the camp.

• Shiro gave Orochimaru a scroll of knowledge, and Orochimaru agreed to cooperate with him.
• A week later, Shiro obtained a mountain-bandit subjugation mission for Shisui and the other students.
• Shiro left the students to assess their training while Ayue used Xiao Yu to scout the bandit camp and project its view.
• Shisui and the others planned to eliminate the sentries and advance through the camp, then knocked out the men at the first post.
• After Soji suggested moving to the next post, Shisui drew his sword and stabbed a bandit in the neck.

Shisui, Soji, and Ayue attacked a bandit camp, where Ayue overcame her hesitation and joined the fight using Xiao Yu’s light-cannon mode. The bandits were killed, and Ayue proved she could fight alongside her teammates.

• Shisui insisted that the team follow its mission to exterminate the bandits, and Soji killed the second sentry while Ayue watched.
• Shisui and Soji led the assault on the bandit camp and killed its guard, prompting the remaining bandits to charge out.
• Ayue decided to fight beside her teammates and ordered Xiao Yu into combat mode.
• Ayue used Xiao Yu to fire a light cannon through a bandit’s heart, startling Shisui and Soji.
• Shisui, Soji, and Ayue defeated the remaining bandits.

After the team returned from their first battle, Shiro had Minato reassure Ayue, Soji, and Shisui, then took them on a weeding mission to review their mistakes. He criticized Ayue and Soji’s choices and left Shisui stunned with a final remark, which the chapter did not reveal.

• On the way back, Shiro noticed that Ayue, Soji, and Shisui had all been affected by killing the Bandits, and he took them straight to Konoha.
• Shiro brought the three students to Minato, who comforted them and helped them regain their composure.
• The next morning, Shiro accepted a weeding mission, used a Shadow Clone to handle it, and began reviewing the team’s battle mistakes.
• Shiro warned Ayue about taking excessive risks, using a taxing mystic art, and abandoning distance, then told her to reflect on her fighting style.
• Shiro rebuked Soji for trembling and questioned his resolve as a swordsman and ninja; Soji withdrew to contemplate his sword.
• Shiro said something to Shisui that made his pupils shrink, but the chapter ended before revealing what it was.

Shiro taught Shisui to judge power by how it affected people rather than labeling it good or evil, demonstrating how Gray Snake’s Chakra felt incompatible with human Chakra. He left Shisui to consider how his emotions and newly awakened Sharingan might develop.

• Shisui told Shiro that his awakened Sharingan and its power felt ominous, and Shiro led him away to discuss it.
• Shiro summoned Dragon Tooth Soldiers to show Shisui an example of power that seemed sinister but could be mastered.
• Shiro summoned Gray Snake, which revealed its evil-feeling Chakra and explained that it differed from human Chakra.
• Shiro explained that Chakra connected people’s hearts and urged Shisui to think carefully so he would not advance to Three-Tomoe through unwanted emotions.
• Shiro left Shisui alone to reflect on his Sharingan and what he should do next.

Kakuzu and Meichuan completed a Black Market bounty, and Kakuzu reflected on how studying Meichuan had improved his immortality technique. When a Konoha ninja attacked them over the slaughtered villagers, Meichuan rushed to claim him as a sacrifice to Jashin.

• Kakuzu silenced Meichuan’s chatter and stitched him back together after they finished killing the village’s inhabitants.
• Kakuzu recalled discovering Meichuan in a destroyed laboratory, recruiting him, and improving Earth Grudge Fear through research on his immortal body.
• A Konoha ninja attacked Kakuzu and Meichuan with an explosive-tag kunai and condemned them for killing the villagers.
• Meichuan emerged nearly unharmed from the explosion and charged the Konoha ninja, wounding his shoulder and taking his blood.
• Meichuan performed the Jashin Ritual with the Konoha ninja’s blood.

Meichuan and Kakuzu fought Orochimaru after he discovered them, using their unusual abilities and teamwork to catch him off guard. The battle continued as Meichuan rose after being stabbed and prepared to make another sacrifice to Lord Jashin.

• Meichuan injured himself with a kunai, causing the Konoha ninja to suffer the same wounds before collapsing.
• Orochimaru arrived, recognized Kakuzu and Meichuan, and attacked Meichuan to keep the pair from regrouping.
• Meichuan dodged Orochimaru’s Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, then fought him at close range while Kakuzu prepared an attack.
• Kakuzu struck Orochimaru with Searing Migraine and False Darkness, forcing him to summon Rashomon for protection.
• Meichuan rushed at Orochimaru and was pinned to the ground with a sword, but Kakuzu’s tentacles emerged underground and helped him recover.
• Meichuan stood and proclaimed another offering to Lord Jashin as Orochimaru faced the pair’s next move.

Orochimaru survived Meichuan’s Jashin Ritual by using his own immortality, leaving Kakuzu and Meichuan trapped as Konoha’s reinforcements approached. Shiro arrived to help, and while Orochimaru confronted Meichuan, Shiro faced Kakuzu.

• Meichuan used Orochimaru’s blood to cast Jashin Ritual and stabbed his own heart, stopping Orochimaru’s charge.
• Kakuzu realized Orochimaru was still alive, and Orochimaru revealed that two snakes had taken the fatal damage for him.
• Kakuzu prepared to fight to the death, but Orochimaru sensed someone watching and called out to Shiro.
• Shiro emerged after reaching the battlefield with Replacement Magecraft, and Orochimaru assigned him to fight Kakuzu.
• Kakuzu attacked Orochimaru with False Darkness, but Shiro’s Destructo Disc cut through the lightning and forced Kakuzu and Meichuan apart.
• Shiro confronted Kakuzu and warned him that his underground trick would not work.

Shiro fought Kakuzu and used Projection Magecraft to copy his ninjutsu, including a water-and-lightning combination. The chapter ended as Shiro launched a matching combination attack against Kakuzu.

• Kakuzu attacked Shiro with Water Dragon Bullet, but Shiro recognized the technique and projected his own to counter it.
• Kakuzu used Earth Flow River, and Shiro copied the technique while noting that Kakuzu seemed weaker than expected.
• Kakuzu drew in water and combined Water Dragon Bullet with Lightning Release: False Darkness.
• Shiro replicated Kakuzu's water-and-lightning combination and launched it at him.

Shiro used a claimed copying Kekkei Genkai to unsettle Kakuzu, while Orochimaru exploited his superior endurance and skill against Meichuan. After receiving Shiro’s signal, Orochimaru cut off Meichuan’s right arm and prepared to use the injury as part of a deception.

• Shiro matched Kakuzu’s elemental techniques, then claimed his Alpha Stigma gave him every Chakra attribute and the ability to copy ninjutsu.
• Kakuzu believed Shiro’s claim and despaired at facing another powerful Kekkei Genkai user.
• Orochimaru used his Endless Snake technique to withstand the damage from Meichuan’s Jashin Ritual while cutting him apart and collecting samples.
• Orochimaru received Shiro’s signal, severed Meichuan’s right arm, and sealed it away while allowing his own right arm to fall off for an act.

Shiro helped Kakuzu and Meichuan escape by staging an injury and allowing Kakuzu to flee, then gave Orochimaru experimental data in exchange for his cooperation. The two parted on friendly terms, leaving Akatsuki free to grow while Shiro’s group continued developing.

• Orochimaru cut off Meichuan’s right hand and sealed it while Shiro pretended to suffer an injury to his eye.
• Kakuzu triggered an explosion with his Fire Release mask, grabbed Meichuan, and fled as Orochimaru protected himself with snakes.
• Shiro stopped pretending, shielded Orochimaru and himself with Rho Aias, and blocked the explosion without damage.
• Orochimaru teased Shiro about his acting and asked for the promised research data.
• Shiro gave Orochimaru data on Meichuan’s immortal body, and Orochimaru left, pleased with their deal.