Chapter Summaries

Lin Mu infiltrated Orochimaru’s secret base near Konoha and took Hashirama Cells, activating his Naruto Template System. After escaping the laboratory, he heard someone approaching and hid in the bushes.

• Lin Mu sneaked out of Konoha and followed the system’s guidance to Orochimaru’s hidden base, timing his break-in for the coming invasion.
• Lin Mu entered through a hollow tree and found a laboratory filled with dangerous test subjects.
• Lin Mu picked up a glass bottle, and the system identified the Hashirama Cells inside as the key to its activation.
• Lin Mu accepted the system prompt, and a piece of the cells entered his chest as the system began activating for ten minutes.
• Lin Mu escaped the base, heard someone approaching, and hid in nearby bushes.

Lin Mu escaped an encounter with Orochimaru after hiding his identity and persuading her to let him leave the forest. Back in Konoha, his system activated, and he used the Hashirama Cells to pursue its Wood Release task.

• Orochimaru surprised Lin Mu in the forest, but he recognized her and hid his knowledge of her identity.
• Lin Mu claimed he had entered the woods on a bet, and Orochimaru let him go, unaware he had taken the Hashirama Cells.
• After Lin Mu left, Orochimaru transformed into a snake and headed to her laboratory to check on her experiments.
• Lin Mu ran back to Konoha, where the system activated and showed his status, skills, and task to absorb Hashirama Cells and awaken Wood Release.
• Lin Mu opened his inventory and used the Hashirama Cells.

After absorbing Hashirama’s Cells, Lin Mu transformed into a Wood Style Body, gained Chunin-level strength, and tested its healing and Wood Release abilities. Meanwhile, Orochimaru realized the cells were missing and suspected Lin Mu, warning that she would look for him when she destroyed Konoha the next day.

• Lin Mu felt the Hashirama Cells spread through his body and transform his cells, muscles, hair, and height over three hours.
• Lin Mu checked his system panel and saw his rank rise to mid-level Chunin, with a Wood Style Body and Wood Style Jutsu added.
• Lin Mu cut his arm and watched it heal quickly, then turned his hand to wood, shattered a table, and restored it with new shoots.
• Orochimaru raged over the missing Hashirama Cells, remembered Lin Mu in the bushes, and threatened to find him during her planned attack on Konoha.

Lin Mu explained his sudden physical changes to Akiyama by blaming Orochimaru, then headed with his friend to Ichiraku Ramen before the Chunin Ninja Exams. Meanwhile, masked Sunagakure ninjas began carrying out a mysterious plan outside Konoha.

• Lin Mu reflected on Orochimaru’s coming invasion and hoped to watch Senju Hashirama use Wood Release during the battle with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Akiyama visited Lin Mu and noticed that he had grown taller, stronger, and had longer hair.
• Lin Mu told Akiyama that a beautiful woman he met in the woods had touched his chest, causing his changes after he woke up.
• Lin Mu took Akiyama to Ichiraku Ramen for breakfast before the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Outside Konoha, masked Sunagakure ninjas took positions around a black scroll and began a ritual at their leader’s command.

Sand Ninja launched a coordinated invasion of Konoha while Lin Mu and Akiyama watched Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy defend the Chunin Exam students. Inside the Four Violet Flames Formation, the disguised Orochimaru confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi, leaving the Third Hokage at kunai point.

• A giant three-headed poisonous snake smashed through Konoha's gate as Sand Ninja attacked the village and killed a Konoha ninja trying to summon reinforcements.
• The Chunin Exams were canceled, and Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy defeated Sand Ninja disguised as Anbu who charged at the students.
• Lin Mu watched the Four Violet Flames Formation seal Hiruzen Sarutobi and the disguised Kazekage inside, recognizing Orochimaru's plan.
• Orochimaru held a kunai to Hiruzen Sarutobi's throat and declared that the invasion would change history, while Hiruzen urged him to negotiate.

Orochimaru revealed himself as the Kazekage and challenged his former teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen, to a fight inside the Four Violet Flames Formation. After both survived their opening attacks, they gathered their strength for another clash, which began with Hiruzen throwing a Shuriken.

• Orochimaru revealed his identity to Sarutobi Hiruzen and declared that he would kill him.
• Hiruzen and Orochimaru exchanged ninjutsu, with Hiruzen escaping Orochimaru’s snake attack using the Body Replacement Technique.
• Hiruzen swept Orochimaru into a mud current and attacked him with Earth and Fire Release techniques, but Orochimaru emerged unharmed.
• Hiruzen removed his Hokage robes and faced Orochimaru as the two gathered power, cracking the tiles inside the formation.
• Hiruzen and Orochimaru charged at each other, and Hiruzen threw a Shuriken.

Orochimaru summoned the First and Second Hokage with Impure World Reincarnation and forced them to fight Sarutobi Hiruzen. The Third Hokage struggled against their attacks until Hashirama’s Wood Release trapped him against a wall.

• Orochimaru summoned the First and Second Hokage, while Sarutobi Hiruzen prevented a third coffin from appearing.
• Hashirama and Tobirama emerged from their coffins, and Orochimaru planted talisman-bearing kunai in their heads to control them.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen mourned his former teachers, then fought back against the two reanimated Hokage.
• Tobirama countered Hiruzen’s Fire Release with Water Release, and Hashirama pressed the attack with Taijutsu.
• Hashirama used Deep Forest Emergence to bind Sarutobi Hiruzen against a stone wall.

Lin Mu left the evacuation route and hurried to the outskirts of Konoha to test his newly acquired Wood Release. He found Shikamaru cornered by Otogakure shinobi and killed their hidden attacker, leaving the remaining enemies facing him.

• An Anbu member ordered the students to return home and stay hidden as the invasion was brought under control.
• Lin Mu headed for the outskirts instead of going home, hoping to help Naruto, Sakura, Shikamaru, and Sasuke's pursuit.
• Lin Mu ran through the wreckage beyond Konoha's gate and realized his Wood Style Body had greatly improved his stamina.
• Shikamaru immobilized eight Otogakure shinobi with Shadow Possession Jutsu but discovered that a ninth enemy was hiding nearby.
• Lin Mu killed the hidden Otogakure shinobi with a wooden spike and emerged from the bushes as Shikamaru urged him to run.

Lin Mu used his newly revealed wood-based power to defeat most of the ninjas attacking him and Shikamaru, then discovered the system’s shop and lottery features had unlocked. He bought a Senju Hashirama Module Fragment and began absorbing its energy while Shikamaru watched him suspiciously.

• Lin Mu killed several attackers while Shikamaru restrained them, but Shikamaru’s chakra ran low and the remaining enemies broke free.
• Lin Mu endured the four enemies’ kunai strike with chakra reinforced arms and back, then killed them using his fists and wooden spikes.
• Lin Mu and Shikamaru set off to catch up with Naruto and the others, and Lin Mu noticed his wound healing as the system announced that killing a Chunin had unlocked the shop and lottery.
• Lin Mu browsed the shop, saw that a Senju Hashirama Module Fragment cost 300 Gold Coins, and bought and used it.
• Lin Mu felt the fragment’s vitality transform his body while Shikamaru eyed him suspiciously.

Lin Mu completed absorbing a Senju Hashirama Module fragment and learned two Wood Release techniques while Sasuke fought Temari and pursued Kankuro with the unconscious Gaara. Jiraiya arrived to help Konoha defend against a giant snake and saw the Four Violet Flames Formation filled with huge trees.

• Lin Mu reached 10% activation of the Senju Hashirama Module and learned Wood Style: Tree Barrier Jutsu and Wood Style: Cutting Technique.
• Sasuke blocked Kankuro and Temari as they fled with Gaara, then fought Temari while Kankuro escaped.
• Temari knocked Sasuke down with a wind blade and hidden kunai, but Sasuke used the Body Replacement Technique and an Explosive Tag to defeat her.
• Sasuke left Temari behind and continued chasing Kankuro and Gaara.
• Jiraiya summoned a giant toad onto the giant snake attacking Konoha, then asked Ibiki about the Hokage.
• Ibiki told Jiraiya that the Hokage was at the exam venue, and Jiraiya saw the Four Violet Flames Formation filled with huge trees.

Lin Mu received a special mission to thwart Sunagakure's scheme and suppress Gaara, while Sasuke fought Gaara as the One-Tail's power transformed him. Gaara was about to crush the unconscious Sasuke when a wooden wall suddenly shielded him.

• Lin Mu received a special mission with rewards that included Wood Release techniques and 2,000 Gold Coins, and he suspected the operation would be difficult.
• Gaara woke in Temari's arms, then transformed part of his body into a monstrous form and attacked Sasuke.
• Sasuke used the Sharingan and Chidori to cut Gaara's arm, but Gaara healed and struck back with a sand tail.
• Sasuke awakened the Cursed Seal's power and fought Gaara again, then collapsed unconscious as Gaara regenerated his monstrous arm.
• Gaara raised his claw to crush Sasuke, but the tree trunk stretched into a wooden wall and shielded him.

Lin Mu arrived as Gaara attacked Sasuke and used Wood Style to fight the rampaging jinchuriki. After taking a heavy blow and recovering, Lin Mu adapted his defenses and wounded Gaara, leaving him weakened and nearly out of chakra.

• Lin Mu blocked Gaara's claw with Wood Style: Tree Barrier, then wounded it with Wood Style: Cutting Sprigs before Gaara struck him into a tree.
• Lin Mu rapidly healed from the blow, shocking Sasuke Uchiha, and realized Gaara's sand body could recover by consuming chakra.
• Lin Mu reinforced his body with chakra and evaded Gaara's next attack before stabbing his shoulder with a Wooden Thorn.
• Lin Mu twisted the thorn and severed Gaara's monstrous right arm, then retreated as Gaara tried to reform it with sand.
• Lin Mu saw that Gaara was panting and his sand body was crumbling, and concluded that Gaara was nearly out of chakra.

Lin Mu was interrupted while trying to suppress Gaara, who transformed further and attacked Sakura. After Gaara defeated Naruto repeatedly and threatened Sakura, Naruto rose to protect her and filled the forest with shadow clones.

• Temari and Kankuro attacked Lin Mu, preventing him from using his suppression technique on Gaara.
• Gaara recovered, targeted Sasuke, and was kicked away by Naruto when Naruto arrived with Sakura.
• Gaara transformed further, injured Naruto, and pinned Sakura to a tree with his claw.
• Naruto repeatedly charged Gaara, was beaten down, then stood up and declared that he had to protect Sakura.
• Naruto used the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu, filling the forest with countless copies of himself.

Naruto overwhelmed Gaara with thousands of shadow clones, but Gaara transformed into the One-Tail, Shukaku, and trapped him in sand. Naruto summoned Gamabunta and stood atop the Toad Boss’s head as the battle continued.

• Naruto created thousands of shadow clones and sent them to attack Gaara with shuriken and barrages of punches.
• The clones smashed apart Gaara’s monstrous body and knocked him to the ground.
• Gaara recalled the hatred and isolation of his past, then released a surge of energy that dispelled Naruto’s clones and injured Naruto.
• Gaara transformed into the One-Tail, Shukaku, and bound Naruto with sand.
• Naruto used the Summoning Technique to call Gamabunta and appeared atop the Toad Boss’s head.

As Shukaku took control of Gaara and overwhelmed Gamabunta, Lin Mu seized the chance to use the Deep Forest Bloom experience card. He pressed its power against Shukaku's forehead, attempting to suppress the One-Tail.

• Gamabunta explained that Shukaku would take over if Gaara fell asleep, and Gaara deliberately slept to awaken the full One-Tail.
• Shukaku unleashed powerful Wind Release attacks, forcing Gamabunta to defend himself while Naruto panicked.
• Gamabunta told Naruto to transform him into a creature with claws and fangs, and Naruto turned him into the Nine-Tails.
• Gamabunta restrained Shukaku with his claws as Naruto's Nine-Tails transformation wrapped him in its tails, creating an opening for Lin Mu.
• Lin Mu activated the Deep Forest Bloom experience card, reached Shukaku's head, and pressed the character for "sit" against his forehead to suppress him.

Lin Mu subdued Shukaku with Wood Release and survived the fall with Gaara, while Naruto’s words about companionship and love stirred Gaara’s memories of Yashamaru. The chapter ended with young Gaara remembering the woman who approached him despite being wounded by his sand.

• Lin Mu used Wood Release: Deep Forest Bloom to suppress Shukaku and put him to sleep.
• Shukaku’s body collapsed into sand, and Lin Mu cushioned his own fall while Gaara hit the ground and woke.
• Naruto told Gaara he would protect his companions, prompting Gaara to wonder why Naruto would sacrifice himself for others.
• Sasuke arrived and caught the exhausted Naruto as Temari and Kankuro helped Gaara away.
• Gaara remembered Yashamaru and a childhood moment when a woman approached him gently despite her wounded hand.

Yashamaru explained to young Gaara that love could heal the wounds in his heart and that his mother’s love lived on in the sand protecting him. Gaara later awoke while Temari and Kankuro carried him and apologized to them, leaving his siblings surprised but warmed by the change in him.

• Yashamaru reassured Gaara that people did not hate others easily and explained that Gaara’s aching heart was a wound that could not be healed with medicine.
• Yashamaru told Gaara that love could heal heartache and said his mother had loved him and continued to protect him through the sand.
• Gaara came to while Kankuro carried him and Temari ran beside them.
• Gaara apologized to Temari and Kankuro, who were surprised and then responded with warmth.

After suppressing Gaara and the One-Tail, Lin Mu received his mission rewards and considered how to strengthen himself before Naruto and Sasuke began their years of training. He unlocked the Lottery System, spent one free draw, and won an Intermediate Chakra Pill.

• Lin Mu received a Wood Release: Wood Human Technique Experience Card, Wood Release: Wood Clone Technique, and 2,000 Gold Coins for completing his special mission.
• While carrying the unconscious Naruto and running with the group, Lin Mu worried about Naruto and Sasuke growing stronger during their future training.
• Lin Mu opened the Lottery System and learned that he had three free draws, while upgrading the beginner system would cost 1,000 Gold Coins.
• Lin Mu saw that the lottery mostly offered low-grade items and hesitated over whether to upgrade the system or try a free draw first.
• Lin Mu used a free draw and received an Intermediate Chakra Pill.

After suppressing Shukaku, Lin Mu gave the unconscious Naruto an Intermediate Chakra Pill and drew the Wood Release: Wood Transformation Technique from the Lottery System. Naruto woke up recovered, and the group decided to return to the village.

• Lin Mu used an Intermediate Chakra Pill to restore Naruto's chakra and ease his injuries.
• Lin Mu drew and learned the Wood Release: Wood Transformation Technique from the Lottery System.
• Sasuke and Sakura noticed Lin Mu had stopped, and Sakura asked if he was hurt.
• Naruto woke up, and Sakura rushed to his side as he blushed at seeing her.
• Shikamaru urged everyone to return to the village, and the others agreed.

Lin Mu and the others returned to a devastated Konoha and followed Iruka to the Chunin Exams arena, where they found Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi gravely wounded. Lin Mu reflected on his changing view of Hiruzen as the Hokage lay near death.

• Lin Mu, Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Sakura returned to Konoha and saw the village’s dead and ruined streets.
• Lin Mu led the group toward the Ninja Academy to find their teachers, and Iruka met them there and told them to follow him.
• Iruka led the group to the Chunin Exams arena, where corpses, bloodstains, and Hashirama’s Wood Release covered the scene.
• Lin Mu and the others found Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi barely alive among the assembled elite jonin.
• Lin Mu recalled why he had once blamed Hiruzen for Naruto’s treatment, then recognized the Hokage’s compassion and lifelong service to Konoha.