Chapter Summaries

Konohamaru barricaded himself inside the Hokage Office, and Naruto tried to calm him after Tsunade ordered the ninja to force their way in. Meanwhile, Rock Lee stood by a river weighing an important choice until Sakura arrived with a bouquet.

• Moegi and Udon told Naruto that Konohamaru had barricaded himself in the Hokage Office and rigged it with traps.
• Tsunade ordered the ninja to get Konohamaru out, but Naruto blocked the door and persuaded her to give him one day to talk to the boy.
• Naruto tried to coax Konohamaru out with ramen, then charged the door after Konohamaru insulted him and was struck by falling metal basins.
• Rock Lee stood beside a river, uncertain about a choice an expert had given him, when Sakura appeared with a bouquet.

Sakura encouraged the injured Rock Lee, while Tsunade learned about his condition and went to the river after reading his profile. Tsunade then opened the trapped Hokage Office as Naruto, Konohamaru, and Lin Mu watched.

• Sakura gave Rock Lee flowers, told him Sasuke was recovering, and offered to help him; Lee thanked her and felt moved.
• Tsunade complained about Konoha before Shizune took her to a dumpling shop and made her review the latest ninja roster.
• Tsunade paused over Rock Lee's profile, went outside, and saw how haggard he looked by the river.
• Naruto argued with Konohamaru outside the Hokage Office and began forming a Rasengan before Tsunade knocked him down.
• Tsunade pushed open the trapped office door, brushed aside falling metal basins, dismantled the hidden traps, and punched the falling furniture away.

Tsunade recruited Lin Mu to help improve the chances of Rock Lee’s surgery by using his life-rich Wood Release chakra. She began teaching him how to transfer chakra efficiently, while Naruto took Konohamaru to discuss his fears that the village would forget his grandfather.

• Tsunade stomped out an explosive tag, retrieved a book, and asked Lin Mu to come with her.
• Naruto took Konohamaru to Konoha’s memorial and tried to reassure him that the village would not forget the Third Hokage.
• Konohamaru explained that he feared losing his title and seeing his grandfather forgotten, so Naruto dragged him off to confront Tsunade.
• Tsunade explained that Lin Mu’s Wood Release chakra could help her guide cell activation during Rock Lee’s risky surgery and improve its success rate.
• Tsunade asked Lin Mu to demonstrate his chakra-transfer method so she could teach him to use it more efficiently, and he formed a deep green glow in his hands.

Tsunade was astonished by Lin Mu’s improved healing chakra and promised to teach him medical ninjutsu. She reassured him that Jiraiya considered him a true student and declared him her student as well, while Konohamaru and Naruto overheard her reaffirming that she was still the Fifth Hokage.

• Tsunade saw Lin Mu use healing chakra far more efficiently and arranged for him to help treat Rock Lee before receiving systematic medical ninjutsu instruction.
• Tsunade asked Lin Mu why he had not used the Rasengan again, and Lin Mu insisted he had never learned it.
• Tsunade told Lin Mu that Jiraiya regarded him as his true student and that he could learn the Rasengan.
• Lin Mu was moved by the news, and Tsunade told him he was her student too; Lin Mu vowed to reach the pinnacle of the Ninja World.
• Tsunade reminded Lin Mu that they still had work to do, then said she was still the Fifth Hokage as Konohamaru and Naruto listened from the tavern entrance.

Rock Lee broke down over the possibility that his injuries would end his dream, but Might Guy encouraged him to undergo the dangerous surgery. Tsunade and Shizune worked on cellular activation surgery, and Tsunade officially became the Fifth Hokage.

• Rock Lee told Might Guy that hard work and self-belief could not overcome his current condition, and asked what he should do.
• Might Guy urged Rock Lee to have the surgery, reminding him that abandoning his dream would cause even greater pain.
• Rock Lee recalled Might Guy's belief that luck was part of a ninja's strength and accepted his teacher's support as he sobbed in his arms.
• Tsunade discussed the chakra demands of cellular activation surgery with Shizune and Lin Mu, while Shizune's notes later showed a 70% figure.
• Tsunade took office as the Fifth Hokage and received cheers from the crowd.

Tsunade and Lin Mu operated on Rock Lee to remove bone fragments pressing near his spinal nerves. Tsunade completed the removal, and Lin Mu began using Wood Release to heal the long incision.

• Rock Lee agreed to undergo the risky operation, and Shizune anesthetized him.
• Tsunade instructed Lin Mu to use his Wood Release Chakra to activate cells around Rock Lee's spine during the operation.
• Tsunade used a precise Chakra Scalpel to open Rock Lee's back and remove the bone fragments, replenishing her chakra with Lin Mu's imitation Chakra Pills.
• After more than three hours, Tsunade finished removing the fragments and collapsed into a chair with Shizune's support.
• Lin Mu began healing Rock Lee's exposed spine, exhausting himself despite his vast chakra reserves and several pills.

Lin Mu and Tsunade successfully treated Rock Lee's injuries in a single surgery, leaving him able to recover fully. After Might Guy offered Lin Mu a favor, Lin Mu asked to learn his taijutsu, and Guy invited him to discuss the Eight Gates the next day.

• Lin Mu and Tsunade completed Rock Lee's difficult surgery, and Tsunade said he only needed a few days of hospital observation before returning to training.
• Might Guy arrived worried about Rock Lee, then rejoiced when Lin Mu told him the surgery had succeeded.
• Might Guy offered Lin Mu help in return for saving Rock Lee, prompting Lin Mu to consider asking about the Eight Gates.
• Lin Mu asked Might Guy to teach him taijutsu, and Guy explained the demands of Eight Gates training before inviting him to discuss it the next day.
• Lin Mu agreed to meet Guy and reasoned that ordinary limits on time and energy might not apply to his wood style body.

Lin Mu visited Rock Lee at Konoha Hospital and asked Might Guy to teach him the Eight Gates. As Guy explained how the technique released the body’s chakra restrictions, Lin Mu realized his Wood Style Body could let him withstand its strain and draw out even greater power.

• Lin Mu went to Konoha Hospital to check on Rock Lee and found Might Guy by his bedside.
• Might Guy said Rock Lee had nearly recovered after the operation, and Rock Lee demonstrated that he was feeling better.
• Lin Mu told Might Guy he was determined to learn the Eight Gates Released Formation, and Guy agreed to teach him.
• Might Guy explained that the Eight Gates removed the body’s chakra restrictions and required extreme conditioning to withstand the resulting strain.
• Lin Mu concluded that his Wood Style Body’s strength, chakra capacity, and regenerative abilities made the Eight Gates especially suited to him.

After Might Guy explained the Eight Gates, Lin Mu began training to find his physical limits but realized his wood style body made ordinary exercise ineffective. He decided to seek a challenging fight and headed for Sasuke Uchiha, while considering weighted gear for regular training.

• Might Guy told Lin Mu that a stronger body made the Eight Gates harder to open but increased the power it released.
• Lin Mu thanked Might Guy, went to Konoha's training grounds, and repeatedly punched a wooden post to find the Gate of Opening.
• After half an hour of punching barely tired him, Lin Mu decided combat was the best way to push himself and chose Sasuke Uchiha as his first challenge.
• Lin Mu set out for Sasuke Uchiha's home and remembered Rock Lee's weighted gear as a possible training aid.
• Lin Mu opened the system shop and searched its listings for weighted gear.

Lin Mu bought system iron weights and struggled to walk home under their crushing load. After explaining his Eight Gates training to Naruto Uzumaki, he inspired Naruto to return to training.

• Lin Mu bought four iron weights, each equal to 15% of his physical limit, and strapped them to his arms and legs.
• Lin Mu struggled to walk home, exhausted by the 60% load and embarrassed by the looks from people on the street.
• Naruto Uzumaki patted Lin Mu, accidentally knocked him down, and discovered how heavy the weights were.
• Lin Mu explained that he was training in the Eight Gates and urged shinobi to pursue strength through every aspect of training.
• Naruto Uzumaki resolved to train harder so he would not fall behind Lin Mu and ran toward the training grounds.

Lin Mu trained in heavy iron weights to strengthen his body and prepare to open the first gate of the Eight Gates Released Formation. Might Guy warned him about overtraining and estimated he could open the gate in about half a month, while Jiraiya encouraged Guy to teach him well.

• Lin Mu used Wood Style to build a house in his backyard after the assigned house’s stairs groaned under his weight, then collapsed from exhaustion and sensed that he was molding chakra and natural energy more effectively.
• Lin Mu noticed he could move more easily the next morning and went to Konoha’s training ground, where the weights made punching and squatting drain his stamina rapidly and challenged his strength control.
• Rock Lee and Might Guy arrived, and Might Guy said Lee had mostly recovered and was resuming training.
• Might Guy examined Lin Mu’s weights, warned that they could seriously damage his body, and estimated that wearing them day and night might let Lin Mu open the first gate in about half a month.
• Lin Mu resumed punching, while Jiraiya appeared and urged Might Guy to teach Lin Mu the Eight Gates Released Formation properly.

Lin Mu advanced his Medical Ninjutsu training under Tsunade and began treating patients at Konoha Hospital. After diagnosing a ninja with a reopened blood vessel in his leg, he drained pooled blood and healed his incision, then turned to the original wound.

• Lin Mu sensed that the Gate of Opening was close to unlocking and decided to resume challenging geniuses for a stronger stimulus.
• Lin Mu went to Konoha Hospital, where patients crowded around him because of his reputation as Tsunade's student and his skill in treating illnesses.
• Lin Mu prioritized a ninja whose leg had been badly cut on a mission and found that a damaged major blood vessel had ruptured again.
• Lin Mu anesthetized the injured ninja, used a Chakra Scalpel to release pooled blood, and healed the incision with the Mystical Palm Technique.
• Lin Mu turned his attention to treating the ninja's original kunai wound.

Lin Mu removed poisoned tissue from an injured ninja and continued treating patients while learning from Tsunade. When a fight broke out on the hospital rooftop, he found Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha facing off, and Naruto's newfound confidence surprised Sasuke.

• Lin Mu removed the poisoned flesh from a ninja's leg and healed the wound with the Mystical Palm Technique.
• Lin Mu treated more patients until Tsunade arrived and praised his progress in medical ninjutsu.
• Tsunade told Lin Mu to observe her treating patients, and he followed her instructions.
• A ninja reported that people were fighting on the hospital rooftop, so Lin Mu went to investigate.
• Naruto Uzumaki challenged Sasuke Uchiha, and Sasuke sensed an unfamiliar confidence in Naruto.

Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha fought on the rooftop, with Sasuke initially dominating in taijutsu before Naruto overwhelmed him with shadow clones. Sasuke countered with a Great Fireball Technique, and the chapter ended with him shocked by Naruto’s powerful ninjutsu as flames swirled around Naruto.

• Sasuke Uchiha challenged Naruto Uzumaki, and Naruto urged him to wear his forehead protector so they could fight as Konoha ninja.
• Sasuke gained the advantage in taijutsu, landing several blows that drove Naruto back.
• Naruto used the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, and his clones struck Sasuke and launched him into the air.
• Sasuke unleashed the Great Fireball Technique, destroying Naruto’s clones and engulfing the rooftop.
• Lin Mu used Wood Style: Tree Barrier Jutsu to shield himself and Sakura Haruno from the flames.
• Sasuke saw the power of the flames surrounding Naruto and wondered how Naruto had learned such a formidable ninjutsu.

Lin Mu intervened in Naruto and Sasuke’s clash, using Wood Release to block their Rasengan and Chidori head-on. As the attacks overwhelmed him, he dropped his heavy weights and opened the Gate of Opening, leaving his newfound power on display.

• Naruto and Sasuke charged at each other with the Rasengan and Chidori as Sakura asked Lin Mu to stop them.
• Lin Mu rushed between Naruto and Sasuke, using a wooden shield and his transformed arm to block both attacks.
• Kakashi tried to intervene, but Jiraiya held him back and watched Lin Mu face the jutsu.
• The Rasengan cracked Lin Mu’s wooden shield, while Sasuke’s Chidori damaged and scorched his enormous fist.
• Lin Mu dropped the weights on his arms and legs, breaking through the balcony as they hit the ground.
• Lin Mu felt his speed and strength surge, then opened the first of the Eight Gates, the Gate of Opening.

Lin Mu opened the Gate of Opening, doubling his physical abilities and turning the tide of his fight with Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha. After stopping the fight at Sakura Haruno’s request, he accepted Sasuke’s challenge and left Sasuke realizing he was outmatched in Taijutsu.

• Lin Mu opened the Gate of Opening and gained full control of his physical strength, doubling his speed, strength, and reactions.
• Lin Mu used his wooden techniques to send Sasuke Uchiha flying into a rooftop water tank, then told Naruto Uzumaki he had intervened because someone wanted to prevent injuries.
• Sakura Haruno rushed to Sasuke’s side, ignoring Naruto, and Sasuke shoved her away before challenging Lin Mu to a fair fight.
• Lin Mu fought Sasuke with Taijutsu and drove him back with a single punch, prompting Sasuke to recognize that he was probably no match for Lin Mu in Taijutsu.

Lin Mu overwhelmed Sasuke Uchiha with Eight Gates taijutsu, using his Wood Style Body to endure the technique’s energy demands. The chapter ended as Lin Mu bound Sasuke and drove them both toward the ground with Front Lotus, prompting Jiraiya to intervene.

• Sasuke Uchiha used his Sharingan to anticipate Lin Mu’s punch and met it evenly, then dodged Lin Mu’s Leaf Steel Strength Whirlwind.
• Jiraiya and Kakashi Hatake watched as Lin Mu kept the upper hand and realized his Wood Style Body helped replenish the energy he spent using the Eight Gates.
• Lin Mu struck Sasuke with Extreme Leaf Diamond Strength Whirlwind, then followed with Cherry Blossom Leaf Dance.
• Lin Mu wrapped Sasuke in branches and began Front Lotus, spinning them toward the ground as Jiraiya lunged to intervene.

Jiraiya stopped Lin Mu from seriously injuring Sasuke during their rooftop fight, then Tsunade made Jiraiya and Lin Mu pay for the damage. Lin Mu lost his second month of funding, while Sasuke was left shaken by his defeat.

• Jiraiya intervened as Lin Mu used the Front Lotus on Sasuke, catching Lin Mu and forcing him to release Sasuke.
• Lin Mu admitted he had gone all out against Sasuke, who struggled to accept being beaten by someone he had looked down on.
• Tsunade confronted Jiraiya over the damaged hospital rooftop and took his wallet as compensation.
• Tsunade threw a heavy object at Lin Mu, who agreed to forfeit his second month's funding to avoid further punishment.

Lin Mu continued training and raised his Senjutsu progress to nineteen percent while saving Gold Coins for Wood Release: Wood Golem Technique. Meanwhile, the Sound Four infiltrated Konoha to take Sasuke, who rejected Kakashi’s advice to abandon his revenge.

• Lin Mu resumed his regular training routine and adapted again to the heavier Iron Block.
• Lin Mu discovered that his Senjutsu progress had reached nineteen percent and restored his Gold Coin total to five thousand.
• Kidomaru led Tayuya, Sakon, and Jirobo into Konoha on Orochimaru’s secret mission to take someone from the village.
• Sasuke, frustrated by his defeat to Lin Mu and Naruto’s growing strength, struck a tree while the Sound Four watched him from a rooftop.
• Kakashi restrained Sasuke with wire and urged him to let go of revenge, but Sasuke angrily rejected his advice.

Kakashi tried to turn Sasuke away from revenge by reminding him to value his comrades, while Sasuke remained uncertain about abandoning his quest. Nearby, Lin Mu confronted the four Otogakure ninja sent to take Sasuke and became trapped in Tayuya’s sound-based genjutsu.

• Kakashi freed Sasuke and urged him to use Chidori to protect his comrades rather than pursue revenge.
• Sasuke thought of Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno but remained unsure whether he could give up his revenge.
• Ukon, Kidomaru, Tayuya, and Sakon waited on a rooftop for a chance to seize Sasuke while Kakashi remained nearby.
• Kidomaru noticed Lin Mu approaching, and the four Otogakure ninja realized he had discovered them.
• Tayuya attacked Lin Mu with Demon Flute: Phantom Sound Lock, making him see his muscles melt away.