Chapter Summaries

Shiraha prepared Hikari and Taichi to break through to First Level while Konoha assigned its newest Genin to teams, placing Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin under Kakashi. After visiting the unconscious Minato, Kakashi received information implicating the Third Hokage and Danzo and considered transferring Might Duy.

• Shiraha placed Hikari and Taichi in Nutrient Tanks to begin their advancement, while Kushina and Chiho watched anxiously.
• At the Ninja Academy graduation briefing, Sakamoto Midorikawa assigned Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin to Team 7 under Hatake Kakashi, and Hinata to Team 8 under Yūhi Kurenai.
• Sakamoto assigned Sakura to join Team 12 after one of its members had been lost, and placed Ino, Choji, and Shikamaru on Team 10 under Asuma.
• Kakashi visited the unconscious Minato Namikaze and noticed his fingers twitch, but left without acknowledging it.
• An Anbu Ninja passed Kakashi a scroll, and its contents led him to suspect the Third Hokage and Danzo and consider transferring Might Duy away.

Kakashi tested Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin’s teamwork, and the three passed after coordinating a plan that nearly caught him. A month later, Taichi and Hikari became First-Level Warlocks, and Shiraha left for Demon Country.

• Kakashi led Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin to a training ground, where they introduced themselves and agreed to work together to take his bells.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin coordinated their attacks, using shuriken, Shadow Clones, Adamantine Sealing Chains, and Chidori to corner Kakashi.
• Kakashi revealed that he had countered them with a Lightning Release Shadow Clone and praised their teamwork, declaring that they had passed.
• Kakashi treated the team to barbecue, but Sasuke paid the 417,500-ryō bill after Kakashi realized he had not brought enough money.
• A month later, Taichi and Hikari advanced to First-Level Warlocks with Shiraha’s help, and Shiraha set off alone for Demon Country.

Orochimaru recovered from his transformation and prepared to work with Sunagakure against Konoha, while Konoha organized a joint Chunin Exam. Shiraha received Konoha’s invitation and considered using the exam to encounter Orochimaru.

• Orochimaru examined his new strength, read Rasa’s agreement to his plan, and decided to travel to the Land of Fire border.
• Orochimaru reviewed Kabuto’s intelligence about Konoha’s forces and arranged to strengthen Shin before bringing him to Konoha.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen approved invitations for an open Shinobi World Chunin Exam and planned its security while hoping to restore Konoha’s prestige.
• Shiraha received Konoha’s invitation and wondered whether the timeline was converging, noting that he could meet Orochimaru and send three First-Level Warlocks to compete.

Shiraha invited Hikari and Taichi to join him and Shion at the Chunin Selection Exam in Konoha, then received intelligence that Orochimaru would launch the Konoha Crush Plan as scheduled. He began considering how to use the coming upheaval to advance Uzushiogakure’s influence and his plans for unifying the Shinobi World.

• Shiraha watched Hikari petrify Taichi during their training match, then invited both children to the Chunin Selection Exam in Konoha, and they agreed to go.
• Shiraha planned to take the children to Konoha in ten days and considered using the visit to demonstrate Uzushiogakure’s strength and encourage the Hyuga Branch Family to leave Konoha.
• Shiraha reflected on unifying the Shinobi World, developing it as a stable base, and using a common threat to build support for a unified nation.
• Shiraha considered helping Black Zetsu with the Eye of the Moon Plan and thought he could recruit Obito while Rin remained alive.
• Yakushi Kabuto sent Shiraha intelligence that Orochimaru would carry out the Konoha Crush Plan, despite Jiraiya’s return to Konoha.

Rasa and Orochimaru finalized their plan to attack Konoha after Orochimaru revealed that he could summon the First and Second Hokage and had made Kakashi his ally. In Konoha, Taichi, Hikari, and Shion encountered Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin, and Sasuke confronted them after recognizing their Uzushiogakure headbands.

• Rasa met Orochimaru at a secret stronghold in the Land of Rivers to discuss the Konoha Crush Plan.
• Orochimaru summoned the First and Second Hokage with Impure World Reincarnation and claimed they could help him defeat the Third Hokage.
• Rasa agreed to the plan after Orochimaru promised to let him see his late wife and revealed that Kakashi would help kill the Third Hokage.
• Rasa warned that Yagami Shiraha could disrupt the attack, but Orochimaru assured him that Shiraha would not interfere.
• Taichi, Hikari, and Shion explored Konoha, where Taichi sensed Chakra like his mother's and wondered if the village had a Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin approached the trio, and Sasuke grew hostile after noticing their Uzushiogakure headbands.

Sasuke picked a fight with Shion, Hikari, and Taichi, but Taichi quickly defeated him before Kakashi stopped the confrontation. As the children prepared to enter the Chunin Selection Exam, Shiraha planned to use the coming chaos to help Pakura take revenge on Rasa.

• Sasuke insulted Chiho and attacked Taichi, who knocked him down with a single kick.
• Naruto nearly lost control of the Nine-Tails Chakra before Shion and Karin calmed the situation, and Kakashi arrived to intervene.
• Kakashi apologized for Sasuke and warned Sasuke, Naruto, and Karin not to challenge Shion, Hikari, and Taichi during the exam.
• Taichi confirmed that the three siblings would enter the Chunin Selection Exam, and Sasuke's Sharingan evolved into the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
• At the Embassy, Shiraha told Pakura she could confront Rasa during the exam's third stage while he handled the other fighters.
• Shiraha warned that Orochimaru's forces might be stronger than expected after sensing a terrifying Chakra presence at the Otogakure Embassy.

Orochimaru reassessed Shiraha’s strength and planned to test Shiraha’s children during the Chunin Exam, while Sasuke clashed with them at the Ninja Academy. Kakashi, Kabuto, and Hizashi revealed plans for revenge and the Hyuga Branch Family’s liberation as the exam—and Konoha’s impending crisis—approached.

• Orochimaru told Shin that Shion, Hikari, and Taichi were powerful Bloodline Warlocks and decided to enter the Death Forest to learn their purpose.
• Sasuke used genjutsu to defeat Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki, then attacked Taichi, whose Soul Guard blocked the genjutsu before Rock Lee intercepted his punch.
• Kakashi and Kabuto discussed their plans to kill the Third Hokage and bring Danzo to ruin, while Obito listened unseen from the rooftop.
• Hizashi warned Neji not to antagonize Shiraha’s children and explained that more than a hundred Branch Family ninja were secretly preparing to gain freedom from the Caged Bird Curse Seal.

Shion, Hikari, and Taichi entered Konoha’s Chunin Selection Exam, where Hikari’s Nine-Tails Chakra provoked Gaara’s One-Tail and the first written test began. Meanwhile, Yakushi Kabuto told the imprisoned Danzo that Orochimaru had returned to Konoha and was planning chaos, giving Danzo hope of returning to power.

• Shion, Hikari, and Taichi entered the crowded exam hall, where Gaara watched them until Kankuro and Temari urged him not to provoke them.
• Hikari’s Nine-Tails Chakra stirred Shukaku inside Gaara, causing him pain until Rasa’s strengthened seal suppressed the One-Tail.
• Morino Ibiki began the first exam, and Shion and Hikari solved all nine questions while Taichi completed most of them.
• Taichi sensed a Wizard-like Energy Field around a bald Otogakure examinee and activated Serpent Spirit Sense.
• Yakushi Kabuto visited Danzo in prison and reported that Jiraiya and Orochimaru had returned to Konoha.
• Kabuto told Danzo that Orochimaru planned to create chaos, and Danzo wondered what gave Orochimaru the confidence to act.

Morino Ibiki discovered that Yagami Taichi, Yagami Shion, and Yagami Hikari had demonstrated extraordinary knowledge on the first exam and hurried to inform the Third Hokage. In the Death Forest, the siblings pursued a mysterious Otogakure candidate while Orochimaru turned his attention to Naruto and Sasuke, then attacked Naruto.

• Morino Ibiki examined the Yagami siblings' unusually advanced answers and sent Shion and Hikari's papers to the Medical Corps Captain for review.
• Morino Ibiki grew concerned that the siblings might endanger other candidates in the Death Forest and rushed to report his findings to the Third Hokage.
• Taichi sensed that the mysterious Otogakure Genin was out of range, and Shion led Hikari and Taichi toward the Central Tower while they discussed the Hyuga clan.
• Orochimaru overheard Hikari mention Byakugan experiments and the Tenseigan, then decided to seek Naruto and Sasuke instead of confronting the siblings.
• Orochimaru ambushed Sasuke, Karin, and Naruto in the northern Death Forest, knocked Sasuke and Karin away, and attacked Naruto.

Naruto fought Orochimaru in the Death Forest, but Orochimaru overpowered him and drained some of his Nine-Tails Chakra before Jiraiya intervened. Orochimaru then left for the forest's central region, where he reunited with Shion and demanded that she come with him.

• Orochimaru battered Naruto, who unleashed the Nine-Tails Chakra Cloak and briefly landed a strike despite Orochimaru's overwhelming strength.
• Orochimaru provoked Naruto into releasing more Nine-Tails Chakra, then bound him, branded him with the Cursed Seal, and absorbed some of his Chakra.
• Jiraiya rescued Naruto and confronted Orochimaru, who revealed his identity and said he had returned for the Third Hokage before disappearing.
• Jiraiya began sealing Naruto's Cursed Seal while Naruto warned him to check on Sasuke and Karin.
• Orochimaru arrived near the tower and found Shion, Taichi, and Hikari with three petrified Otogakure ninja; Shion had them released.
• Orochimaru told Shion to come with him.

Orochimaru took Shion to an old base to draw Shiraha to him, then gave her purified Otsutsuki Chakra as compensation. After Shiraha confronted him and learned of his transformation and interest in the Wizarding World, Orochimaru proposed cooperating against the Otsutsuki Clan and Kaguya Otsutsuki, and Shiraha agreed.

• Orochimaru asked Shion to accompany him, and she went with him while Hikari and Taichi stayed behind and Taichi sent Shiraha a request for aid.
• Orochimaru brought Shion and Shin to an abandoned base, where Shion deduced that he wanted Shiraha to come to him and offered her bloodline power.
• Orochimaru gave Shion purified Chakra taken from Naruto, and Shiraha arrived to check on her and confront Orochimaru.
• Shiraha suppressed Orochimaru with his Soul Power, then showed him a scroll about the Wizarding World and recognized that Orochimaru had devoured Isshiki and transformed.
• Orochimaru proposed that he and Shiraha cooperate against the Otsutsuki Clan and Kaguya Otsutsuki, and Shiraha accepted the deal.

Shiraha traded bloodline knowledge and purified blood with Orochimaru, then warned Shion about the danger she had faced and explained his plan to slow Orochimaru’s rise. Back in Konoha, Shiraha discovered Kabuto had kept Minato Namikaze unconscious and began preparing him to awaken and oppose Orochimaru.

• Orochimaru shared Isshiki’s techniques, Shin-cell research, and soul-erasure information with Shiraha, who gave him a First-Level Bloodline Warlock enhancement array and purified blood in return.
• Orochimaru asked for more of Kurama’s Chakra, but Shiraha refused and left the underground base with Shion.
• Shiraha reassured Shion that she was his daughter, warned her not to trust visions of the future, and resolved to use the bloodline gift to delay Orochimaru’s advancement.
• Shiraha secretly returned Shion to the Death Forest, while Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin headed toward the Central Tower and Jiraiya failed to persuade Hiruzen Sarutobi to halt the exam.
• Obito entered Minato Namikaze’s hospital ward through Kamui but vanished when Shiraha arrived.
• Shiraha identified Kabuto’s drug as the reason Minato remained unconscious and infused him with Magic Power to prepare him for awakening and a confrontation with Orochimaru.

Shiraha confirmed that Obito had been spying on Minato, whose recovery from Hashirama cells had greatly increased his power. At the Chunin Exam preliminaries, Gaara killed an opponent, while forfeits and withdrawals narrowed the field to nine contestants for the Third Exam.

• Shiraha used a deliberate display of information to confirm Obito was watching Minato, then returned after Obito left and reflected on his growing spatial perception.
• Obito found that Minato had absorbed the Hashirama cells and gained far more Chakra, but still believed Minato could not match Shiraha.
• At the Death Forest tower, Moonlight Hayate announced preliminary one-on-one matches because 92 examinees had passed the Second Exam.
• Shion forfeited her match against Hikari, making Hikari the winner without a fight.
• Gaara killed Yamazaki Haruto with Sand Burial after Haruto tried to surrender, frightening the other examinees.
• Taichi advanced when Karin forfeited, and further withdrawals left Taichi, Hikari, Sasuke, Naruto, Gaara, Temari, Kankuro, Neji, and Rock Lee qualified for the Third Exam.

During the Chunin Exam’s final round, Hikari instantly defeated Sasuke and Gaara’s fight with Taichi unleashed One-Tails Shukaku as attacks erupted across Konoha. Minato Namikaze awoke after nearly twelve years unconscious and rushed to the Ring Arena to defend the village.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen refused Jiraiya’s request to cancel the exam, and the Third Exam began before dignitaries and villagers.
• Naruto Namikaze defeated Neji, then Hikari petrified Sasuke with a single attack and won their match.
• Gaara’s battle with Taichi escalated until One-Tails Shukaku emerged and fired an attack toward the spectators as explosions struck Konoha from four directions.
• Uzumaki Ashina discovered that Minato Namikaze had awakened and told him he had been unconscious for nearly twelve years.
• Minato Namikaze sensed his greatly increased Chakra, dressed in his Hokage cloak, and used the Flying Thunder God Jutsu to head for the Ring Arena.

Sunagakure and Otogakure launched a surprise attack on Konoha during the Chunin Exam, while Orochimaru confronted Sarutobi Hiruzen inside a barrier. As the fighting spread across the village, Orochimaru summoned the First Hokage, the Second Hokage, and the Third Kazekage, then called on Kakashi to act.

• Gaara lost control and transformed into One-Tails Shukaku, while Sunagakure and Otogakure attacked the Arena and trapped civilians in a large-scale genjutsu.
• Rasa joined the assault on Konoha, while Orochimaru revealed himself and challenged Sarutobi Hiruzen; Shiraha said he would not intervene and left.
• The Sound Four sealed Orochimaru, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Kakashi inside the Enhanced Four Violet Flames Formation, where Orochimaru fought the Third Hokage.
• Itachi and Fugaku fought enemy ninja in the spectator stands, while Konoha forces battled attacks at the village walls and Jiraiya and Nawaki headed toward the Arena.
• Orochimaru summoned the First Hokage, the Second Hokage, and the Third Kazekage, then told Kakashi it was his turn as Kakashi drew his ninja blade.

Orochimaru attacked Konoha with the reanimated First and Second Hokage while Kakashi turned on Sarutobi Hiruzen to avenge Sakumo. Minato and Konoha’s fighters joined the battle, but Might Duy opened the Eighth Gate and carried Orochimaru into the sky; inside the barrier, Kakashi killed Sarutobi Hiruzen, who chose not to strike back.

• Kakashi attacked Sarutobi Hiruzen with Sakumo’s White Fang, while Orochimaru released the reanimated Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Third Kazekage from the barrier.
• Minato Namikaze arrived and fought Orochimaru, but Hashirama and Tobirama’s Wood Release and attacks forced him to struggle for survival.
• Shiraha left the Arena with Shion, Hikari, and Taichi, then headed to the Hyuga clan grounds to remove the Branch Family’s Caged Bird Curse Seals.
• Might Duy opened the Seventh Gate, and later the Gate of Death, while Nawaki, Jiraiya, Fugaku, Itachi, and Minato joined the fighting; Orochimaru severely wounded Jiraiya, and Minato sealed Tobirama away.
• Might Duy launched Orochimaru into the sky with a devastating attack, while Kakashi and Sarutobi Hiruzen continued their duel inside the barrier.
• Kakashi stabbed Sarutobi Hiruzen through the heart, and Sarutobi Hiruzen restrained Enma from striking Kakashi before dying.

Kakashi killed Sarutobi Hiruzen but collapsed after his White Fang Short Sword broke, and Obito rescued him as the battle continued. Orochimaru escaped after Might Duy nearly defeated him, while Shiraha saved Duy and led the Hyuga Branch Family out of Konoha to join Uzushiogakure, leaving Minato to face the village’s losses.

• Kakashi killed Sarutobi Hiruzen, exhausted himself, and broke the White Fang Short Sword before collapsing; Obito fought off the Anbu and took him away through Kamui.
• Might Duy collapsed before landing his final attack on Orochimaru, and Minato Namikaze rescued him while Orochimaru escaped Konoha.
• Shiraha saved Might Duy with Yang Release Chakra and a glass Syringe, then arrived with Hizashi Hyuga and the Hyuga Branch Family.
• Hizashi announced that the Hyuga Branch Family was leaving the Hyuga Main Family and Konoha to join Uzushiogakure; Fugaku told Minato about the Uchiha’s departure and the village leaders’ actions.
• Minato let Shiraha and the Hyuga Branch Family leave, while Shion reported that Pakura and Sasori had killed the Fourth Kazekage and captured the One-Tail alive.
• Neji said goodbye to Rock Lee and Tenten, then followed the departing Hyuga clan as the smoke around Konoha began to clear.

Wounded after fighting Might Duy, Orochimaru fled Konoha with Shin and the surviving Otogakure ninja, but Jigen and Delta confronted him and demanded that he join Kara. As Delta attacked Orochimaru, a huge explosion drew Shiraha away from his group to investigate.

• Orochimaru left Konoha after reflecting on his injuries and ordered the surviving Otogakure ninja to find Shin and move to a new base.
• Orochimaru’s group traveled north, avoided returning Konoha ninja, and encountered Jigen, who invited Orochimaru to join Kara.
• Orochimaru refused Jigen’s offer and told Shin and the others to leave, but Delta appeared behind them and blocked their escape.
• Delta attacked Orochimaru, who knocked her through several trees; she returned unharmed, and Jigen urged Orochimaru to join Kara while Delta prepared to strike again.
• Taichi and Hikari argued while traveling with Shiraha’s group, then a massive explosion erupted in the distance.
• Shiraha told his group to continue onward, flew to investigate the explosion, and ordered Taichi not to follow.

Isshiki tried to force Orochimaru to join Kara, but Shiraha arrived and rescued him after destroying Delta. Orochimaru injected Shiraha’s purified blood into himself, leaving their relationship and his recovery under Shiraha’s influence.

• Isshiki subdued Hashirama and pressured the exhausted Orochimaru to accept Karma and join Kara, while Delta brought Shin as a hostage.
• Orochimaru refused Isshiki’s offer, and Delta injured him and knocked Shin unconscious.
• Shiraha appeared, killed Delta and destroyed her drone core, then struck Isshiki hard enough to make him release Orochimaru and escape through a Space Gate.
• Shiraha treated Orochimaru and Shin, then found Orochimaru injecting Shiraha’s purified blood into his own body.
• Orochimaru’s strength and aura rose after the injection, and he told Shiraha he looked forward to his guidance.

Obito rescued Kakashi but let him go, while Black Zetsu and White Zetsu urged Obito to recruit him and warned that Orochimaru and Uzushiogakure threatened their plans. Kakashi sought refuge with Shiraha, whose genjutsu revealed that one of Kakashi’s old friends would soon join them.

• Obito cared for Kakashi’s injuries in a cave, fed him for three days, and then told him to leave.
• Obito vanished after Kakashi recognized him, and Black Zetsu and White Zetsu questioned why he had not taken Kakashi’s Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Obito discussed the threats posed by Orochimaru, Might Duy, Shiraha, and Uzushiogakure, then agreed to search for Orochimaru with White Zetsu’s help.
• Shiraha advanced his Mental Power while Kashin Koji used Samadhi Fire to temper it, and Orochimaru recovered in Shiraha’s laboratory after pledging allegiance.
• Kakashi arrived at Uzushiogakure seeking refuge, and Shiraha welcomed him as his direct Anbu.
• Kakashi’s Mangekyō Sharingan pulled Shiraha into a genjutsu, after which Shiraha told Kakashi that one of his old friends would soon join them.