Recaps

After recovering from his injuries, Ueno Kei went to the Chunin Exams site and learned that the organizers had added a temporary assessment to reduce the number of candidates. He reassured Kakashi that he was recovering, while the other villages’ ninja took notice of him.

• Ueno Kei recovered enough to leave the infirmary, though the medical ninja warned him not to fight for several days.
• Ueno Kei wondered how Naruto and Sasuke were recovering and went to the assessment site.
• The Third Hokage addressed the candidates, and Moonlight Hayate announced a temporary assessment to eliminate some of those who passed the second round.
• Ueno Kei agreed that the third round needed fewer candidates and joined Kakashi on the platform.
• Kakashi quietly asked about Ueno Kei’s injuries, and Ueno Kei reassured him that they were under control.
• A Sand jonin watched Ueno Kei warily as the gathered ninja took notice of the young jonin.

Sasuke fought Yoroi Akado in the first match while Ueno Kei watched from the stands. When Sasuke's curse mark spread across his body, he suppressed it and defeated Yoroi, leaving his dangerous mark concealed.

• The screen paired Yoroi Akado against Sasuke, and both contestants entered the arena.
• Ueno Kei greeted Naruto and Sakura in the stands, while Rock Lee reacted excitedly to seeing his former classmate.
• Yoroi Akado and Sasuke began fighting with taijutsu, and Yoroi drained some of Sasuke's chakra through his hands.
• Sasuke's curse mark spread across half his body, prompting Ueno Kei to prepare to intervene.
• Hatake Kakashi stopped Ueno Kei and expressed confidence in Sasuke, who forced the markings back into the curse mark and defeated Yoroi Akado.

After Sasuke left the arena with Hatake Kakashi, Ueno Kei reflected on his new sealing knowledge and watched Naruto win his match. Hyuga Hinata then faced Hyuga Neji, and the chapter ended as Neji rushed to attack her.

• Hatake Kakashi signaled the Third Hokage and Ueno Kei before taking the exhausted Sasuke away, and Ueno Kei suspected he would handle Sasuke’s Cursed Seal.
• Ueno Kei considered how his improved mental strength let him access the Wind Wing Clan’s advanced formation techniques.
• Naruto defeated Inuzuka Kiba and returned to the platform, where Ueno Kei praised him and Naruto boasted about his win.
• The screen paired Hyuga Hinata with Hyuga Neji, and Naruto shouted encouragement while Sakura worried he might draw unwanted attention.
• Hinata declared that she would not give up for herself and Naruto, and Neji rushed toward her when Moonlight Hayate began the match.

Hyuga Hinata repeatedly rose to face Hyuga Neji, determined to prove herself despite her injuries, while Yuhi Kurenai struggled to decide whether to stop the match. When Neji attacked with killing intent, Ueno Kei intervened and subdued him.

• Hyuga Hinata refused to give up against Hyuga Neji, and Yuhi Kurenai hesitated to interrupt her resolve.
• Yuhi Kurenai recalled how Hyuga Hiashi had treated Hinata as an unwanted burden and recognized that Hinata's wavering will had held her back.
• Hyuga Neji attacked Hinata with killing intent, prompting the jonin to prepare to intervene.
• Ueno Kei appeared before Hinata, caught Neji's strike, and subdued him with a twist and a lightning-charged touch.
• Ueno Kei confronted Neji and asked if he had had enough.

Ueno Kei restrained Hyuga Neji after Neji nearly killed Hinata, then intimidated him with his killing intent until Might Guy intervened. Kei left the examination hall after making Neji recognize the gap between them.

• Ueno Kei stopped Hyuga Neji, while Yuhi Kurenai caught the collapsing Hinata and Moonlight Hayate went to summon medical ninjas.
• Ueno Kei challenged Neji for trying to kill a fellow villager and released his killing intent, frightening the genin and overwhelming Neji.
• Might Guy stepped between them and persuaded Ueno Kei to withdraw his aura.
• Neji realized he was no match for Ueno Kei and stayed silent as Kei left the examination hall.

After leaving the Forest of Death, Ueno Kei reflected on his anger, his recent hardships, and the threat Orochimaru posed to Konoha. He then unexpectedly met his senior brother Jiraiya, whose formidable presence impressed him.

• Medical ninja hurried Hyuga Hinata away after Hyuga Neji's Gentle Fist attack left her with severe internal injuries.
• Naruto challenged Hyuga Neji, who ignored him and vowed to defeat Ueno Kei.
• Ueno Kei wandered through Konoha, calmed down, and resolved to stop Orochimaru from threatening his home.
• Jiraiya approached Ueno Kei without being noticed and invited him to share a drink.
• Ueno Kei recognized Jiraiya as his senior brother and felt both uneasy at his familiarity and awed by his strength.

Jiraiya took Ueno Kei to a tavern, where they discussed Kei’s recent fight and the Third Hokage’s wish for Jiraiya to become the Fifth Hokage. Jiraiya avoided accepting the position and revealed he had promised to bring Tsunade back to Konoha.

• Jiraiya led Ueno Kei to a tavern and urged him to drink, and Kei reluctantly finished a cup.
• Jiraiya praised Kei for holding his own against a powerful opponent and compared Kei’s talent favorably with his own at the same age.
• Ueno Kei asked whether Jiraiya had returned because of Orochimaru, and Jiraiya answered ambiguously.
• Ueno Kei urged Jiraiya to return to Konoha and become the Fifth Hokage, citing the Third Hokage’s age and request.
• Jiraiya dismissed the idea of becoming Hokage, while reflecting that he had promised the Third Hokage to bring Tsunade back.

Jiraiya reassured Ueno Kei that he knew what he was doing, and the two spent the night talking before Jiraiya departed. The next morning, the Third Hokage summoned Kei, who arrived at his study and found his teacher contemplating a photograph of his former students.

• Jiraiya told Ueno Kei not to worry about his senior brother and urged him to focus on training.
• Jiraiya and Ueno Kei drank and talked late into the night, then Jiraiya left and Kei went home to sleep.
• An Anbu summoned Ueno Kei to see the Third Hokage, and Kei guessed they would discuss security for the upcoming Chunin Exams.
• Ueno Kei met Sarutobi Asuma at the Hokage's compound before entering the Third Hokage's study.
• Ueno Kei found the Third Hokage standing before a photograph of Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade.

The Third Hokage reflected on his past failure to stop Orochimaru and worried that Ueno Kei’s ruthless reputation made him unsuitable to become Hokage. He asked Kei to support Jiraiya or Tsunade as his successor, then handed him an Anbu token.

• The Third Hokage asked Ueno Kei whether showing Orochimaru mercy had been a mistake, and Kei answered with silence.
• The Third Hokage recalled Kei’s ruthless Anbu missions but took comfort in his loyalty to Konoha and his teammates.
• The Third Hokage concluded that Kei was too dark to fit his original plan for him to become Hokage.
• The Third Hokage told Kei that Jiraiya would bring Tsunade back and asked him to support whichever of them became the Fifth Hokage.
• The Third Hokage tossed Kei a token engraved with the character for Anbu, and Kei caught it.

The Third Hokage gave Ueno Kei the token of the Konoha Anbu Commander and asked him to become Konoha’s dark protector. Though shaken by the Hokage’s apparent decline and the burden placed on him at thirteen, Ueno Kei vowed to protect the village.

• The Third Hokage gave Ueno Kei the Anbu Commander token and explained its authority over Konoha’s Anbu.
• The Third Hokage recalled his and Danzo’s roles as Konoha’s light and darkness, then asked Ueno Kei to succeed them in protecting the village.
• Ueno Kei feared what would happen to Konoha after the Third Hokage’s death and realized how much he depended on his teacher.
• Ueno Kei renewed his resolve and promised the Third Hokage that he would protect Konoha.
• The Third Hokage worried that he had placed too much pressure on thirteen-year-old Ueno Kei, but felt urgent threats required him to prepare a successor.

The Third Hokage sent Ueno Kei to investigate reports that Sunagakure's Fourth Kazekage had contacted Orochimaru, then reminded him that Danzo had Konoha's interests at heart. At Anbu headquarters, Ueno Kei took command and used his aura to quiet doubts among the captains about his appointment.

• The Third Hokage ordered Ueno Kei to lead Anbu members to the Land of Fire–Land of Wind border and investigate Sunagakure's unusual movements and suspected contact with Orochimaru.
• The Third Hokage told Ueno Kei that Danzo had always had Konoha's interests at heart, and Ueno Kei left for Anbu headquarters.
• Ueno Kei entered the Anbu gathering, where the captains knelt and greeted him as their new leader.
• Ueno Kei sat at the head of the table and released his aura, surprising the captains and curbing their doubts about his authority.

Ueno Kei led an Anbu mission to investigate Sunagakure’s movements along the border, while Baki and Kabuto met secretly in Konoha to discuss their villages’ cooperation. Kabuto revealed that he had helped draw Konoha’s attention to the border and arranged a delay for the Anbu, leaving the operation’s preparations underway.

• Ueno Kei told the Anbu captains that the Third Hokage had ordered them to investigate Sunagakure’s unusual activity and said Orochimaru would be handled separately.
• Ueno Kei led several Anbu squads out of Konoha toward the Land of Fire and Land of Wind border.
• Baki met Kabuto in the woods behind Sunagakure’s temporary lodging, where Kabuto revealed his allegiance to Otogakure and Orochimaru.
• Baki questioned whether Otogakure intended to betray Sunagakure after learning Kabuto had leaked some of their movements to Konoha.
• Kabuto explained that the leak would heighten Konoha’s anxiety and said Otogakure had arranged to delay the Anbu until the operation began.

Baki killed Moonlight Hayate after Hayate discovered the Sand Ninja’s plans to betray Konoha and their cooperation with Orochimaru. At the border, Ueno Kei found no sign of an invasion and realized Sunagakure’s lack of reaction was itself suspicious.

• Baki and Yakushi Kabuto agreed on their plans, then Baki pursued the hidden Moonlight Hayate.
• Moonlight Hayate accused Baki of betraying Konoha, and Baki killed him after a brief fight.
• Yakushi Kabuto praised Baki, and Sand Ninja removed Hayate’s body and the traces of the fight.
• Three days later, Ueno Kei led Anbu into the Land of Wind to investigate Sunagakure’s activity, but found only strengthened border defenses.
• Ueno Kei realized Sunagakure’s lack of any reaction to the Anbu search was abnormal and suspected a trap.

Ueno Kei investigated a report of a body believed to be the Kazekage and ordered it taken back to Konoha for confirmation. Unaware that his route was trapped, he led his Anbu toward a destroyed contact point where Sound shinobi prepared to ambush them.

• Ueno Kei, troubled by an ominous feeling, sent Wind's team to check the emergency contact point and ordered the rest of the Anbu to return to Konoha with him.
• An Anbu agent reported finding a body suspected to be the Kazekage, along with the bodies of his guards, in a canyon outside Izumo City.
• Ueno Kei examined the bodies and ordered the Anbu to seal them in a scroll and bring them to Konoha.
• Ueno Kei and his team headed for the border contact point, unaware that a trap had been laid for them.
• At contact point Number 1, Sound shinobi including Guren and Suigetsu waited after killing the Anbu stationed there, and the orange-haired man announced that the hunt was beginning.

Ueno Kei and the Konoha Anbu were ambushed by Otogakure forces led by Guren, Jugo, and Hozuki Suigetsu. As the battle turned against the Anbu, Guren attacked Ueno Kei and her Crystal Release began spreading across his weapon and arm.

• Ueno Kei realized dozens of Otogakure ninja had surrounded him and the Anbu, while their leaders revealed that they intended to kill him.
• Guren ordered the attack, and Otogakure forces outnumbered and initially suppressed the Konoha Anbu.
• Ueno Kei reacted to the mention of Orochimaru and engaged Guren with Lightning Armor and the Lingyu Blade.
• Guren used Crystal Release to block Ueno Kei’s blade and launch crystalline projectiles at him.
• Ueno Kei found that Guren’s crystal had adhered to his weapon’s joints and was slowly spreading despite his Lightning Armor.

Ueno Kei and Guren fought with giant summons, and Ueno Kei used Lightning to break down Guren’s Crystal Release dragon before striking her with the Lingyu Blade. Guren survived by raising automatic Crystal Release barriers and leaping out of range, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Ueno Kei summoned Lightning, a giant lizard with lightning-nature chakra, to face Guren’s Crystal Release dragon.
• Lightning and Ueno Kei’s lewd banter enraged Guren, who charged them on her dragon.
• Lightning wrapped the dragon in lightning and constricted it until its Crystal Release body began to disintegrate.
• Ueno Kei closed in while Guren was immobilized, but her automatic Crystal Release barriers stopped his blade from reaching her vital points.
• Ueno Kei used Instant Guard to strike Guren, and she took the blow before leaping off the dragon and escaping his attack range.

Ueno Kei overwhelmed Guren and then faced her alongside Suigetsu and Jugo. He unleashed his powerful Lightning Release—Annihilation, leaving the trio’s fate unclear after Jugo raised a shield against it.

• Lightning destroyed the Crystal Release Dragon while Ueno Kei moved to finish off the injured Guren.
• Jugo caught Guren and stopped Ueno Kei’s blade, then Suigetsu struck Ueno Kei with a Water Dragon Bullet Technique.
• Ueno Kei endured Suigetsu’s attack and evaded the follow-up, while Guren agreed to join Suigetsu and Jugo in capturing him.
• Ueno Kei and Lightning combined their power to prepare Lightning Release—Annihilation, prompting Jugo to order Suigetsu and Guren to retreat.
• Jugo transformed and raised a huge shield as Ueno Kei’s lightning shockwave struck, causing a thunderous explosion.

Jugo entered a deep Cursed Seal state and attacked Ueno Kei and Thunderlight after surviving Kei’s explosion. Thunderlight was badly wounded and sent back to the summoning realm, leaving Kei to face the berserk Jugo while Suigetsu and Guren retreated.

• Ueno Kei sensed that Guren, Suigetsu, and Jugo had survived his attack, just before Jugo struck Thunderlight and revealed his monstrous form.
• Thunderlight charged Jugo with lightning-enhanced speed, but Jugo seized his horn, ignored his lightning, and hurled him away with a severe wound.
• Ueno Kei sent Thunderlight back to the Lizard Clan’s summoning realm and turned to confront Jugo.
• Suigetsu recognized Jugo’s deep Cursed Seal state and urged Guren to retreat, and she followed while watching Kei and Jugo face off.

Ueno Kei and Konoha’s Anbu gained the upper hand against the Sound Ninja at the Fire Country border. The chapter ended with Ueno Kei defeating Jugo and appearing before Suigetsu and Guren.

• An Anbu squad captain chose to help eliminate the remaining Sound Ninja instead of joining Ueno Kei’s fight.
• Jugo charged Ueno Kei, but Ueno Kei evaded his attack and kicked him away despite Jugo’s hardened body and blue flames.
• Suigetsu considered fleeing or interfering, but Guren warned him that Orochimaru’s seal still bound him.
• Guren resolved to protect Jugo because he was valuable to Orochimaru’s research.
• The ground shook, and Suigetsu and Guren saw Ueno Kei standing nearby as Jugo lay battered in a huge pit.

Ueno Kei trapped Suigetsu and Guren in a lightning formation, but Jugo shielded them by absorbing natural energy and endured the attack. Intrigued by Jugo’s ability, Ueno Kei decided to capture him alive, while all three opponents were left unable to fight.

• Guren rushed to rescue Jugo, and Suigetsu followed her despite his misgivings.
• Ueno Kei activated the Myriad Thunder Prison Pull formation he had secretly prepared throughout the battle.
• Jugo leaped in front of Suigetsu and Guren and raised a barrier that absorbed most of the lightning attack.
• Ueno Kei noticed Jugo absorbing natural energy and decided to capture him alive for study.
• Suigetsu, Guren, and Jugo were left unable to fight.

Ueno Kei fought a Kaguya Clan survivor who arrived to protect Jugo, Guren, and Suigetsu. The three escaped while Ueno Kei, weakened and injured, faced the transformed man and was knocked into a tree.

• Ueno Kei tried to stop Guren and Suigetsu from carrying the unconscious Jugo away, but the cold-faced Kaguya Clan man attacked him.
• The Kaguya Clan man ordered Guren and Suigetsu to take Jugo and leave, then used his bones to keep Ueno Kei from pursuing them.
• The Kaguya Clan man activated his curse marks and transformed while Ueno Kei assessed his depleted chakra and injuries.
• The two men faced off until a flash blinded Ueno Kei, and the Kaguya Clan man struck him into a large tree.

Ueno Kei’s wounded team returned to Konoha after surviving Orochimaru’s ambush, while Kaguya Kimimaro and the others carried out a separate plan. The chapter ended with a large force of Sunagakure and Otogakure ninja advancing toward Konoha as Ueno Kei brought the sealed Kazekage’s body to the Third Hokage.

• Kaguya Kimimaro attacked Ueno Kei but abruptly retreated, and Ueno Kei chose not to pursue him.
• An Anbu reported that the Otogakure ninja had been eliminated, with four Konoha members killed, and Ueno Kei ordered the survivors to return immediately.
• After Ueno Kei left, Jugo confirmed his departure, and Kaguya Kimimaro said he would meet with Sunagakure’s leader while the others returned.
• More than a thousand Sunagakure and Otogakure ninja crossed into the Land of Fire and advanced toward Konoha.
• Four days later, Ueno Kei arrived in Konoha and headed to the Third Hokage’s office carrying the scroll that sealed the Kazekage.

Ueno Kei and the Third Hokage learned that the corpse resembling Rasa was an ordinary person disguised with Rasa’s chakra, but the Third Hokage still suspected a connection between Rasa and Orochimaru. After Kei returned home, the Lizard Clan’s Great Elder visited him.

• The Third Hokage told Ueno Kei that the real Rasa had already arrived in Konoha, raising doubts about the corpse and the visitor.
• A medical ninja reported that the corpse belonged to an ordinary person and had only been covered with Rasa’s chakra nature.
• The Third Hokage dismissed Ueno Kei and ordered him to rest before taking over security for the Chunin Exams.
• The Third Hokage privately wondered whether Rasa had been tainted by Orochimaru or was himself the snake, and vowed to protect Konoha.
• Ueno Kei returned home and found the Lizard Clan’s Great Elder waiting for him at his tea table.

The Great Elder explained that the Wind Wing Clan’s true strength came from drawing natural energy into a blade, offering Ueno Kei a possible path to Sage Transformation. He warned that few could unite with their blades well enough to use that energy themselves, leaving Kei determined to master the technique.

• The Great Elder revealed that the Wind Wing Mental Method altered the body in a way that prevented its practitioners from drawing natural energy into themselves.
• The Great Elder explained how Wind Wing descendants developed a method for inscribing runes on a blade and teaching it to absorb natural energy.
• Ueno Kei realized that unity with the Lingyu Blade might let him enter Sage Transformation by combining its natural energy with his own.
• The Great Elder warned that most who made their blades absorb natural energy could only strengthen the blade, not themselves.
• Ueno Kei declared that he believed he could unite with the Lingyu Blade, which hummed softly in response.

Ueno Kei learned that making the Lingyu Blade continuously absorb natural energy required discovering a balance between the blade and the energy, a feat only two Wind Wing Clan members had achieved. Days later, while inspecting Konoha’s barriers before the Chunin Exams’ final stage, he sensed a powerful chakra presence and learned that Uzumaki Naruto and Jiraiya were ahead.

• The Great Elder explained that the Lingyu Blade’s greatest hurdle was absorbing natural energy on its own and said Kei would need to find the right balance through experience.
• The Great Elder recalled that the clan’s scrolls held guidance from the two Wind Wing Clan members who had mastered the technique.
• Kei agreed to begin training in ten days, once matters in the village had settled, and the Great Elder returned to his clan.
• On the day before the Chunin Exams’ final stage, Kei sensed a powerful chakra presence near Konoha’s eastern outskirts while inspecting the barriers.
• Kei questioned the Anbu sentry Ke, who reported that Uzumaki Naruto and Jiraiya were ahead.