Chapter Summaries

Ueno Kei received updates on the Wasabi Clan’s preparations and ordered his men to focus on Aoi Rokushō and the Sword of the Thunder God while leaving Morino Idate under observation. After his arson attack devastated the Wagarashi Clan’s encampment, its leaders feared the Wasabi Clan had discovered their plan to hire Mist Ninja and destroy its rival.

• Ueno Kei learned that the Wasabi Clan had received the information and was expected to act the next day.
• Ueno Kei told his men to monitor Morino Idate and wait for orders from the village, rather than capture him.
• Ueno Kei reaffirmed that Aoi Rokushō and the Sword of the Thunder God were the primary targets, then returned to the Wagarashi Clan’s encampment.
• The Wagarashi Clan’s fire left around forty percent of its buildings destroyed and more than a hundred casualties, while the discovery of assassinated servants spread panic.
• The Wagarashi Clan’s leaders worried that the Wasabi Clan had uncovered their plan to hire Mist Ninja and attack its rival the next day.

As the Wasabi Family attacked the Wagarashi Clan, the clan head discovered that the Mist Ninja had abandoned them, leaving the clan on the verge of defeat. Ueno Kei pursued two fleeing Mist Ninja, killed one, and was shocked that Aoi Rokushō was not among them.

• The Wasabi Family broke through the Wagarashi Clan's damaged front courtyard, and the clan head ordered his guards to resist while he sought help from Aoi Rokushō.
• The clan head found Aoi Rokushō's room empty and discovered two dead Mist Ninja genin in another room, confirming that the Mist Ninja had abandoned the Wagarashi Clan.
• A guard summoned the clan head back to the battle, but the clan head broke down and the guard fled, believing the clan was finished.
• Ueno Kei watched the Wasabi Family's attack from the Satomioka Mountains, then pursued two fleeing figures after his bell signaled their movement.
• Ueno Kei ambushed the two figures, cut one in half, and recognized the survivor as a Mist Ninja chunin, but wondered where Aoi Rokushō was.

Ueno Kei killed the Kirigakure chunin who had served as Aoi Rokushō’s decoy, then used his summoned lizard Shin to track Aoi. He caught up with Aoi and recognized the Sword of the Thunder God, and the two began a fight.

• Ueno Kei learned the Kirigakure chunin did not know Aoi Rokushō’s location and killed him.
• Ueno Kei summoned Shin, who said Hui and Ling had already found Aoi’s trail, and followed it.
• Aoi Rokushō left his hiding place at the Wagarashi Clan estate, hoping his decoys would delay Ueno Kei as he fled toward the Land of Tea’s border.
• Ueno Kei attacked Aoi from behind, but Aoi blocked the blow with the Sword of the Thunder God and fell to the ground.
• Aoi called for Ueno Kei’s presumed squad to reveal themselves, while Ueno recognized the sword and charged again.
• Aoi poured chakra into the Sword of the Thunder God and struck forward to block Ueno Kei’s attack.

Ueno Kei fought Aoi Rokushō, steadily overwhelming him despite the Sword of the Thunder God. After Aoi Rokushō tried to escape with a series of attacks, Ueno Kei killed him with Chidori, and Aoi Rokushō died believing he had fallen to Kakashi.

• Ueno Kei pressed his advantage, wounding Aoi Rokushō as Aoi struggled to defend himself with the Sword of the Thunder God.
• Aoi Rokushō feigned a suicidal attack to make Ueno Kei retreat, then threw kunai carrying Explosive Tags at him.
• Ueno Kei blocked the explosions with an Earth Wall and launched a Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, which Aoi Rokushō countered with a Water Wall.
• Ueno Kei appeared behind Aoi Rokushō and pierced his chest with Chidori.
• Aoi Rokushō died after mistakenly identifying Ueno Kei as Kakashi.

Ueno Kei killed Aoi Rokushō, sealed away his head and the Sword of the Thunder God, and left the burning Wagarashi compound. As Morino Idate returned to the Wasabi Family, Ueno Kei received orders not to contact him and withdrew instead.

• Ueno Kei took the Sword of the Thunder God, sealed it with Aoi Rokushō's head, and burned the corpse.
• Wasabi Jirocho surveyed the ruined Wagarashi compound and ordered the remaining Wagarashi family members killed.
• Morino Idate was disturbed by Wasabi Jirocho's decision, but returned to the Wasabi Family to stop the evacuation and bring back its people and supplies.
• Ueno Kei followed Morino Idate and prepared to capture him, but a Ninja Hawk delivered Konoha's Anbu order forbidding contact.
• Ueno Kei left Morino Idate alone and disappeared into the woods.

Team 7 traveled through the impoverished Land of Waves on a mission while Naruto and Sasuke argued. Kakashi reflected on Naruto’s unexpectedly strong combat skills and suspected Ueno Kei had trained him.

• The narration described how Gato’s control of the Land of Waves’ wealth had left its people in hardship under a timid daimyo.
• Naruto asked Kakashi to let the team attack more bandit hideouts, and Sasuke and Sakura rebuffed him.
• Kakashi urged the three Genin to behave like teammates in front of their client.
• Kakashi recalled that Naruto’s performance in their survival test and against two Chunin had exceeded his expectations.
• Kakashi attributed Naruto’s basic ninja training to Ueno Kei, while Sasuke began paying closer attention to Naruto.

Kakashi’s team encountered Zabuza, fought him, and reached Tazuna’s home after Kakashi was incapacitated. When Kakashi recovered, he warned the team that Zabuza might return and began their special training, while Ueno Kei arrived in the Land of Waves by ship.

• Kakashi warned Naruto and the others to duck as Zabuza’s blade flew toward them, then confronted Zabuza to protect Tazuna.
• Ueno Kei secretly left a merchant ship in the Land of Waves and headed inland toward Konoha.
• After Kakashi’s battle with Zabuza, Sasuke and Naruto carried the unconscious Kakashi to Tazuna’s home.
• Kakashi woke the next morning and told Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura that Zabuza might not be dead because an Anbu had taken his body away.
• Kakashi reassured Sakura that he expected to recover before Zabuza attacked again, then started special training for the team.

As Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura trained under Kakashi, Ueno Kei sensed a strange chakra-filled mist and went to investigate. He found Naruto’s team fighting rogue Mist Ninja, with Kakashi struggling against Momochi Zabuza and Raiga while Naruto and Sasuke were trapped and Sakura guarded Tazuna.

• Naruto and Sasuke trained hard, while Sakura advanced to water-walking practice.
• Kakashi discovered Naruto had wind-natured chakra and taught him two Wind Release ninjutsu.
• Ueno Kei sensed a suspicious Hidden Mist Technique and followed the sounds of battle nearby.
• Ueno Kei found Konoha ninja fighting rogue Mist Ninja and headed toward the clash with his Lingyu Blade drawn.
• Sakura protected Tazuna as Naruto and Sasuke struggled against a Mist Ninja, while Kakashi fought Zabuza and Raiga.
• Kakashi struggled to withstand the two swordsmen and considered using a dangerous jutsu.

Kakashi fought Zabuza and Raiga while Haku trapped Naruto and Sasuke inside Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals. As Raiga moved to attack Sakura, an unknown figure kicked him away and greeted Kakashi.

• Haku trapped Naruto and Sasuke in Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals as Kakashi faced Zabuza and Raiga.
• Zabuza and Raiga combined their Water and Lightning Releases, but Kakashi countered and charged them with Chidori.
• Kakashi pierced Raiga's right arm with Chidori, then retreated to avoid Zabuza's Executioner's Blade.
• Zabuza sent Raiga after Sakura while he held Kakashi back with Water Clones.
• Raiga nearly struck Sakura, but a figure appeared, kicked him away, and greeted Kakashi as his senpai.

Ueno Kei arrived during the battle and saved Haruno Sakura from Raiga, then prepared to fight him while Kakashi continued battling Zabuza. Naruto and Sasuke remained trapped in combat with Haku, leaving Kakashi’s hopes of a quick victory uncertain.

• Ueno Kei rushed in and kicked Raiga away before he could strike Haruno Sakura.
• Kakashi recognized Ueno Kei and understood from his hint that he had just returned from a mission.
• Ueno Kei told Haruno Sakura to stay put, then drew the Lingyu Blade and charged it with lightning.
• Raiga guarded against Ueno Kei’s attack after Zabuza warned him about the blade’s power.
• Kakashi and Zabuza continued their fierce fight as Kakashi worried about Naruto and Sasuke facing Haku.
• Ueno Kei dashed toward Raiga, and a childish voice warned Raiga to watch his left.

Ueno Kei outmaneuvered Raiga, using a shuriken swarm and lightning attack to seize Ranmaru. Raiga charged to rescue him and was struck by Ueno Kei’s Lightning Fist.

• Ueno Kei blocked Raiga’s surprise slash, realizing Raiga had been warned of the attack.
• Ueno Kei sent hundreds of shuriken at Raiga, who took wounds while protecting Ranmaru.
• Raiga formed a lightning barrier against Ueno Kei’s lightning strike, but Ueno Kei kicked him down and captured Ranmaru.
• Raiga charged Ueno Kei with a kunai after Ranmaru urged him to run.
• Ueno Kei punched Raiga and channeled chakra into his fist with Lightning Release—Lightning Fist.

Ueno Kei defeated Raiga and was about to kill him, but Haruno Sakura pleaded for his life. When ice shards struck Raiga and Ueno Kei sensed the Nine-Tails' chakra in the fog, he left Sakura with Ranmaru and rushed toward the fighting.

• Ueno Kei knocked Raiga down, and Ranmaru begged him to spare Raiga while Raiga refused to plead for his life.
• Ranmaru bit Ueno Kei's hand as Ueno Kei raised the Lingyu Blade, and Haruno Sakura intervened to argue that Raiga should be spared.
• Ueno Kei rebuked Sakura, but then shoved her aside and retreated as ice shards flew out of the fog and struck Raiga.
• Ueno Kei sensed the Nine-Tails' chakra in the fog and realized Naruto might be there.
• Ueno Kei tossed Ranmaru to Sakura and vanished into the fog, telling her to keep an eye on the boy.

Naruto and Sasuke struggled to survive Haku’s Ice Mirror technique and devised a plan to expose his real body, with Sasuke acting as bait. Haku launched another barrage as they combined their wind and fire techniques, and the chapter ended with their attack exploding against his assault.

• Naruto and Sasuke refused Haku’s offer to surrender and continued fighting inside the Ice Mirrors.
• Sasuke deduced that they had to identify Haku’s real body as he switched mirrors, since their attacks could not break the mirrors.
• Sasuke volunteered to draw Haku’s attention while Naruto prepared to strike at an opening.
• Haku reaffirmed his resolve to serve Zabuza and unleashed Thousand Soaring Strangulation.
• Naruto and Sasuke combined Wind Wave Technique and Great Fireball Technique, triggering a massive blast.

Naruto and Sasuke worked together to crack Haku’s Ice Mirror defense, and Sasuke awakened his Sharingan in the fight. After Haku knocked them both down and repaired the mirrors, their hidden plan detonated against him, leaving his condition unclear.

• Haku used Exploding Ice Crystals to destroy Naruto’s Shadow Clones, while Sasuke and Naruto filled the Ice Mirror enclosure with smoke using fire and wind attacks.
• Naruto’s Great Breakthrough cracked several Ice Mirrors, but Haku emerged from them and swiftly knocked Naruto and his clones down.
• Sasuke awakened his Sharingan, tracked Haku’s movements, and helped Naruto strike him by identifying the seventh mirror.
• Haku dodged Sasuke’s kunai and threw both Sasuke and Naruto aside, then returned to the Ice Mirrors and repaired them.
• Naruto and Sasuke’s hidden plan triggered a powerful explosion inside the mirrors, followed by a scream.

Sasuke took Naruto’s place in Haku’s ice-needle attack and appeared to die, causing Naruto to awaken a violent power. Naruto shattered Haku’s Ice Mirrors and mask, then recognized the person beneath it as an unknown big sister.

• Haku’s ice needles struck Sasuke as he shielded Naruto, and Sasuke collapsed with severe wounds.
• Naruto grieved over Sasuke as Haku prepared to attack him again.
• Naruto’s aura erupted with evil chakra, and he vowed to kill Haku.
• Naruto’s roar shattered Haku’s forming ice jutsu, and he smashed through the Ice Mirrors and Haku’s mask.
• Naruto froze when the revealed face belonged to an unknown big sister.

Naruto prepared to kill Haku to avenge Sasuke, but Ueno Kei arrived and stopped him after Haku tried to rush to Zabuza’s aid. Ueno Kei subdued Haku, who saw Zabuza through the thinning mist and cried out for him.

• Naruto hesitated before Haku, then resolved to avenge Sasuke and raised his kunai.
• Ueno Kei arrived, checked that Naruto was safe from the Nine-Tails, and learned that Haku had killed Sasuke.
• Ueno Kei told Naruto to proceed, but Haku knocked aside Naruto’s thrown kunai and rushed to help Zabuza.
• Ueno Kei caught Haku, disarmed him, and slammed him into the ground, leaving him numb and unable to move.
• As the mist began to clear, Haku saw Zabuza and cried out for him.

Kakashi killed Zabuza, and Haku died with him in a burst of ice. Naruto feared telling Sakura that Sasuke was dead, but Sasuke appeared alive, leaving Naruto in tears of relief as the group turned to check on Kakashi.

• Kakashi withdrew his hand from Zabuza's chest, and Zabuza collapsed as Haku cried out and crawled to him.
• Haku embraced Zabuza, declared he would follow him forever, and turned them both into ice that shattered into glittering shards.
• Naruto panicked when Sakura approached, then told her that Sasuke was dead.
• Sasuke appeared behind Sakura and corrected Naruto, saying he was badly injured but not dying.
• Naruto wept with relief, and Sasuke suggested they go see how Kakashi was doing.

After Haku and Zabuza died, Kakashi and the others prepared to return from the completed mission while confirming Raiga had also died. Kei left to handle other business, taking the captured Ranmaru with him.

• Naruto recovered from his tears, and he, Sasuke, and Sakura joined Kakashi and Kei as Haku and Zabuza's bodies froze and shattered.
• Kakashi praised the team's work and promised a meal, while Kei said he had subdued Raiga for interrogation.
• Sakura revealed that Raiga had taken his own life while she was supposed to guard him.
• Kei reassured Naruto, said he had another mission to attend to, and left with the captured Ranmaru.

Ueno Kei returned to Konoha after defeating Aoi Rokushō and delivering the man’s head and the Sword of the Thunder God. As he left the Anbu base, a Root operative summoned him to meet Shimura Danzō.

• Kakashi told Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke that Ueno Kei was a thirteen-year-old jōnin, and Sasuke reacted by thinking of the man he wanted to surpass.
• Kakashi worried about Sasuke’s brief flash of killing intent, then led the team in handling the mission’s aftermath.
• Ueno Kei returned to Konoha in less than a day and turned in Aoi Rokushō’s head and the Sword of the Thunder God.
• A Root operative told Ueno Kei that Shimura Danzō wanted to see him, and Ueno Kei narrowed his eyes.

Ueno Kei met Shimura Danzō in Root after Danzō summoned him and praised his recovery of the Sword of the Thunder God. Danzō had spent years investigating Kei and believed his ruthlessness and potential might make him a like-minded ally.

• Ueno Kei agreed to meet Shimura Danzō and followed a Root operative into Root’s underground facility.
• Ueno Kei entered Danzō’s room, greeted him respectfully, and felt uneasy under Danzō’s scrutiny.
• Shimura Danzō praised Ueno Kei for recovering the Sword of the Thunder God, a treasured Konoha weapon once wielded by Kei’s grandmaster.
• Shimura Danzō reflected that he had investigated Ueno Kei for years and saw in him the potential to share his ideals.