Chapter Summaries

Hatake Sakumo tested Ryōken’s swordsmanship and began training him to improve his chakra control, agility, and strength. Ryōken endured a punishing afternoon and left wearing weights that suppressed his chakra, ready to face harder training the next day.

• Ryōken used his unfinished Sword Drawing Technique to drive Hatake Sakumo back, and Sakumo praised his swordsmanship while pointing out his weak destructive power and lack of ninjutsu.
• Hatake Sakumo led Ryōken to a valley and explained that he would train by dodging swinging logs while balancing on posts treated with sticky and slippery liquids.
• Ryōken tried the exercise, but the changing surfaces disrupted his footing and a log struck him, sending him flying.
• Ryōken spent the afternoon repeating the training until Hatake Sakumo stopped him and revealed two heavy iron weights for him to wear at all times.
• Hatake Sakumo explained that the weights suppressed chakra flow, and Ryōken put them on, resolving to endure the training.

Ryōken completed Hatake Sakumo’s wooden-post training by using refined Sword Intent to evade the accelerating obstacles. Sakumo demonstrated the devastating power of White Fang and offered to teach Ryōken the move, leaving him eager to learn.

• Ryōken used the Duelist Eye and Sword Intent to dodge Hatake Sakumo’s accelerating wooden posts and finish the first stage of training.
• Hiwa Hyuga brought Ryōken food and praised his training, while Sakumo announced that the wooden-post exercise was complete.
• Hatake Sakumo showed Ryōken a Hatake Clan secret medicine intended to speed up the next stage of training.
• Sakumo unleashed his power with White Fang, cleaving through the waterfall and carving a deep mark into the mountain rock.
• ANBU ninja arrived, greeted Sakumo respectfully, and left after he waved them away.
• Hatake Sakumo asked Ryōken whether he wanted to learn the move.

Hatake Sakumo questioned Ryōken’s resolve, then taught him the Flash technique and assigned him waterfall training. Hiwa Hyuga applied an electrified medicinal liquid that accelerated and strengthened Ryōken’s chakra, though it caused him intense pain.

• Ryōken told Hatake Sakumo he wanted to control his fate and protect the people he cared about, and Sakumo shared his conviction to protect his comrades and village.
• Hatake Sakumo demonstrated his Blade Intent by slicing falling leaves, then created ten earthen pillars in the lake and set Ryōken’s training conditions for learning Flash.
• Hatake Sakumo gave Ryōken a scroll explaining Flash and a medicinal liquid for Hiwa Hyuga to apply to his body before leaving.
• Hiwa applied the liquid to Ryōken, causing him to convulse with pain before his chakra became faster, more abundant, and easier to control.
• Ryōken accepted another application of the liquid, and his howl echoed through the valley.

After four months of training under Hatake Sakumo, Ryōken mastered Fleeting Light and received the final test for joining ANBU: taking control of Konoha Prison’s prisoners. He arrived at the prison and prepared to address the rogue ninja held there.

• Ryōken used Fleeting Light to cut through the waterfall and damage the mountain rock, impressing Hatake Sakumo.
• Hatake Sakumo gave Ryōken the warden’s token and tasked him with making Konoha Prison’s prisoners obey, while warning him to stay inside the village because Tsuki Uchiha was dangerous.
• Ryōken went to Konoha Prison the next morning and used his Sword Intent to convince the guard that he was the new warden.
• Ryōken surveyed the roughly three hundred shackled prisoners, including nearly fifty Chunin, and planned to offer them a chance to earn redemption through military service.
• Ryōken shouted to draw the prisoners’ attention at the worksite.

Ryōken arrived at Konoha Prison and confronted the unruly prisoners after Honda Tadakatsu seized Morino Shingen. He overwhelmed them with his aura, forcing Honda to release Shingen and leaving the prisoners terrified.

• Ryōken arrived at the construction yard with Morino Shingen, drawing mockery from the prisoners and irritation from the Konoha guards.
• Honda Tadakatsu appeared, seized Morino Shingen, and declared that he made the rules in the prison.
• Ryōken warned Honda to release Shingen, but the prisoners laughed at him.
• Ryōken advanced while counting down, unleashing a terrifying aura that made prisoners collapse or lower their heads.
• Honda stepped back and released Morino Shingen, who noticed Sanada Yukimura had retreated and realized Ryōken’s strength had grown since winning the championship.

Ryōken defeated Honda Tadakatsu in a fistfight, then faced him again when Honda drew a hidden sword. The prisoners watched as Honda charged at the unarmed Ryōken.

• Honda Tadakatsu punched at Ryōken, but Ryōken blocked him and sent him flying with a single punch.
• Ryōken reflected that his defense, boosted by Garen's Courage, had absorbed Honda's strength and left him unharmed.
• Honda ordered a prisoner to fetch a hidden sword, and Morino Shingen awkwardly explained that it had likely been left after a prison riot.
• Honda drew the sword and charged at Ryōken, who stood empty-handed as the prisoners expected him to be cut down.

Ryōken subdued Honda Tadakatsu and took charge of the prisoners, but an assassin struck at him as he was being led to the warden’s office. The chapter left Ryōken facing a sudden attack from an enemy seeking revenge for Yu.

• Ryōken defeated Honda Tadakatsu with a single sword strike, shaving off his hair and cutting his sword in half.
• Honda Tadakatsu pledged his loyalty to Ryōken, then tried to kill himself when Ryōken rejected the pledge.
• Honda Tadakatsu explained that the Land of Iron’s daimyō had vanished, and Ryōken persuaded him to live in case the daimyō had descendants.
• Ryōken declared himself warden and ordered the prisoners to behave, while Honda Tadakatsu got them back to work.
• A Konoha ninja offered to lead Ryōken to the warden’s office, then attacked his neck with a kunai while thinking of avenging Yu.

Ryōken survived Asai Hane’s assassination attempt by activating Courage, and Asai Hane cloaked the prison grounds in dense mist to cover his escape and attacks. As Ryōken rallied the panicked survivors, he sensed the assassin approaching and prepared to counter him.

• Asai Hane’s kunai struck the barrier created by Ryōken’s Courage, saving Ryōken from a fatal wound.
• Morino Shingen fired a signal flare, and Asai Hane used the Hidden Mist Technique to shroud the area while the ANBU ninja hesitated to enter the chakra-laden fog.
• Asai Hane killed people in the mist, causing survivors to panic and scatter.
• Ryōken shouted for everyone to stop running and gather with nearby companions, while Honda Tadakatsu and Morino Shingen echoed his instructions.
• Asai Hane approached Ryōken with a kunai, but Ryōken sensed him through the Sword Intent he had spread around the area.

Ryōken fought Asai Hane, who trapped him with Water Binding Technique and unleashed an enhanced Water Shark Bullet after a breakthrough in Water Release. Ryōken countered with Rasengan but was struck by the shark’s remaining force and sent flying.

• Ryōken slashed Asai Hane, but Asai Hane escaped the apparent defeat with Water Clone Technique and bound Ryōken with Water Binding Technique.
• Asai Hane’s desperation and pride sharpened his understanding of Water-attribute chakra, and he believed he could become a jonin if he survived.
• Asai Hane launched a Water Shark Bullet strengthened by his new grasp of nature transformation, expecting it to overwhelm Ryōken.
• Ryōken sensed the danger through his Sword Intent, formed a Rasengan, and tore apart the shark’s head.
• The remaining water shark struck Ryōken with tremendous force and sent him flying.

Ryōken faced Asai Hane’s powerful Water Burial Technique as the ANBU ninja and the others took shelter behind an Earth Release wall. Ryōken unleashed Fleeting Light, split the flood apart, and killed Asai Hane, who died thinking he could not avenge Yu.

• Ryōken survived Asai Hane’s Water Shark Bullet and assessed the power of his hand-signless Rasengan.
• Asai Hane began preparing a nature-transformed Water Burial Technique, creating a vortex that drew in the mist and nearby people.
• An ANBU ninja recognized the B-rank technique and raised an Earth Flow Rampart, while Ryōken remained near the vortex.
• Asai Hane unleashed the Super Water Burial Technique, sending a massive flood sweeping toward Ryōken.
• Ryōken charged through the suction, used Fleeting Light to cleave the flood in two, and cut Asai Hane in half.

Hiruzen Sarutobi learned that Ryōken had killed Asai Hane and cut through a B-rank ninjutsu, astonishing Konoha. After recovering from the battle, Ryōken used his Superior Lottery and received Master Yi’s Wuju Way legacy.

• An ANBU ninja told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Ryōken had killed Asai Hane and likely grasped part of nature transformation.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi dismissed concerns about Hanzo the Demigod’s response, declaring that Konoha was protected by its strength and by him.
• Witnesses watched Ryōken’s sword strike split Water Burial and save them from the flood.
• Ryōken returned to his room, reflected on the battle and its rewards, and prepared to use his Superior Lottery.
• The system awarded Ryōken Master Yi, the Wuju Bladesman’s Wuju Way legacy.

Ryōken fused with the Highlander Bloodline, which transformed his body and granted him extraordinary coordination and sword aura. After a month of training brought his physical speed to Kage-level, an ANBU ninja summoned him to meet the Hokage.

• Ryōken received the Wuju Bladesman's Highlander Bloodline and endured its painful transformation, gaining precise body control and a foundation for greater physical strength.
• The next morning, Ryōken tested his Limitless Sword Aura in a forest, splitting a tree and a Konoha kunai with ease.
• Ryōken continued refining his training while Morino Shingen handled his prison duties, and he kept the Second Shinobi World War and Tsuki Uchiha in mind.
• Over nearly a month, Ryōken's physical speed reached Kage-level, while his strength and defense rose above elite jonin level.
• An ANBU ninja appeared and told Ryōken that the Hokage wished to see him.

Ryōken met with Hiruzen Sarutobi, who approved his transfer from genin to ANBU trainee, then arrived at ANBU’s underground headquarters to learn its facilities. Hiruzen and Hatake Sakumo also discussed the defeated Rain Ninja squad and Ryōken’s killing of the jonin-level Asai Hane.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi welcomed Ryōken to Konoha and gave him an application to join ANBU as a trainee.
• Hatake Sakumo reported that his squad had defeated the Rain Ninja sent by Hanzo to find Asai Hane.
• Hiruzen told Hatake Sakumo that Ryōken had killed Asai Hane, who had mastered nature transformation, and Sakumo reacted with surprise and pride.
• Ryōken entered ANBU’s underground headquarters and toured its mission room, training areas, scroll repository, sparring arena, and other facilities.

Ryōken began the ANBU official-member examination and tested his strength against a barrier. His punch shattered the barrier, leaving the reserves and examiners stunned.

• An ANBU ninja explained the organization’s ranks and examination stages to Ryōken, then gave him a mask and uniform.
• Ryōken reached the examination plaza and watched reserves test their strength against a barrier.
• Hyuga Setsuna struck the barrier and received a jonin-level result, though he was dissatisfied.
• Ryōken asked about the barrier’s limit, then punched it apart in front of the shocked onlookers.

Ryōken shattered the strength-test barrier and then stunned the ANBU with Kage-level speed, while Hyuga Setsuna tried to keep pace. After Setsuna completed the reaction test, Ryōken was left to take his turn.

• Ryōken dispersed the strength-test barrier with one punch and refused to pay for it.
• Hyuga Setsuna passed the speed test at elite jonin level and was invited to consider joining the Squad Leader’s squad.
• Ryōken sprinted so quickly that he left an afterimage, impressing the Squad Leader with speed nearly on par with his own.
• The Squad Leader brought the five remaining reserves to the reaction-test room, where Hyuga Setsuna volunteered first.
• Hyuga Setsuna dodged the stone pellets for one minute and was hit six times, then waited for Ryōken to try.

Ryōken earned extreme ratings in every part of the first ANBU assessment, then received a summons for the second stage in the Forest of Death. As the candidates gathered, most planned to avoid him, and the Squad Leader began explaining the scroll-based rules.

• Ryōken avoided every rock bullet without moving his feet and passed the physical test with an extreme rating.
• Ryōken easily cut through the ninjutsu barrier and passed the knowledge test, while Hyuga Setsuna also passed the first stage.
• Ryōken reunited with Hiwa Hyuga at Ichiraku Ramen, and she resolved to become stronger so she could stay by his side.
• Ryōken received a summons for the second-stage assessment and joined the other candidates at the ANBU gathering point.
• The First Squad captain led the candidates to the Forest of Death and explained that they would seek hidden scrolls, with each candidate already holding one.

Ryōken began the three-day ANBU assessment and summoned Little Wolf to help him track down the hidden contestants. He defeated two ninja who ambushed him and took their scrolls, then continued hunting.

• The Squad Leader announced that the assessment would last three days and that the three contestants with the most scrolls would pass, and Ryōken set out after the others scattered.
• Ryōken summoned Little Wolf, who agreed to track contestants in exchange for ramen.
• Ryōken and Little Wolf found two ninja fighting, and Ryōken demanded their scrolls.
• The two ninja attacked Ryōken with kunai and a Great Fireball Technique, but he cut through both attacks and wounded them.
• The two ninja handed Ryōken their scrolls, and he left while they watched in fear.

Ryōken and Little Wolf collected hidden scrolls before Ryōken defeated a three-man squad and took their scrolls. The ANBU observers watched him continue toward an unprecedented ultimate rating.

• Little Wolf found a scroll hidden in a tree crack, helping Ryōken collect another scroll.
• Ryōken encountered a three-man squad, deflected their kunai, and returned one carrying an Exploding Tag.
• The squad attacked with taijutsu and a combined water-and-lightning ninjutsu, but Ryōken split the twin dragons with Limitless Sword Aura.
• Ryōken used Alpha Strike to frighten the squad into surrendering their scrolls, then left with them.
• The ANBU observers discussed Ryōken's strength and considered that he might earn the first ultimate rating in history.

Ryōken defeated every reserve in the ANBU assessment and developed the early form of his own Sword Intent. As war loomed in the Land of Rain, Hiruzen Sarutobi declared Ryōken the first ninja to earn ultimate evaluations in both assessment rounds.

• Ryōken used Little Wolf to find every hidden scroll and defeated all the reserve candidates, including a Hyuga who relied on his Byakugan.
• After a day of fighting, Ryōken’s Sword Intent began to affect reality, astonishing the ANBU members who witnessed it.
• Hatake Sakumo reported to Hiruzen Sarutobi that war was about to break out in the Land of Rain, while Kumogakure and Kirigakure showed no signs of joining.
• An ANBU messenger told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Ryōken had defeated everyone and collected every scroll in the assessment.
• Hatake Sakumo explained that Ryōken’s result had disrupted plans to promote more ANBU members, and Hiruzen Sarutobi confirmed Ryōken had earned ultimate evaluations in both rounds.

After the assessment, Ryōken investigated his chakra affinities and studied ANBU records to strengthen his swordsmanship with ninjutsu principles. He left with plans to develop sword-based techniques, while Sakumo revealed that Ryōken’s third-round assessment would take place in the Land of Iron and fulfill an old promise.

• Hiruzen asked Sakumo whether he had chosen Ryōken’s third-round assessment, and Sakumo said it would be a mission in the Land of Iron that would settle an old promise.
• Ryōken requested chakra paper and discovered that his chakra had lightning, fire, and water attributes.
• Ryōken considered how the Lightning Release Body Forging Technique could complement his Highlander Bloodline and increase his speed and physical strength.
• Ryōken entered the ANBU scroll storage room, found the Shadow Clone scroll, and began studying ninjutsu and nature-transformation notes.
• Ryōken resolved to develop sword-based ninjutsu, distinguishing pure swordsmanship from techniques that used the sword to wield other powers.