Chapter Summaries

Ryōken defeated Mifune in the Samurai Tournament and earned the chance to enter the Land of Iron’s Secret Pavilion. After Ryōken left, Yamamoto spoke with Hatake Sakumo about an old debt and warned the Kumogakure and Iwagakure representatives before offering Sakumo limited help with his withdrawal.

• Ryōken’s Sky Scorching Flames overwhelmed Mifune, but Yamamoto cut through the flaming sword and saved him before declaring Ryōken the winner.
• Yamamoto awarded Ryōken an opportunity to enter the Secret Pavilion, and Ryōken left the venue as the crowd watched.
• A samurai restrained himself from revealing that Ryōken was a Konoha ninja and vowed to avenge Qing Zang.
• Yamamoto and Hatake Sakumo discussed the Hatake Clan’s old debt to the samurai, then Yamamoto warned Hakuto and Burabi to remember they were in the Land of Iron’s capital.
• Yamamoto told Hatake Sakumo he hoped he had a proper withdrawal route and that he could help only this much.

Ryōken entered the Land of Iron’s underground Secret Pavilion, where General Yamamoto showed him the samurai’s ancient research and granted him three days to study. Ryōken agreed to leave behind the method for his fire-style sword technique as payment, and began exploring the collection.

• Ryōken followed a samurai through heavily guarded underground passages to the Secret Pavilion, where General Yamamoto was waiting.
• Yamamoto opened the iron gate with a concealed mechanism and led Ryōken inside the samurai’s sacred archive.
• Yamamoto explained that the books recorded generations of samurai research into the natural energy filling the world, and said Hashirama Senju had once visited the Pavilion.
• Yamamoto granted Ryōken three days to study the books, longer than previous tournament winners, but forbade him from taking any outside.
• Ryōken agreed to leave behind the method for using his fire-style sword technique, and Yamamoto thanked him on behalf of the samurai.

After studying the Secret Pavilion’s research, Ryōken mastered his chakra nature transformation and prepared to return to Konoha as the Second Shinobi World War began. Before he left, Tetsuki kissed him and said she would wait for him, while Ryōken considered the coming fight with Tsuki Uchiha.

• Ryōken studied natural energy research, swordsmanship theories, and chakra nature transformation in the Secret Pavilion.
• Ryōken completed his chakra transformation, became a true jonin, and advanced his elemental swordsmanship, including Heavenly Lightning Slash and fire-style techniques.
• Ryōken wondered whether mastering the rules behind the five basic attributes could create power beyond ordinary ninjutsu.
• Tetsuki asked whether Ryōken was returning to Konoha, and he explained that the war had begun and the village needed him.
• Tetsuki kissed Ryōken and told him she would wait for him before leaving the training ground.
• Ryōken prepared to face Tsuki Uchiha and reflected on the power and secret techniques of bloodline clans.

Ryōken departed the Land of Iron for Konoha with Sarutobi Shinsuke's Seventh Squad, while Tetsuki chose not to see him off. Hatake Sakumo revealed that Konoha's ANBU had ambushed enemy forces, but admitted Ryōken's group might still encounter gaps in their cover.

• Sarutobi Shinsuke introduced himself, Amano Fū, and Akimichi Torifu as members of the Seventh Squad assigned to escort Ryōken back to Konoha.
• Sarutobi Shinsuke ordered the squad to leave immediately and asked Amano Fū and Akimichi Torifu to look after the newcomer.
• Tetsuki refused Tian Jing's offer to see Ryōken off, saying it would make parting harder.
• Hakuto pointed out that the ANBU forces in the capital had dwindled, but Hatake Sakumo remained calm and said they would wait and see.
• Yamamoto asked whether Ryōken would be safe, and Hatake Sakumo admitted that the outcome depended on Ryōken and his squad.

Ryōken’s squad was ambushed near the Land of Fire border and trapped inside a massive earth prison maintained by an Iwagakure ANBU unit. The formation began compressing around them, leaving Sarutobi Shinsuke and the others unable to break free.

• Ryōken’s squad traveled through the Land of Iron in a protective formation and approached the Land of Fire without encountering enemies.
• Ryōken noticed the area was unnaturally quiet and warned the others moments before the ground collapsed beneath them.
• An Iwagakure ANBU unit trapped the squad inside the Earth Prison Killing Formation, a sealed earthen sphere.
• Sarutobi Shinsuke’s Wind Release: Beast Wave Gale Palm failed to crack the sphere, and the Iwagakure ANBU Squad Leader began compressing it.
• Ryōken, Sarutobi Shinsuke, Akimichi Torifu, and Amano Fū gathered inside the shrinking prison, unable to break through.

Ryōken took action when his team was trapped inside a massive earth sphere, and he split the prison apart with Heavenly Lightning Slash. His attack also killed an Iwagakure ANBU outside, though powerful enemies still awaited the team.

• Sarutobi Shinsuke blamed himself for leading the team into an enemy ambush, while Amano Fū and Akimichi Torifu despaired of escaping the earth sphere.
• Akimichi Torifu prepared to take the Akimichi Clan's Red Pepper Pill and sacrifice himself to break through the prison.
• Ryōken offered to act, and Sarutobi Shinsuke convinced the others to give him a chance.
• Ryōken found a chakra-rich weak point, drew Starry Night, and unleashed Heavenly Lightning Slash.
• Ryōken split the earth sphere in two and killed an Iwagakure ANBU with the attack.

Ryōken destroyed an Iwagakure earth prison with one sword strike, then faced the remaining Stone Ninja and cut through their coordinated water-and-lightning attack. He charged toward the enemy squad, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Ryōken shattered the Earth Prison Killing Formation with a single sword strike, killing one Iwagakure ANBU and injuring the others.
• Sarutobi Shinsuke and his companions followed Ryōken out of the collapsing earthen sphere and faced the remaining Iwagakure ANBU.
• The Iwagakure Squad Leader dismissed Ryōken’s team and claimed they would not escape, while Ryōken walked forward alone and told his companions not to interfere.
• The Iwagakure squad combined water and lightning ninjutsu with an earth technique to trap and attack Ryōken.
• Ryōken used Starry Night to unleash a fiery sword strike that vaporized the torrent and scattered the lightning.
• Ryōken charged across the battlefield toward the Iwagakure squad.

Ryōken overwhelmed an Iwagakure ANBU squad with his swordsmanship and advanced toward their jonin, leaving the battle in his favor after trapping the squad in his Frozen Domain.

• Ryōken cut through the Iwagakure shinobi’s ninjutsu and charged at the four ANBU, while Sarutobi Shinsuke ordered his squad to guard the perimeter.
• Ryōken shattered the Squad Leader’s Mountain Soil Technique with a ring of Sword Qi and pursued a retreating jonin.
• Ryōken used Fleeting Light to pass through the Water Dragon Bullet Technique and close in on the jonin.
• Two Iwagakure ANBU attacked Ryōken’s path with Earth and Lightning Dragon Bullet Techniques to protect their teammate.
• Ryōken activated Frozen Domain, slowing the Iwagakure ANBU and weakening both dragon techniques with frost.

Ryōken used the Frozen Domain to overpower and kill the Iwagakure jonin, while Starry Night absorbed one victim’s soul and grew stronger. The Iwagakure Squad Leader escaped the domain, and Ryōken withdrew it before preparing to face him with his remaining chakra.

• Ryōken caught up to an Iwagakure jonin inside the Frozen Domain, but the man’s Super Hardening Technique initially withstood his Sword Qi.
• Ryōken cut through the jonin’s armor with Limitless Sword Aura and killed him, then Starry Night absorbed his soul through Soul Siphon Strike.
• Ryōken slaughtered the other Iwagakure jonin as the domain slowed their movements and restricted their ninjutsu.
• The Iwagakure Squad Leader escaped while his comrades held Ryōken back, then watched him kill the last jonin.
• Ryōken withdrew the Frozen Domain because of its limited range and heavy chakra cost, and prepared to face the Squad Leader cautiously.

Ryōken faced the Iwagakure Squad Leader, who summoned a Stone Giant with an S-rank forbidden technique. Ryōken summoned the Ancient Stone Beetle, which crushed the giant and killed the Squad Leader.

• The Iwagakure Squad Leader blamed Senju Gen's death for his squad's defeat and formed hand seals as the icy mist dissipated.
• The Squad Leader used Earth Release: Stone Giant Technique to create a giant and charged at Ryōken.
• Ryōken summoned the Ancient Stone Beetle to meet the Stone Giant.
• The Stone Giant struck the beetle with an Added-Weight Rock Technique, but the beetle remained unmoved.
• The Ancient Stone Beetle leapt into the air and crushed the Stone Giant, killing the Iwagakure Squad Leader.

Ryōken defeated an Iwagakure ANBU squad and returned to Konoha with Sarutobi Shinsuke and the others. Konoha ANBU mistakenly credited the victory to an unknown Kage-level expert called Tian Ling, while Hakuto withdrew his forces.

• Ryōken summoned the Stone Beetle to crush the rock giant, wiping out the Iwagakure ANBU squad.
• Sarutobi Shinsuke and the other two recognized Ryōken's strength, then helped clean up the battlefield and followed him back to Konoha.
• Hatake Sakumo's ANBU squad found the ruined battlefield and suspected that a powerful Konoha ninja had killed the Iwagakure ANBU.
• Hakuto arrived, judged the battle too risky, and ordered the Iwagakure ANBU to retreat.
• Ryōken handed the captured heads to Konoha's ANBU mission room, where the staff were shocked and attributed the victory to an expert named Tian Ling.

After returning to Konoha, Ryōken drew the Wind Swordsman Yasuo’s inheritance and began testing its sword technique. An ANBU ninja then summoned him to meet Hiruzen Sarutobi about the Iwagakure squad he had killed.

• Ryōken returned to his spotless room and used his Superior Lottery chance to obtain Yasuo’s Wind Style Swordsmanship and the skill Live to Die, which increased the power of each sword strike exponentially.
• Ryōken went to a deep pool in Konoha’s back mountain and practiced swinging his sword underwater to test the new technique.
• Ryōken reflected on the God Tree and Kaguya Otsutsuki as he considered the possibility of immortality.
• An ANBU ninja told Ryōken that Lord Hokage had summoned him, and Ryōken used precise chakra control to dry his clothes before leaving.

Hiruzen Sarutobi used Ryōken’s duel with Tsuki Uchiha to secure a list of Uchiha ninjas for the front lines and considered how to protect Ryōken. After learning of Ryōken’s strength, Hiruzen agreed that he could view the Scroll of Seals in exchange for his swordsmanship, leaving Ryōken to weigh the consequences.

• Uchiha Keizan argued with Hiruzen Sarutobi over the duel between Tsuki Uchiha and Ryōken, then gave Hiruzen a scroll listing Uchiha clansmen for the front lines.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi revealed that he had used the dispute to rein in the Uchiha Clan and planned to protect Ryōken if he could remain undefeated against Tsuki Uchiha.
• ANBU brought Ryōken to Hiruzen, and Hatake Sakumo asked whether Hiruzen had sent an expert to meet Ryōken at the border.
• Hiruzen explained that Ryōken had summoned the expert himself, astonishing both Hiruzen and Hatake Sakumo with his strength at age eleven.
• Hatake Sakumo asked Hiruzen to let Ryōken view the Scroll of Seals, and Hiruzen agreed if Ryōken exchanged his swordsmanship for access.
• Ryōken considered the consequences of sharing his swordsmanship and silently laughed.

Ryōken recorded his Fire and Lightning Release swordsmanship insights in Konoha’s Scroll of Seals, then spent two days studying its techniques. He left with a wealth of knowledge and began writing down key details at home.

• Ryōken agreed to record his swordsmanship insights, easing Hatake Sakumo’s concern that he would clash with Konoha’s leaders.
• After three days of organizing his knowledge, Ryōken accompanied Hiruzen Sarutobi to the Scroll of Seals and wrote down his insights under the elders’ watch.
• Ryōken’s review advanced his Fire Release swordsmanship to major mastery, and he signed his name and the year on the scroll.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Ryōken two days to study the Scroll of Seals, and Ryōken focused on techniques he wanted to learn.
• The elders collected the scrolls when time ran out, and Ryōken returned home and recorded key knowledge from memory.

Ryōken studied the Scroll of Seals and experimented with combining wind and water chakra, using the soul power in Starry Night to produce a brief, unstable Ice Release. He left the experiment planning to seek the Haku Yuki Clan’s knowledge and preparing to face Tsuki Uchiha.

• Ryōken focused his study of the Scroll of Seals on the principles behind the First and Second Hokage’s techniques.
• Ryōken tested his chakra affinities and tried to fuse wind and water chakra through Starry Night.
• Starry Night’s soul power briefly balanced the chakra and formed Ice Release, but the fusion became unstable and froze the pool and half the waterfall.
• Ryōken concluded that he needed more soul power and Ice Release knowledge, and considered the Haku Yuki Clan as a future source.
• Ryōken prepared for his coming fight with Tsuki Uchiha and used fourteen Skill Points to max out Tenacity, leaving six points unused.

After two months of training, Ryōken had refined his swordsmanship and entered Konoha with Hiwa, where villagers doubted his chances against Tsuki Uchiha. The chapter ended as Ryōken arrived at the Valley of the End for their life-or-death duel.

• Ryōken trained under the pool’s water pressure for two months, mastering Steel Flash and integrating his skills while his fused swordsmanship remained limited by his lack of soul power.
• Ryōken and Hiwa walked through Konoha as villagers pitied him for challenging Tsuki Uchiha, then stopped at a dango shop where the owner gave them a free treat because he expected Ryōken to die.
• The next day, Ryōken arrived at the Valley of the End, where the Third Hokage, Uchiha Keizan, ANBU, and Uchiha ninja had gathered to watch the duel.
• Tsuki Uchiha met Ryōken with killing intent, while Amano Fū asked Sarutobi Shinsuke about his bet and he confidently backed Ryōken.

Ryōken fought Tsuki Uchiha in a duel to the death, overcoming his fireball, sword strike, and Sharingan genjutsu with his swordsmanship and sword intent. Ryōken launched a sudden attack, forcing Tsuki Uchiha to unleash the power sealed in his blade as the fight reached a critical moment.

• Ryōken charged Tsuki Uchiha and split his Fireball Jutsu with a slash of Sword Qi.
• Tsuki Uchiha used a Shadow Clone to evade Ryōken’s strike, then caught him in a Sharingan genjutsu.
• Ryōken broke the genjutsu with his sword intent and damaged Tsuki Uchiha’s short blade in their clash.
• Ryōken activated Alpha Strike and vanished, catching Tsuki Uchiha off guard.
• Tsuki Uchiha strained his Sharingan to track Ryōken and activated the power sealed in his chipped ninja blade.

Ryōken and Tsuki Uchiha exchanged powerful attacks, with Ryōken blocking Tsuki’s explosive sword strike using Steel Flash and Tenacity. Ryōken then unleashed Sky Scorching Flames, and Tsuki countered with a combination of Water Release and Lightning Release as the battle continued.

• Ryōken used Steel Flash to split Tsuki Uchiha’s exploding ninja sword beam, then activated Tenacity to withstand the shattered fragments.
• Tsuki Uchiha retreated from Ryōken, while the watching Uchiha and ANBU ninja reacted with shock to Ryōken’s light armor and Tsuki’s failed attack.
• Ryōken acknowledged Tsuki’s strength and brought down Sky Scorching Flames in the form of a massive flaming sword.
• Tsuki Uchiha created a Shadow Clone and combined Great Waterfall Technique with Thundercloud Technique to send a lightning-charged torrent against Ryōken’s flames.

Ryōken defeated Tsuki Uchiha after using Tempestuous Gale Slash to evade his S-rank lightning technique and strike him at blinding speed. Hiruzen Sarutobi left impressed by Ryōken’s new technique and wondered how to make him reveal it.

• Tsuki Uchiha used Lightning Release: Heavenly Thunder Nine Strikes to call down a bolt of lightning at Ryōken.
• Ryōken evaded the lightning with Tempestuous Gale Slash and rode the wind up to Tsuki Uchiha.
• Ryōken struck Tsuki Uchiha three times, killing him and sending his body falling to the ground.
• Uchiha Keizan suppressed his urge to intervene, ordered a clansman to handle Tsuki Uchiha’s corpse, and left.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi considered how Ryōken might have developed the technique and how he could make him hand it over.

After killing Tsuki Uchiha, Ryōken returned to Konoha and spent a relaxing evening with Hiwa and friends. The next morning, he received an emergency mission as the Second Shinobi World War intensified and Konoha’s available forces fell short.

• ANBU members recognized Ryōken as Tian Ling after he defeated Tsuki Uchiha, and the Uchiha clan respected him for winning their duel.
• Ryōken reflected on how the fight had helped him understand wind-based flight and speed, then returned to Konoha to awed attention.
• Ryōken and Hiwa walked through Konoha, where Sarutobi Shinsuke, Amano Fū, and Akimichi Torifu invited them to eat barbecue.
• An ANBU ninja woke Ryōken with a sealed scroll and told him to leave immediately for an emergency mission.
• Ryōken departed Konoha at once after learning that Hiruzen Sarutobi had sent for him because the war had strained Konoha’s forces.