Chapter Summaries

Yuhi Shinku's team prepared to escort a hunted Sunagakure spy back to Konoha, traveling cautiously toward the Land of Rivers. At Tuyuan City, Shinku split the team so Sarutobi Asuma and Kawaki Aoba could enter in disguise and scout the route.

• Yuhi Shinku refused the caravan leader's extra payment and reunited with his disciples, explaining that Yuhi Kurenai had pretended to be ill so he could leave and meet them.
• Shinku told the team their mission was to protect a spy carrying intelligence from Sunagakure, then warned Kawaki Aoba to overcome his hesitation in battle.
• The wounded spy arrived, warned that Sunagakure's pursuers were close, and Shinku ordered everyone to prepare for battle.
• Shinku's team rested in shifts, then traveled cautiously for several days and reached Tuyuan City in the Land of Rivers.
• Shinku split the team: Sarutobi Asuma and Kawaki Aoba disguised themselves as wandering orphans and entered the city to gather intelligence, while Shinku and Inoue Yuki took another route to the rendezvous point.

Sarutobi Asuma and Kawaki Aoba joined a merchant caravan bound for the Land of Wind after agreeing to prove their worth by dealing with desert raiders. As they traveled, they discovered the caravan held many disguised fighters, and Yuhi Shinku introduced them to the samurai Tianshui Jugo, who would assist with the escort mission.

• Sarutobi Asuma and Kawaki Aoba met Yuhi Shinku and Inoue Yuki outside Tuyuan City, then continued toward the Land of Wind.
• Sarutobi Asuma and Kawaki Aoba asked to join a merchant caravan, and its leader challenged them to defeat nearby desert raiders before waiving the entry fee.
• Sarutobi Asuma and Kawaki Aoba noticed that many caravan members were hired fighters, including disguised ninja and ronin.
• Sarutobi Asuma and Kawaki Aoba recognized Yuhi Shinku among the caravan guards and questioned the samurai traveling with him.
• Yuhi Shinku introduced the samurai as Mr. Tianshui Jugo, who would help complete the escort mission.

Kawaki Aoba joined Yuhi Shinku’s dangerous mission to the Land of Wind, where the team traveled with a suspicious caravan to Dahu City. The three young ninja reached the city and headed toward their contact, aware that they were being watched and that the mission had only begun.

• Yuhi Shinku questioned Tianshui Jugo about his past, but the samurai dismissed the rumors and refused to discuss his background.
• Kawaki Aoba and Sarutobi Asuma noticed that the caravan’s ninja and ronin kept their distance from one another and suspected trouble.
• Kawaki Aoba, Sarutobi Asuma, and Yuhi Kurenai reached Dahu City and discussed the dangers of their mission to retrieve a spy and monitor the Land of Wind.
• The three ninja entered the city and headed toward a tavern in the south, while Yuhi Kurenai noticed several people watching them.
• Yuhi Shinku confirmed that Kawaki Aoba had volunteered for the dangerous mission, warned him to value his life, and set off with him.

Yuhi Shinku led Kawaki Aoba and Yuhi Kurenai on a mission that began as a search for a spy but shifted to escorting supplies through the Land of Rivers. They delivered the supplies safely to the Land of Fire border and completed the mission.

• Yuhi Shinku set out with Kawaki Aoba and Yuhi Kurenai to retrieve a spy near the Land of Wind.
• The team found the spy fighting Sand ninja and joined him after he defeated several attackers with his Black Sword Slash.
• Yuhi Shinku explained that the team’s mission was to escort supplies to a border town in the Land of Rivers, a lawless region caught between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind.
• The team reached a ruined town, collected the supplies from men in black at a shrine, and departed for the Land of Fire border.
• Yuhi Shinku and his team returned safely, handed the supplies to Konoha ninja, and completed the mission.

After returning from a dangerous mission in the Land of Rivers, Kawaki Aoba and his team learned that Orochimaru had attacked the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. The chapter then followed a separate patrol team safely crossing back into the Land of Fire before showing Hiruzen watching Kawaki excel in a training exercise.

• Yuhi Shinku warned Kawaki Aoba and the others that the Land of Rivers was politically dangerous after they completed their mission.
• On their return to Konoha, Kawaki Aoba and his team heard that Orochimaru had assassinated Sarutobi Hiruzen, then went to the Hokage Building and saw Hiruzen injured and being treated.
• Sarutobi Asuma, Yuhi Kurenai, Yuhi Shinku, and Kawaki Aoba rested during a night patrol and continued toward the Land of Fire border.
• The patrol team reached the border at sunrise, confirmed their identities with the guards, and returned to the Land of Fire.
• During a timed exercise on Kage Rock, Kawaki Aoba kept pace with Sarutobi Asuma and Yuhi Kurenai despite being blind.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen watched the exercise and praised Kawaki Aoba's exceptional talent, while Yuhi Shinku agreed that Kawaki had great potential.

After Kawaki Aoba and his teammates completed an exercise, Yuhi Shinku led them toward the Land of Rivers to investigate ruins tied to a powerful ancient ninjutsu. They survived an ambush by the Black Fiend Gang and continued toward a castle, where Yuhi Shinku took responsibility for the night watch.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen praised Kawaki Aoba's performance, then told him, Sarutobi Asuma, and Yuhi Kurenai to rest after the exercise.
• Yuhi Shinku explained that the Land of Rivers was dangerous and that their mission was to investigate ruins potentially connected to a powerful ancient ninjutsu.
• Yuhi Shinku led Kawaki Aoba, Yuhi Kurenai, and Hyuga Hinata into the Land of Rivers, where the Black Fiend Gang ambushed them.
• Yuhi Shinku defeated the gang members and led the team onward through desert and rugged mountains toward a distant castle.
• Kawaki Aoba offered to share the night watch, but Yuhi Shinku declined and said he would keep watch himself.

Yuhi Shinku guarded Kawaki Aoba, Sarada, and Boruto Uzumaki overnight, discovered the mission might involve Akatsuki, and defeated an attacker. Later, he led Sarutobi Asuma, Kawaki Aoba, and Yamashiro Aoba across the border toward the Land of Rain and began preparing a disguise for their mission targeting the Daimyo of the Land of Wind.

• Yuhi Shinku let Kawaki Aoba, Sarada, and Boruto Uzumaki rest while he took the night watch, then found a warning about Akatsuki on the mission scroll.
• A masked attacker ambushed the group, but Yuhi Shinku used Ice Release to defeat him.
• Yuhi Shinku later led Sarutobi Asuma, Kawaki Aoba, and Yamashiro Aoba through the night toward the Land of Rivers and crossed into it before sunrise.
• Yuhi Shinku explained that they were heading toward the Daimyo of the Land of Wind near the Land of Rain and planned to infiltrate by disguising Sarutobi Asuma and Kawaki Aoba as wandering orphans.
• Yuhi Shinku and Yamashiro Aoba gathered disguise materials, and Yuhi Shinku transformed Sarutobi Asuma and Kawaki Aoba into convincing-looking orphans.

Sarutobi Asuma and Kawaki Aoba investigated Tuyuan City while disguised as brothers selling medicinal herbs, seeking a mysterious organization in the Land of Rain. They uncovered rumors about powerful rogue shinobi planning something, then returned to the inn to plan how to approach the group.

• Yuhi Shinku split the team in Tuyuan City, sending Sarutobi Asuma and Kawaki Aoba to investigate the Daimyo of the Land of Wind while he and Yamashiro Aoba prepared supplies.
• Sarutobi Asuma and Kawaki Aoba found the Daimyo in a hidden cave, but a mysterious cloaked man with red eyes confronted them and overwhelmed their attacks.
• Yuhi Shinku and Yamashiro Aoba arrived to support Sarutobi Asuma and Kawaki Aoba as the confrontation with the mysterious man continued.
• Sarutobi Asuma and Kawaki Aoba later entered Tuyuan City disguised as brothers from the Land of Rain and rented rooms at an inn.
• Sarutobi Asuma questioned patrons at a tea house and learned that a secretive group of powerful rogue shinobi was active in the Land of Rain and planning something big.
• Sarutobi Asuma and Kawaki Aoba returned to the inn and discussed how to get close to the mysterious organization without acting rashly.

Asuma and Aoba investigated a mysterious organization’s recruitment site, then the story shifted to Asuma training Aoba on a caravan journey to the Land of Wind. After arriving in Sunagakure, they disguised themselves as wandering ninja to gather intelligence under the Hokage’s orders.

• Asuma sent Aoba and an informant to investigate the organization, and both confirmed it was recruiting at a heavily guarded abandoned temple outside the city.
• Asuma and Aoba sought an escort job on Fortune Street, then joined Boss Li’s caravan by leaving a valuable pendant as collateral.
• Asuma and Aoba protected the caravan through desert storms and wild-beast attacks, defeating a massive sand scorpion together.
• The caravan reached a border town in the Land of Wind, where Asuma and Aoba parted from the grateful travelers.
• Asuma and Aoba disguised themselves as wandering ninja and entered Sunagakure to gather intelligence on the Hokage’s orders.

Sarutobi Asuma and Kawaki Aoba infiltrated Sunagakure by joining a caravan, gathered intelligence about a secret ninjutsu project, and entered the research base. The story then shifted to another caravan, where they recognized suspicious signs and followed Yuhi Shinku into a valley as he ordered everyone to prepare for battle.

• Sarutobi Asuma defeated the caravan leader in a duel, allowing him and Kawaki Aoba to join the caravan headed for Sunagakure.
• Sarutobi Asuma and Kawaki Aoba presented forged identification at Sunagakure’s gates and entered the village.
• Sarutobi Asuma and Kawaki Aoba learned Sunagakure was secretly researching a powerful new ninjutsu and located its research base.
• Sarutobi Asuma and Kawaki Aoba evaded patrols, entered the palace using forged identification, and opened a sealed chamber.
• Kawaki Aoba warned Asuma that their caravan had suspicious members and was following a concealed route, including an experienced Jonin in disguise.
• Yuhi Shinku led the caravan to a valley entrance and ordered everyone to prepare for battle.

Kawaki Aoba and Asuma helped Yuhi Shinku break a caravan free from an ambush, then continued their mission across the desert. After finding the Eye of the Oasis and preparing for bandit attacks, they were confronted by the bandit gang, and the chapter ended as battle began.

• Kawaki Aoba and Asuma fought alongside Yuhi Shinku to break the caravan through an enemy encirclement.
• Kawaki Aoba used Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence to trap the pursuers, allowing Yuhi Shinku and Asuma to lead the caravan to safety.
• Asuma and Kawaki Aoba discovered that someone had tampered with the caravan's water and followed the old guide's directions to find the Eye of the Oasis.
• Asuma and Kawaki Aoba reached the oasis, replenished their supplies, and prepared traps and observation points against possible bandit attacks.
• A bandit gang confronted Asuma and Kawaki Aoba at the oasis, and the two fought back using the terrain.

Sarutobi Asuma and Kawaki Aoba infiltrated Sunagakure to rescue a captive spy, using Yamashiro Aoba’s map and Asuma’s disguise to enter the village. After refusing a wounded wandering ninja’s request to join them, they traveled through dangerous wilderness and reached a town, where Kawaki asked to go out for a walk.

• Sarutobi Asuma, Kawaki Aoba, and Yuhi Kurenai arrived in Dahu City and met Yamashiro Aoba at the Land of Wind Teahouse to plan their infiltration using his detailed Sunagakure map.
• Yamashiro Aoba guided Asuma, Kawaki Aoba, and Yuhi Kurenai around patrols to Sunagakure’s outskirts, then left them to proceed alone.
• Asuma transformed into a Sunagakure local and passed the gate guards, allowing Kawaki and Kurenai to enter the village with him.
• Asuma refused to let a wounded wandering ninja join their mission, explaining that the journey was too dangerous and that he had to look after Kawaki.
• Asuma and Kawaki traveled through a forest, fought beasts and rogue ninja, and eventually reached a town after a day on the road.
• At the inn, Kawaki told Asuma that he wanted to go out for a walk.

Kawaki Aoba bought shuriken and fought a masked man who wanted his Sharingan until Sarutobi Asuma intervened. Yuhi Shinku returned to Konoha with Yuhi Kurenai after pretending she was ill, then met Kakashi, who asked him and Might Guy to join a private mission to Sunagakure.

• Kawaki Aoba bought ten shuriken, but a masked man ambushed him and demanded his Sharingan.
• Kawaki Aoba used his Sharingan to gain the advantage, and Sarutobi Asuma arrived to battle the attacker, leaving the masked man motionless after their clash.
• Yuhi Shinku left the caravan with Yuhi Kurenai, who had pretended to be sick because she feared for her father's safety.
• Yuhi Shinku reported the failed mission to Sarutobi Hiruzen, who accepted his explanation and let him go home with Yuhi Kurenai.
• Might Guy brought Hatake Kakashi to Yuhi Shinku's home, where Kakashi asked them to help investigate Sunagakure on a private mission.
• Yuhi Kurenai stopped Yuhi Shinku from telling Might Guy that her illness had been staged, and he said she had merely caught a cold.

Kawaki Aoba joined Yuhi Shinku’s group and used his heightened perception to detect Sunagakure spies waiting along their route. After Aoba killed the lone spy and took his scroll, Shinku attacked the approaching tracking squad.

• Yuhi Shinku delayed the group’s departure while waiting for his talented new disciple, Kawaki Aoba, and Kakashi grew close to the household.
• Aoba argued with Sarutobi Asuma that sacrificing ordinary objects would grant him power, revealing his determination to surpass everyone.
• Aoba sensed a Sunagakure spy and a tracking squad surrounding the group, then advised Shinku to eliminate the spy first.
• Aoba used the Body Flicker Technique to ambush the spy, break his wrist, strike his throat, and take the scroll from his waist.
• Yuhi Shinku attacked the approaching tracking squad and cut the first Sunagakure ninja across the shoulder.

Yuhi Shinku ambushed Kawaki Aoba and stabbed him before escaping with his clone, then divided his squad and sent Aoba to track the Sunagakure ninja alone. Aoba detected an enemy and began fighting him, ending the chapter in the midst of their clash.

• Yuhi Shinku used his clone as a decoy and ambushed Kawaki Aoba, stabbing him before retreating with his team.
• Yuhi Shinku split his squad and assigned Kawaki Aoba to lead the pursuit using his sensory abilities.
• Kawaki Aoba sensed the Sunagakure squad seven kilometers away, then detected faint Chakra fluctuations from another direction.
• Kawaki Aoba found a Sunagakure shinobi hiding nearby and attacked after the enemy blocked his kunai with sand.
• The Sunagakure shinobi formed a sand snake and shield, and Kawaki Aoba continued fighting him.

Kawaki Aoba defeated a Sunagakure ninja while Qingban delivered intelligence to Yuhi Shinku, who was ambushed at the Golden Willow Inn. The story then shifted to Shinku fighting three Sunagakure ninja in a valley, where a poisoned Konoha spy could not help and Shinku trapped their puppet with genjutsu.

• Kawaki Aoba struck a Sunagakure ninja with lightning, defeated him, and demanded the location of the rest of the squad.
• Qingban reached Dahu City with a sealed intelligence scroll, met Yuhi Shinku at the Golden Willow Inn, and handed it over.
• Three Sunagakure ninja attacked Shinku and Qingban at the inn, and Shinku defended himself while Qingban was knocked down.
• In a valley, Yuhi Shinku used Flower Shadow Binding against three Sunagakure ninja, but their puppeteer kept the puppet moving through the genjutsu.
• Shinku found a poisoned Konoha spy unable to fight and used another genjutsu to stop the puppet's attack.

Yuhi Shinku used genjutsu and traps to outmaneuver Sunagakure forces, but an elite squad led by Gama continued pursuing him. After setting off an explosion to disrupt their formation, Shinku watched from the treetops and prepared his next move.

• A wounded spy blocked a hammer strike so Shinku could escape, and Shinku fled while the enemy pursued him.
• Shinku trapped a Sunagakure puppeteer in Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death and left him suffering in the genjutsu.
• Gama, an Elite Jonin from Sunagakure, confronted Shinku and sent two Chunin to search the forest.
• Shinku used Shadow Clones to evade the Chunin and placed Explosive Tags along the enemy's path.
• Shinku detonated a trap that shook the forest, disrupting the squad's formation as he planned his next move.

Yuhi Shinku used clones and explosive traps against Gama’s squad, then outmaneuvered a Sunagakure puppet master with genjutsu before other enemies attacked. Elsewhere, Kawaki Aoba faced the Sunagakure ninja pursuing his companions and began a counterattack despite his exhaustion.

• Yuhi Shinku used an explosive clone to injure Gama and killed a Sunagakure Chunin with a trap.
• Yuhi Shinku used genjutsu to disable a Sunagakure Jonin’s puppets and sever their Chakra threads.
• Two other Sunagakure squad members attacked Yuhi Shinku, forcing him into a difficult fight.
• Kawaki Aoba stopped to face the Sunagakure ninja pursuing him after his two companions ran ahead.
• Kawaki Aoba was kicked into a tree, then sprang into the air and began forming hand seals.

Kawaki Aoba escaped a Sunagakure pursuit and defeated a masked enemy by using shadow clones, grenades, and an Earth Release technique. Meanwhile, Yuhi Shinku fought a puppet master to protect his team, and the battle remained unresolved as Shinku targeted the enemy’s summoning scroll.

• Kawaki Aoba used a Great Fireball and explosive tags to escape the pursuing Sunagakure ninja, then created shadow clones to prepare an ambush for a masked enemy.
• Kawaki Aoba lured the masked enemy with a clone and grenade, attacked with another clone, and trapped the wounded opponent with Rock Prison Technique before knocking him unconscious and taking his gear.
• Yuhi Shinku exchanged attacks with a Sunagakure puppet master, dodging a scythe and using Wind Release to rip one puppet’s arm off.
• The puppet master summoned three additional puppets, including one carrying a cannon, while Yuhi Shinku charged into their formation with Great Breakthrough.
• Yuhi Kurenai disrupted the remaining enemies with genjutsu as Sarutobi Asuma defended the group, and Yuhi Shinku threw a Fuma Shuriken at the puppet master’s scroll.

Yuhi Shinku defeated a puppet controller, while Aoba and Asuma faced a powerful Sunagakure Elite Jonin and struggled to overcome him. Later, Aoba confronted Zhen and destroyed his unstable puppets, leaving Zhen defeated and shaken.

• Yuhi Kurenai trapped the puppet controller with genjutsu, and Yuhi Shinku struck him down, severing his chakra threads and collapsing his puppets.
• Aoba and Sarutobi Asuma attacked a Sunagakure Elite Jonin, but he dodged and blocked their techniques with ease.
• Asuma used his bloodied kunai to create an opening, but the Elite Jonin emerged unharmed and blasted Aoba into a tree.
• Asuma charged the Elite Jonin to give Aoba a chance to find an opening.
• Aoba confronted Zhen with Qianyan and a woman, while Qianyan and Aoba easily countered Zhen's puppet attacks.
• Aoba exposed the flaws in Zhen's unstable Chakra Cores, then shattered all three puppets and left Zhen defeated and despairing.