Chapter Summaries

Mizuki led Wind God and Thunder God toward food, warning them to beat anyone who tried to steal it. Meanwhile, Chie Tsubaki returned home worried about her fiancé and found a white-haired man waiting inside her room.

• Mizuki feared Wind God and Thunder God after recalling how badly they had beaten two Konoha Jonin.
• Mizuki told the brothers someone might try to steal their food, and Wind God and Thunder God vowed to beat any thief to death.
• Chie Tsubaki finished work early and worried about Mizuki, who was trapped in Konoha Prison.
• Chie found her door lock broken and hurried inside after hearing strange sounds.
• Chie saw a smiling white-haired man, who greeted her by saying, "Tsubaki, you're back."

Tsunade reviewed the prisoner escape situation and learned that 185 fugitives remained at large, with Mizuki among the most notable. As Konoha faced the consequences and a growing pile of paperwork, she forgot that someone else was imprisoned there.

• Shizune reported that 744 escaped prisoners had been recaptured and 185 remained on the run.
• Tsunade judged the situation controllable but anticipated trouble and accepted that some fugitives might evade capture.
• Tsunade vaguely remembered that someone had also been imprisoned in Konoha Prison, but set the thought aside.
• Tsunade saw Shizune sorting the accumulated documents and resented the Hokage's workload.

Tsunade regretted the upheaval as she faced a mountain of documents, while the clans held back from helping Konoha Prison. Hinata struggled to avoid being drawn deeper into the unfolding incident but began planning how to use her Byakugan without joining the wrong group.

• Tsunade sighed and returned to the documents as Konoha Prison lacked the clans’ support to end the unrest quickly.
• The clans’ leaders avoided acting, while Hinata and other figures tied to Naruto’s faction remained less constrained by their clans.
• Hinata worried that her Byakugan would soon be needed to track escapees farther from the village, where she might encounter the incident’s flashpoint.
• Hinata slammed an unconscious escapee onto the ground, then decided she could change direction or part ways if she found Mizuki and the others, or Naruto, Shikamaru, and Ino.

Hinata resolved to stay out of the incident after deciding she could gain nothing from it. That night, Iruka found a letter from the fugitive Mizuki summoning him to the Forest of Death at midnight.

• Hinata reflected on how often she had been drawn into incidents and decided she would not get involved again.
• Iruka returned home tired and sensed that something was wrong when he found his window open.
• Iruka searched his house cautiously but found no intruder.
• Iruka discovered and read a letter from Mizuki inviting him to meet at the Forest of Death at midnight.
• Iruka recognized Mizuki as a fugitive and understood the danger behind the summons.

Iruka decided to meet Mizuki in the Forest of Death, believing he understood Mizuki’s intentions and preparing himself for what might happen. Meanwhile, an Anbu told Tsunade that Mizuki was likely with Barrier Team member Chie Tsubaki, and Tsunade demanded to know what the investigation had found.

• Iruka chose to meet Mizuki rather than report the message to the Hokage, and wondered what Mizuki was planning.
• Iruka left his home and headed toward the Forest of Death, calm despite knowing what might happen.
• An Anbu arrived at the Hokage’s Office and told Tsunade that they had news of Mizuki.
• Tsunade learned that Mizuki was likely with Chie Tsubaki, a member of the Barrier Team, and asked why the Anbu had not investigated.
• The Anbu replied that they had followed the clues to Chie Tsubaki’s home.

Tsunade learned that Mizuki was believed to be in the Forest of Death, then sent an exhausted Shizune home while she stayed at the Hokage's Office. Left alone, she remembered someone was being held in Konoha Prison and checked the prisoner records.

• An Anbu reported that Mizuki had knocked Chie Tsubaki unconscious and was likely inside the Forest of Death.
• Tsunade criticized the Anbu's lengthy report, and the Anbu left feeling wronged.
• Tsunade told Shizune to go home and rest after a tiring day, and Shizune left the Hokage's Office.
• Tsunade realized she had forgotten who was in Konoha Prison and picked up the prisoner records.

Tsunade recognized that Wind God and Thunder God might be accompanying Mizuki and ordered Aoba Yamashiro to verify it. Suspecting the pair could overwhelm the force sent to intercept Mizuki, she set out to join the battle, while Aoba understood her intent and left the Hokage Building.

• Tsunade found Wind God's file and recognized Wind God and Thunder God as the brothers whose strength was terrifying.
• Tsunade ordered Aoba Yamashiro to investigate whether Mizuki had taken the two brothers with him when he defected.
• Tsunade worried the interception force could be crushed and decided to go to the battle herself.
• Tsunade told Aoba Yamashiro to go home and not follow her.
• Aoba Yamashiro left the Hokage Building, muttering that Mizuki had gone too far.

Iruka cautiously searched the Forest of Death for Mizuki, unaware that Konoha’s Anbu had uncovered Mizuki’s plans through Chie Tsubaki. The chapter ended with Mizuki spotting a group of Konoha ninjas approaching before midnight.

• Iruka entered the dark Forest of Death and wondered why Mizuki had not confronted him.
• Iruka suspected Mizuki was watching him and stayed alert for an ambush.
• Mizuki planned to fight Iruka, take a strength-enhancing drug, and defeat him.
• Konoha’s Anbu investigated Mizuki and obtained information from Chie Tsubaki.
• Mizuki noticed a group of Konoha ninjas approaching the Forest of Death around eleven o’clock.

Mizuki realized Konoha had clues about him and decided to retreat rather than risk fighting the shinobi searching the Forest of Death. As he fled with the Wind God and Thunder God, they accidentally broke a tree and alerted the search party, forcing them to run.

• Mizuki concluded that Konoha had likely learned something from Chie Tsubaki and chose to retreat.
• Mizuki considered the risks of fighting and decided that surviving mattered more than testing his strength.
• The Wind God and Thunder God accidentally snapped a large tree while leaving the Forest of Death.
• Mizuki stared blankly at the broken tree, then cursed and fled with the Wind God and Thunder God.

Mizuki fled with Wind God and Thunder God as their noisy escape drew Konoha's ninja closer. He decided to stop running and confront the pursuers near a hill, while worrying about hidden attacks and whether Iruka had arrived.

• Mizuki stayed with Wind God and Thunder God because he feared the brothers would attack him if he abandoned them.
• Mizuki realized Konoha's ninja were closing in after about an hour of pursuit.
• Mizuki led Wind God and Thunder God around a bend toward a nearby hill and decided to face the pursuers.
• Mizuki prepared to fight cautiously and wondered whether Iruka had arrived.

Mizuki weighed the danger of fighting the Konoha pursuers and chose caution as four squads closed in on him. The Anbu reconnaissance ninja identified Mizuki, Wind God, and Thunder God ahead, and the Anbu Captain ordered the group to prevent Mizuki’s escape.

• Mizuki considered attacking the pursuers with help from Wind God and Thunder God but decided the cost and risk of further Konoha reinforcements made it unwise.
• Mizuki recalled how Might Duy had defeated most of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, reinforcing his resolve not to underestimate Konoha.
• Four Konoha squads, including an Anbu squad, joined forces, and nine regular ninja moved closer to the Anbu.
• The Anbu reconnaissance ninja reported that Mizuki, Wind God, and Thunder God were ahead.
• The Anbu Captain ordered everyone to stay alert and stop Mizuki from escaping, while a regular ninja complained about being dragged into the pursuit.

Mizuki eagerly prepared to test his new potion, while a team of experienced Konoha ninjas cautiously pursued him. Wind God and Thunder God stopped to rest, unaware of Mizuki’s intentions.

• A Konoha ninja joked that the mission was keeping him up late just after he had married Mieko.
• The pursuing ninjas became cautious when Mizuki’s group stopped by a small mound.
• Mizuki, too excited to wait until the next day, decided to use the Konoha ninjas as a test run.
• Wind God and Thunder God wondered why they had been running and concluded that they needed to stop and rest when they got tired.

Mizuki and Wind God and Thunder God faced twelve Konoha ninja on a hill, and the battle quickly turned against the attackers. The Anbu focused on capturing Mizuki alive to stop the two brothers from continuing their assault.

• Wind God and Thunder God watched Mizuki while the twelve Konoha ninja arrived and surrounded the hill.
• The Konoha ninja attacked Wind God and Thunder God with kunai, shuriken, and taijutsu, but could not hurt them.
• Wind God and Thunder God grew angry and struck back with their overwhelming strength, without using any combat technique.
• The Anbu targeted Mizuki, hoping to capture him alive and use him to control Wind God and Thunder God.
• Mizuki noticed the Anbu's attention and smiled.

Mizuki drank a medicine that triggered a painful transformation, causing black markings to spread across his body and turning him into a terrifying, tiger-like figure. He stood before the Anbu with a smile, and they recognized the danger he posed.

• Mizuki drank a pale yellow liquid from a medicine bottle.
• Mizuki collapsed in agony as his body began to change.
• A black mark on Mizuki glowed, and black patterns spread across his body.
• Mizuki grew muscular and developed beastly features, fangs, and a faint character on his forehead.
• Mizuki stood up transformed, and the Anbu members sensed that he was dangerous.

Mizuki revealed his transformed strength and attacked the Anbu, forcing them to recognize that he was close to elite jonin level. After one Anbu was sent crashing through trees, the survivors regrouped with the injured Monian to face him together.

• Mizuki said the Anbu had ruined his plans for Iruka and charged at one of them.
• An Anbu ninja dodged Mizuki's clawed strike, but Mizuki kicked him through several trees.
• The two remaining Anbu judged Mizuki too strong to fight one at a time and called for Monian to get up.
• Monian rose from the rubble despite his injuries and rushed toward the other two Anbu.

Mizuki attacked the three Anbu, who regrouped and planned to stall him until help arrived. Meanwhile, Iruka called out for Mizuki and began to think he had been tricked, but his ears twitched at the end.

• Menian regrouped with the other two Anbu and urged them to delay Mizuki until Konoha reinforcements arrived.
• Mizuki dismissed their plan and charged at the three Anbu.
• The Anbu tried evasive maneuvers, but they could not escape Mizuki's pressure.
• Iruka stopped walking and called out to Mizuki, but heard no response.
• Iruka sighed and wondered what Mizuki was trying to do, then his ears twitched.

Iruka mistook Tsunade approaching behind him for a threat and nearly struck her with a kunai. Tsunade caught it, and after they both relaxed, she angrily demanded to know why he was in the Forest of Death at night.

• Iruka heard movement in a tree behind him and prepared for an attack without turning around.
• Tsunade approached Iruka, who turned with a kunai in hand and slashed toward her.
• Tsunade caught Iruka’s kunai in her left hand before it reached her.
• Iruka released the kunai, and it fell from Tsunade’s palm into the ground.
• Tsunade scolded Iruka and asked why he was awake and in the dangerous Forest of Death.

Iruka told Tsunade about the letter and what had happened, and she reassured him that she did not suspect him of helping Mizuki. Tsunade then led Iruka toward Mizuki by following the furrows Wind God and Thunder God had left through the forest.

• Iruka apologized to Tsunade, explained what had happened, and handed her the letter.
• Tsunade told Iruka she had not suspected him and said Mizuki was not at the village, offering to take him to see Mizuki.
• Tsunade explained what had happened to Mizuki, and Iruka agreed that he needed to see his longtime friend.
• Tsunade followed the furrows cut through the forest by Wind God and Thunder God, and Iruka realized he had overlooked the trail.

Tsunade and Iruka reached the battlefield with a small Anbu squad and found Mizuki overpowering three Anbu after taking pills. Wind God and Thunder God had defeated nine Konoha ninja and were eating the food they found on them.

• Tsunade followed the trench toward the battlefield, with Iruka keeping pace and hoping Mizuki had not cut off his retreat.
• Tsunade and Iruka encountered an Anbu squad heading to support the fight and arrived at the battlefield with its members.
• Mizuki used his newly gained power to toy with the three Anbu, growing more adept as he fought them.
• Wind God and Thunder God defeated nine Konoha ninja, searched their bodies, and ate the food they found.

Mizuki prepared to finish off three exhausted Anbu, but Tsunade arrived with Iruka and three other Anbu and ordered him to stop. Nearby, Wind God and Thunder God discussed how they could get people to play with them next time.

• Thunder God asked Wind God what Big Big Brother was doing and said he wanted to join in.
• Wind God told Thunder God that he had knocked the people around them unconscious and suggested asking future attackers to play first.
• Mizuki, confident in his control of his power, charged at the three battered Anbu with his hand shaped like claws.
• Mizuki halted when he heard a sigh and turned to see Tsunade, Iruka, and three Anbu watching him.
• Tsunade calmly told Mizuki to stop.