Chapter Summaries

Wu Zhu ended his conversation with Shanteng and suspected the man was far from an ordinary person. Both men chose to avoid provoking each other, leaving their identities and motives concealed as Wu Zhu prepared to head to Konoha.

• Wu Zhu told Shanteng their conversation had gone on long enough and encouraged him to leave and rest.
• Shanteng exchanged pleasantries with Wu Zhu and departed.
• After confirming Shanteng was gone, Wu Zhu inspected the spot he had climbed from and noted he showed no signs of exertion.
• Wu Zhu suspected Shanteng's true identity and decided not to stir up trouble before going to Konoha.
• Wu Zhu recognized that Shanteng also had reason to keep his identity secret, so both men held back.

As the caravan continued toward Konoha, Shanteng’s sudden friendliness toward Hinata left Wu Zhu dealing with attention from the other travelers. After Shanteng disappeared, Wu Zhu suspected he had deliberately caused the disruption and considered how to respond.

• Wu Zhu prepared to leave after sitting with Wu late at night.
• The next day, Shanteng went straight to Hinata’s side, leaving Wu Zhu to deal with him.
• The travelers saw Shanteng approach a ninja and began chatting with Wu Zhu more often, believing Hinata was easy to get along with.
• The caravan traveled toward Konoha without incident, while Wu Zhu endured the travelers’ attention for several days.
• Wu Zhu noticed Shanteng had disappeared and suspected he had acted deliberately to bother him.
• Wu Zhu restrained his hostile thoughts but decided he could not let Shanteng go unchecked.

Wu Zhu arrived in Konoha with the caravan and blended into the village after leaving the group. He regretted that Shanteng had departed the day before, but planned to punish him tenfold if they met again.

• After several more days of travel, Wu Zhu reached Konoha with the caravan.
• At the gates, Wu Zhu exchanged a few words with acquaintances, then left the caravan and mingled with the people entering Konoha.
• As Wu Zhu searched for an inn, he learned that Shanteng had already left the caravan the day before without anyone informing him.
• Wu Zhu accepted that no one was at fault, but decided he would repay Shanteng tenfold if he got another chance.

Wu Zhu entered an inn while reasoning that the merchant caravan was unlikely to expose him. Elsewhere, Shanteng brought an elderly man to a Root Organization stronghold and explained that he would need to report to Danzo before the man could be considered for service.

• Wu Zhu considered how difficult it would be for the caravan to investigate him and decided he was unlikely to be exposed.
• Wu Zhu arrived at an inn he liked and went inside.
• Shanteng led an elderly man through alleys to a hidden Root Organization stronghold.
• Shanteng told the elderly man he would report to Danzo and warned him that joining Root would require surviving a cruel selection.

Shanteng reflected on the elderly man who had helped him during the mission and agreed to pass along his request to meet Lord Danzo. After leaving the outpost, he examined his sketchbook, which seemed to hold something important to him, though he had yet to discover what it was.

• Shanteng recalled that the old man had helped him and had asked him to arrange a meeting with Lord Danzo.
• Shanteng settled the old man in and planned to report the mission to Lord Danzo himself.
• Shanteng left the outpost and took a red-covered sketchbook from his ninja tool pouch.
• Shanteng looked through his drawings and felt that the sketchbook contained something important, though he still could not sense what it was.
• Shanteng remembered that he had once devoted himself to ink wash painting and had achieved some success, but his talent had been ignored.

Wu Zhu stayed at an inn and tried to settle into an ordinary routine, but a steady stream of people seeking him out left him exhausted and unable to stop analyzing their words and motives. He continued enduring the inn’s social bustle while remaining vigilant.

• Wu Zhu checked into an inn after finding a place to stay.
• He spent the following days eating, sleeping, soaking in hot springs, and wandering around.
• Wu Zhu remained on guard despite the greater comfort of staying at the inn rather than camping alone.
• A troublemaker brought so many people to talk to Wu Zhu that he constantly judged their words, motives, and personalities.
• Wu Zhu grew exhausted from managing the conversations while trying to maintain his image.

After traveling from the Land of Rivers to Konoha, Wu Zhu prepared to meet his nominal boss for the first time. He remained convinced that his boss was the source of his misgivings and hoped to use the meeting to lay the groundwork for future arguments.

• Wu Zhu traveled with the caravan for over seven days before reaching Konoha in the Land of Fire.
• The caravan members went their separate ways after arriving, and Wu Zhu rested instead of exploring.
• Wu Zhu reflected on why he disliked his nominal boss, concluding that the man seemed ruthless and profit-driven.
• Wu Zhu got up early and set off to meet his boss, hoping to arrive first and gain an excuse for future disagreements.

Wu Zhu climbed Hokage Rock after learning that guards generally ignored people meeting there. He was startled to find a little girl standing on the newly completed portrait of the Fifth Hokage.

• Wu Zhu learned that guards at Hokage Rock turned a blind eye to visitors who did not cause trouble.
• Wu Zhu climbed Hokage Rock while trying not to draw attention.
• Wu Zhu reached the portrait of Hashirama Senju and caught his breath.
• Wu Zhu spotted a little girl in pale purple standing on the portrait of the Fifth Hokage.

Wu Zhu arrived at Fifth Hokage Rock early and was surprised to find Hinata already there. Hinata explained through her gestures that she had come to inspect the meeting place, and Wu Zhu joined her.

• Hinata arrived early to inspect the newly completed Fifth Hokage Rock before their meeting.
• Hinata noticed Wu Zhu and waved him over.
• Wu Zhu recovered from his surprise, leaped across the Hokage faces, and reached Hinata.
• Hinata appraised Wu Zhu, making him uneasy, and he asked whether something was wrong.

Hinata handed Wu Zhu responsibility for managing the Dawn Organization and briefed him on its affairs, leaving him to take on a role he barely understood. After they left Hokage Rock and finished dealing with more tasks, Hinata realized she should have informed the Hyuga Clan that she had left so early.

• Hinata told Wu Zhu that he would soon be responsible for handling all of the Dawn Organization's affairs and encouraged him to rest while he could.
• Wu Zhu accepted the responsibility despite not knowing the organization's condition or plans, and suspected Hinata had trapped him into it.
• Hinata spent over an hour telling Wu Zhu about Dawn, whose past missions and development had been limited and informal.
• Hinata left Hokage Rock with Wu Zhu and handed more tasks over to him before it was past ten in the morning.
• Hinata realized she should have informed the Hyuga Clan that she had gone out so early.

Hinata met Wu Zhu at Senju Hanaoyu’s tailor shop and prepared to leave the village for at least a month. She returned home to discuss arrangements with Hyuga Hiashi, whose help she planned to rely on while she was away.

• Hinata took Wu Zhu to Senju Hanaoyu’s tailor shop, where Hanaoyu handed him his clothes and called him unpleasant.
• Hinata learned where Wu Zhu was staying, gave him a few instructions, and sent him on his way.
• Hinata decided to tell Hyuga Hiashi about her upcoming absence so he could cover for her in the Hokage’s faction.
• Hinata returned home after breakfast had been cleared and reflected on Hanabi’s intense training since the incident.

Hinata saw Hanabi training harder than before and decided not to interfere, believing the effort would help protect her. She then visited Hyuga Hiashi and resolved to keep her Dawn Organization’s outer organization largely separate from herself.

• Hinata watched Hanabi train intensely and chose to encourage her through silence rather than interrupt her.
• Hinata reflected that Hyuga Hiashi rarely trained and was instead buried in the work of leading the clan.
• Seeing Hiashi’s piles of documents, Hinata decided she would avoid taking part in the Dawn Organization’s outer organization unless absolutely necessary.
• Hinata entered Hiashi’s study after knocking, and he asked what she needed.
• Hinata nodded and straightforwardly explained her idea to Hiashi.

Hinata told Hyuga Hiashi she would be leaving Konoha for an extended period, and he agreed to support her. Later, she introduced Wu Zhu as a new core member at a Dawn Organization meeting, where he chose the codename Merciful Wuzhu.

• Hinata told Hyuga Hiashi she did not know how long she would be away, and he asked her to return as soon as possible.
• Hyuga Hiashi agreed to make arrangements and support Hinata’s choices.
• Hinata left after speaking with Hyuga Hiashi and later called a Dawn Organization meeting.
• Hinata introduced Wu Zhu to the organization’s members as its new core member.
• Wu Zhu chose the codename Merciful Wuzhu, and the other members instinctively kept their distance from him.

Hinata summoned the Dawn Organization’s members, including its peripheral members, and revealed that she wanted them to gather for a friendly meeting. She noticed their mixed reactions and grew suspicious of Merciful Wuzhu’s unusual stare.

• Hinata announced that all Dawn members, including peripheral members, would be summoned.
• The Dawn Organization’s core members listened quietly, and Hinata praised their discipline inwardly.
• Hinata revealed her actual purpose for gathering them.
• Gensei Kurama Mutsu and Ethereal Winter Rain seemed displeased that they had been kept in suspense.
• Hinata sensed that Merciful Wuzhu was looking at her as if she were an idiot and wondered whether he was a troublemaker.

Hinata worried that the system had arranged another troublesome person in Dawn and ended the meeting after hearing the members’ locations and arrival estimates. After dreaming that Wu Zhu repeatedly lured her into a pit, she woke up exhausted and decided to retaliate against him.

• Hinata suspected the system had added someone who might cause her trouble and resolved to stay on guard.
• Winter Rain, Kurama Mutsu, and Mizuki Rei reported their locations and estimated arrival times, and Hinata ended the meeting.
• Hinata dreamed that Wu Zhu dug a pit and repeatedly persuaded her to jump into it.
• Hinata woke up exhausted, remembered the dream, and vowed to make things difficult for Wu Zhu.

Wu Zhu prepared to travel with Hinata to the Dawn Organization’s designated location after recalling the previous night’s meeting. He thought his quiet internal struggle remained unnoticed, unaware that someone had already begun to regard him as an opponent.

• Wu Zhu woke from a sneeze and recalled the Dawn Organization members’ behavior at the meeting.
• Wu Zhu realized it was nearly time to leave for the meeting point with Hinata.
• Wu Zhu decided to avoid needless confrontations and consider his countermeasures over time.
• Someone secretly declared war on Wu Zhu based on intuition, though he remained unaware.

Hinata’s messages reached Dawn members across the ninja world, prompting Beichen and the Ironfoot Ninja to set out. Heyan read his letter at the camp and, after considering its contents, appeared to make a decision.

• Beichen received Hinata’s letter in the Land of Birds, gave instructions to a subordinate, and departed.
• The Ironfoot Ninja delivered Hinata’s letter to Heyan in the Land of Rivers before vanishing with his Fleetfoot skill.
• Heyan joined Huimina at the camp, where she had finished cooking, and opened the letter.
• After reading the letter and thinking for a long while, Heyan called out to Huimina.

Huimina agreed to go with Heyan after the meal. Elsewhere, Passerby A received a blunt letter announcing that Dawn Organization members would gather near his town, and he burned it to keep the group from being exposed.

• Heyan asked Huimina to accompany him after the meal, and she agreed.
• Passerby A received a letter from the leader of the Dawn Organization and hurried home to read it in private.
• The letter said Dawn's core members and formally incorporated peripheral members would gather near Passerby A's town.
• Passerby A feared the letter could expose Dawn to bounty hunters and the ninja world, so he burned it.

Passerby A felt renewed purpose after returning to the secret base and becoming Dawn’s chief steward. As Dawn members began gathering, he prepared the base and took up a guard post near its entrance.

• Passerby A reflected on leaving the Hundred Slaughter Group and how his return to the secret base had given him a place in Dawn.
• Passerby A realized his role as chief steward had improved his standing in the organization.
• Three days later, Passerby A sat in a tree near the base entrance, pretending to meditate while resting.
• After learning from the letters that Dawn members would gather at the base, Passerby A prepared what he could and began watching the entrance.

Passerby A waited in the wilderness for the true master to arrive, then met Kurama Mutsu, who was also part of Dawn. She recognized him and asked why he had been hiding in a tree.

• Passerby A heard a young girl singing and spotted Kurama Mutsu approaching with a basket.
• Passerby A jumped down from his hiding place in a tree and faced Kurama Mutsu.
• Kurama Mutsu asked whether anyone else was there, and Passerby A replied that she was the first.
• Kurama Mutsu told Passerby A not to call her “my lady” and to call her Gensei instead.
• Kurama Mutsu recognized Passerby A and asked why he had been in the tree.