Chapter Summaries

Summary

At a Yugakure hot spring, Xuanhui, Orochimaru, and Kakuzu unexpectedly meet. Because fighting is forbidden there, they cover themselves and settle into the bath rather than attack. Kakuzu is wary: he remembers underestimating Xuanhui before and now knows the young ninja has defeated the Third Kazekage.
Xuanhui tries to recruit Kakuzu, arguing that Kakuzu’s betrayal by Takigakure’s leaders need not make him trust no one but himself. Kakuzu refuses, insisting that he serves only his own interests and believes only in money. Xuanhui then proposes a “bet”: if he wins, he will destroy one of Kakuzu’s hearts each day until Kakuzu agrees to work for him; if he loses, he will leave Kakuzu alone. Kakuzu recognizes this as a threat disguised as a wager and leaves.
Afterward, Orochimaru realizes that Xuanhui used the Eight Crossroads ocular technique to track Kakuzu while keeping his eyes closed so Kakuzu would not notice his Mangekyō Sharingan. Xuanhui plans to look around Yugakure and find Kakuzu that evening. Kakuzu, meanwhile, chooses an inconspicuous hotel, believing the village’s rules will keep him safe from a direct attack.

Character developments and interactions

• Xuanhui is confident, persistent, and manipulative. He wants Kakuzu as a subordinate and uses both personal appeals and intimidation to pursue that goal.
• Kakuzu remains guarded and motivated by self-interest. His past betrayal by Takigakure has made him distrustful, though he quietly considers that surrender might be preferable if Xuanhui proves too powerful.
• Orochimaru watches Xuanhui’s tactics with amusement and understands the hidden tracking technique behind Kakuzu’s apparent escape.
• The exchange between Xuanhui and Kakuzu shifts from wary politeness to a tense recruitment confrontation, while Orochimaru remains a knowing observer.

Significant themes

• Trust versus self-reliance: Xuanhui challenges Kakuzu’s belief that only money and personal interest are dependable.
• Power and coercion: Xuanhui presents recruitment as a choice, but backs it with a threat.
• Appearances and deception: The “bet” is not really a fair wager, and Kakuzu’s apparent safety may be undermined by Xuanhui’s tracking ability.

Key plot points and events

• Kakuzu secures his hotel room, expecting Xuanhui to come after him. Xuanhui instead attacks through the wall, destroying Kakuzu’s fire-nature heart with a golden spike of light. He warns Kakuzu that he can destroy one heart each day.
• Kakuzu flees the village, but Xuanhui remains relaxed and confident he can track him. The next day, Xuanhui and Orochimaru explore Yugakure; Orochimaru enjoys its newspaper and its coverage of other nations.
• At sunset, Xuanhui uses his ocular techniques to locate Kakuzu and teleport to him. Kakuzu accepts that escape is impossible and agrees to fight: if he loses, he’ll go with Xuanhui; if he wins, he can do as he likes.
• The fight begins when Kakuzu attacks with an extending arm. Xuanhui counters with his Fuguang Sword, injuring Kakuzu’s hand so severely that the bones are exposed.

Character developments and interactions

• Kakuzu shifts from confidence in his defenses to panic, then resignation. He recognizes Xuanhui’s tracking ability and accepts that he must confront him. His experience and suspicion remain sharp: he correctly guesses that Xuanhui did something to him at the hot spring.
• Xuanhui stays calm and playful throughout, pursuing Kakuzu because he wants to recruit him for his financial and business skills. He demonstrates both precise tracking and overwhelming combat ability.
• Orochimaru is fascinated by Yugakure’s newspaper and becomes intrigued by Xuanhui’s description of airplanes. He offers to help pursue Kakuzu, but Xuanhui declines.

Significant themes

• Inevitability and pursuit: Kakuzu’s attempts to hide and flee fail against Xuanhui’s tracking, reinforcing the chapter’s title.
• Power and coercion: Xuanhui’s recruitment offer is backed by force, leaving Kakuzu little real choice.
• Practical talent and self-interest: Xuanhui values Kakuzu’s money-mindedness, experience, and business sense as much as his combat abilities.
• Humor amid danger: Xuanhui’s casual manner, the airplane misunderstanding, and Kakuzu’s exasperation contrast with the violence of their confrontation.

Key plot points and events

• Kakuzu realizes Xuanhui’s light-based attacks can pierce stone and destroy his masked hearts, but he cannot identify how they work.
• He releases all three masked monsters and attacks with combined Wind, Water, and Lightning Release. Xuanhui remains still, protected by Susanoo, and openly names and explains the defensive technique.
• Kakuzu tries to overwhelm Susanoo with attacks from different angles and a hardened Earth Release strike, but cannot break through. When he attempts to retreat, Susanoo catches and destroys one of his hearts.
• Xuanhui dismisses Susanoo and offers Kakuzu a chance to work with him. Kakuzu panics, sends his remaining monsters after Xuanhui, and flees, but Xuanhui destroys the monsters and captures him.
• Defeated and exhausted, Kakuzu admits he has lost. Xuanhui again offers him a role, arguing that Kakuzu’s experience could still be valuable if he adapted to the new era.

Character developments

• Xuanhui remains calm and confident throughout the fight. He deliberately reveals information and uses Kakuzu’s growing fear to control the encounter, but his aim is recruitment rather than revenge.
• Kakuzu shifts from analytical confidence to panic as his hearts and escape options disappear. In defeat, he voices the isolation and weariness behind his fixation on money, while Xuanhui challenges him to reconsider how he has lived.

Significant themes

• Adaptation and change: Xuanhui argues that refusing to evolve leaves people behind as the world changes.
• Longevity and regret: Kakuzu’s long life has preserved his old habits but also contributed to his defeat and isolation.
• Money, purpose, and connection: Kakuzu claims money is the only reliable thing, while Xuanhui suggests that his experience could serve a broader purpose.
• Power and persuasion: Xuanhui wins physically, then tries to persuade Kakuzu rather than kill him.

Character interactions

• Xuanhui calmly answers Kakuzu’s probing questions, even naming his techniques, which Kakuzu interprets as deliberate humiliation.
• Kakuzu responds to Xuanhui’s offers with disbelief and bitterness, insisting that Xuanhui does not understand what he wants.
• Their final exchange turns the battle into a debate over whether Kakuzu can leave his old outlook behind and put his knowledge to new use.

Plot points and events

• Xuanhui recruits Kakuzu after defeating him, gives him a gemstone necklace and clothes, and promises to help him obtain four replacement hearts. Kakuzu agrees to travel with Xuanhui and Orochimaru rather than continue bounty hunting.
• Xuanhui takes Kakuzu to Yugakure, not Konoha. On the way, Kakuzu admires Xuanhui’s Sharingan and accepts a bribe after joking that he has used travel as a cover to enter villages.
• Back at the hotel, Orochimaru questions Kakuzu about his secret technique. Kakuzu explains how his body and black threads work, and the two quickly bond over their shared curiosity and expertise.
• Xuanhui gives Kakuzu books on business and finance; Kakuzu is immediately absorbed in them.
• The group begins exploring nearby ruins. Xuanhui finds and breaks seals, Orochimaru solves puzzles and studies recovered techniques, and Kakuzu contributes his experience while taking charge of valuables. Together they thoroughly loot each site.
• Between expeditions, Orochimaru and Kakuzu help guide Xuanhui’s training.

Character developments and interactions

• Kakuzu shifts from hostile captive to a pragmatic member of the group. He remains blunt and money-minded, but is willing to cooperate, share knowledge, and learn from the books Xuanhui gives him.
• Xuanhui acts as the group’s organizer, balancing practical incentives with long-term plans. He sees the travels as a chance to gather resources and prepare for future conflict.
• Orochimaru eagerly studies Kakuzu’s technique, treating him as a knowledgeable source; Kakuzu, in turn, enjoys being respected as an expert. Their conversation becomes a lively exchange between equals.
• Xuanhui and Kakuzu trade insults and favors, while Xuanhui, Orochimaru, and Kakuzu develop into an efficient, complementary team.

Significant themes

• Pragmatic cooperation: The three work together despite different motives, each contributing distinct skills.
• Knowledge and preparation: Exploration, research, and training are presented as ways to build strength and readiness for the coming war.
• Greed and resourcefulness: Kakuzu’s fixation on money aligns neatly with the group’s scavenging, while their varied talents make the expeditions unusually successful.

Key plot points and events

• After finishing their tour of the Land of Hot Water, Xuanhui, Orochimaru, and Kakuzu discuss where to travel next. They choose the smaller Land of Fields first, then the Land of Iron, leaving the Land of Lightning and Kumogakure for last.
• Xuanhui reveals that he wants to obtain Kumogakure’s Lightning Armor technique. Orochimaru sees how it could improve Xuanhui’s defense and taijutsu, while Kakuzu questions how they could infiltrate the heavily guarded Raikage Building.
• Xuanhui proposes drawing Kumogakure’s forces away by provoking a tailed beast. He confirms that his Sharingan can make one go berserk. Kakuzu is impressed and asks what role he will play, but Xuanhui says they can plan the details later.
• The group decides to establish safe bases in the Land of Fields and the Land of Iron before attempting the operation, so they can escape Kumogakure quickly afterward.
• The wider shinobi world remains mostly peaceful. Jiraiya’s students are progressing, Tsunade and Dan Katō’s medical-institution project is advancing, and Hanzo has imposed strict controls on entry into Amegakure.
• After visiting the Land of Fields, the trio enters the snowy Land of Iron, where Kakuzu describes the region’s samurai culture and points out the Takigakure Waterfall.

Character developments and interactions

• Xuanhui shows ambition and strategic patience: he seeks to strengthen his weaknesses with Lightning Armor but postpones the dangerous mission until they have support and escape routes.
• Kakuzu moves from skepticism to admiration. Recognizing Xuanhui’s power, foresight, and ability to build influence, he begins to see him as someone destined for greatness and offers to help.
• Orochimaru supports Xuanhui’s goal and steers the group toward careful preparation. His hostility toward Kumogakure is both political, due to its past kidnapping attempt against Kushina, and personal, because its ninja supplied him with defective equipment.
• Tsunade is becoming more cheerful and positive through her growing relationship with Dan Katō; without her fear of blood, she has not developed her gambling habit.
• The group’s conversation shifts from travel planning to tactics, with Kakuzu probing the security risks and Xuanhui explaining his plan.

Significant themes

• Preparation over impulse: The team delays its most dangerous objective until it has bases and a viable escape plan.
• Power and self-improvement: Xuanhui seeks a technique that complements his strengths while addressing his vulnerabilities.
• Growing trust and recognition: Kakuzu’s view of Xuanhui changes from that of a child to that of a future leader.
• Peace as an opportunity: The relative calm created by ending the war early gives Xuanhui room to travel, plan, and strengthen his network.

Key plot points and events

• While traveling through the snowy Land of Iron, Xuanhui, Orochimaru, and Kakuzu exchange knowledge about their journey. Kakuzu feels nostalgic seeing his homeland, though he has no personal ties left there.
• Orochimaru persuades the group to search for the legendary, unbreakable Kusanagi Sword. After half a month of asking around and exploring ruins, they follow a Green-Haired Samurai’s directions to a hidden site.
• Xuanhui discovers that an apparent fortress is an illusion concealing a well. With Kakuzu lowering him and Orochimaru securing the rope, he explores its depths, checks for traps, and retrieves the Kusanagi Sword and several other fine weapons.
• Orochimaru is delighted by the Kusanagi Sword and keeps it for himself. Kakuzu declines to sell the remaining weapons, so Xuanhui packs them up to keep or give away.
• The group then reaches the outskirts of Kumogakure. They decide against entering the village, where unfamiliar chakra would be detected, and plan to search the ruins before making a quick final move.
• They discuss Kumogakure’s drive to acquire foreign bloodlines and the Sage of Six Paths’ Treasures. Four of the five treasures once held by the village vanished after Kinkaku and Ginkaku’s deaths; their whereabouts remain unknown.

Character developments and interactions

• Orochimaru reveals his enduring interest in swordsmanship and fulfills a long-held desire by finding the Kusanagi Sword. His excitement is unusually childlike as he admires and handles it.
• Xuanhui uses his Mangekyo Sharingan to locate ruins, identify the concealed well, check for danger, and recover the weapons. He takes the main risk in the descent, while coordinating closely with Kakuzu and Orochimaru.
• Kakuzu shows a brief, wistful attachment to the Land of Iron’s scenery, but remains practical: he gathers saleable weapons and later goes to sell some of them. He ultimately gives the better weapons to Xuanhui rather than trying to profit from them.
• The trio’s cooperation is evident in their shared search and the well-rescue plan: Kakuzu lowers Xuanhui, Orochimaru anchors him with snakes, and both haul him back up.

Significant themes

• Adventure and discovery: The group’s curiosity leads them from local rumors to hidden ruins and valuable relics.
• Companionship and practical trust: Each character contributes distinct skills, and they rely on one another in a dangerous exploration.
• Power and acquisition: The discussion of Kumogakure’s pursuit of bloodlines and treasured artifacts highlights the village’s ambition to grow stronger.
• The persistence of the past: Kakuzu’s nostalgia and the mystery of the missing Sage treasures show how history continues to shape the present.

Key plot points

• After exploring Kumogakure, Xuanhui, Orochimaru, and Kakuzu enter the village disguised and split up to carry out a coordinated diversion.
• Kakuzu leads Xuanhui’s clone to the village gate and repeatedly breaks sections of the perimeter wall, drawing Cloud ninja into pursuit.
• Meanwhile, Orochimaru and another clone infiltrate the Valley of Clouds and Lightning. They find Blue B, the current Eight-Tails jinchūriki, whose weakened seal and declining health leave him close to losing control.
• After discussing Kumogakure’s treatment of jinchūriki, Orochimaru and Xuanhui confront Blue B, helping trigger the Eight-Tails’ rampage.
• Dodai correctly identifies the wall attacks as a distraction, but the news of the rampage sends the Third Raikage rushing to the valley and prompts the village to mobilize its elite forces.
• With security around the Raikage Building reduced, the real Xuanhui prepares to move against the remaining guards.

Character developments and interactions

• Xuanhui directs the operation, recognizes Iwagakure’s likely role in Kakuzu’s old intelligence job, and uses the chaos to advance his own objective.
• Kakuzu contributes practical intelligence about the valley and executes the wall-breaking diversion with Xuanhui’s clone.
• Orochimaru displays growing expertise in seals, diagnosing Blue B’s failing seal and explaining the pressures behind his condition.
• Dodai shows sound judgment by recognizing the intrusions as a ploy, though he cannot prevent the Raikage from responding to the crisis.
• The Third Raikage reacts forcefully to the reports, abandoning the building to deal with the Eight-Tails.
• Orochimaru and Xuanhui work closely together, while Kakuzu and the clone coordinate the separate distraction.

Significant themes

• The cost of being a jinchūriki: Blue B’s isolation and mistreatment, combined with Kumogakure’s delay in replacing him, have pushed him toward collapse.
• Power and fear: The village’s fear of an uncontrollable tailed beast shapes its treatment of jinchūriki.
• Deception and divided attention: The group’s two-pronged scheme exploits the village’s security response, using a conspicuous disturbance to conceal a more consequential attack.

Plot points and events

• Xuanhui and Orochimaru flee after undoing the Eight-Tails’ seal. Gyūki rampages without Sharingan control, while Orochimaru keeps tissue taken from him. They leave before Kumogakure reinforcements arrive.
• The Third Raikage confronts Gyūki and fights him at close range. Three days later, both are found exhausted and unconscious; the Raikage has been injured. Dodai organizes the response and orders medical care, sealing preparations, and measures to keep the village functioning.
• Meanwhile, Xuanhui searches the Raikage Building and copies two techniques: Lightning Release Chakra Mode and a method for training Storm Release. The effort strains his eyes.
• Xuanhui, Orochimaru, and Kakuzu meet up and escape to Takigakure. There, Xuanhui shares the copied techniques with Orochimaru and Kakuzu, who asks when Xuanhui will provide the hearts he promised.

Character developments and interactions

• Xuanhui is troubled by the Jinchūriki’s death, but Orochimaru tells him not to feel guilty, arguing that death ended the man’s suffering. Xuanhui accepts this, though the moment reveals his unease about the choices required to achieve his goals.
• Xuanhui’s confidence and ambition show in his dangerous raid on Kumogakure’s secrets—and in his casual promise to obtain hearts for Kakuzu once he is older.
• Orochimaru acts as Xuanhui’s pragmatic guide and partner, reassuring him and helping him escape.
• Kakuzu is shaken by the escape and Gyūki’s rampage, though he tries to play it cool. He is curious about Storm Release and trusts Xuanhui’s promise, unaware of what it may eventually entail.
• The Third Raikage and Gyūki clash fiercely; Dodai takes charge afterward, directing the village’s response.

Significant themes

• Moral compromise and guilt: Xuanhui confronts the emotional cost of actions taken in pursuit of his aims.
• Survival and pragmatism: The group prioritizes escape while Kumogakure is distracted by the crisis.
• Power and knowledge: Xuanhui risks himself to steal valuable techniques, showing how the pursuit of strength drives the plot.
• Violence and its aftermath: The destructive battle leaves both Gyūki and the Raikage incapacitated and the village in urgent disarray.

Key plot points and events

• Kakuzu, Orochimaru, and Xuanhui agree to collect Takigakure’s secret techniques. Kakuzu returns with a large collection after discovering that one village leader had bought his position—and was descended from someone Kakuzu had killed long ago.
• Enraged by the village’s apparent return to corrupt leadership, Kakuzu kills the leader, writes a bloodstained denunciation demanding every secret technique, and receives the collection. He leaves to restore his reputation as a feared missing-nin.
• While Kakuzu is away, Xuanhui studies Lightning Release Chakra Mode and adapts its principles into Light Release Chakra Mode.
• In demonstrations before Orochimaru and Kakuzu, Light Release proves far more powerful than Lightning Release in attack, defense, and speed: it cuts through wood cleanly, dissolves elemental attacks, and burns Kakuzu’s glove before his punch can land.
• Orochimaru’s examination reveals that Light Release normally damages cells more severely, but Xuanhui’s Hashirama cells turn that drawback to his advantage, sustaining their activity and benefiting from the stimulation. The chapter ends with Xuanhui joking that growing things need light.

Character developments

• Kakuzu shows that beneath his criminal methods, he remains deeply angered by exploitation and betrayal in his former village. His cooperation with the others has also strengthened into genuine trust.
• Xuanhui demonstrates rapid technical development and confidence, successfully creating a powerful new chakra mode suited to his unusual body.
• Orochimaru remains curious and analytical, eagerly investigating both Takigakure’s techniques and the biological effects of Xuanhui’s discovery.

Character interactions

• The three discuss their shared interest in acquiring techniques, marking a new closeness built through cooperation.
• Kakuzu’s violent, self-righteous response to Takigakure’s corruption contrasts with Orochimaru and Xuanhui’s dry suspicion about how he obtained the scrolls.
• Orochimaru and Kakuzu watch and help test Xuanhui’s new mode, reacting with surprise to its strength and unusual compatibility with his cells.

Significant themes

• Corruption and betrayal: Takigakure’s leadership repeats the abuses that once shaped Kakuzu’s past.
• Cooperation and trust: Shared goals deepen the trio’s bond.
• Adaptation and scientific experimentation: Xuanhui refines an existing technique to suit his own abilities, turning a potential biological cost into a benefit.

Plot points and events

• Xuanhui and Orochimaru persuade Kakuzu to remain in Takigakure for further exploration and training. Kakuzu dismisses the likelihood that the village will seek outside help, arguing that other nations would exploit Takigakure’s prized Seven-Tails.
• After nearly forty days, Xuanhui has developed Light Release Chakra Mode and Wood Release, mastering every chakra nature except wind.
• The trio set out for Iwagakure so Xuanhui can learn its Light-Weight Rock Technique. Orochimaru explains how adjusting density could improve Xuanhui’s speed and make his attacks more powerful.
• Rather than use their usual approach to obtain the technique, Kakuzu proposes a bargain. He prepares samples of Eight-Tails tissue, a sealing technique from Orochimaru’s compendium, and a battered combat uniform.
• Kakuzu writes to Tsuchikage Ōnoki, claiming responsibility for the recent Eight-Tails rampage in Kumogakure and offering the tissue and sealing technique in exchange for Iwagakure’s secret technique. Ōnoki is skeptical but tempted by the intelligence such an exchange could provide about rival Kumogakure.
• Ōnoki agrees to meet near Iwagakure’s main gate. Kakuzu has Xuanhui hide invisibly behind him and prepares to take only a small tissue sample, explaining that this encounter is for “negotiating,” not yet completing a deal.

Character developments and interactions

• Xuanhui makes major gains in his abilities and is eager to keep training. He initially favors the group’s familiar method, but Kakuzu challenges that plan and takes charge of devising an alternative.
• Kakuzu shows strategic confidence and a sharp understanding of bargaining. He uses his reputation as a bounty hunter and a carefully chosen offer to create leverage with Iwagakure.
• Orochimaru provides the technical rationale for pursuing the Light-Weight Rock Technique and quickly finds the sealing jutsu Kakuzu requests.
• The trio work together, though Kakuzu’s secretive plan leaves Xuanhui curious and somewhat skeptical.

Significant themes

• Power through preparation: Xuanhui’s training and Kakuzu’s carefully assembled bargaining tools both demonstrate the value of planning.
• Leverage and political mistrust: Ōnoki weighs the potential intelligence on Kumogakure against the risks of trusting Kakuzu.
• Pragmatism over brute force: Kakuzu argues for negotiation rather than relying on the group’s usual method.
• Reputation as a weapon: Kakuzu’s fearsome standing helps make his claims—and his offer—plausible.

Summary

Key plot points and events

• Kakuzu meets Ōnoki and Iwagakure’s senior ninja to trade a sample of Eight-Tails tissue and part of a Sealing Jutsu for Iwagakure secrets.
• He claims he was badly injured fighting the Eight-Tails’ jinchūriki and betrayed by the client who hired him. He wants techniques to rebuild his strength.
• After a lab specialist confirms the sample is genuine, Kakuzu rejects Iwagakure’s initial offer of ordinary ninjutsu. He reveals that he has withheld most of the tailed-beast sample and part of the sealing material, and threatens to trade with Konoha instead.
• Kakuzu’s claim that he fought the First Hokage—and is older and more experienced than Ōnoki—shifts the negotiation. Ōnoki apologizes and provides a scroll containing the Light-Weight Rock Technique.
• Xuanhui, hidden nearby, uses his dōjutsu to analyze and memorize the technique. He later confirms that the scroll is genuine.
• At a meeting outside Iwagakure the next day, Kakuzu verifies the scroll and exchanges the tissue and Sealing Jutsu for it.
• Ōnoki then refuses to let Kakuzu take the scroll away, insisting he stay in the village while Iwagakure verifies the Sealing Jutsu. As leverage, he offers a second technique—the Ultra-Added-Weight Rock Technique—in return for Kakuzu assassinating the current Eight-Tails jinchūriki.

Character developments

• Kakuzu proves himself a shrewd, forceful negotiator. He anticipates deception, controls what information and goods he reveals, and uses his age, experience, and alternative buyer to pressure Iwagakure. He remains interested in gaining more than the agreed price.
• Ōnoki shifts from cautious gatekeeper to accommodating negotiator when Kakuzu’s leverage becomes clear, but then tries to impose conditions and turn the exchange toward his own political and military goals.
• Xuanhui acts as Kakuzu’s covert support: he verifies the scroll’s authenticity and memorizes its contents without Iwagakure’s knowledge.

Significant themes

• Trust and deception: Both sides suspect the other of trickery; Kakuzu withholds goods, while Ōnoki later tries to keep him under surveillance.
• Power and bargaining: Information, rare techniques, and the threat of dealing with a rival village become tools for gaining leverage.
• Pragmatism and self-interest: Kakuzu seeks strength and compensation, while Ōnoki uses the trade as an opportunity to recruit an assassin against the Eight-Tails’ jinchūriki.

Character interactions

• Kakuzu and Ōnoki engage in a tense contest of negotiation, with Kakuzu’s blunt threats and Ōnoki’s cautious counteroffers.
• Kakuzu dismisses Kitsuchi’s hospitality, signaling that he values the transaction over cordiality.
• Xuanhui quietly coordinates with Kakuzu through a prearranged signal, enabling the exchange while secretly securing the technique.
• The chapter ends with Ōnoki attempting to redirect the deal into an assassination contract, leaving Kakuzu’s response unresolved.

Plot points and events

• Xuanhui secretly helps Kakuzu recover the Organization Sample and sealing scroll after Ōnoki tries to force him into killing the Eight-Tails’ new jinchūriki. Kakuzu tears up the scroll rather than accept the changed terms, then escapes with Xuanhui’s help.
• With Iwagakure now hostile, the group abandons its search for the Lost Ruins and travels through the Land of Grass, where Xuanhui completes his study of the Added-Weight and Ultra-Added-Weight Rock Techniques.
• In a village, they discover a chained Uzumaki couple—likely Karin’s parents. Orochimaru treats them, Kakuzu kills their captors, and Xuanhui gives the couple money and directions to Konoha, asking them to seek work at the orphanage. He then writes Tsunade to arrange their care.
• The trio crosses the oppressive Land of Rain by taking a route along its northern cliffs and reaches the Land of Birds, where Xuanhui explains the locals’ respectful bond with intelligent spirit beasts.
• They stay there for a month. Xuanhui masters Wind Release, completing his nature transformations and unlocking the all-nature achievement.

Character developments and interactions

• Xuanhui remains resourceful and opportunistic, using his abilities to turn Kakuzu’s escape into a chance to obtain valuable techniques. He also acts compassionately toward the Uzumaki couple and takes responsibility for connecting them with help.
• Kakuzu refuses to be manipulated or forced into a deadly mission. His anger at Ōnoki’s betrayal drives him to reject the deal outright, though he benefits from Xuanhui’s covert assistance.
• Orochimaru appears markedly warmer and more curious than before. His interest in the Land of Birds’ animals reflects a shift from pursuing immortality and secrets toward exploration and development.
• The trio’s banter and shared reactions—especially their alarm at the snakes gathering around Orochimaru—show their growing familiarity.

Significant themes

• Trust and exploitation: Ōnoki’s attempt to change the deal and seize Kakuzu’s belongings exposes the hypocrisy of demanding loyalty while acting dishonestly.
• Compassion amid a harsh world: Xuanhui’s rescue of the couple contrasts with the violence and coercion they have endured.
• Change and connection: Orochimaru’s transformation and the Land of Birds’ human–animal bonds suggest that curiosity and emotional connection can reshape people and relationships.

Plot points and events

• In the Land of Flowers, Xuanhui, Kakuzu, and Orochimaru take a break from training to enjoy the scenery. Orochimaru jokes that Xuanhui should collect flowers for a future girlfriend, while Kakuzu argues that he should focus on making money; their unusual bickering amuses Xuanhui.
• The trio travels to the Land of Crafts and commissions custom weapons from the village’s master smith, Musu Valley: brass knuckles for Kakuzu, a scabbard for Orochimaru’s Kusanagi Sword, and twin whips for Xuanhui. Xuanhui uses money to quickly secure the craftsman’s cooperation.
• After the three spend another half-month away, they return to find the weapons finished. All are exceptionally made, and each character is pleased with his new equipment. Musu Valley collapses into exhausted sleep after receiving the final payment.
• The group plans to visit the Land of Wind, then the Land of Rivers, before returning to Konoha. Xuanhui dismisses the Land of Wind as poor and says he can handle the Third Kazekage, whom he has already defeated. He claims they are friends, prompting Kakuzu’s disbelief.

Character developments and interactions

• Xuanhui shows confidence, generosity toward his companions, and a playful, provocative streak. He buys the weapons, threatens the craftsman jokingly, and treats his past fight with the Kazekage as the basis for a “life-and-death bond.”
• Kakuzu enjoys the Land of Flowers’ restorative atmosphere and appreciates the craftsmanship of his brass knuckles. His usual money-minded nature contrasts with his easy acceptance of Xuanhui’s gift. He also questions Xuanhui’s casual confidence about entering Sunagakure.
• Orochimaru enjoys the flower-country excursion and teases Xuanhui about romance, then accepts a custom scabbard for his sword. His exchange with Kakuzu reveals their competing priorities—science versus money.
• Musu Valley is initially indifferent until Xuanhui offers money, then devotes himself to producing excellent weapons, though the work leaves him utterly exhausted.

Significant themes

• Companionship expressed through practical gifts: Xuanhui’s weapon commissions show care for his companions in a form suited to their fighting styles.
• Contrasting priorities and comic banter: Kakuzu’s pursuit of money, Orochimaru’s devotion to science, and Xuanhui’s irreverence drive much of the humor.
• Power and unconventional relationships: Xuanhui’s claim that he and the Kazekage are “friends” despite having fought brutally blurs the line between rivalry and camaraderie.

Key plot points and events

• Xuanhui, Orochimaru, and Kakuzu enter Sunagakure openly. The Third Kazekage appears almost immediately, teasing Xuanhui and keeping watch on the visitors.
• The Kazekage gives Xuanhui a village token, allowing the group to go almost anywhere except the Kazekage Building.
• Xuanhui uses the token to charge lavish meals and shopping to the Kazekage. Over three days, the trio spend a million ryo, prompting the Kazekage to confront him and demand the token back. Xuanhui claims he has lost it.
• The Kazekage brings Pakura, a girl around Xuanhui’s age, and asks Xuanhui to help train her in taijutsu and Fire Release. Xuanhui objects to being made a caretaker, but agrees when Pakura looks hopeful and the Kazekage insists.
• The Kazekage leaves, and Xuanhui immediately tells Pakura, “He ran off. He doesn’t want you anymore.”

Character developments

• Xuanhui is confident, mischievous, and willing to exploit his close relationship with the Kazekage. Despite resisting responsibility, he agrees to help Pakura.
• The Third Kazekage shows an unusually playful, familiar side with Xuanhui, but is also exasperated by Xuanhui’s extravagant spending. He entrusts Pakura to him.
• Kakuzu is astonished by how freely the group moves through Sunagakure and how much Xuanhui can get away with.
• Orochimaru and Kakuzu accompany Xuanhui on his shopping spree; their intimidating presence makes Pakura uneasy.
• Pakura is introduced as curious and eager to meet Xuanhui, though she becomes vulnerable when the Kazekage leaves her with strangers.

Significant themes

• Power and personal influence: Xuanhui’s reputation and relationship with the Kazekage grant him exceptional freedom.
• Comic abuse of authority: Xuanhui turns a courtesy token into a massive expense for the village leader.
• Unexpected responsibility: Xuanhui’s holiday is interrupted by the task of helping train Pakura.
• Trust and belonging: Pakura’s hopeful response suggests she wants connection and guidance, while the Kazekage’s departure leaves her uncertain.

Character interactions

• Xuanhui and the Third Kazekage trade teasing insults, treating one another more like familiar companions than formal rivals.
• The Kazekage is forced to tolerate Xuanhui’s spending because he cannot readily restrain him.
• Xuanhui and the Kazekage argue over Pakura’s care, then jointly decide—largely under Pakura’s hopeful gaze—that Xuanhui will help train her.
• Pakura warmly introduces herself to Xuanhui, while Orochimaru and Kakuzu try, unsuccessfully, to seem approachable.

Plot points and events

• Xuanhui agrees to train young Pakura in taijutsu. She attacks with clever weapon throws and a feinting maneuver, but he effortlessly counters and repeatedly defeats her.
• After Pakura is left bruised and discouraged, Xuanhui treats her knee and praises her resilience. He tells her to measure herself against who she used to be and to focus on protecting the people she cares about, not only her village.
• Xuanhui gives Pakura the Third Kazekage’s token to return, then leaves with Orochimaru and Kakuzu. Pakura watches him go and vows to become as strong as he is.
• In the Land of Rivers, Kakuzu asks what to do next. Xuanhui advises him to study the books he provided and start a business.
• Xuanhui challenges Kakuzu to distinguish between good and bad people when using violence. Kakuzu agrees to kill only bad people. Xuanhui also says he will eventually take Kakuzu back to Konoha to work and atone, despite Kakuzu’s doubts.

Character developments

• Pakura begins eager but confident in her fighting ability. Her defeat humbles her, while Xuanhui’s encouragement gives her a healthier way to think about strength and motivates her to improve.
• Xuanhui shows both formidable skill and a nurturing side, balancing tough training with care and moral guidance.
• Kakuzu accepts limits on his former bounty-hunting practices and agrees to pursue a new livelihood. Though cynical about villages and bosses, he yields to Xuanhui’s direction.

Significant themes

• Strength and self-improvement: Progress comes from comparing oneself with one’s past, not constantly measuring against others.
• Protection and personal bonds: Protecting loved ones is presented as a deeper motivation than serving a village in the abstract.
• Redemption and accountability: Kakuzu is offered a path away from indiscriminate killing, but that path includes making amends.
• Compassion alongside discipline: Xuanhui defeats Pakura decisively, then tends to her injuries and recognizes her inner strength.

Character interactions

• Xuanhui and Pakura’s sparring becomes a lesson in resilience; his physical care and advice turn defeat into encouragement.
• Orochimaru and Kakuzu accompany Xuanhui as he departs, with little ceremony.
• Xuanhui and Kakuzu speak frankly about Kakuzu’s past and future: Xuanhui sets moral boundaries, while Kakuzu questions his place in the world but ultimately agrees to follow his guidance.

Key plot points and events

• After touring the Land of Rivers, Xuanhui and Orochimaru visit a mineral-transshipment branch run by Teng Ran-ichi, a businessman they once escorted.
• They arrange for Kakuzu to stay on as a mercenary guarding the facility. Teng Ran-ichi is initially wary, but Kakuzu impresses him by spotting cost savings and offering practical business advice, earning an immediate job offer.
• Xuanhui and Orochimaru return to Konoha after a seven- or eight-month journey. Their trip has brought them new abilities and materials, valuable artifacts and techniques, and Kakuzu as a subordinate.
• Hiruzen warmly welcomes them at the Hokage Building. Orochimaru shows him the legendary Kusanagi Sword and reports acquiring secret techniques; Xuanhui says he has mastered all seven chakra natures.
• At their laboratory, Xuanhui checks the surveillance system and discovers that Danzō and several Root operatives repeatedly tried to force their way inside while the pair were away.

Character developments and interactions

• Kakuzu reveals strong business instincts alongside his combat experience. His competence transforms Teng Ran-ichi’s suspicion into admiration and secures his employment.
• Xuanhui and Orochimaru return refreshed by their time away from war and research. Their journey has strengthened their abilities and expanded Orochimaru’s collection of techniques and artifacts.
• Hiruzen greets his students with evident affection and trusts Orochimaru to handle the secret techniques as he sees fit. The reunion becomes a relaxed exchange about what they gained.
• Xuanhui shifts from the satisfaction of returning home to anger when he learns Danzō and Root targeted the laboratory, vowing retaliation in a future war.

Significant themes

• Practical talent and opportunity: Kakuzu’s analytical ability earns him a place through demonstrated value, not reputation.
• Trust and mentorship: Hiruzen’s warm welcome and confidence in his students reinforce their bond.
• Conflict beneath the calm: The journey offers a break from war, but Danzō’s attempted intrusion shows that political danger and rivalry persist even in their absence.

Key plot points and events

• During a quiet period after the war, Xuanhui returns to Konoha and visits his family’s shop. His parents welcome him warmly and notice that he seems taller, stronger, and more composed.
• At the hospital, Xuanhui finds Tsunade and Dan Katō troubled by their effort to expand medical-ninja training. They have funding but too few volunteers, since most adult ninja are reluctant to learn a new specialty.
• Xuanhui recommends adding medical-ninja training to the Ninja Academy curriculum. He argues that the current peace will give the village time to train a new generation, and that visible results will eventually build support. Tsunade and Dan accept his long-term approach.
• Xuanhui learns that Tsunade and Dan have become a couple and congratulates them.
• He then visits Hatake Sakumo and meets Sakumo’s two-month-old son, Kakashi. Sakumo and his wife thank Xuanhui: Tsunade’s medical knowledge and equipment—made possible by Xuanhui and Orochimaru—helped save the mother and baby during a difficult birth.

Character developments and interactions

• Xuanhui reunites affectionately with his parents, who express concern and pride in his growth.
• He acts as a practical adviser to Tsunade and Dan, helping them shift from seeking immediate trainees to building a lasting academy program.
• Tsunade and Dan’s relationship has advanced from close colleagues to an official romance.
• The Hatake family’s gratitude reveals the far-reaching effects of Xuanhui’s earlier support for medical training and technology.

Significant themes

• Peace as an opportunity: A stable era allows Konoha to invest in reforms whose benefits will come later.
• Long-term thinking and institution-building: Training future generations may be more effective than trying to change reluctant adults.
• The ripple effects of good deeds: Xuanhui’s earlier efforts indirectly help save a family and welcome Kakashi into the world.

Summary

• Xuanhui returns to Konoha after visiting the Hatake compound. He asks Hiruzen to send Jiraiya a letter, enjoys a meal with his family, spends time in the laboratory with Orochimaru, and later meets Fugaku.
• Minato and Kushina reveal they are dating when Xuanhui, Fugaku, and Minato go out to eat. Fugaku is shocked that Minato broke their supposed agreement to wait until adulthood, and feels jealous when Kushina defends Minato. Xuanhui keeps quiet about the real story, and the friends soon make peace.
• Xuanhui visits Jiraiya and the children in Amegakure. Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato are delighted to see him. He checks on their studies and training, gives each a voice-transmitting jade pendant, and gives Jiraiya a chakra-powered quill. Jiraiya says he is writing a novel inspired by Nagato, though he has not settled on a title. Xuanhui then tells the children about his travels, beginning with the ruins of Uzushiogakure.
• Konoha’s education reform advances: Tsunade and Dan Katō’s proposal wins unanimous approval and is implemented the following year, beginning a modest reform of the village’s educational system. Xuanhui resumes his routine between the laboratory, missions, and visits to Amegakure. Orochimaru continues his research, while Minato and Fugaku become Chunin and begin taking missions independently.
• The chapter closes with a year passing and a long-awaited event approaching, though it is not yet revealed.

Character developments and interactions

Xuanhui reconnects with friends and the children he has mentored, rewarding their effort and encouraging their curiosity. Jiraiya’s affection for the children shows through his pride in their progress, while his playful banter with Xuanhui reveals their easy friendship. Minato and Kushina’s relationship is now openly romantic, and Kushina is fiercely protective of him. Fugaku’s teasing gives way to comic jealousy, but the group remains close.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes mentorship and education, from Xuanhui’s lessons and gifts to Konoha’s broader school reforms; friendship and affection, expressed through reunions and playful teasing; and growth over time, as the children develop their judgment and Minato and Fugaku advance to independent missions.

Plot points and events

• Now twelve, Xuanhui learns from Jiraiya that Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan are ready to graduate from his training. Nagato has mastered all five elemental natures.
• Xuanhui visits the orphanage he supports, where the rescued Kaguya woman and an Uzumaki couple work. His funding has made it independent of Danzō’s control; Xuanhui expects to hand leadership to Yakushi Nonō when she arrives.
• He spends the night with Jiraiya and the children, bringing them rewards to motivate them for a test the next day.
• In a private conversation, Xuanhui asks Nagato about Jiraiya’s belief that he may be the Child of Prophecy. Nagato says he wants to protect Yahiko’s dream and pursue peace.
• Xuanhui warns him that prophecy and powerful eyes do not guarantee he will remain true to himself. He urges Nagato to think independently, stay calm through hardship, and live for himself rather than blindly following others.
• The next morning, Jiraiya and Xuanhui begin the children’s taijutsu test. Using Xingyi Quan techniques they learned from Xuanhui’s manual, Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan charge Jiraiya together. He tries to target Konan, but she counters with Drilling Fist as the others close in.

Character developments

• Xuanhui acts as mentor and protector, supporting both the orphanage and the children’s growth. He takes particular care to temper Nagato’s idealism with self-reliance.
• Nagato is passionate about peace and loyal to Yahiko, but is uncertain about his own convictions. Xuanhui challenges him to develop an identity and judgment of his own.
• Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan have grown more disciplined and capable, combining Jiraiya’s lessons with the martial arts Xuanhui introduced.
• Konan demonstrates confidence and skill by responding effectively to Jiraiya’s attack.

Themes and interactions

• The chapter contrasts destiny with personal agency: Nagato may be the Child of Prophecy, but Xuanhui stresses that his choices and character matter more than a predicted role.
• Peace requires resilience, self-knowledge, and cooperation, not simply fervent belief or obedience.
• Care and protection appear both in Xuanhui’s practical support for the orphanage and in his guidance of Nagato.
• Xuanhui’s warm, playful encouragement of the children contrasts with the serious, intimate conversation in which he questions Nagato’s beliefs.

Key plot points and events

• Jiraiya tests Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato in taijutsu. Their coordinated martial-arts skills nearly overwhelm him, but their stamina fades and he defeats them. He praises their fundamentals while warning them not to expend all their strength at the start of a fight.
• Xuanhui gives them a genjutsu test. His Light Release technique, Lost Trail, distorts their vision and separates them from one another; he then traps each in a Sharingan illusion in which the other two die.
• Konan breaks free first, followed by Yahiko. Nagato remains trapped longest, but eventually forms a seal and escapes.
• Afterward, the three affirm that they will protect one another. They then take the ninjutsu test, impressing Jiraiya with their abilities.

Character development

• Yahiko is shaken by the illusion and relieved when he sees Konan safe. He openly promises to protect her and Nagato.
• Konan shows quick judgment by escaping the genjutsu first, and her distress reveals how deeply she fears losing her friends. She returns Yahiko’s embrace.
• Nagato confronts his fear of losing Yahiko and Konan. Escaping the illusion marks a step toward accepting the importance of protecting them, whether or not he is the Child of Prophecy.
• Jiraiya recognizes that the children are far more capable than expected, especially in taijutsu and ninjutsu.
• Xuanhui uses a deliberately upsetting illusion as a test, then urges Nagato to value and protect the people he cares about.

Significant themes

• Power as protection: Xuanhui stresses that strength should defend others, not exploit them.
• Facing fear and cherishing the present: Nagato’s illusion forces him to recognize how much he fears losing his friends.
• Teamwork and resilience: The trio’s coordination helps them challenge Jiraiya, while each must ultimately face and escape the genjutsu individually.

Character interactions

• Jiraiya spars with the trio and evaluates their skills; Xuanhui assists with the genjutsu test.
• Konan tries to help the still-trapped Nagato, but Xuanhui tells her to let him face the illusion himself.
• Yahiko comforts Konan, and she embraces him in return. Once free, Nagato joins them in promising to protect one another.
• In the final test, Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato display distinct specialties: Water Release, Paper Folding techniques, and mastery of all Five Nature Transformations, alongside newly awakened Rinnegan abilities.