Chapter Summaries

Naruto questioned whether the Third Hokage truly cared about him after comparing his guidance with Mikoto’s hands-on help, and Trumpet Nine told him to observe teachers and parents for seven days. In the Land of Water, Shien and Akabane found Haku scavenging beside a garbage heap, and Shien approached him.

• Naruto recalled that the Third Hokage gave him money and warnings but never taught him how to avoid repeating mistakes, and he wondered if the Hokage truly cared about him.
• Trumpet Nine refused to answer Naruto’s question, gave him another chance to fulfill their agreement, and told him to watch how teachers and parents treated children before contacting him in seven days.
• Shien and Akabane searched towns along Zabuza’s route in the Land of Water, hoping to find Haku.
• They found Haku rummaging through garbage while wearing a rusted iron collar, and he stopped himself from fighting a stray dog and its puppies for food.
• Haku left the food behind, feeling unwanted and exhausted, as Shien gestured for Akabane to stay back and walked toward him.

Shien freed Haku from his collar and recruited him as a companion, then cared for him before setting out to save another child in Kaguya Clan territory. Meanwhile, Obito learned Yagura would soon suppress the Kaguya Clan rebellion and planned to use the opportunity to attack him.

• Shien freed Haku, offered him a place at his side, and Haku agreed to become someone Shien needed.
• Shien took Haku to an inn, where Haku washed, changed into clean clothes, and received rewards that included herbalism knowledge and Ice Release: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals.
• After Haku ate, Shien announced they would head to Kaguya Clan territory to save another child, and Haku agreed to go with him.
• Obito asked Zetsu for news about Yagura Karatachi and declared he would kill him rather than give up on attacking Hidden Mist.
• Zetsu told Obito that Yagura would soon suppress the Kaguya Clan rebellion, then left to focus on recruiting for the organization.

Shien and Akabane brought Haku to the Kaguya Clan grounds, where Karatachi Yagura was confronting the clan over its plans to assassinate him. Shien advised Yagura to defeat the Kaguya repeatedly and offer them chances to submit, and the chapter left Yagura battling clan chief Kaguya Ranto.

• Shien carried the frail Haku as he and Akabane traveled to the Kaguya Clan grounds.
• Shien and his companions arrived to find Yagura and Hidden Mist Ninja facing the hostile Kaguya Clan.
• Shien advised Yagura to wear down the Kaguya Clan with repeated defeats and offers of mercy instead of wiping them out.
• Yagura challenged Kaguya Ranto to a fight, promising to withdraw if Ranto won and demanding submission if he lost.
• Yagura dodged and countered Ranto's bone-enhanced attacks with his hooked staff and Water Formation Wall.

Yagura defeated Kaguya Ranto but spared him, then followed Shien’s advice to send supplies and win over the Kaguya clan. The next morning, Yagura faced Ranto and four other fighters, while Shien hinted that the clan might have someone with the Dead Bone Pulse.

• Yagura shattered Ranto’s bone shield and defeated him, then spared his life and withdrew with the Hidden Mist troops.
• Yagura questioned Shien’s plan, and Shien advised him to pair military pressure with food and medicine for the Kaguya clan.
• Yagura ordered Mei Terumi to gather supplies and bring them to the clan grounds.
• The next morning, Ranto brought four Kaguya fighters, including Kaguya Renbu, to attack Yagura together.
• Akabane asked about promising Kaguya talents, and Shien hinted that someone in the clan might have the Dead Bone Pulse.

Yagura defeated the Kaguya Clan again, then sent them supplies and explained that an illusion had driven the Mizukage to persecute bloodline clans. On the third day, the Kaguya Clan presented Kimimaro for a final battle, but wooden vines suddenly restrained Yagura as the fight began.

• Yagura used the Three-Tails' Chakra cloak to withstand the Kaguya Clan's combined attacks, and Ranto admitted defeat.
• Hidden Mist ninja delivered food, water, and medicine while explaining that an evil man had controlled the Mizukage with an illusion.
• Ranto presented Kimimaro, who had a complete Shikotsumyaku, to fight Yagura on the third day.
• Kimimaro attacked Yagura with Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets and Dance of the Larch, impressing him with his talent.
• Thick wooden vines burst from the ground and restrained Yagura's legs and staff arm.

Obito ambushed Yagura during his fight with Kimimaro, but Shien intervened and attacked Obito after exposing his claim to be Madara Uchiha. Obito escaped with severe injuries by using Izanagi, then resolved to avoid further risks until he could complete the Eye of the Moon Plan.

• Obito trapped Yagura with Wood Release and struck him with a Genjutsu, but a Water Formation Wall blocked his shuriken as Shien rushed to attack.
• Obito claimed to be Madara Uchiha, and Shien mocked his disguise and challenged the credibility of his identity.
• Obito tried to kill Shien with a shuriken and escape through Kamui, but Shien used Izanami Echo to return to Obito and slash his chest.
• Obito fled underground with the Mayfly Technique, then used Izanagi to recover from his fatal wounds, sacrificing the Sharingan in his left eye.
• After escaping, Obito feared Shien knew Kamui's weakness and decided to stay cautious while pursuing the Eye of the Moon Plan.

Shien secured Kimimaro from Karatachi Yagura by offering intelligence on Obito’s space-time technique and help recovering the Kubikiribōchō. He left with Kimimaro and Haku, unaware that Kimimaro’s bloodline disease was expected to strike within two years.

• Shien asked Karatachi Yagura for Kimimaro, then offered information about the masked man and help finding the Kubikiribōchō in exchange.
• Kaguya Ranto privately spoke with Yagura, who agreed to let Shien take Kimimaro if the Kubikiribōchō was recovered within two years.
• Shien explained the limits of the masked man’s intangibility and warned Yagura that the man might revive after appearing to die.
• Shien told Kimimaro he would take him to find the meaning of life, and Haku welcomed Kimimaro as a companion.
• Shien left with Haku, Kimimaro, and Akabane, while Yagura learned from Ranto that Kimimaro’s bloodline disease would likely strike within two years.

Shisui used Kotoamatsukami to bring Orochimaru under the Uchiha’s control and lead him into the clan grounds to work with Kabuto. Meanwhile, Shien’s group sailed home, where Kimimaro helped a seasick Haku.

• Kabuto came to the Uchiha Clan Grounds to investigate for Orochimaru, while Hyuga Hayato detected Orochimaru waiting outside.
• Shisui confronted Orochimaru, used Kotoamatsukami to make him loyal to the Uchiha, and led him into the clan grounds with the promise of research help from Kabuto.
• Shien and his group began their voyage back to the Land of Fire, and Shien received rewards after Orochimaru’s fate changed.
• Kimimaro brought Haku water and ginger, then sat beside him and shielded him from the sea wind as Haku’s seasickness eased.

Naruto observed how adults patiently taught children to take responsibility, then questioned whether the Third Hokage truly cared about him. Trumpet Nine explained why villagers had bullied Naruto and set a new condition for revealing more, leaving Naruto determined to study harder.

• Naruto watched a teacher and a mother guide children through apologizing and fixing their mistakes, and compared their care with how the Third Hokage had handled his pranks.
• Naruto asked Aunt Mikoto whether people who cared taught others what to do instead of only forbidding their actions, and Mikoto said they did.
• Naruto returned to his apartment and told Trumpet Nine that he believed the Third Hokage did not truly care about him.
• Trumpet Nine explained that villagers had bullied Naruto because they blamed him for the Nine-Tails Incident and mistook him for the Demon Fox.
• Trumpet Nine said the rest of the explanation required another agreement, then went dormant after asking Naruto to rank among the class's top five on his final exam.
• Naruto decided to study seriously, then went downstairs when Mikoto called him to eat with Sasuke.

Shien received a Rasenshuriken reward for changing Naruto’s fate and set out with his companions for the Land of Grass to save someone else. Meanwhile, Pain addressed Akatsuki’s loss of funding, Orochimaru’s disappearance, and the organization’s new plans.

• Shien received Wind Release: Rasenshuriken as a reward for altering Naruto Uzumaki’s fate and decided to return to his clan to learn the Shadow Clone Techniques.
• Shien told Akabane that they would travel to the Land of Grass rather than return to Konoha, prompting Haku and Kimimaro to wonder who they would save next.
• Zetsu reported that Akatsuki’s funding from the Land of Water had been cut off after the Fourth Mizukage awakened and began an internal purge.
• Pain announced that Orochimaru had gone missing in the Land of Fire and ordered Akatsuki to pursue him, recover intelligence, and eliminate potential threats.
• Pain ordered Kakuzu, Sasori, and Juzo to take high-paying missions from the underground black market, while Fugaku and Itachi were tasked with seeking promising recruits.
• Pain instructed Zetsu to investigate Orochimaru’s disappearance and its possible connection to the Uchiha.