Summary of “Under Currents”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Kanda reveals that the unconscious patient he wants Yizhe to treat is his brother-in-law, who was severely injured by stray fire while fighting the Sky Ninja with Kirigakure’s forces in the western sea.
• Although the man survived, he suffered serious external and head injuries and has remained unconscious. Several doctors have already declared that they cannot help him.
• Kanda explains that he sought Yizhe out after seeing him save someone in public. He offers to waive repayment of the money he lent Yizhe, treating it as payment for the consultation.
• Yizhe agrees to examine the patient, cautiously noting that he may be able to help with trauma-related injuries but lacks the pharmacological knowledge to treat serious diseases.
• As Yizhe leaves his shop with Kanda, two thugs watching from an alley photograph him. Their leader decides not to attack or damage the shop again, fearing that Yizhe may be far more capable than he appears.
• While walking to Kanda’s home, Kanda recounts the battle’s devastating outcome: nearly all the participating ninjas died in a massive explosion. His brother-in-law survived only because his injuries forced him to return early, while another family’s son was killed.

Character Developments

• Yizhe: Shows compassion and professionalism by agreeing to help despite uncertainty about the patient’s condition. His judgment of Kanda improves when he learns that Kanda has patiently supported and sought treatment for his bedridden relative.
• Kanda: Reveals a responsible and family-oriented side beneath his earlier opportunistic behavior. He is desperate but respectful of Yizhe’s abilities and willing to pay him fairly.
• The cigarette-smoking thug: Demonstrates caution and street wisdom. Rather than blindly following orders, he recognizes Yizhe as potentially dangerous and prioritizes survival over pointless violence.
• The injured brother-in-law: Though absent, his condition becomes central to the chapter and represents both survival and the lingering consequences of war.

Significant Themes

• Family loyalty and responsibility: Kanda’s efforts to care for his brother-in-law show his devotion despite financial and emotional strain.
• The human cost of war: The battle has left people dead, gravely injured, or permanently traumatized, emphasizing that survival itself can be a fragile form of luck.
• Caution versus recklessness: The thugs’ decision not to attack reflects the importance of recognizing danger and avoiding unnecessary conflict.
• Limits of knowledge and healing: Yizhe is willing to try, but he acknowledges the boundaries of his medical abilities, especially regarding complex diseases and pharmacology.
• Hidden dangers beneath ordinary life: The seemingly simple medical visit occurs amid surveillance and possible threats against Yizhe’s shop.

Character Interactions

• Kanda appeals to Yizhe for medical help, and their conversation shifts Yizhe’s perception of him from a suspicious or unserious shopkeeper to a caring family member.
• Yizhe and Kanda develop a temporary doctor-patient relationship built on trust, with Kanda expressing confidence in Yizhe while Yizhe remains cautiously realistic.
• The two thugs’ discussion reveals an internal contrast between reckless aggression and calculated restraint.
• Kanda’s account of the battlefield connects his family’s personal suffering to the broader tragedy affecting the community.

Chapter Summary: “Husband and Wife”

• Plot and events: Kanda brings Yizhe to his home to meet his wife, Meihui, and asks him to treat Meihui’s seriously ill younger brother. After welcoming Yizhe with expensive tea, the couple leads him upstairs to the patient’s room. The brother is a thin, middle-aged man lying on a mattress, connected to an IV and bearing large scars on his recently regrown scalp. Yizhe insists on examining him immediately rather than accepting more hospitality, then asks Kanda and Meihui to leave so he can privately inspect the patient using a “secret technique.”
• Character development: Yizhe is shown to be observant, courteous, proud, and highly conscious of repaying others’ kindness. Though initially surprised by Meihui’s appearance, he quickly recognizes the couple’s deep devotion and becomes concerned about living up to their expectations. Kanda appears humorous and somewhat henpecked, but his behavior reveals strong loyalty and gratitude toward his wife and her family. Meihui, despite her stern and imposing appearance, is caring, anxious, and eager to save her younger brother.
• Character interactions: Kanda introduces Yizhe to Meihui and hurriedly brings him inside, while Meihui initially questions the unfamiliar young doctor. Once she learns Yizhe’s purpose, she becomes welcoming and prepares excellent tea. Kanda explains that Meihui was once beautiful and that their relationship endured poverty, emphasizing his lasting love and gratitude. Yizhe responds respectfully, avoids prying into their marriage, and reassures them that he will assess the patient before making promises.
• Themes: The chapter emphasizes enduring marital loyalty, gratitude, family devotion, and the importance of judging people by their character rather than appearance. It also highlights Yizhe’s professional responsibility: hospitality and emotional pressure increase his determination to evaluate the patient honestly before claiming he can save him.

Chapter Summary: “Diagnosis”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the Kanda couple leave the room, Yizhe activates his Byakugan to examine their unconscious relative.
• Using its enhanced vision and his enormous spiritual power, he scans the patient’s head, blood vessels, and brain.
• Yizhe discovers numerous untreated blood clots around and inside the brain. These blockages are compressing the cranial nerves and preventing the man from waking.
• He determines that the patient’s delayed treatment and the era’s primitive medical methods have caused irreversible brain damage. Although the man’s life can likely be saved, Yizhe cannot guarantee that he will regain consciousness or return to normal.
• Yizhe calls the Kanda couple back in and explains the seriousness of the condition. He warns that the patient’s health is continuing to deteriorate and that he may eventually die without treatment.
• Kanda and Meihui react differently: Meihui breaks down in grief and begs Yizhe to save her brother, while Kanda remains more composed and asks for a clear explanation.
• Yizhe reassures them that he can prevent the patient’s condition from worsening and likely save his life, but his damaged brain may never recover fully.
• Kanda accepts the uncertain outcome, valuing survival over a complete recovery. Yizhe instructs him to move the patient to the rice shop, where treatment can be administered over an extended period.

Character Developments

• Yizhe demonstrates the medical potential of his Byakugan, using it not merely for combat or observation but for highly precise diagnosis. He is careful and honest about the limits of his abilities rather than making false promises.
• Kanda is portrayed as rational and practical. Although concerned for his relative, he controls his emotions, silences Meihui when her crying becomes disruptive, and accepts Yizhe’s difficult prognosis.
• Meihui reacts with intense emotional distress. Her grief shifts from hope to despair, then back to cautious hope when she learns that Yizhe can still save her brother’s life.

Significant Themes

• Limits of healing and medicine: Advanced insight and treatment can repair physical damage, but irreversible injury—especially to the brain—cannot always be undone.
• The consequences of delayed treatment: The patient’s worsening condition results from untreated internal damage and inadequate medical care after his original injury.
• Hope amid uncertainty: Yizhe cannot promise recovery, but he offers a chance of survival and stabilization, which the family accepts.
• Responsible use of power: Yizhe’s extraordinary abilities are paired with caution, humility, and truthful communication about what he can and cannot accomplish.
• Family devotion: Meihui’s desperation and Kanda’s willingness to seek every possible remedy reveal the family’s concern for the unconscious patient.

Character Interactions

• Yizhe carefully explains the diagnosis to the Kanda couple, balancing medical clarity with compassion.
• Meihui repeatedly pleads for her brother’s salvation, while Kanda acts as the calmer intermediary.
• Kanda’s acceptance of Yizhe’s limitations strengthens their cooperation, leading to the decision to relocate the patient to the rice shop for continued treatment.

Chapter Summary: “Ripples”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After treating Kanda’s younger brother and giving the couple instructions, Yizhe prepares to return home rather than intrude on their married life.
• Kanda’s wife, Meihui, insists on seeing him off. Once away from the house, she privately asks whether he can create weight-loss medicine.
• Yizhe initially says he cannot, but then suggests he may research it in the future. He recognizes weight-loss medicine as a potentially lucrative business, since women’s desire for beauty and concerns about aging and obesity are universal.
• Meihui is delighted by this possibility and returns home while Yizhe continues alone.
• Because he memorized the route earlier, Yizhe easily finds his way back, taking narrow alleys to shorten the journey.
• He realizes that three men have been following him. Rather than flee, he deliberately lures them into an empty alley and provokes them into revealing themselves.
• The men appear to be members of the gang responsible for vandalizing the old man’s shop. Their leader claims they intend to cripple Yizhe, believing this will earn them credit with their boss.
• The two stronger henchmen hesitate, fearing punishment from the law-enforcing Mist Ninja, but the leader convinces them that attacking an outsider will have few consequences.
• The henchmen surround Yizhe and attack him from both sides. Yizhe remains completely calm, pointing out that he knowingly allowed them to corner him.
• The leader realizes too late that Yizhe is confident because he possesses overwhelming strength.
• Yizhe catches both attackers’ fists with one hand each, stopping their blows effortlessly, and declares that they understand nothing about true power.

Character Developments

• Yizhe: Demonstrates practicality, ambition, and self-confidence. His interest in developing weight-loss medicine reveals his growing awareness of commercial opportunities. His decision to confront the stalkers shows that he is observant, fearless, and certain of his superior abilities.
• Meihui: Reveals her insecurity and strong desire to lose weight. Her admiration for Yizhe’s medical skill deepens, and she becomes hopeful that he may solve a problem that has troubled her for years.
• Kanda’s gang members: Their cowardice and self-interest become clear. Although they act aggressively, they fear the Mist Ninja and hesitate to disobey their boss. Their overconfidence leads them to underestimate Yizhe.
• The gang leader: Tries to manipulate his subordinates by promising that harming Yizhe will earn them merit, but he fails to recognize the danger until it is too late.

Significant Themes

• Power versus arrogance: The gang mistakes Yizhe’s youth and outsider status for weakness, while Yizhe’s calmness reflects genuine superiority.
• Hidden strength and deception: Yizhe allows his enemies to believe they have the advantage, only revealing his strength at the moment of attack.
• Ambition and opportunity: His consideration of weight-loss medicine shows his willingness to turn medical knowledge into wealth.
• Outsider prejudice: The gang assumes Yizhe can be attacked with limited consequences because he is not from the town.
• Fear of authority: Even criminals who are willing to attack others remain wary of the Mist Ninja and the consequences of being caught.

Character Interactions

• Meihui respectfully but eagerly persuades Yizhe to consider developing weight-loss medicine, while Yizhe responds with a cautious but commercially minded promise.
• Yizhe later confronts the three gang members verbally, taunting them until they reveal themselves.
• The leader pressures the two reluctant henchmen into attacking by appealing to their loyalty and greed.
• The attackers attempt to overwhelm Yizhe from opposite directions, but he effortlessly stops both of them, reversing the power dynamic and ending the chapter on a display of his dominance.

Chapter Summary: “Following the Trail”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yizhe effortlessly defeats the two men who attack him, using his strength to spin them into a wall and knock them unconscious. He deliberately restrains himself to avoid killing them, knowing that a death would attract the attention of Kirigakure’s law-enforcing ninja and risk exposing his identity.
• The gang’s leader immediately flees when he sees his companions defeated. Yizhe activates his Byakugan, tracks the man through several streets, and catches up with him in an alley.
• Terrified and aware that he cannot escape, the leader agrees to take Yizhe to the gang’s hideout in exchange for avoiding further punishment.
• Yizhe reveals his real intention: rather than simply scouting the gang, he plans to confront and eliminate the threat at its source. Since taking over the old man’s shop, he has expected the gang to return and harass him.
• The leader guides Yizhe across town to a large, attractive estate occupied by the gang. Yizhe mocks them for living comfortably in a property they likely seized by force.

Character Developments

• Yizhe: Demonstrates overwhelming physical strength, superior perception through the Byakugan, and considerable self-control. Although he is willing to fight, he avoids killing to preserve his peaceful life and conceal his identity. He also shows initiative and strategic thinking by choosing to deal with the gang proactively rather than remain constantly defensive.
• The gang leader: Reveals himself to be cowardly but highly survival-oriented. He abandons his companions without hesitation, relying on instinct to escape danger. Once cornered, he quickly cooperates and leads Yizhe to the hideout, prioritizing his own safety over loyalty.
• The two attackers: Their confidence collapses immediately after Yizhe defeats them. Their defeat establishes the enormous gap between their strength and his.

Significant Themes

• Strength tempered by restraint: Yizhe possesses enough power to kill easily but consciously limits himself, showing that control is as important as strength.
• Proactive justice and self-protection: Rather than waiting for the gang to attack repeatedly, Yizhe decides to remove the threat entirely.
• Fear and survival instinct: The leader’s flight and surrender contrast with Yizhe’s calm confidence, emphasizing the psychological impact of overwhelming power.
• Hidden identity and caution: Yizhe must balance his desire for peace with the need to avoid attracting official attention or exposing his background.
• Abuse of power and retribution: The gang’s occupation of a luxurious estate suggests their history of exploiting others, making Yizhe’s coming confrontation a form of retaliation.

Character Interactions

• Yizhe humiliates and defeats the two attackers while warning them not to overestimate themselves.
• He tracks down the fleeing leader and confronts him in a teasing but intimidating manner.
• The leader, frightened and helpless, agrees to guide Yizhe to the gang’s base.
• Their journey ends at the gang’s estate, where Yizhe openly criticizes the group’s criminal lifestyle and prepares to confront its members.

Chapter Summary: “Feeling Out the Situation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yizhe and the thugs he has captured arrive at the manor belonging to the local gang.
• Rather than asking a captive to open the gate, Yizhe uses the man’s body as a projectile, throwing him through the heavy wooden gates.
• The impact destroys the gates and sends the captive crashing through a wall and into a house. Yizhe checks him with the Byakugan and confirms that, although badly injured, he is still alive.
• The crash alerts the gang members inside, but they respond in confusion and panic. Their lack of discipline reveals that they are accustomed to bullying weaker people rather than defending themselves against serious opposition.
• Yizhe enters the manor and openly declares that he has come to cause trouble.
• Two shark-like Hoshigaki Clan members emerge as the apparent leaders of the gang. Recognizing them from the elders’ descriptions, Yizhe realizes they are among the three Hoshigaki said to be in charge.
• The Hoshigaki leaders conclude that confrontation is unavoidable and prepare to attack Yizhe from opposite sides.
• Yizhe notices that only two of the three expected Hoshigaki leaders are present, suggesting that the missing member may be nearby or preparing a surprise attack.

Character Developments

• Yizhe demonstrates overwhelming physical strength, confidence, and a ruthless but controlled fighting style. Although he uses a captive violently, he deliberately avoids killing him and verifies his survival with the Byakugan.
• His calm behavior contrasts sharply with the gang’s panic, reinforcing his superiority and control over the situation.
• The captured thug remains terrified and obedient, relying on submission as his method of survival. He becomes an unwilling tool in Yizhe’s assault.
• The gang members are shown to be disorganized and inexperienced when faced with a genuine threat.
• The Hoshigaki leaders display greater caution and tactical awareness than their followers. They understand that Yizhe may be dangerous and quickly organize a coordinated attack.

Significant Themes

• Power and intimidation: The gang normally rules through fear, but Yizhe reverses the power dynamic by invading their stronghold without hesitation.
• Bullies confronted by a stronger force: The gang’s reputation collapses when they encounter someone who is not intimidated by them.
• Calculated violence: Yizhe acts brutally but with restraint, intending to incapacitate rather than kill.
• Caution beneath confidence: Both sides assess each other, emphasizing that the confrontation may involve more strategy than a simple clash of strength.
• The unknown threat: The absent third Hoshigaki creates suspense and suggests that Yizhe may not yet understand the full danger inside the manor.

Character Interactions

• Yizhe dominates the frightened captive, dismissing his assumptions and using him to break through the gates.
• The captive’s terror highlights Yizhe’s physical superiority and the coercive relationship between them.
• The gang members react with confusion and hostility, shouting threats once they realize an intruder has entered.
• Yizhe and the Hoshigaki leaders exchange brief but confrontational remarks. Yizhe openly admits that he has come to cause trouble, eliminating any possibility of peaceful negotiation.
• The two Hoshigaki brothers communicate privately and agree to attack Yizhe from opposite sides, while Yizhe silently studies them and remains alert to the missing third leader.

Chapter Summary: “Length Is Strength”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A group of roughly a dozen thugs attacks Yizhe under the command of two shark-faced Hoshigaki brothers, Gan Shi Youzhen and Gan Shi Zuozhen.
• Concealing his true abilities, Yizhe limits himself to restrained physical strength and taijutsu, intending to appear like a capable but ordinary medical ninja.
• He effortlessly catches a falling staff and swings the attacker around, using him like a weapon to knock away the surrounding lackeys.
• Recognizing Yizhe’s overwhelming strength, Youzhen decides to intervene while Zuozhen attempts a surprise attack from behind.
• Yizhe deliberately snaps the staff during his strength contest with Youzhen. The sudden break disrupts Youzhen’s balance and allows Yizhe to strike Zuozhen in the face with the broken weapon.
• Yizhe mocks Zuozhen with the observation that “length is strength,” emphasizing the advantage of his greater reach over the shorter Kunai.
• Zuozhen loses two teeth and angrily demands that his brother kill Yizhe.
• Youzhen orders all the remaining lackeys to attack together, hoping they will create an opening.
• Yizhe quickly realizes that only the two Hoshigaki brothers possess meaningful ninja skill; the other attackers are little more than ordinary thugs.
• Losing patience, Yizhe ends the fight decisively. He moves through the crowd at high speed, knocking out the lackeys one by one until only the two brothers remain.

Character Developments

• Yizhe: Demonstrates exceptional strength, timing, tactical awareness, and combat control while deliberately hiding his more advanced abilities. He shows confidence and a playful, mocking attitude, but also carefully analyzes his enemies and adapts his strategy. His decision to stop “playing” reveals that the earlier exchange was merely a warm-up.
• Gan Shi Youzhen: Shown as the more cautious and tactically minded brother. He studies Yizhe, recognizes the danger he poses, and attempts to exploit openings rather than rushing recklessly. However, he is forced into a defensive position.
• Gan Shi Zuozhen: Established as arrogant and overconfident. His attempted sneak attack fails because he underestimates Yizhe’s awareness and reach, leaving him injured, humiliated, and enraged.
• The Lackeys: Their intimidation and numbers prove meaningless against Yizhe’s superior physical ability. After their initial failed assault, they become increasingly ineffective and are quickly defeated.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and restraint: Yizhe intentionally conceals his true identity and abilities, showing that his apparent skill is only a fraction of his real power.
• Strategy over brute force: Although the battle centers on physical strength, Yizhe wins through timing, reach, deception, and manipulating the broken staff to counter both brothers simultaneously.
• Overconfidence and underestimation: Zuozhen’s arrogance leads directly to his defeat, while Youzhen’s caution allows him to recognize the threat but cannot overcome it.
• Numbers versus individual superiority: The mob’s numerical advantage is useless against a combatant who vastly outclasses them.
• Humiliation and dominance: Yizhe’s taunts, especially “length is strength,” reinforce his psychological control over the encounter.

Character Interactions

• Yizhe clashes physically with Youzhen in a contest over the staff, creating a tense battle of strength.
• Zuozhen exploits this distraction to attempt a Kunai attack from behind, but Yizhe anticipates the danger and turns the situation against him.
• Youzhen shows concern for his injured brother and responds by ordering a coordinated assault.
• Yizhe repeatedly mocks the brothers’ efforts, maintaining an air of superiority while methodically dismantling their group.

Chapter Summary: “Shark Bullet”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gan Shi Youzhen and Gan Shi Zuozhen, leaders of a group of shark-faced fighters, confront Yizhe after he defeats many of their subordinates.
• Although intimidated by Yizhe’s overwhelming strength, the brothers feel obligated to fight to preserve their authority.
• They coordinate an attack using Water Release: Water Shark Bullet Technique, surrounding themselves in shark-shaped masses of water.
• Yizhe allows them to complete the technique because he is curious about their unusual physiques, immense but poorly refined chakra reserves, and apparent ability to breathe underwater.
• The brothers initially believe they have trapped Yizhe when he leaps into the air, but he uses their coordinated attack to his advantage.
• As the two water sharks charge from opposite sides, Yizhe strikes both brothers simultaneously with his fists, destroying their techniques and smashing them into the ground.
• He deliberately restrains his strength, leaving them severely injured but alive.
• Unable to move, Gan Shi Youzhen fearfully asks who Yizhe is and insists that the brothers never knowingly provoked someone so powerful.

Character Developments

• Yizhe is portrayed as calm, confident, and highly analytical. Rather than interrupting the brothers’ hand seals, he studies their techniques for possible inspiration and carefully controls his strength.
• His interest in their unusual bodies and underwater abilities reflects his broader approach to cultivation: observing others’ techniques and incorporating useful ideas into his own development.
• Gan Shi Youzhen shows practical judgment and responsibility as the more cautious elder brother, but he prioritizes defending his group’s reputation even when he recognizes they are outmatched.
• Gan Shi Zuozhen is more impulsive and aggressive, urging his brother to retaliate after being struck. His confidence rises during the attack but collapses when Yizhe effortlessly defeats them.
• The brothers’ shared tactics demonstrate their coordination, but their lack of refined chakra and combat skill makes them unable to compete with Yizhe.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming strength versus confidence: The brothers attempt to maintain authority despite recognizing Yizhe’s superiority, while Yizhe remains composed throughout.
• Learning through observation: Yizhe treats the battle as an opportunity to study unfamiliar techniques rather than merely a confrontation.
• Appearance and ability: The brothers’ shark-like faces initially seem strange, but their physical traits serve a practical purpose by allowing them to breathe and fight underwater.
• Pride and reputation: The brothers fight largely because failing to respond would undermine their leadership.
• Controlled power: Yizhe’s decision to hold back emphasizes both his mastery and his lack of unnecessary cruelty.

Character Interactions

• Gan Shi Zuozhen pressures Gan Shi Youzhen to stop talking and avenge their defeated men.
• The brothers coordinate their Water Shark Bullet attacks and briefly believe they have secured victory.
• Yizhe observes and evaluates their abilities, then exploits their side-by-side attack to defeat them both with simultaneous punches.
• The chapter ends with the injured brothers pleading for Yizhe’s identity and denying that they intentionally offended him.

Chapter Summary: “Intimidation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yizhe confronts the Hoshigaki brothers, Gan Shi Youzhen and Gan Shi Zuozhen, after defeating them and their men for targeting Chosaburo’s shop.
• He explains that he is now protecting the shop and warns them never to cause trouble there again.
• Youzhen recognizes Yizhe from an old photograph and realizes that the boy deliberately attacked them before they could destroy the shop.
• Yizhe avoids killing the brothers because doing so would attract the attention of the Mist Ninja and create panic among ordinary citizens. Instead, he chooses intimidation and physical punishment.
• Zuozhen defiantly threatens Yizhe by invoking their absent elder brother. When he refuses to answer Yizhe’s questions, Yizhe breaks one of his fingers.
• Horrified by the pain and by Yizhe’s calm, gentle manner, Zuozhen immediately submits and promises not to cause trouble again.
• Yizhe leaves after warning them that a second offense would result in all ten of Zuozhen’s fingers being broken. Once he disappears, the less-injured gang members help their leaders out of the dirt pit.

Character Developments

• Yizhe: Demonstrates his willingness to use violence strategically rather than impulsively. He is protective of Chosaburo and the shop, but deliberately avoids murder to prevent official investigation. His calm, almost polite demeanor while inflicting pain makes him appear especially frightening.
• Gan Shi Youzhen: Recognizes Yizhe and quickly understands that the brothers have underestimated him. He becomes cautious and submissive, attempting to restrain his younger brother and prevent further punishment.
• Gan Shi Zuozhen: Initially remains aggressive and defiant, but his stubbornness collapses after Yizhe breaks his finger. Fear forces him to abandon his bravado and accept Yizhe’s conditions.
• The Hoshigaki gang: Their confidence and authority are severely undermined. Yizhe’s beating establishes that they are vulnerable despite their reputation and physical strength.

Significant Themes

• Intimidation as a form of control: Yizhe uses pain and fear to discourage future attacks without resorting to killing.
• Strength and hierarchy: The brothers, who normally prey on weaker people, immediately submit when confronted by someone stronger.
• Mercy versus violence: Yizhe considers himself merciful because he does not kill them, but his “mercy” is still terrifying and deliberately cruel.
• Consequences of underestimating others: The brothers assumed Yizhe was an insignificant boy helping Chosaburo, only to discover that he was far more dangerous than expected.
• Power and public order: Yizhe must balance protecting the shop with avoiding actions that would provoke intervention from the Mist Ninja.

Character Interactions

• Yizhe confronts both brothers and establishes himself as the shop’s protector.
• Youzhen recognizes Yizhe and tries to keep Zuozhen from provoking him.
• Zuozhen’s defiance leads directly to his punishment, while Youzhen is forced to watch helplessly.
• Yizhe’s gentle tone contrasts with his brutal actions, intensifying the brothers’ fear and emphasizing his psychological dominance over them.

Summary: “A Startling Appearance”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After being brutally defeated by the mysterious ghostlike youth, the Gan Shi brothers are helped out of the crater while their injured lackeys whisper about the attack.
• The frightened subordinates stop talking when they notice that both leaders are sitting in grim silence. They retreat to avoid becoming targets of the brothers’ anger.
• Gan Shi Zuozhen, the third brother, asks whether they will simply tolerate the humiliation. Gan Shi Youzhen, the more calculating second brother, dismisses the servants and insists they discuss retaliation privately.
• Although neither brother believes they can defeat the youth themselves, they refuse to let the matter go. Youzhen admits that their combined technique, the Great Shark Bullet, was destroyed with a single punch, suggesting that even their eldest brother may not be strong enough to win.
• Youzhen proposes hiring an outside assassin or ninja, preferably someone at least at Upper Ninja level who can keep the employer’s identity secret. Zuozhen eagerly agrees.
• Before they can act, an extremely dense mist suddenly fills the courtyard. Youzhen recognizes it as the Hidden Mist Technique, revealing that a powerful Mist Ninja has infiltrated their territory.
• A mysterious woman appears within the fog. She deliberately allows the brothers to glimpse her silhouette but keeps her face hidden.
• The woman offers to carry out their revenge without payment and promises that they will suffer no loss even if she fails.
• Suspicious, Youzhen repeatedly asks what she truly wants. She finally answers that she only wants “an excuse to make a move.”

Character Developments

• Gan Shi Youzhen is shown to be the more intelligent, cautious, and strategic brother. Rather than lash out at their servants, he recognizes the limits of their strength and devises a plan involving a hired expert.
• Gan Shi Zuozhen remains hot-tempered and vindictive, but he is not entirely foolish. He understands that they need reinforcements and follows Youzhen’s plan.
• The brothers’ confidence is badly shaken by the youth’s overwhelming power. Their realization that even their absent eldest brother might lose emphasizes the seriousness of the threat.
• The mysterious woman is introduced as calm, confident, and highly capable. Her mastery of the Hidden Mist Technique demonstrates that she is at least Upper Ninja level, while her unclear motives make her difficult to trust.

Significant Themes

• Humiliation and revenge: The brothers cannot accept being defeated publicly and immediately begin planning retaliation.
• Power and vulnerability: Their failed Great Shark Bullet exposes the gap between their perceived authority and their actual strength.
• Cunning over brute force: Youzhen realizes that direct confrontation is impossible and turns to manipulation and hired assistance.
• Suspicion and hidden motives: The woman’s free offer is unsettling because her true objective remains concealed.
• Fear and authority: The lackeys fear punishment from their leaders, while the brothers themselves are rendered helpless by the arrival of an even more mysterious power.

Character Interactions

• The injured lackeys avoid discussing the defeated youth in front of the brothers, showing their fear and the oppressive hierarchy within the group.
• Youzhen prevents Zuozhen from punishing the servants, arguing that doing so would only make them appear more incompetent.
• The brothers cooperate despite their different personalities: Zuozhen supplies anger and enthusiasm, while Youzhen supplies caution and strategy.
• The woman engages primarily with Youzhen, whose skepticism contrasts with Zuozhen’s impatience. Their exchange establishes her as both an apparent solution to their problem and a potential new danger.

Chapter Summary: “Micro-Operations”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The mysterious powerhouse who intervened on behalf of the Hoshigaki Brothers disappears after the fog clears. The brothers are left humiliated and entrust Yizhe with avenging them, since they were powerless to negotiate with such a formidable figure.
• After returning to his shop, Yizhe receives the promised one-million-ryo loan from Kanda, the neighboring rice-shop owner. Kanda generously declares that the money can serve as payment for treating his brother-in-law, sparing Yizhe the burden of debt.
• Yizhe begins treating Kanda’s brother-in-law, who suffers from blood clots in the brain and small blood vessels. Using his Byakugan, silver needles, and chakra needles, Yizhe performs an extremely delicate microsurgical procedure to break up the larger clots.
• His technique cannot reach the finest blood vessels and capillaries, but it is sufficient to stabilize the patient and preserve his life. Whether the man will regain consciousness remains uncertain.
• Yizhe develops his first original medicinal prescription to help dissolve blood clots. He cautiously tests the formula on chickens and himself before administering it, prioritizing safety over potency.
• After several treatments, the patient’s complexion improves noticeably, giving Kanda and his wife Meihui hope despite the man remaining unconscious.
• With his clinic’s renovation nearly complete, Yizhe worries about obtaining a reliable supply of medicinal herbs. He asks Kanda for information about local herb merchants.
• Kanda directs him to Yamamoto’s shop, a medicinal-herb dealer, and offers to accompany Yizhe because of his local knowledge. Yizhe accepts, recognizing that Kanda’s help will make the purchasing process easier.

Character Developments

• Yizhe demonstrates growing confidence and ingenuity as a medical practitioner. His Byakugan gives him an unusual advantage in microsurgery, allowing him to attempt procedures even his teacher, Tsunade, would consider too dangerous.
• Yizhe also shows caution and responsibility. Although he is effectively using the patient as his first major test case for a self-created prescription, he conducts extensive preliminary testing and chooses a weaker, safer formula.
• Kanda becomes increasingly supportive and trusting of Yizhe. His willingness to forgive the loan and assist with the herb business reflects his gratitude and faith in the young doctor.
• Kanda’s wife, Meihui, shifts from despair to cautious optimism as her brother’s physical condition improves.
• The Hoshigaki Brothers are shown as humbled and powerless after encountering the mysterious powerhouse, leading them to rely on Yizhe for revenge.

Significant Themes

• Medical innovation and experimentation: Yizhe pushes beyond conventional treatment methods, combining chakra control, specialized vision, and traditional tools to perform microsurgery.
• Caution versus ambition: Although Yizhe seeks to advance his abilities, he carefully tests his medicine and accepts the limits of his technique.
• Trust and gratitude: Kanda’s financial support and cooperation show how successful treatment creates bonds of trust between neighbors.
• Powerlessness before overwhelming strength: The Hoshigaki Brothers’ humiliation contrasts with Yizhe’s developing expertise, emphasizing that strength can take forms beyond combat.
• Hope amid uncertainty: The patient’s improvement offers encouragement, even though recovery is not guaranteed.

Character Interactions

• The Hoshigaki Brothers indirectly place responsibility for revenge on Yizhe after their encounter with the mysterious powerhouse.
• Yizhe and Kanda’s relationship develops from a financial arrangement into a cooperative partnership based on medical trust and mutual assistance.
• Yizhe treats Kanda’s brother-in-law while concealing the experimental nature of his medicine to avoid alarming Kanda.
• Kanda’s optimism grows alongside Meihui’s improved outlook, strengthening their confidence in Yizhe.
• Kanda and Yizhe agree to visit the herb merchant Yamamoto together, marking the practical beginning of the clinic’s preparation for opening.

Chapter Summary: “Tonic Medicine”

Key plot points and events

• Before leaving his shop, Yizhe hides a Shadow Clone there to prevent the troublesome Hoshigaki Brothers from causing problems.
• He accompanies Kanda to Yamamoto’s herbal medicine shop to purchase medicinal supplies.
• Kanda introduces Yizhe as an exceptional healer, loudly praising his previous rescues and criticizing the medical ninja and doctors who had failed to help.
• Yamamoto recognizes Yizhe’s reputation and treats him respectfully.
• Their introduction is interrupted when Kanda notices a burning smell. Yamamoto had left a pot of medicine boiling, ruining the tonic he was preparing.
• Yizhe identifies the medicine as a health tonic and examines Yamamoto’s pulse. He diagnoses insomnia caused by excessive use of restorative medicine and internal heat.
• Rather than telling Yamamoto to stop completely, Yizhe advises him to reduce the dosage, exercise more, and avoid relying too heavily on medicine.
• Kanda interrupts the medical discussion and reminds everyone that they came to buy herbs.

Character developments

• Yizhe continues establishing himself as a capable healer. His knowledge allows him to identify herbs by scent, recognize the tonic’s purpose, and diagnose Yamamoto through observation and pulse-taking. He also shows practical judgment by giving moderate, sustainable health advice instead of recommending more medicine.
• Kanda proves himself an energetic, persuasive businessman. He tries to improve Yizhe’s reputation through extravagant praise, though Yizhe finds his flattery excessive and decides he may not want to bring him along again.
• Yamamoto is introduced as a strong, middle-aged herbal shop owner who respects genuine medical ability. Despite his knowledge of herbs, he lacks the expertise to diagnose himself and is reluctant to reduce his tonic intake.
• Yizhe’s decision to use a Shadow Clone shows his growing caution and awareness of possible trouble from the Hoshigaki Brothers.

Significant themes

• Reputation and social influence: Kanda’s praise helps Yizhe gain credibility with Yamamoto, demonstrating how reputation can open doors in business and medicine.
• Medical knowledge versus blind treatment: Yizhe warns that excessive supplementation can be harmful and that medicine should not replace balanced habits or exercise.
• Respect for expertise: Yamamoto immediately treats Yizhe respectfully once he learns of the boy’s healing abilities, regardless of Yizhe’s young age.
• Commercial relationships: The meeting blends business, networking, and medical consultation, showing how merchants depend on trust and useful connections.
• Practical restraint: Yizhe’s advice emphasizes moderation rather than extreme cures or complete rejection of treatment.

Character interactions

• Kanda acts as Yizhe’s enthusiastic promoter when speaking with Yamamoto, while Yizhe reacts with embarrassment to the exaggerated praise.
• Yamamoto initially doubts that a teenage boy could represent a major deal, but his attitude changes once he recognizes Yizhe’s reputation.
• Yizhe diagnoses Yamamoto’s sleeping problems, creating a brief doctor-patient relationship in the middle of their business meeting.
• Kanda’s interruption at the end restores the original purpose of the visit: purchasing medicinal herbs.

Chapter Summary: “Buy Medicine”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yizhe visits Yamamoto’s medicine shop with Kanda to purchase herbs for his soon-to-open clinic.
• He explains that he needs nearly one hundred varieties of medicinal herbs, with larger quantities of common herbs and smaller amounts of rare ones due to limited funds.
• Yamamoto warns that preparing such a large order may take time, but agrees to deliver everything within two days, once the clinic’s renovations are complete.
• Yamamoto refuses to take a deposit, trusting Kanda’s reputation and judgment.
• Kanda proudly reacts to Yamamoto’s praise, but his protruding belly causes both Yamamoto and Yizhe to laugh.
• Kanda explains that he intentionally gained weight to support his wife Meihui, who had become insecure about her own weight. His appearance also unexpectedly made customers view his rice shop as warm and approachable, improving business.
• Yizhe ends the meeting tactfully to spare Kanda further embarrassment. Kanda leaves while jokingly threatening revenge against Yamamoto for laughing at him.
• The scene shifts to Kirigakure’s Mizukage Building, where Ao reports to Yagura that Terumi Mei has found an opportunity for Yagura to fight the young man—presumably Yizhe.
• Yagura, initially uninterested in administrative matters, becomes immediately excited upon hearing the news.

Character Developments

• Yizhe demonstrates careful planning and financial restraint while preparing to open his clinic. He also shows social awareness by protecting Kanda from prolonged embarrassment.
• Yamamoto is established as generous, commercially capable, and confident in his ability to fulfill a large order quickly. His trust in Kanda reflects the importance he places on merchant reputation.
• Kanda is shown to be good-natured, loyal, and deeply considerate toward his wife. His weight gain is revealed as a self-sacrificing act to help Meihui feel less alone.
• Yagura appears detached from ordinary government affairs but becomes intensely interested in the prospect of fighting Yizhe.
• Ao acts as the messenger and appears pleased to deliver news that excites Yagura.

Significant Themes

• Trust and reputation: Yamamoto waives the deposit because he trusts Kanda’s long-standing reputation, emphasizing how business relationships depend on credibility.
• Loyalty and sacrifice: Kanda’s decision to gain weight alongside Meihui highlights his devotion to his wife.
• Entrepreneurship and preparation: Yizhe carefully balances the clinic’s needs against his limited finances and plans to replenish his supplies as income increases.
• Humor and camaraderie: The exchange about Kanda’s belly creates a lighthearted bond among the merchants, though Yizhe also recognizes when the joke has gone far enough.
• Anticipation of conflict: The final scene shifts the tone from ordinary commerce to impending confrontation, setting up Yagura’s expected battle with Yizhe.

Character Interactions

• Yizhe and Yamamoto negotiate the herb order respectfully, with Yamamoto showing generosity and Yizhe showing practical judgment.
• Kanda serves as Yizhe’s trusted connection to Yamamoto and takes pride in endorsing him.
• Yamamoto and Yizhe laugh at Kanda’s appearance, but Yizhe intervenes when Kanda becomes uncomfortable.
• Ao’s report dramatically changes Yagura’s mood, revealing Yagura’s eagerness to confront the young man.

Summary: "The Medicine Arrived"

Key Plot Points

• Yamamoto arrives the following evening with a flatbed cart of medicinal herbs, having prepared everything Yizhe requested
• Yamamoto waited until renovations were complete to avoid disrupting the craftsmen
• Yizhe and Yamamoto (with his helper "Stone") unload and carry the herbs into the clinic
• The total order costs 620,000 ryo, but Yamamoto rounds it down to 600,000
• Yizhe retrieves the money from upstairs—where he'd stored the 1 million ryo Kanda paid him
• All herbs are placed into the medicine cabinets, and Yizhe announces the clinic will open the next day

Character Developments

• Yizhe: Demonstrates surprising physical strength (from childhood training); shows expertise in herb identification and storage; reveals strategic business thinking—he wants to open immediately to capitalize on his fading reputation before it disappears entirely
• Yamamoto: Displays genuine helpfulness and generosity; shows curiosity and respect toward Yizhe; embodies the merchant's value of trust and reliability

Significant Themes

• Trust in business relations: Merchants value trust above all else; Yamamoto delivers as promised and even offers flexible payment terms
• Professional diligence: Yizhe's choice of unpainted wooden furniture shows his careful attention to how lacquer could spoil medicinal herbs
• Timing and reputation: Yizhe understands that momentum matters—he must strike while the iron is hot to build his practice
• Self-reliance: Yizhe's refusal to buy on credit shows his independence and desire to avoid debt

Character Interactions

• Yizhe and Yamamoto maintain a warm, mutually respectful relationship; Yamamoto insists on helping carry the herbs despite Yizhe's protests
• Yamamoto's assistant "Stone" is silent and obedient, following orders without speaking
• Yamamoto is impressed by Yizhe's strength and offers a discount unprompted, showing his goodwill and desire to maintain a good relationship with the young doctor

Summary: “Wind Rises”

1. Key Plot Points

• Yizhe’s new clinic opens on the main road, replacing the former restaurant with a large “Medical” sign.
• He employs two beautiful hostesses borrowed from Tanako, the nearby tavern owner, to attract attention and generate word-of-mouth.
• Local residents remember Yizhe’s earlier emergency treatment and begin discussing the clinic; interest spreads.
• Yizhe remains alert, expecting the Hoshigaki Brothers to seek revenge now that his business is established.
• Kanda, the rice shop owner, arrives with a congratulatory flower basket but leaves it outside to keep the clinic uncluttered.
• Tanako visits too, and the three exchange pleasantries.
• Suddenly, a thick white mist (the Hidden Mist Technique) engulfs the street, causing panic and pouring into the clinic.
• In a hidden alley, the Hoshigaki Brothers wait with many men; they plan to use a powerful hired fighter to destroy the clinic and take revenge. Zuozhen hesitates, but Youzhen firmly insists on proceeding.

2. Character Developments

• Yizhe: Shows strategic thinking by using attractive hostesses as a marketing tactic. He is cautious, observant, and diplomatic—carefully avoiding calling Tanako “auntie” to stay on good terms.
• Kanda: Friendly and supportive neighbor; he respects the clinic’s purpose and shows mild awkwardness around Tanako.
• Tanako: Pragmatic and neighborly; she readily helps Yizhe and values having a doctor nearby.
• Hoshigaki Brothers: Their thirst for revenge remains strong. Zuozhen shows a flicker of hesitation at the critical moment, while Youzhen is ruthless and determined.

3. Significant Themes

• Reputation and community trust: The clinic’s success depends on word-of-mouth and public perception.
• Fragile peace: Everyday life is suddenly disrupted by ninja violence.
• Revenge and lingering enmity: Past conflicts return at the worst moment.
• Appearance vs. substance: Yizhe uses surface attractions (hostesses) to build his practice, but the core value lies in his medical skill.
• Hidden danger: The Hidden Mist Technique symbolizes unseen threats and the loss of security.

4. Character Interactions

• Yizhe and Kanda: Warm, slightly teasing conversation; Kanda shows respect and goodwill.
• Yizhe and Tanako: Grateful and polite; he thanks her for lending the hostesses and carefully flatters her.
• Kanda and Tanako: Amusing, mildly flirtatious tension; she teases him and he tries to compose himself.
• Hoshigaki Brothers: They coordinate their revenge plan in hiding, with a brief internal conflict when Zuozhen hesitates before Youzhen pushes forward.

Chapter Summary: “Clouds Gathering”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A powerful, shark-faced man from the Hoshigaki Clan uses a massive white-mist technique near Yizhe’s clinic to lure him away.
• Yizhe recognizes the man as being connected to the Hoshigaki Brothers and suspects he may be their previously unseen elder brother or a powerful ally from the Hoshigaki Clan.
• Yizhe reveals that he had anticipated trouble on the clinic’s opening day. He left a Shadow Clone at the clinic while hiding nearby in his real body, allowing him to respond to threats without leaving the shop defenseless.
• The shark-faced man discovers that the Yizhe at the clinic is only a clone. Rather than fight in the civilian district, he challenges Yizhe to battle outside town and flees toward the coast.
• Yizhe follows, sensing that his opponent is at least Upper Ninja level and possibly an Elite Upper Ninja. He becomes increasingly concerned about the Hoshigaki Brothers’ unexpected access to such a formidable fighter.
• Believing the mist signals Yizhe’s departure, the Hoshigaki Brothers prepare to raid the clinic in revenge. However, the more cautious second brother delays the attack, fearing that Yizhe may return.
• Because of their position in an alley, the brothers fail to notice that Yizhe’s clone remains inside the clinic, leaving their plan based on a false assumption.
• Meanwhile, Ao tracks Yizhe using his Byakugan. Despite still being injured and confined to a wheelchair, he orders Terumi Mei to follow Yizhe and prevent the situation from escalating.
• Yizhe and the shark-faced man eventually reach the coast. The man warns Yizhe that he will kill him if he proves disappointing, but his childish, almost innocent manner clashes strangely with his intimidating appearance.

Character Developments

• Yizhe demonstrates foresight and tactical caution by preparing a Shadow Clone in advance and keeping his true body nearby. He remains confident but recognizes the seriousness of facing an opponent who may surpass ordinary Upper Ninja strength.
• The shark-faced Hoshigaki fighter is established as highly powerful, arrogant, and unusual. His deliberate avoidance of civilian casualties suggests some restraint, while his childlike speech and behavior create uncertainty about his true personality.
• The Hoshigaki Brothers remain driven by revenge, but their contrasting personalities become clearer. The third brother is impulsive and foolish, while the second brother is more cautious and suspicious, preventing a premature attack.
• Ao shows dedication to protecting Hidden Mist’s interests despite his injuries. His concern is not only for Yizhe but also for preventing Yagura or the surrounding situation from becoming uncontrollable.
• Terumi Mei acts as Ao’s assistant and pursuer, following Yizhe despite lacking the Byakugan’s tracking ability.

Significant Themes

• Preparation versus deception: Yizhe’s hidden clone counters the Hoshigaki Brothers’ false assumption that they have successfully drawn him away.
• Escalating danger: What initially appears to be a dispute with two Genin develops into a confrontation with a potentially elite-level fighter.
• Caution and restraint: Both Yizhe and the shark-faced man avoid fighting in a civilian area, suggesting that the conflict is dangerous but not yet entirely uncontrolled.
• Uncertainty beneath appearances: The shark-faced man’s terrifying appearance contrasts with his strangely innocent demeanor, hinting that his identity and motives may be more complicated than they seem.
• Political responsibility: Ao and Mei’s intervention emphasizes that Yizhe’s actions could affect the wider Hidden Mist Village, not merely settle a personal grudge.

Character Interactions

• Yizhe and the shark-faced Hoshigaki member exchange threats and begin a deliberate pursuit toward an isolated battlefield.
• The Hoshigaki Brothers argue over when to attack the clinic, with the second brother restraining his reckless sibling.
• Ao gives Terumi Mei directions while tracking Yizhe, relying on her to pursue him and help prevent disaster.
• The chapter ends with Yizhe confronting the shark-faced man at the coast, where the opponent’s unsettlingly childlike behavior complicates the expected image of a ruthless enemy.

Chapter Summary: “Unrecognizable”

Plot Points and Events

• Yizhe questions the shark-faced man who claims to be Kisame Hoshigaki, asking whether he is related to the Hoshigaki Brothers or merely acting on their behalf.
• The man says he was sent by the brothers to settle their grudge with Yizhe. Rather than negotiate, he challenges Yizhe to a fight, declaring that the matter will be over if Yizhe defeats him or gives him an enjoyable battle.
• Yizhe immediately doubts the man’s identity. The stranger’s hesitation when stating his name, unnatural movements, and unfamiliar combat style lead Yizhe to suspect that he is using the Transformation Technique to disguise himself.
• The stranger refuses to reveal his true face, explaining that “the old guys” warned him not to let Yizhe recognize him.
• Combat begins. The man attacks with a powerful hooked club called the Coral Rod, smashing a large crater into the ground. Yizhe narrowly evades the initial blow.
• Yizhe catches the Coral Rod with his bare hand using Tenfold Monstrous Strength, discovering that the stranger possesses strength comparable to his own.
• Preparing to damage the weapon, Yizhe coats one hand in his incomplete Water Release: Chakra Mode, using it like a chakra-enhanced glove.
• The disguised fighter responds with Water Release: Iron Cannonball, launching a rapidly expanding, high-pressure water projectile at close range.
• Yizhe uses Twentyfold Monstrous Strength to split the water ball in half with a single strike. However, the two halves retain their momentum and slam into him, blasting him through the surrounding forest.
• The opponent is impressed that Yizhe managed to divide the Iron Cannonball and recognizes that Yizhe’s attack might have damaged or even broken the Coral Rod.

Character Developments

• Yizhe demonstrates sharp observational skills by recognizing that the supposed Kisame does not behave like a genuine, experienced fighter of that identity. He remains calm and analytical despite the bizarre situation.
• Yizhe also reveals increasing mastery of his abilities. Although his Water Release: Chakra Mode is incomplete, he can focus it effectively on one hand and combine it with his exceptional physical strength.
• His confidence is balanced by caution: he recognizes the opponent’s considerable strength and reacts quickly when the Iron Cannonball is fired at close range.
• The disguised man appears to be highly battle-oriented and becomes increasingly excited as the fight progresses. He is somewhat slow and awkward in speech, but his combat instincts and strength are formidable.
• The stranger’s reaction to Yizhe’s techniques shows that he is not merely reckless; he can assess danger and adapt quickly, using ninjutsu when a direct clash with Yizhe seems risky.

Significant Themes

• Identity and deception: The chapter centers on the uncertainty surrounding the opponent’s true identity. His claimed name conflicts with his appearance, mannerisms, and fighting style.
• Recognition and concealment: The stranger’s refusal to show his face suggests that Yizhe may know—or be expected to know—his real identity, creating a mystery behind the confrontation.
• Strength versus technique: The battle contrasts Yizhe’s overwhelming physical power and chakra-enhanced strikes with the opponent’s weapon skill and Water Release techniques.
• Combat as communication: The challenger treats fighting as the means of resolving conflict and judging others. Mutual respect begins to form as each fighter witnesses the other’s abilities.
• Incomplete power with effective application: Yizhe’s Chakra Mode is unfinished, but he uses it creatively and efficiently rather than relying solely on raw force.

Character Interactions

• Yizhe interrogates the stranger while attempting to determine whether he is a relative, ally, or impostor connected to the Hoshigaki Brothers.
• The stranger avoids answering directly, maintaining the mystery while openly challenging Yizhe.
• Their verbal exchange quickly becomes a physical test of strength. Yizhe blocks and threatens the Coral Rod, while the stranger counters with the Iron Cannonball.
• Though the battle ends with Yizhe being knocked into the forest, the stranger is visibly impressed by his opponent’s ability to split the water projectile and acknowledges the danger posed by Yizhe’s strength.

Chapter Summary: “Battle-Hungry”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yizhe survives being thrown into broken logs and assesses his opponent, the shark-faced man posing as Kisame Hoshigaki. He determines that the man is likely at Quasi-Kage level, especially after witnessing his ability to form hand seals with one hand at extraordinary speed.
• Believing the conflict may have been connected to the Hoshigaki Brothers, Yizhe tries to negotiate and end the fight peacefully. However, the opponent refuses, explaining that he will only let Yizhe leave if the battle entertains him; otherwise, he will kill him.
• The shark-faced man launches repeated Water Release: Iron Cannonball attacks. Yizhe dodges a barrage of high-pressure water spheres while moving through the forest, realizing that his opponent possesses both exceptional speed and enormous chakra reserves.
• When the attacker briefly slows, Yizhe retaliates with Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique. Thanks to his years of improvement and the abundant seawater nearby, Yizhe creates a massive wave several meters high.
• Rather than evade, the shark-faced man responds with his own Great Waterfall Technique. His version is even more powerful, and the two enormous waves collide, flooding the battlefield with mist and debris.
• Yizhe briefly activates his Byakugan to locate his opponent, but immediately hides it to avoid exposing his true identity as anything other than a wandering medical ninja.
• Using the confusion, Yizhe launches Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique, riding a water dragon toward his opponent.
• The shark-faced man calmly counters with Water Release: Water Mirror Technique, creating a transparent mirror from his palm just as Yizhe’s attack approaches.

Character Developments

• Yizhe is shown to be cautious, analytical, and unwilling to fight needlessly. He recognizes the danger of his opponent and attempts diplomacy before accepting that the battle may be unavoidable.
• Despite being outmatched, Yizhe demonstrates considerable growth in Water Release, producing a Great Waterfall far larger than he could create years earlier. He also uses strategy rather than relying solely on brute force, exploiting mist and briefly using the Byakugan to prepare a counterattack.
• Yizhe remains careful to conceal his identity and abilities, indicating that his secret background and disguise are important to his survival.
• The shark-faced “Kisame Hoshigaki” is portrayed as intensely battle-hungry and almost cheerful in the face of danger. He does not appear driven by personal hatred, but he treats combat as entertainment and is completely willing to kill an opponent who fails to satisfy him.
• The opponent’s mastery of Water Release, rapid seal formation, stamina, and relaxed response to Yizhe’s strongest attacks establish him as vastly superior and highly experienced.

Significant Themes

• Battle as entertainment: The opponent fights not from necessity or anger, but for enjoyment, making him unpredictable and dangerous.
• Concealed identities and hidden power: Yizhe must suppress the Byakugan and disguise his abilities, showing the risks connected to his true identity.
• Adaptation and growth: Yizhe’s improved Water Release reflects years of training and his ability to exploit the environment.
• Strategy versus overwhelming strength: Although Yizhe is weaker, he survives through observation, movement, timing, and tactical use of the terrain.
• Escalation between equals in technique: The repeated Water Release techniques demonstrate the widening gap between the fighters while also highlighting their shared mastery of water-based combat.

Character Interactions

• Yizhe attempts to reason with the shark-faced man, but the latter rejects compromise and insists on continuing the fight.
• The exchange becomes a contest of Water Release techniques: Yizhe’s Iron Cannonball evasions and Great Waterfall are answered by the opponent’s relentless barrage and stronger Great Waterfall.
• Yizhe uses the mist from their clash to conceal his Byakugan and launch a surprise Water Dragon attack.
• The chapter ends with the opponent calmly unveiling the Water Mirror Technique, setting up the next stage of their battle.

Chapter Summary: “Reflection”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yizhe attacks Kisame Hoshigaki with a Water Dragon Technique, but Kisame creates a mirror that reflects both the water dragon and Yizhe himself.
• The reflected copies emerge from the mirror and attack with identical movements and strength. Yizhe’s water dragon clashes evenly with its duplicate, while his mirrored opponent matches his punch and sends him flying.
• Yizhe realizes that Kisame’s Water Mirror Technique does more than imitate appearances—it reproduces an opponent’s abilities and power with remarkable accuracy.
• Kisame follows up with Water Release: Iron Cannonball, striking Yizhe in midair and blasting him through multiple trees.
• Enjoying the unexpected challenge, Kisame uses Water Release: Twin Dragon Strangulation to attack Yizhe’s landing point.
• Yizhe survives by using the Substitution Technique, escaping behind a tree rather than being crushed by the water dragons.
• The two pause briefly, with Kisame excitedly praising Yizhe’s evasive technique and Yizhe outwardly complimenting Kisame’s mirror ability while analyzing its terrifying potential.

Character Developments

• Yizhe becomes increasingly cautious and analytical. Although initially shocked and overwhelmed, he quickly identifies the underlying principle of Kisame’s technique: water’s reflective properties are being used to duplicate chakra-based attacks.
• Yizhe also demonstrates adaptability and combat awareness by using substitution at the last moment to survive Kisame’s strongest follow-up attack.
• Kisame Hoshigaki reveals a playful, battle-hungry personality. Rather than immediately finishing Yizhe, he becomes excited after sensing that the young fighter poses a genuine threat.
• Kisame’s mastery of Water Release is presented as extraordinarily advanced, placing his technique on a level comparable to powerful bloodline-based abilities.

Significant Themes

• Reflection and countering one’s own strength: Yizhe is forced to confront an opponent who can reproduce his attacks and power, making direct offense nearly useless.
• The limits of imitation: The chapter explores how frightening it is when a copy reproduces not only appearance and technique but also physical strength and chakra-based abilities.
• Adaptation versus overwhelming power: Yizhe cannot overpower Kisame’s reflected techniques, so survival depends on quick thinking and evasive tactics.
• The depth of ninjutsu mastery: Kisame’s Water Mirror Technique demonstrates that elemental techniques can possess complex, almost supernatural properties beyond simple offensive applications.
• Battle as entertainment: Kisame treats the fight as a source of amusement, while Yizhe views it as a dangerous puzzle requiring careful analysis.

Character Interactions

• Yizhe and Kisame engage in a tense exchange of attacks, with Kisame repeatedly testing Yizhe’s limits.
• Kisame openly enjoys Yizhe’s unexpected resilience, calling for him to continue entertaining the fight.
• After escaping the Twin Dragon Strangulation, Yizhe praises Kisame’s technique, though his admiration is strategic rather than sincere.
• Their conversation highlights the contrast between Kisame’s enthusiasm and Yizhe’s wary, intellectual approach to combat.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points

• Yizhe fights Hoshigaki Kisame and deduces that his “mirror jutsu” can only copy attacks for a single strike; copied people and jutsu collapse into water immediately after impact, and sustained techniques (like Terumi Mei’s mist) are not effectively countered.
• Yizhe asks Kisame how often he can use the jutsu. Kisame reveals it has no daily limit, only limited by chakra reserves.
• Realizing he cannot overcome the copying ability, Yizhe surrenders. Kisame refuses to accept and attacks him with a water jutsu, forcing Yizhe to flee into the forest while Kisame chases him, destroying trees with high-pressure shots.
• From a nearby hill, Ao and a young beauty (implied to be Terumi Mei) watch the chase. Ao tells the beauty it is her turn to intervene, describing it as a “beauty saves the hero” moment.

Character developments

• Yizhe shows sharp analytical thinking under combat pressure, inferring the mirror jutsu’s limitations from observation and logic rather than raw power. He also demonstrates pragmatism by surrendering when victory is impossible.
• Hoshigaki Kisame is portrayed as battle-loving and childish, ignoring his opponent’s surrender and continuing the fight for his own amusement. He is also surprisingly open about his jutsu’s mechanics but hesitates before revealing tactical information.
• Ao appears as a strategist, directing the young beauty to enter the fight at the optimal moment to help Yizhe.

Significant themes

• Limits of copying: The mirror jutsu is devastating against single-use attacks but weaker against sustained effects, highlighting the value of strategic versatility.
• Resource management: Copying requires matching the target’s chakra amount, making chakra reserves a decisive factor in such matchups.
• Persistence vs. surrender: Kisame’s refusal to accept surrender challenges conventional battle etiquette, while Yizhe’s escape reflects survival instinct over pride.

Character interactions

• The fight is interspersed with dialogue: Yizhe genuinely asks about the jutsu’s limitations, and Kisame responds with a mix of childish delight and cautious secrecy.
• After Yizhe surrenders, Kisame stops reasoning and attacks, turning the interaction from a duel into a one-sided chase, with Yizhe dodging and fleeing.
• Ao’s brief exchange with the young beauty establishes their role as behind-the-scenes actors, ready to shift the battle’s course.