Chapter Summaries

Ye Fan and Yuugao Uzuki discovered a hidden tracking liquid guarding routes through the restricted area, and Ye Fan suspected a covert organization was protecting a nearby laboratory. Yuugao Uzuki agreed to let him continue the dangerous investigation after he argued that his skills and ninja hound made him useful.

• Ye Fan had Yuugao Uzuki cut down a branch, then identified the odorless liquid on its leaves as a tracking alarm that would alert whoever laid it.
• Ye Fan sensed a hidden underground passage and suggested the laboratory where the little squirrel had stayed was nearby; Yuugao Uzuki suspected Shimura Danzo and Root might be involved.
• After finding the liquid on several routes, Yuugao Uzuki decided to investigate further but told Ye Fan to turn back.
• Ye Fan argued that Yuugao Uzuki could not detect the liquid, that he could help guide and protect her, and that he would not let her risk herself alone.
• Yuugao Uzuki allowed Ye Fan to continue, and he suggested using her Shadow Clone to clear a path through the guarded area.

Ye Fan and Uzuki Yugao found the hidden underground research facility and learned that numerous masked ninjas guarded it. Uzuki Yugao entered through its concealed opening to investigate while Ye Fan followed instead of waiting behind.

• Uzuki Yugao and Ye Fan continued through the rocky terrain after resting, with Little Squirrel and Dark Shadow leading the way.
• Laiyun warned Ye Fan of at least ten strangers near the facility, and Ye Fan suspected the research site was underground.
• Uzuki Yugao left Ye Fan behind to investigate, telling him to leave if she did not return within fifteen minutes.
• Ye Fan used his Detection Ability to locate nearly twenty masked ninjas and animals being used for experiments, then decided to follow Uzuki Yugao.
• Uzuki Yugao found a concealed cave entrance among the boulders and quietly entered to investigate.

Yuugao Uzuki investigated a hidden facility linked to Orochimaru and fought Root guards before Torune Aburame poisoned her with chakra insects. Ye Fan’s Antidote Pills halted the poison, but Torune remained determined to kill her.

• Yuugao Uzuki heard researchers mention Orochimaru and experiments being conducted before the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Masked ninja attacked Yuugao Uzuki, and she used Shadow Clones and the Dance of the Crescent Moon to escape toward the stairs.
• Torune Aburame ambushed Yuugao Uzuki and infected her sword arm with nano-scale poisonous insects.
• Yuugao Uzuki swallowed two Antidote Pills from Ye Fan, which stopped the insects from spreading and restored strength to her arm.
• Torune Aburame was surprised that his chakra insects had been restrained but still believed Yuugao Uzuki was near defeat.

Torune Aburame nearly killed Uzuki Yugao, but Ye Fan rescued her before the Root members could finish her off. He began treating her poison and damaged throat, leaving her alive but unable to resist as he tried to get the antidote into her.

• Uzuki Yugao tried to block the passage with Explosive Tags, but Torune Aburame’s Venomous Chakra Bugs disabled them and he poisoned and overwhelmed her.
• Torune Aburame ordered the others to investigate, but an unknown rescuer used smoke to take Uzuki Yugao away.
• Torune Aburame stopped the Root members from chasing and ordered them to destroy the site before its secret could be exposed.
• Ye Fan placed Uzuki Yugao on a rock, checked her pulse, and realized he could keep her from dying.
• Ye Fan removed Uzuki Yugao’s mask and gave her his remaining Antidote Pills, then pressed his lips to hers so she would not waste the medicine she could not swallow.

Ye Fan gave Uzuki Yugao an Antidote Pill and sent her to the hospital while he stayed behind to face the pursuing ninjas. He easily defeated Torune Aburame and the others, leaving him disappointed by how little challenge they posed.

• Ye Fan used True Essence Power to strengthen the Antidote Pill and temporarily suppress the venomous bugs in Uzuki Yugao's body.
• Uzuki Yugao handed Ye Fan her ANBU captain's token, then urged him to flee after nearby explosions sounded.
• Ye Fan placed Uzuki Yugao on Laiyun and sent them to the hospital, claiming he would draw the pursuers away.
• Ye Fan fashioned a stone mask and went alone to confront the ninjas in the underground passageway.
• Torune Aburame unleashed his Poison Dust Jutsu, but Ye Fan gathered the venomous bugs and knocked Torune and his companions unconscious.
• Ye Fan walked out of the smoke, surprised and disappointed that he had defeated the group so easily.

Uzuki Yugao reached the hospital on Laiyun’s back and survived surgery after medical ninjas used meat to draw the Venomous Chakra Bugs away. Meanwhile, Ye Fan entered the research institute’s animal cages, freed the beasts, and began testing his power on a tiger.

• Laiyun carried the poisoned Uzuki Yugao to the hospital, where she showed her ANBU token and was rushed into surgery.
• Medical ninjas discovered Venomous Chakra Bugs in Uzuki Yugao’s wounds and used pork to draw them away, allowing her surgery to succeed.
• Laiyun left to return to Ye Fan, while Uzuki Yugao prepared to report what she knew despite her weakness.
• Ye Fan reached a warehouse filled with caged animals and realized the research institute could help divert attention from Little Squirrel.
• Ye Fan shattered the cages without injuring the animals, subdued the beasts with his aura, and pulled a tiger toward him to begin his work.

After Torune Aburame’s team destroyed the exposed laboratory and fled, Ye Fan returned home with the Venomous Chakra Bugs he had sealed in a bottle. The next morning, Hiruzen Sarutobi confirmed Ye Fan’s mission was B-Rank and Ye Fan claimed the promised tenfold reward.

• Torune Aburame’s team used Explosive Tags to destroy the underground laboratory, while the pursuing ANBU captured the escaped beasts instead of catching the fleeing Root members.
• Ye Fan sensed the ANBU’s actions, returned home, and discovered the Venomous Chakra Bugs he had collected inside the porcelain bottle; he examined them, resealed them, and buried the bottle.
• Ye Fan went to Team 8’s training ground, where Kurenai Yuhi announced joint training with Team 10 before an ANBU summoned him to Hiruzen Sarutobi’s office.
• Ye Fan told Hiruzen Sarutobi about his mission, and Hiruzen classified it as B-Rank and approved its reward.
• Ye Fan reminded Hiruzen Sarutobi of their tenfold reward agreement and left the office with Kurenai Yuhi to collect it.

After receiving a 1.5-million-ryo reward, Ye Fan took the day off while Hanabi tried Kiba’s blindfolded pursuit exercise. By entering the Selfless State, Hanabi sensed her surroundings, caught Dark Shadow, and stunned everyone watching.

• Ye Fan received a 1.5-million-ryo mission reward and accepted Kurenai Yuhi’s advice to rest before joint training the next day.
• Hanabi Hyuga arrived at Team 8’s training ground and asked to try Kiba Inuzuka’s exercise of chasing Dark Shadow while blindfolded.
• Hanabi gradually adjusted to the exercise and entered the Selfless State, sensing the energy of people, animals, and her surroundings.
• Hanabi rapidly pursued Dark Shadow, dodged its iron ball, and caught it as it fell.
• Kiba Inuzuka, Hinata Hyuga, Shino Aburame, and Kurenai Yuhi watched Hanabi’s unexpected success in stunned silence.

Hanabi Hyuga caught Dark Shadow while blindfolded and gained a new ability to sense energy, prompting Kiba Inuzuka to seek Ye Fan’s guidance. After Hanabi and Kiba visited Ye Fan, they found him preparing a medicinal herb garden, and Kiba told him about Hanabi’s achievement.

• Hanabi Hyuga caught Dark Shadow without using the Byakugan, and Kiba Inuzuka wondered if Ye Fan’s breathing method had helped her.
• Hanabi entered a state of calming focus and sensed the energy around her, then asked Kurenai Yuhi why she could not sense Ye Fan.
• Kiba Inuzuka offered to take Hanabi to Ye Fan and used the walk to tell her stories about him.
• Hanabi and Kiba found Ye Fan working a small plot of land, which he planned to use as an experimental medicinal field.
• Kiba told Ye Fan that Hanabi had caught Dark Shadow blindfolded and asked whether Ye Fan had taught her a trick he had not taught him.

Ye Fan helped Kiba Inuzuka understand how his breathing exercises connected and explained their potential, while Hanabi learned about plans for Little Squirrel. Team 10 captured wild boars ahead of its joint training with Team 8, and Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi agreed on the training venue and made a bet.

• Ye Fan urged Kiba Inuzuka and Hanabi Hyuga to think and reflect, then guided Kiba to realize that the first breathing exercise supported the second.
• Ye Fan explained Inner Breathing's uses and teased that specialized breathing could help draw chakra from the surrounding air; Kiba left to continue training.
• Kiba warned Ye Fan about Shikamaru Nara's Shadow Imitation Technique and asked whether Hanabi could watch the joint training; Ye Fan also told Hanabi he would temporarily seal Haku's chakra.
• Team 10 lured wild boars into Choji Akimichi's Human Boulder and Shikamaru Nara's Shadow Imitation Technique, then Asuma Sarutobi proposed bringing the boars to a picnic with Team 8.
• Asuma and Kurenai chose a venue for the joint training and bet on the outcome, with Asuma promising to give Kurenai's students ninja tools if Team 10 lost, while Kurenai would cook for him if they won.
• The next day arrived with fine weather as the joint training between Team 8 and Team 10 was about to begin.

Ye Fan joined Team 8 for a scroll-snatching exercise against Team 10, but Kurenai assigned him a solo team with his Ninja Hounds. While Team 8 and Team 10 prepared to clash, Ye Fan lounged on Laiyun’s back, leaving his other hound’s whereabouts unclear.

• Kiba urged Ye Fan to hurry to the joint training, and Ye Fan finished tending his medicinal herbs before leaving with him.
• Kurenai led Team 8 to the training grounds, where Asuma explained that teams had to protect their scrolls and capture the others’ within three hours.
• Kurenai gave Team 10 the Heaven Scroll, Team 8 the Earth Scroll, and Ye Fan the Human Scroll, counting his two Ninja Hounds as his teammates.
• Asuma promised Team 10 time off and a feast if they won, while Kurenai promised Team 8 a feast and weapons; Ye Fan asked about weapon prices.
• Team 10 and Team 8 entered from different directions, and Kurenai praised Ye Fan’s abilities to Asuma as the other teams met in the grounds.
• Hinata spotted Team 10 with her Byakugan, while Ye Fan relaxed on Laiyun’s back and his other Ninja Hound disappeared from view.

Ye Fan secretly directed Dark Shadow to disrupt Team 10’s carefully planned battle against Team 8 and secure the scrolls. After Shikamaru was outmaneuvered and lost his scroll, Ye Fan returned to Kurenai Yuhi with all three scrolls.

• Kiba Inuzuka launched Team 8’s attack after Akamaru’s ambush was exposed, and both teams split up during the fight.
• Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, and Ino Yamanaka trapped Shino Aburame and took his Earth Scroll, but Ino released her Mind Body Switch Technique after feeling Shino’s bugs.
• Dark Shadow snatched the Earth Scroll and lured Shikamaru into a chase, where it escaped his Shadow Imitation Technique and took his Heaven Scroll.
• Ye Fan learned how Shikamaru’s Shadow Imitation Technique worked while Dark Shadow deliberately let itself be captured.
• Ye Fan returned to Kurenai Yuhi with Dark Shadow and all three scrolls.

After Team 8 won the scroll battle through Dark Shadow's reconnaissance and surprise attack, Ye Fan explained the Ninja Hound's role and outlined three forms of binding. He began demonstrating how to counter Shikamaru Nara's Shadow Imitation Technique with Hanabi Hyuga, who unexpectedly managed to move while bound.

• Kurenai Yuhi questioned Ye Fan about winning, and the teams returned to review their battle and reflect on what they had learned.
• Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, and Hinata Hyuga identified weaknesses in their tactics, teamwork, taijutsu, and chakra use, while Asuma's team discussed losing the scrolls to Dark Shadow.
• Shikamaru Nara asked how Ye Fan had planned the trap and how Dark Shadow escaped his technique, and Ye Fan explained that the Ninja Hound had tracked Team 10 and overheard its plans.
• Ye Fan described external force binding, Mental Binding, and Soul Binding, explaining that Shikamaru Nara's Shadow Imitation Technique combined mental and external restraint.
• Ye Fan had Shikamaru Nara bind Hanabi Hyuga so she could try to break free, and Hanabi suddenly moved, shocking everyone.

Hanabi Hyuga repeatedly broke Shikamaru Nara’s Shadow Imitation Technique by resisting it with mental strength, prompting Ye Fan to explain the technique’s vulnerabilities. After the post-match review, Ye Fan privately advised Hanabi to rely on more than direct mental clashes and pointed her toward Thousand Mechanisms Pull.

• Hanabi Hyuga activated her Byakugan and broke Shikamaru Nara’s Shadow Imitation Technique three times, convincing him it could no longer restrain her.
• Hanabi explained that Ye Fan had taught her to resist Shikamaru’s Mental Binding with mental strength, and Ye Fan described the technique’s weaknesses to the group.
• Shikamaru Nara asked Ye Fan to explain the special ways his technique could be countered, and Ye Fan warned him about Genjutsu, sound attacks, multiple targets, and clones.
• Ye Fan refused to explain Soul Binding, saying soul-related techniques were dangerous and that he wanted to keep some secrets.
• After the teams began training, Ye Fan told Hanabi that direct mental clashes could fail against stronger opponents and suggested she use Thousand Mechanisms Pull.

Ye Fan taught Hanabi Hyuga to use Thousand Mechanisms Pull to repel attacks and explained that mastering it would lead to Turning Heaven and Earth. As Asuma and Kurenai observed Team 8’s unusual training, Kiba Inuzuka finally touched Dark Shadow while blindfolded, and Ye Fan told him he had begun to master a new ability of perception.

• Hanabi Hyuga realized that Thousand Mechanisms Pull could repel targets, and Ye Fan explained how it could redirect spiritual attacks and lead to the advanced technique Turning Heaven and Earth.
• Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi discussed Ye Fan’s guidance, Hinata Hyuga’s developing New Gentle Fist, and Kiba Inuzuka’s training to gain an ability similar to a Bloodline Limit.
• Kiba Inuzuka touched Dark Shadow while blindfolded by tracking it with his senses, then repeated the feat while dodging its stone attack.
• Shino Aburame and Hinata Hyuga congratulated Kiba, and Ye Fan told him he had already begun to master the new perceptive ability.

Ye Fan helped Kiba Inuzuka learn to enhance and regulate his senses with chakra during joint training, then chose a broken sword made from rare ore as a potential weapon. When Ye Fan returned home, he found Uzuki Yugao waiting for him beneath the moonlight.

• Ye Fan tested Kiba Inuzuka's new instinct by exposing him to the powder that had once overwhelmed his sense of smell, and Kiba found he could filter out its harmful effects.
• With Ye Fan's guidance, Kiba Inuzuka learned to enhance and control his hearing and vision, while Kurenai Yuhi watched.
• Kiba Inuzuka praised the joint training and asked Kurenai Yuhi to arrange more sessions; she agreed to discuss it with Asuma.
• After training, Kurenai Yuhi treated everyone to a meal, and Asuma offered each of them a ninja tool.
• Ye Fan chose a rusted, broken sword made from rare ore and considered reforging it as he rode home.
• Uzuki Yugao, wearing a white mask, was waiting for Ye Fan when he arrived.

Uzuki Yugao visited Ye Fan to repay him for the Antidote Pills that saved her and ordered more for future use. After sampling a pill that restored her blood and vitality, she asked about buying some for her lover, Gekko Hayate, but balked at Ye Fan’s steep price.

• Uzuki Yugao waited outside Ye Fan’s home, paid him for the Antidote Pills, and ordered ten more once he could make another batch.
• Ye Fan invited Uzuki Yugao into his courtyard, where she examined his pill furnace and heard his explanation of how he refined pills.
• Ye Fan displayed his other medicines and gave Uzuki Yugao a free blood-and-vitality pill to try.
• Uzuki Yugao felt the pill restore her strength and asked whether it might help Gekko Hayate’s chronic internal injury.
• Ye Fan quoted two hundred thousand ryo per pill, and Uzuki Yugao accused him of robbing people before he cheerfully agreed.

Ye Fan treated Uzuki Yugao’s lingering Chakra Bugs and promised to finish removing them with medicinal powder, hoping to win her favor and future business. As they grew more candid with each other, Uzuki Yugao offered to gather herbs for him so he would stop sneaking into restricted areas.

• Uzuki Yugao asked Ye Fan whether he could treat her friend Gekko Hayate’s chronic illness, and Ye Fan examined her pulse instead.
• Ye Fan discovered that Chakra Bugs remained in Uzuki Yugao’s body and used flexible needles to draw several of them out.
• Ye Fan told Uzuki Yugao to return the next day for medicinal powder, which he would provide free as a long-term investment in her goodwill.
• Uzuki Yugao questioned Ye Fan about his vanished chakra and his nighttime trips, and he admitted he had been searching for medicinal herbs in restricted areas.
• Uzuki Yugao offered to help Ye Fan gather herbs and urged him to stop entering dangerous restricted areas.

Ye Fan handed Baiyun over to two ANBU ninjas under the Hokage’s order, then joined Team 8 for a D-rank mission to find missing sheep. As Kurenai Yuhi’s team began searching, Ye Fan went to study the flock, leaving Kurenai wondering what he was planning.

• Two ANBU ninjas arrived to take Baiyun, and Ye Fan asked them to return him quickly because he was important to Hanabi Hyuga.
• Baiyun climbed into the portable cage himself, and Ye Fan reassured Dark Shadow that the squirrel would return in a few days.
• Kiba Inuzuka fetched Ye Fan for a mission, and Team 8 met at the mission hall before Kurenai Yuhi accepted a lost-sheep search assignment.
• Kurenai Yuhi led Team 8 to the employer, who explained that wild boars had scattered his flock and injured his sheepdogs.
• Kiba Inuzuka, Hinata Hyuga, and Shino Aburame set off to search, while Ye Fan approached the flock and silently studied the sheep.

Ye Fan helped Team 8 recover the missing sheep, demonstrated Laiyun’s tracking and strength, and guided Hinata through her first bone-setting treatment. After the team finished its mission and training, Uzuki Yugao visited Ye Fan with herbs she had gathered, but he told her they were not medicinal herbs.

• Ye Fan calmed the shepherd’s frightened sheepdogs, and they quickly regained their spirits and responded happily to him.
• Hinata Hyuga and Kiba Inuzuka returned with five missing sheep, while Shino Aburame found none; Ye Fan sent Laiyun to retrieve the last sheep, which Laiyun brought back almost immediately.
• Ye Fan had Hinata set the broken leg of a sheep, and she succeeded with his encouragement, gaining confidence in her medical skills.
• Kurenai Yuhi considered whether Team 8 might be ready for the Chunin Ninja Exams as she led them back to submit their completed mission.
• After training, Ye Fan returned home and met Uzuki Yugao, who brought him plants she had collected; he explained that they were not the medicinal herbs he had gathered.