Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Qian repeatedly ambushed Iwagakure troops to absorb their chakra, choosing the cautious Siguang’s sector for easier attacks. After gaining 65,000 chakra, Qian attempted one final strike against Siguang, who dodged and charged at him, leaving them on the verge of a direct fight.

• Qian used fallen Rock Ninja as cover while absorbing chakra, then retreated when Siguang arrived and chose not to pursue him.
• Qian hid in the forest and used the Mystical Palm Technique to reduce his chakra, raising its proficiency to 7945/10000.
• Qian returned to Siguang’s sector and launched three more surprise attacks, absorbing chakra from fourteen Iwagakure ninja and gaining 65,000 chakra in total.
• With Siguang’s troops nearly wiped out, Qian attempted a final ambush by throwing kunai at Siguang’s back.
• Siguang dodged the kunai, broke free from the Leaf jonin fighting him, and charged at Qian, who met him head-on.

Qian exploited the chaos of Iwagakure’s attack to drain chakra from scattered enemies and improve his Mystical Palm Technique, until Iwagakure withdrew and shifted to squad-based assaults. By evening, the fighting had stalled, and Iwagakure’s efforts to interrupt his chakra absorption left Qian frustrated but safe.

• Qian watched Siguang retreat, then drained chakra from fleeing Iwagakure ninjas and raised his Mystical Palm Technique to lv6.
• Iwagakure withdrew its forces after Namikaze Minato’s arrival had thwarted its attempt to defeat Konoha in one assault.
• Qian returned to camp, handed off the battle-loss tally, and treated wounded Konoha ninjas while practicing Mystical Palm Technique.
• Iwagakure renewed its attack on the Fengliu Town Outpost with small squads, and Konoha sent out squads to meet them across a five-kilometer front.
• Qian fought several battles on the western mountain but gained little chakra because his capacity was limited and Iwagakure ninjas repeatedly disrupted his absorption attempts.
• Both sides returned to their camps at evening, and Qian settled in to endure the stalled fighting while practicing Swordsmanship.

After three days of deadlocked fighting between Konoha and Iwagakure, the Leaf jonin planned a decapitation strike against the Rock Ninja camp. Qian agreed to lead the infiltration team, with Namikaze Minato ready to teleport in and support him.

• The Konoha and Iwagakure forces suffered heavy losses over three days, but neither side gained the advantage because both held back their Jinchuriki and strongest fighter.
• During the Leaf jonin meeting, Qian considered whether saving Namikaze Minato in the future could help ease tensions between the Uchiha clan and the village.
• Omura Yuito proposed that Qian lead a team to infiltrate the Iwagakure Camp and find its command headquarters, while Namikaze Minato prepared to bring in support for the strike.
• Qian agreed to the dangerous mission, and Namikaze Minato handed him a marked three-pronged Kunai so he could sense the mark and teleport to the team.

Qian raised his Mystical Palm Technique to lv7 and calculated that repeated use could soon strengthen his body enough to attempt awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan. He then joined a team infiltrating the Rock Ninja main camp and waited while Hyuga Hiaka surveyed its defenses.

• Qian leveled up his Mystical Palm Technique, improving its healing and body-enhancement effects.
• Qian estimated that he needed around eight thousand more uses to raise his Physical Constitution and decided not to rush to capture Rock Ninja for extra chakra.
• Qian joined the mission to infiltrate the Rock Ninja camp with two Special Jonin and Hyuga Hiaka.
• Qian's team used his Sharingan and Hyuga Hiaka's Byakugan to avoid dangers and reach a position near the enemy camp.
• Hyuga Hiaka surveyed the camp's patrols, defenses, and command headquarters for thirty minutes, then asked to rest before continuing.

Qingming and his squad infiltrated the Rock Ninja camp and entered its underground command headquarters after killing the guards at the entrance. Hyuga Hiaka detected that the underground guards were searching for them, and the squad realized their presence had been exposed.

• Hyuga Hiaka used her Byakugan to guide Qingming and the two Special Jonin through the Rock Ninja camp to the underground headquarters entrance.
• Qingming ordered the two Special Jonin to kill the hidden sentries while he used Transformation Technique and Sharingan genjutsu to subdue the two visible guards.
• The squad transformed into Rock Ninja and entered the underground headquarters, with Hyuga Hiaka leading them toward the concentrated jonin-level Chakra.
• Hyuga Hiaka noticed that nearby guards had moved to search the area, and the squad realized they had been exposed.
• A Hidden Rock chunin found the entrance guards' bodies and raised the alarm, prompting the command headquarters to search for Qingming and his squad.

Qian and his teammates raced toward the Rock Ninja command post, cutting through the guards until Gari blocked their path. As Gari attacked, Qian used Minato’s marked kunai to transport three figures behind him, leaving the confrontation poised to continue.

• Qian ordered Hyuga Hiaka and the others to rush toward the enemy command post, then used his Sharingan and a surprise attack to kill the guards in their way.
• Qian defeated six surviving Rock Ninja Chunin with his Illusion Sword Technique while a Special Jonin escaped.
• Qian led his teammates toward the command post, where Gari appeared and blocked the corridor.
• Qian dodged Gari’s explosive punches and threw Minato’s marked kunai past him.
• Three figures appeared beside the kunai behind Gari.

Namikaze Minato’s arrival turned the battle at the Iwagakure command post into a chaotic fight, while Qian continued facing Gari in the corridor. Qian exploited an opening, defeated Gari with genjutsu, and pierced his heart, leaving the battle’s wider outcome unresolved.

• Namikaze Minato arrived with two Konoha Jonin, and Hyuga Hiaka identified the guarded room as the target.
• Heimu Yiteng led the Iwagakure Jonin against Minato as the other Rock Ninja attacked the Leaf forces, preventing powerful ninjutsu in the crowded corridor.
• Gari pressed Qian with explosive punches, but Qian waited for his attacks to slow and forced him onto the defensive with strikes aimed at his vitals.
• Gari blasted the corridor wall and raised an Earth Release stone barrier against Qian’s Great Fireball Technique, then dodged Qian’s Wind Blade as the barrier collapsed.
• Qian used the opening to pass through the flames, trapped Gari in a Sharingan genjutsu, and stabbed him through the heart.

Qian killed Gari by using Wind Style Chakra to cross the flames and catch him off guard, then healed his burns before joining the fighting. He arrived to support the Nara and Yamanaka jonin and began eliminating the Hidden Rock ninja surrounding them.

• Qian used Wind Style Chakra to endure the flames, caught Gari by surprise with Genjutsu: Sharingan, and killed him, though the heat burned his skin and lungs.
• Qian healed his injuries with the Mystical Palm Technique as Hidden Rock chūnin approached, then killed all three before they could respond.
• Qian saw that Hyuga Hiaka, the Nara clan jonin, and the Yamanaka Clan jonin were still under heavy attack, while Namikaze Minato had driven Heimu Yiteng and his guards away.
• Qian joined the Nara and Yamanaka jonin, drawing the Hidden Rock jonin's attention before attacking their low- and mid-ranked ninja.
• Qian used his Sharingan and Illusion Sword Technique to slaughter the surrounding Hidden Rock ninja as the Nara and Yamanaka jonin counterattacked.

Qian wiped out the nearby low- and mid-ranked Hidden Rock ninja, then joined the fight against their jonin as the underground battlefield grew more destructive. He killed Wu Qiguang and another Hidden Rock jonin, while the battle continued around him.

• Qian killed the nearby low- and mid-ranked Hidden Rock ninja, freeing his allies to fight the Hidden Rock jonin without restraint.
• Qian fought Wu Qiguang and another Hidden Rock jonin while the underground space shook and cracked under the jutsu being unleashed.
• Qian caught Wu Qiguang in Genjutsu: Sharingan and pierced his chest with his Short Sword.
• The other Hidden Rock jonin attacked Qian with Lightning Style: Lightning Dragon, but Qian countered with Wind Style: Wind Blade and broke free of the resulting electric paralysis.
• Qian evaded an Exploding Tag and appeared behind the Hidden Rock jonin, fatally stabbing him in the back with a Kunai.

Qian and the Konoha jonin cornered the fleeing Hidden Rock ninja, and Qian killed Fujita Eita. The remaining Hidden Rock ninja stayed entangled in battle as Qian finished his opponent.

• Qian killed his opponent and retrieved his Short Sword, startling the Hidden Rock jonin with his immense Chakra Amount.
• The Hidden Rock jonin forced their way out of the fight and fled toward the underground area's exit.
• A Yamanaka jonin used the Mind Transfer Technique to take control of Kusaka Mitsuki and make him attack Fujita Eita.
• Qian joined the controlled Kusaka Mitsuki in attacking Fujita Eita, who was already wounded.
• Qian struck Fujita Eita with his Short Sword and Wind Blade, then killed him with a kunai through the heart.

Qian and his allies completed their attack on the Rock Village jonin, but enemy reinforcements arrived as they prepared to regroup with Namikaze Minato. Hyuga Hiaka reported that Noda Taihei and Murashita Hara had been killed, and she led the survivors toward Minato.

• Qian killed Fujita Eita with Wind Style: Wind Blade, and the Yamanaka Clan Jonin lost control of Kusaka Mitsuki before detonating an Exploding Tag against his body.
• Qian and the Yamanaka Clan Jonin defeated the three remaining Rock Village jonin, completing their side of the mission.
• Hyuga Hiaka arrived and warned Qian that enemy reinforcements were approaching.
• Hyuga Hiaka used her Byakugan to find Namikaze Minato and said he was heading toward them.
• Qian learned that Noda Taihei and Murashita Hara had been sacrificed, then followed Hyuga Hiaka toward Minato.

Qian's group fought through Rock Ninja squads in the collapsing underground passages and rendezvoused with Namikaze Minato. The survivors reunited and prepared to carry out the final stage of the mission: leaving the underground space.

• Hyuga Hiaka warned Qian that an Earth Release attack had opened cracks above and that four enemy groups were entering the underground passages.
• Qian led the group past Rock Ninja search squads, using Fire Release: Fire Dragon Technique and explosive-tagged Kunai to eliminate the enemies in their path.
• Qian's group continued fighting through successive waves as the Rock Ninja narrowed their encirclement, while the Yamanaka Jonin worked to locate Namikaze Minato.
• Qian's group of four turned a corner and met Namikaze Minato, who had already killed Heimu Yiteng and the Hidden Stone jonin and was returning to lead the others out.

Qian and Yamanaka Xi reunited with Namikaze Minato after the mission’s targets were eliminated, then Minato used the Flying Thunder God Technique to evacuate them to Fengliu Town. Qian reflected on Minato’s extraordinary speed and his own ambition to reach Kage-level power.

• Namikaze Minato learned that Daqing and Yuankong had been killed, and the Nara jonin reported that all predetermined targets had been eliminated thanks to Qian.
• Namikaze Minato used the Flying Thunder God Technique to take Hyuga Hiaka and Nara Seifu away, then returned for Qian and Yamanaka Xi.
• Namikaze Minato teleported Qian and Yamanaka Xi to Fengliu Town before Qian could sense the transfer.
• Qian concluded that Minato’s reactions surpassed even his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and considered the vast gap between Kage-level fighters and ordinary ninja.
• Qian looked forward to gaining Mangekyo Sharingan power and wondered whether the Mind Reflection Technique could prevent its blindness before Minato told him they had arrived.

Qian treated the gravely wounded Hyuga Hiaka after Konoha’s attack on the command headquarters, impressing Namikaze Minato with his Medical Ninjutsu. When Roshi and Han appeared on the battlefield, Minato and the others rushed to reinforce the front, leaving Konoha poised for a brief respite after Iwagakure’s counterattack.

• Qian assessed Hyuga Hiaka’s wounds and began treating her after she lost consciousness.
• Qian used Chakra Scalpel and Mystical Palm Technique to clean and heal Hyuga Hiaka’s injuries, surprising Namikaze Minato.
• Yamanaka Xi reported that Roshi and Han had appeared on the front line and that Captain Yuito had ordered Minato to reinforce them.
• Namikaze Minato used Flying Thunder God Technique to leave, while Yamanaka Xi and Nara Seifu headed toward the battlefield.
• Iwagakure’s counterattack was expected to fail against Minato, and Konoha was expected to gain time to rest and reorganize.

Qian learned that the Rock Ninja had resumed their attack and discovered that their familiar tactics concealed a plan to use their Jinchuriki to seize two strategic outposts. The Four-Tails Jinchuriki broke through the defenses at Qian’s position, leaving Qian to find a way to stop Roshi despite lacking Water Release.

• A week after the fighting paused, Qian was told that the Rock Ninja were advancing and ordered his forces to prepare their defenses.
• Qian used his Sharingan to see the Rock Ninja split into three groups, including one approaching his mountain outpost by a familiar route.
• After his troops engaged the enemy, Qian moved to flank the Rock Ninja, but their center line broke through within minutes.
• Yamanaka Kiku told Qian that the Four-Tails Jinchuriki had pierced the defense with Lava Release, and Qian suspected the Five-Tails Jinchuriki was attacking the North Mountain Outpost.
• Qian realized the Rock Ninja had used familiar tactics to conceal their Jinchuriki-led assault, but lacked Water Release to counter Roshi.

Qian went alone to disrupt the Rock Ninja formation, hoping to force Roshi to turn back without risking a direct fight. He left Yamamoto Kenichi dead and the enemy forces in chaos.

• Qian ordered Yamanaka Kiku to build a second defensive line and report the situation to Jonin Yuito, then went to confront the Rock Ninja himself.
• Qian attacked the Rock Ninja left wing with Shuriken, scattering the formation and targeting Genin to create chaos.
• Qian ambushed Yamamoto Kenichi, who dodged the first strike and used a Shadow Clone to set a counterattack.
• Qian recognized the Shadow Clone, trapped Yamamoto Kenichi in Genjutsu, and turned his Kunai against him, killing him.

Qian killed Yamamoto Kenichi and pursued the fleeing Rock Ninja, turning their retreat into widespread chaos that forced Roshi to halt his attack on Konoha's second defensive line. As Roshi questioned the survivors, he sensed that one of the Rock Ninja was not who he appeared to be.

• Qian killed Yamamoto Kenichi, then used his Sharingan's Hypnosis Technique to kill two more Rock Ninja and send the survivors fleeing.
• Qian chased the Rock Ninja toward the mountaintop, killing more as their panic spread and even a Special Jonin failed to stop him.
• Nagashima Tomohisa learned that Yamamoto Kenichi and Oda Yukimasa had been killed and reported the rout to Roshi.
• Roshi halted the charge and retreated to the rear after learning that the Rock Ninja formation had fallen into disorder.
• Roshi approached a group of survivors, sensed something suspicious about one chūnin, and asked who he was.
• The supposed chūnin admitted that Roshi had discovered him and praised Roshi's perception.

Qian ambushed Roshi, but Roshi’s Tailed Beast Cloak and Lava Release overwhelmed his attacks. Qian fought through the Rock Ninja ranks as Roshi activated Lava Release Chakra Mode and charged at him.

• Qian revealed his disguise and attacked Roshi, but Roshi caught his Short Sword with his Tailed Beast Cloak and threw him away.
• Roshi pursued Qian with a tailed beast claw, which broke through Qian’s Fire Dragon Technique; Qian dodged and wounded Roshi with a Shuriken hidden among fireballs.
• Roshi attacked with Lava Release: Scorching River Rock Technique, driving Qian toward the surrounding Rock Ninja.
• Qian evaded the Rock Ninja’s weapons and Exploding Tags, charged into their ranks, and cut down two Iwagakure genin.
• Qian feinted with another Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, enraging Roshi, who activated Lava Release Chakra Mode and charged at him.

Qian used the Rock Ninja around him to keep Roshi from attacking freely while he waited for Namikaze Minato. After Roshi cornered him in a fierce stalemate, Namikaze Minato finally arrived and explained that he had gone north to deal with a bad situation.

• Qian dodged through the Rock Ninja and used their presence to make Roshi hold back for fear of hurting his own people.
• Nagashima Tomohisa tried to stop Qian with Rock Spikes, but Qian avoided them with his Sharingan and reached the crowd.
• As the Rock Ninja scattered, Qian used Wind Style: Wind Blade to stall Roshi, though Roshi thickened his Lava Armor and blocked it.
• With the Rock Ninja gone, Roshi unleashed large-scale Lava Release attacks, but Qian evaded them and the two reached a stalemate.
• Namikaze Minato arrived and told Qian he had gone north first because the situation there was bad.

Namikaze Minato summoned Gamabunta to fight Roshi, who endured a barrage of water attacks. Roshi began transforming into the Four-Tails, Son Goku, as Qian watched from the edge of the battlefield.

• Namikaze Minato took over the fight from Qian and summoned Gamabunta onto the lava-covered battlefield.
• Gamabunta extinguished much of the surrounding fire with a powerful Water Release technique, then agreed to face Roshi.
• Roshi attacked Gamabunta with Lava Release: Scorching River Rock Technique, and Gamabunta answered with repeated Water Gun Technique attacks.
• Roshi survived the water-sphere barrage as his Lava Armor shattered and his Four-Tails Chakra emerged.
• Roshi began transforming into Son Goku, with two Chakra tails forming behind him.