Chapter Summaries

Qian announced that Uchiha Qinghua, Kondo Yu, and Nariya Daishi had all failed his assessment, explaining that he had been testing their loyalty to one another as teammates. The three understood his lesson about cherishing comrades only after the test was over.

• Uchiha Qinghua and Kondo Yu reached Qian before the deadline, and Nariya Daishi arrived later with help from Qian’s shadow clone.
• Qian dispelled his shadow clones, reviewed their memories, and announced that all three had failed.
• Qian criticized Kondo Yu for deceiving and abandoning Nariya Daishi to improve his own chances, and told Uchiha Qinghua that she had followed others without showing independent judgment.
• Qian told Nariya Daishi he needed to choose more reliable teammates.
• Qian explained that the three should have stayed together as a team, declaring that those who do not cherish their comrades are worse than trash.

Qian was summoned from his cultivation to an urgent Uchiha Jonin meeting after Orochimaru attacked Uchiha Itachi. He returned to Konoha and learned the attack had involved both Orochimaru and Itachi, as Uchiha Fugaku arrived to address the clan.

• Qian completed his assessment report and Namikaze Minato accepted it without requiring him to teach the Uchiha students.
• More than a month later, Qian's Shadow Clone relayed Uchiha Fugaku's urgent order to attend a Jonin meeting.
• Qian suspected Orochimaru had targeted Uchiha Itachi, possibly with help from the Akatsuki Organization, and returned to Konoha.
• Qian saw that Konoha's defenses had been strengthened and went to the meeting beneath Naka Shrine.
• Uchiha Shisui confirmed that Orochimaru had attacked Uchiha Itachi, then Uchiha Fugaku entered with several Uchiha Jonin.

Uchiha Fugaku announced that Itachi had gone missing while investigating Orochimaru, then assigned a squad to investigate alongside the Anbu. Qian accepted his assignment and left the meeting room with Uchiha Shisui.

• Uchiha Fugaku told the clan meeting that Itachi and his Anbu squad had disappeared after sending an emergency signal during their investigation of Orochimaru.
• Several Uchiha elders suspected the village, while Uchiha Shisui briefly showed anger at their accusations.
• The Uchiha debated how to respond to Orochimaru, but hesitated because of his strength.
• Uchiha Fugaku assigned Uchiha Qian, Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Tekka, and Uchiha Yashiro to investigate with the Anbu, naming Uchiha Yashiro their captain.
• Uchiha Fugaku assigned the remaining clan members to patrol, guard secret grounds, or gather Uchiha members returning from missions.
• Uchiha Qian accepted the assignment and left the underground conference room behind Uchiha Shisui.

Qian prepared for a mission with two Anbu squads to find Uchiha Itachi and confront Orochimaru. The group assembled at the Leaf Village Gate and set out, while Qian saw a chance to obtain Reanimation Bodies from Orochimaru.

• Uchiha Yashiro told Qian, Uchiha Shisui, and Uchiha Tekka to meet him at the Leaf Village Gate in half an hour.
• Qian gathered ninja tools, supplies, and soldier pills, sealed them into a scroll, and changed into his jonin uniform.
• At the gate, Qian assessed the two Anbu squads and recognized Uchiha Inabi and Yamato, who introduced himself as Tenzo.
• Qian inferred that Namikaze Minato had assembled a strong force to bring back Uchiha Itachi and strike at Orochimaru.
• Uchiha Yashiro and the others arrived, the group introduced themselves, and the mission team set out together.

Yamato’s team reached the Land of Rivers and found a battlefield bearing traces of the Third Kazekage’s Iron Sand. As they continued searching for signs of Itachi’s squad, Qian suspected Orochimaru had revived and controlled the Kazekage using Impure World Reincarnation.

• Yamato ordered the exhausted team to rest before they entered the Land of Rivers and resumed their search.
• Qian’s team found a forest battlefield marked by Fire Release damage, weapons, and geometric pits.
• Qian identified iron sand at the site and deduced that the Third Kazekage had fought there.
• Yamato confirmed the traces matched the Third Kazekage’s known Magnet Release fighting style, leaving the team to wonder why he was involved with Orochimaru.
• Yamato ordered the team to investigate carefully, and Uchiha Inabi sent three men ahead to search for Itachi’s squad’s secret signals.

Yamato's team uncovered a sealed message identifying Amatsuji Pass as their destination and crossed into the Land of Wind. After Uchiha Yashiro confirmed the location, the team prepared to plan a stealthy approach to find Orochimaru and Uchiha Itachi.

• An Inuzuka ninja found the remains of an Anbu ninja's suicide at a marked tree, and Yamato retrieved a sealed wooden seed from its trunk.
• Yamato released a note from the seed that named Eastern Great Sand Dune, Amatsuji Pass, and he ordered the team to head there.
• Qian recognized Amatsuji Pass as the place where Orochimaru had an experimental base and reasoned that Uchiha Itachi was likely there.
• The team crossed the Land of Rivers into the sandy Land of Wind and traveled toward Amatsuji Pass.
• Uchiha Yashiro confirmed they had reached Amatsuji Pass and recalled fighting there during the Second Great Ninja War.
• The team discussed the need to approach Orochimaru's hiding place carefully, since he was alert and had already been warned of their presence.

Qian and Uchiha Shisui uncovered the Sunagakure Puppet Masters behind an ambush at Amatsuji Pass and moved to eliminate them. Qian charged at three of the four enemies while Shisui engaged their leader.

• Qian sensed an underground attack and warned Yamato's group as Sunagakure puppets burst from the sand and fired poisoned needles.
• Qian cut the chakra threads controlling a puppet, then destroyed it while Yamato's Anbu and the Uchiha teams fought the other puppets and searched for their controllers.
• A reconnaissance ninja located the Puppet Masters underground, and Shisui and Qian rushed to their position.
• Qian used Earth Release: Earth Vein Swimming Dragon Technique to force four hidden Sunagakure ninja out of the ground.
• Shisui attacked the leading jonin, and Qian charged at the other three Puppet Masters.

Qian fought off three Sunagakure Puppet Masters as reinforcements surrounded his team, then escaped their explosive trap and began cutting down the enemy. The chapter ended with Qian charging at the two remaining Puppet Masters.

• Qian pressured three Sunagakure Puppet Masters while his allies fought their puppets, and reinforcements arrived from across the desert.
• The three Puppet Masters activated the Gale Wind Array and triggered Exploding Tags hidden inside their puppets, intending to kill Qian in the blast.
• Qian used his Sharingan to anticipate the trap, escaped with the Flash Sword Technique, and appeared behind Shasuke.
• Qian killed Shasuke with a swift strike, then vanished again and charged toward the two remaining Puppet Masters.

Qian and Uchiha Shisui killed the Sand shinobi opposing them and prepared to cut through the surrounding forces. Qian moved forward with two Anbu, intending to end the probing attacks and wait for a stronger opponent.

• Qian used his Sharingan to disorient a Sand shinobi and fatally cut his throat.
• Qian defeated Chisuke, evading his poisoned puppet-spider counterattack as Chisuke died from his wounds.
• Uchiha Shisui exploited an opening to stab the Sunagakure captain through the heart.
• Qian and Uchiha Shisui chose separate directions and charged into the approaching Sand shinobi rather than regrouping with their teammates.
• Two Anbu, one from the Inuzuka Clan and one apparently from the Aburame Clan, joined Qian as he prepared to push through the enemy forces.

Qian used his chakra and a wind-style attack to scatter the Sand ninja, then led the Anbu into battle. He began cutting down their fighters while Aburame Zhihui and the Inuzuka ninja worked to keep the enemy divided.

• Qian released his chakra, frightening Aburame Zhihui’s insects, then unleashed a tornado that forced the Sand ninja to scatter.
• Qian ordered Aburame Zhihui and the Inuzuka ninja to split up the enemy, then charged at the Sand ninja with his sword.
• Qian detected and trapped an underground attacker by hardening the sand beneath his feet.
• Qian killed a Chunin with Flash Sword Technique and evaded shuriken before clashing with a Sunagakure Jonin.
• The Inuzuka ninja and his dog engaged the Jonin while Qian rushed toward another target, and Aburame Zhihui sent his Kikaichū after the scattered Sand ninja.

Qian and his teammates overwhelmed the second wave of Sunagakure shinobi, with Qian cutting down the lower-ranked fighters and Shisui disrupting the enemy formation. Qian then took on the Sand squad leader, Maeda Sachikawa, while the remaining Sand forces were left badly depleted.

• Qian coordinated with the Inuzuka clan ninja and Aburame Zhihui, who pinned down the Sand squad leader and occupied the other Sand shinobi.
• Qian used his Flash Sword Technique to kill many Genin and Chunin before the Sand squad leader nearly stabbed the Inuzuka ninja from behind.
• Qian's Fire Style: Flame Gathering Strike forced the Sand squad leader to dodge, giving the wounded Inuzuka ninja time to survive.
• Qian engaged Maeda Sachikawa in close combat and suppressed him, leaving the Sand leader unable to counterattack.
• Uchiha Shisui used his Phantom Body Flicker Technique to confuse the Sand shinobi and draw them away from Uchiha Tekka and Uchiha Yashiro.
• Uchiha Tekka, Uchiha Yashiro, and Shisui exploited the opening to kill more Sand shinobi, leaving fewer than half of them alive.

Qian returned to the fight and used his Sharingan and Flash Sword Technique to kill several Sunagakure ninja, turning the battle in Konoha’s favor. After Uchiha Shisui and the others rejoined the group, the Sand ninja fled, and Yamato assigned a team to monitor them while the others continued toward Orochimaru’s base.

• Qian returned to Yamato’s group, caught Chizao Kang in a Sharingan Genjutsu, and killed him with Fire Style: Flame Gathering Strike.
• Qian tricked Feisha with Genjutsu and stabbed him through the heart, then killed several more Sunagakure ninja with the Flash Sword Technique.
• Aburame Daihi and the Inuzuka clan Anbu blocked the Sand ninja trying to stop Qian as Yamato and the others gained the upper hand.
• Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Tekka, and Uchiha Yashiro returned, prompting the Sunagakure jonin to order a retreat toward the border stronghold.
• Yamato’s group chose to continue the mission toward Orochimaru’s base and assigned Aburame Daihi and the other Anbu to monitor the fleeing Sand ninja and plan an evacuation route.

Qian treated the Leaf shinobi’s injuries while Yamato led the group to the Sand Ridge to search for Orochimaru. When unseen attackers approached underground, Yamato and Qian raised earthen walls around the team, leaving them surrounded but protected.

• Yamato ordered the exhausted Leaf shinobi to rest and asked Qian to treat their injuries.
• Qian removed the poison from Akimichi Yama’s wound and healed the rest of the team within five minutes.
• Yamato led the group toward the Sand Ridge after Orochimaru failed to appear during their brief rest.
• A bulge moved underground toward the group, and Yamato blocked it with an Earth Flow Wall.
• More underground attackers approached from all sides, so Qian raised four earthen walls that enclosed and protected the team.

Orochimaru and Sasori appeared together to confront Yamato’s team, and Qian recognized both Akatsuki members and inferred why they might be cooperating. Orochimaru singled out Qian, while Yamato still sought information about the rest of Itachi Squad.

• Orochimaru’s sand snakes detonated Exploding Tags around the team, but Qian and Yamato’s Earth Flow Walls protected them.
• Orochimaru and Sasori approached the group in Akatsuki cloaks, and Qian recognized them and considered how they might be working together.
• Qian deduced that Orochimaru may have recruited Sasori for help and that Sasori could have provided intelligence about Sunagakure.
• Yamato asked Orochimaru where the rest of Itachi Squad was, but Orochimaru avoided answering and asked Yamato to guess.
• Orochimaru greeted Qian personally, and Qian brushed off the attention by saying Yamato was leading the mission and he was only hired muscle.

Orochimaru and Sasori attacked Qian’s group with giant snakes and poisoned puppets, forcing the fighters into a tense stalemate. Sasori’s trap appeared to kill Uchiha Shisui, but Shisui had used a Shadow Clone as bait and reached Sasori’s position.

• Sasori summoned ten puppets while Orochimaru summoned three giant sand snakes to attack Qian and the others.
• Qian’s warning made Shisui and the others wary of Sasori’s feints as the two enemy groups divided their attacks.
• Sasori grew impatient and pressured Shisui’s group with aggressive puppet attacks.
• Shisui seemed to be struck by a poisoned needle barrage, but the target vanished as a Shadow Clone.
• Shisui revealed that he had used himself as bait and appeared in front of Sasori to attack the Puppet Master directly.

Uchiha Shisui fought Sasori, whose Hiruko puppet and poisoned mechanisms resisted Shisui’s attacks. The battle remained unresolved as Qian judged that Shisui could not defeat Sasori without using the Mangekyō Sharingan.

• Shisui’s Great Fireball struck Sasori, but Sasori survived inside Hiruko and countered with poisoned needles.
• Sasori attacked Shisui with volleys of needles and a venomous tail, which Shisui narrowly blocked.
• Sasori revealed that his Human Puppet Technique used people as materials, angering Shisui.
• Shisui attacked with a larger Great Fireball and Phoenix Sage Fire Technique concealing shuriken, but Sasori blocked the attacks with his tail.
• Qian watched briefly and concluded that Shisui could not overcome Sasori’s puppet defenses without the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Uchiha Shisui and his allies damaged Sasori's Hiruko puppet, but Sasori's poison-needle counterattack disabled several fighters. With his comrades in danger, Shisui revealed a green defensive form that blocked Sasori's needles while his Great Fireball struck Hiruko.

• Uchiha Shisui called in the Ino-Shika-Cho Anbu, whose coordinated clan techniques helped the team damage Sasori's puppets and restrain Hiruko.
• Akimichi Yama hit Hiruko with Human Bullet Tank, but Sasori broke free of the Nara Anbu's shadow technique and unleashed poison needles.
• Sasori's needles poisoned the Nara and Yamanaka Anbu and Akimichi Yama, while a needle grazed Uchiha Yashiro; Uchiha Tekka escaped injury with Shisui's help.
• Uchiha Shisui told Uchiha Tekka to lead the others away, then moved forward to face Sasori alone.
• Sasori fired Needle Eight Waves at Shisui, but a green figure blocked every needle as Shisui's Great Fireball hit Hiruko.

Uchiha Shisui revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan and used Susanoo to overwhelm Sasori, while Qian and Orochimaru watched from another battlefield. Sasori countered Shisui’s attack by summoning his strongest puppet, the Third Kazekage.

• Shisui’s Susanoo destroyed Hiruko, revealing Sasori’s red-haired Human Puppet body.
• Qian recognized Shisui’s Mangekyō Sharingan, while Orochimaru became astonished and coveted the chance to study it.
• Shisui fired Yasakani no Magatama at Sasori, then expanded Susanoo into a towering armored giant and attacked with its sword.
• Shisui’s genjutsu failed against Sasori, and he realized Sasori was not a real human.
• Sasori summoned his Human Puppet of the Third Kazekage, which blocked Susanoo’s sword with an Iron Sand shield.

Uchiha Shisui fought Sasori and the Third Kazekage while Yamato decided to use Wood Release to break the stalemate. Yamato revealed his power against Orochimaru and ended the chapter by attacking him with Wood Release: Silent Strangle Technique.

• Uchiha Yashiro recognized the Third Kazekage, while Uchiha Tekka rescued the poisoned, unconscious Akimichi Yama and the others.
• Sasori used the Third Kazekage to deflect Uchiha Shisui’s Susanoo sword strike and escape, leaving Shisui to fight the Third Kazekage.
• Yamato decided the battle had to end quickly and told Jonin Qian to finish his fight.
• Yamato used Wood Release to kill two of Orochimaru’s giant snakes, shocking Orochimaru with the appearance of another Wood Release ninja.
• Yamato extended his arm into branches and launched Wood Release: Silent Strangle Technique at Orochimaru.

Qian, Yamato, and Uchiha Inabi overwhelmed Orochimaru, forcing him to use several substitution techniques to survive. Cornered, Orochimaru chose to unleash the results of his research, leaving the battle poised for a new threat.

• Yamato trapped Orochimaru with Wood Release, but Orochimaru escaped the attack and Qian’s fire strike with a substitution technique.
• Qian killed the last giant snake by restraining it with lightning beasts and slicing off its head with a Wind Blade.
• Qian joined Yamato in attacking Orochimaru, and Uchiha Inabi joined them; together they forced Orochimaru to defend himself.
• Qian cut Orochimaru’s throat, but Orochimaru shed his body, blocked Qian’s next strike with a Kusanagi Sword, and dodged the team’s follow-up attacks.
• Orochimaru avoided Qian’s Great Fireball with another substitution and Earth Release, then completed hand seals and slapped his palm onto the ground.