Chapter Summaries

Pakura spared Chiyo, and Qian Ye persuaded Orochimaru to let the defeated Sunagakure elder escape so Sunagakure and Hidden Cloud could be blamed for the failed peace talks. After the battle, Orochimaru became determined to investigate the mysterious power behind Garp.

• Pakura cornered Chiyo at the blocked passage but could not bring herself to kill the elder who had once cared for her.
• Qian Ye urged Orochimaru to pursue Dodai and the Two-Tails Jinchuriki instead of killing Chiyo, arguing that her survival would help turn Sunagakure against Hidden Cloud.
• Orochimaru ordered Hidden Leaf forces to pursue the escaped Hidden Cloud ninja, while Chiyo limped away and Pakura joined Qian Ye as a homeless rogue ninja.
• Orochimaru examined the crater left by Garp and found no trace of Chakra or ninjutsu, only evidence of immense physical force.
• Orochimaru decided to investigate the source of Garp's unknown power after returning to the village.

After Hidden Leaf's victory at Handover Canyon, Qian Ye recovered from summoning Garp to repel the Two-Tails and concealed the source of his power from Orochimaru. Pakura pledged to stay by his side under the name Ye as the delegation prepared to return to Hidden Leaf.

• Minato Namikaze recognized Qian Ye's role in saving the delegation and planned to report his accomplishments to the Third Hokage.
• Qian Ye told Zhao Hai that Garp had broken up the Two-Tails' Complete Tailed Beast Transformation, and Zhao Hai arranged to send him Sea King meat.
• Orochimaru presented Qian Ye with a battle report crediting him with uncovering Rasa's plot, winning over Pakura, and repelling the Two-Tails.
• Qian Ye told Orochimaru that a spiritual-power mutation had let him summon the unknown white-clad old man from a strange space.
• Pakura cared for Qian Ye's wounds and said she would stay until she repaid her debt, then declared that her name was Ye and that Pakura had died at Handover Canyon.
• Orochimaru announced that the group would return to Hidden Leaf the next morning.

Qian Ye's battle report revealed that he had helped defeat the Two-Tails with a mysterious old man's overwhelming physical strength. As Qian Ye returned to Konoha, Hiruzen ordered the story kept secret, while Danzō began plotting to recruit him.

• Qian Ye recovered his strength with Sea King meat as he traveled back toward Konoha with Pakura, now called Ye, and Orochimaru.
• Hiruzen read Orochimaru's report and learned that the prisoner exchange had been a trap involving Rasa, Hidden Cloud, and the Two-Tails.
• Hiruzen learned that Qian Ye had turned Pakura against her former allies and summoned an old man who beat Matatabi until Yugito Nii reverted from her Tailed Beast form.
• Danzō decided that Qian Ye could help him counter the Uchiha and assumed the boy would return to Root, while Hiruzen warned him not to target Orochimaru's disciple.
• Hiruzen classified the old man's appearance as a top secret and ordered that the public be told only that Qian Ye exposed the trap and Orochimaru repelled Hidden Cloud.

Danzo learned that his nephew Shimura Ken had joined the Uchiha-run Public Security Auxiliary and beaten up Sarutobi clan members, exposing the Uchiha clan’s recruitment strategy. He ordered Root to bring Ken back, break his legs, and imprison him.

• Danzo returned to Root Underground Base, pleased that he believed Qian Ye was a Root operative and a valuable ally.
• A Root ninja reported that a Public Security Auxiliary had fought several Sarutobi clan members on the commercial street.
• Danzo learned that Shimura Ken, his nephew, had beaten the Sarutobi youths after they assaulted him, then earned public praise and a bonus from Uchiha Fugaku.
• The Root ninja explained that the Uchiha clan had opened Auxiliary recruitment to residents from major clans, drawing in overlooked branch and fringe members.
• Danzo realized the Uchiha clan was binding those recruits to its Police Force and ordered Root to retrieve Shimura Ken, break his legs, and lock him in solitary confinement.

Danzo planned to recruit Qian Ye into Root and use him to seize control of the Police Force, while Uchiha Yan and the Sparkfire Society celebrated Qian Ye’s success. Qian Ye traveled toward Konoha with Ye, where Danzo and his allies prepared to welcome him.

• Danzo ordered medical expenses sent to the Sarutobi family, then decided to personally welcome Qian Ye and gave Root shinobi instructions to bring him a Chakra-Conducting Short Blade and two Wind Release scrolls.
• At a Sparkfire Society dinner, Uchiha Yan thanked Hyuga Tianfeng and Nara Shan for helping recruit clan members into the Police Force and described Shimura Ken’s public arrest of a Sarutobi troublemaker.
• Uchiha Yan and the others credited Qian Ye’s plan with improving the Police Force’s support and the Uchiha clan’s standing, and learned that Qian Ye would reach Konoha the next morning.
• Uchiha Yan announced that the Sparkfire Society would gather at the village gate to welcome Qian Ye.
• Traveling fifty li from Konoha with Ye, Qian Ye exchanged messages with Zhao Hai about Garp and the East Blue, then confirmed that his strength had recovered and increased.

During the journey to Konoha, Qian Ye challenged Pakura's belief that she was merely a weapon and explained his ambition to change the Ninja World's broken system. Pakura began to see him as someone seeking a willing companion, though the story left her response unresolved.

• Pakura told Qian Ye she saw herself as his maid and weapon, willing to obey whatever he asked.
• Qian Ye told Pakura to leave if she truly believed she was worth no more than an obedient tool.
• Pakura blamed wars on powerful nations hoarding resources while Sunagakure struggled to survive.
• Qian Ye argued that the entire Ninja World system oppressed civilians and shinobi, and said he intended to replace its rules.
• Qian Ye told Pakura he needed companions who could challenge him and share his ideals, not obedient dogs.

Qian Ye gave Pakura food that restored her strength and renewed her resolve to follow him. In Loguetown, Garp celebrated Luffy’s escape and Dragon’s intervention while Smoker confronted him over the incident.

• Pakura regained her determination after Qian Ye promised to change the world.
• Qian Ye gave Pakura Sea King meat, restoring her chakra and physical strength.
• Zhao Hai told Qian Ye that Luffy had sailed and Dragon had disrupted the Marines in Loguetown.
• Smoker reported Luffy’s escape and Dragon’s intervention to Garp.
• Garp laughed at the news and praised his grandson, then told Smoker to be more carefree.

Zhao Hai fought Smoker in Loguetown until Garp called Zhao Hai his disciple, while Smoker announced he would pursue Luffy into the Grand Line. On the journey back, Pakura recovered after eating Qian Ye’s meat, and Orochimaru led Qian Ye into the woods for a private conversation.

• Zhao Hai posed for a photograph atop Roger’s broken execution platform while Quick Blade Baskis took the picture under duress.
• Smoker attacked Zhao Hai, who evaded him with Geppo and countered his smoke with Tempest Kick: Chaos.
• Garp stopped the fight and called Zhao Hai his disciple, and Smoker then declared he would enter the Grand Line to capture Straw Hat Kid.
• Pakura regained her vitality after eating the dark crimson meat, and Minato Namikaze reflected on Qian Ye’s actions and his lack of hostility toward the Hidden Leaf.
• At the evening camp, Orochimaru asked Qian Ye to follow him into the woods, where they stopped beneath a dead tree.

Orochimaru questioned Qian Ye about his unusual physical energy, and Qian Ye described a path to power beyond Chakra that fascinated his master. Their discussion of Hidden Leaf’s decay and the need to break its rules left Orochimaru convinced that Qian Ye understood his pursuit of truth.

• Orochimaru praised Qian Ye’s performance at Handover Canyon and asked about the powerful vitality inside him.
• Qian Ye explained that he sought to strengthen the body instead of relying too heavily on Chakra, and described how physical energy could produce a force beyond ninjutsu.
• Orochimaru connected Qian Ye’s theory to the old man who had repelled the Two-Tails’ attack, and Qian Ye said the figure was a projection of spiritual will.
• Qian Ye called Hidden Leaf stagnant and rotten, arguing that the Ninja World needed a revolutionary upheaval that changed life and power.
• Qian Ye told Orochimaru that his pursuit was curiosity and eternal truth, and Orochimaru called him a glimmer of light in Hidden Leaf.

Qian Ye told Orochimaru how he had won Danzo’s trust and explained his ability to absorb and store physical kinetic energy as a bodily mutation. Orochimaru examined him, confirmed his body had transformed, and became fascinated by the power.

• Qian Ye told Orochimaru that Danzo had recruited him as an informant and given him a Root token, while Orochimaru warned him not to underestimate Danzo.
• Qian Ye recounted how he had persuaded Danzo to trust him by praising White Fang’s sacrifice and calling Danzo Hidden Leaf’s pillar in the shadows.
• Orochimaru questioned Qian Ye about surviving the Gold Dust Bombs and the Two-Tails’ attack, and Qian Ye claimed his body absorbed and stored kinetic energy.
• Qian Ye explained that absorbing too much energy could tear his muscles and that he had to release the stored power to keep his body from collapsing.
• Orochimaru examined Qian Ye’s body, found unusually dense muscles and altered bones, and praised the evolution of the flesh.

Orochimaru told Qian Ye that his research on Sea King flesh could lead to a powerful human body-modification technique, and the two agreed that Qian Ye would supply more flesh. When Qian Ye returned to Hidden Leaf, the Uchiha and other villagers gave him a lavish welcome, while Obito tried to draw attention to Minato Namikaze.

• Orochimaru described his research into fusing Sea King flesh with human cells and asked Qian Ye to provide more of it.
• Qian Ye and Orochimaru agreed that Orochimaru would continue his experiments and reserve the best result for Qian Ye.
• Qian Ye, Pakura, Minato Namikaze, and Orochimaru arrived at Hidden Leaf and found Uchiha Yan and others leading a large welcome outside the gates.
• Pakura watched the cheering crowd and realized how much influence Qian Ye held in Hidden Leaf.
• Obito shouted praise for Minato Namikaze, Nohara Rin joined him, and Kakashi dismissed Obito as an idiot.

Qian Ye returned to Hidden Leaf, received public congratulations and gifts from Danzo, and reported his mission to Hiruzen. Hiruzen promoted him to Chunin, awarded him a house and mission pay, and allowed Pakura to stay in the village under ANBU surveillance.

• Danzo sent Qian Ye a Chakra-Conducting Short Blade and two advanced Wind Release ninjutsu, then invited him to Root for tea.
• Qian Ye thanked Danzo publicly and went to the Hokage Building with Orochimaru, Minato, and Pakura.
• Hiruzen praised Qian Ye's role in the victories against Sunagakure and Hidden Cloud, then promoted him to Chunin and awarded him a central-district residence and mission bonus.
• Qian Ye vouched for Pakura, and Orochimaru and Minato supported keeping her in Hidden Leaf.
• Hiruzen allowed Pakura to remain as Qian Ye's personal guard, subject to routine ANBU surveillance.

Qian Ye brought Pakura to Root to meet Danzo, while Hiruzen, Minato, and Orochimaru discussed the mysterious power that had defeated the Two-Tails. The chapter left Qian Ye presenting Danzo’s gift back to him and introducing Pakura as the Scorch Release user he was supervising.

• Qian Ye decided to visit Danzo at Root with Pakura, warning her to stay quiet and avoid making a move.
• Minato told Hiruzen and Orochimaru that a white-robed old man had driven back the Two-Tails using only physical strength.
• Orochimaru theorized that the old man was a projection of Qian Ye’s spiritual will, formed through his ability to absorb physical force, and Hiruzen classified the secret as S-rank.
• Qian Ye and Pakura entered Root, where Danzo welcomed Qian Ye and asked about Pakura.
• Qian Ye returned the Chakra-Conducting Short Blade to Danzo and said he was unworthy of the valuable gift.
• Qian Ye confirmed to Danzo that Pakura was the Scorch Release user from Sunagakure under his supervision.

Qian Ye persuaded Danzo to leave Pakura with him and advised him to infiltrate the Uchiha clan’s Public Security Auxiliary. After leaving Root, Qian Ye revealed that the plan would instead use Danzo’s infiltrators as free labor.

• Danzo tried to recruit Pakura into Root, but Qian Ye convinced him that she would be more useful if she stayed with Qian Ye until the attention around her died down.
• Danzo asked Qian Ye for his opinion on the Uchiha clan’s Public Security Auxiliary, and Qian Ye recommended infiltrating it with Root agents.
• Qian Ye proposed that Root agents rise to leadership roles and cause incidents that would damage the Uchiha clan’s reputation, impressing Danzo.
• Danzo gave Qian Ye permission to use his token at the logistics department and promised that Root would protect him.
• After leaving Root, Qian Ye told Pakura that Sparkfire Society controlled the Auxiliary’s rosters and would assign Root infiltrators to unpleasant patrols as free labor.
• Qian Ye and Pakura set out to inspect the new house the Hokage had given them.

Garp took Zhao Hai to meet his son Dragon, who tried to recruit Zhao Hai into the Revolutionary Army before sailing away. Zhao Hai prepared to grow stronger for the Grand Line, while Qian Ye explored the house Hiruzen Sarutobi had given him in Konoha.

• Garp brought Zhao Hai aboard Dragon’s ship, where Zhao Hai recognized the Revolutionary Army leader as Garp’s son.
• Dragon invited Zhao Hai to join the Revolutionary Army, but Garp angrily defended his disciple and Dragon departed for the Grand Line.
• Zhao Hai told Qian Ye about meeting Dragon, then focused on strengthening his Chakra before their journey to the Grand Line.
• Qian Ye and Pakura found the two-story house Hiruzen Sarutobi had awarded him in Konoha.

Qian Ye moved into his new home with Pakura, and his friends helped furnish and celebrate it with a barbecue. He brought Sea King meat from Zhao Hai through the Cross-Border Mutual Aid Group, leaving Akımichi Hai wondering what kind of animal it came from.

• Qian Ye showed Pakura their new home and persuaded her to choose a sunny bedroom instead of the room closest to the stairs.
• Uchiha Yan, Akımichi Hai, Hyuga Tianfeng, Yamanaka Hana, and Nara Shan arrived with supplies and worked to clean and furnish the house.
• Hyuga Tianfeng used his Byakugan to find dust and dead rats, while Uchiha Yan damaged the kitchen trying to light the stove; Pakura cleared the smoke and helped prepare the food.
• Qian Ye and his friends set up a courtyard barbecue, and Qian Ye asked Zhao Hai through the Cross-Border Mutual Aid Group to send ten kilograms of Sea King tenderloin.
• Qian Ye brought the Sea King meat downstairs and handed it to Akımichi Hai, who wondered what animal it came from.

Qian Ye strengthened ties among the Sparkfire Society members by sharing Sea King meat and coordinating their response to Danzo’s interference. After settling into life with Pakura and continuing his training, he brought more Sea King flesh to Orochimaru, whose experiments suggested it might fuse with the First Hokage’s cells.

• Qian Ye shared Sea King meat with the Sparkfire Society, and the members felt its restorative effects.
• Uchiha Yan reported that Danzo’s infiltrators had been caught sabotaging a Hyuga-owned shop and assigned to clean drainage ditches; Qian Ye told the group to protect their merchant intelligence network.
• Qian Ye explained to Pakura that shared interests and ideals kept the clan youths working together, and Pakura questioned his use of people’s ambitions.
• Over the following days, Pakura adapted to life in Hidden Leaf while Qian Ye trained and traded supplies for Sea Kings from Zhao Hai.
• Qian Ye brought Sea King tenderloin to Orochimaru, who described its unusual cellular activity and low rejection response to Chakra before considering a fusion with the First Hokage’s cells.

Qian Ye endured Orochimaru’s active serum experiment and awakened Armament Haki, while Hatake Sakumo discovered that the village was withholding most of the compensation owed to fallen ninjas’ families. Sakumo left the Logistics Department questioning the Will of Fire as he saw how Konoha’s policies harmed ordinary people.

• Orochimaru explained that Qian Ye’s flesh could balance with Hashirama Cells and described the dangers of his First-Stage Active Serum.
• Qian Ye injected the serum, used the Kinetic Energy Fruit and stored Chakra to survive its effects, and awakened Armament Haki in his right arm.
• Qian Ye demonstrated his new strength by denting an alloy table with a punch, and he told Orochimaru that the power was called Haki.
• Hatake Sakumo delivered compensation to Yamada’s family and learned they had received only thirty thousand ryo instead of the required three hundred thousand.
• Sakumo confronted the Logistics Department supervisor, who said the reduced payments had been approved by the higher-ups, but the supervisor refused to let Sakumo intervene.
• Sakumo left the office thinking about Qian Ye’s words and began to doubt the Will of Fire as he considered the hardship faced by fallen ninjas’ families.

Hatake Sakumo uncovered the theft of fallen ninja’s pensions, but Hiruzen refused to prosecute the culprits and ordered him to stop investigating. Disillusioned, Sakumo drank alone until Sarutobi Shu confronted him over his insults to the Will of Fire and the Hokage.

• Hatake Sakumo presented Hiruzen with evidence that Logistics Department officials and clan stewards had embezzled pensions meant for more than a hundred fallen ninja’s families.
• Hiruzen refused Sakumo’s demand for punishment, citing wartime supply needs, and ordered him to hand over the investigation.
• Sakumo left the Hokage Office and went to an izakaya, where he drank and bitterly rejected the village’s talk of the greater good and the Will of Fire.
• Sarutobi Shu, a Sarutobi clan Chunin who had received a share of the stolen funds, mocked Sakumo and demanded to know why he had insulted the Will of Fire and Hiruzen.

Hatake Sakumo was arrested after publicly accusing the Sarutobi clan and Hiruzen of withholding fallen ninja’s compensation, while Danzo spread rumors portraying him as a traitor. Kakashi learned that his father was imprisoned and was denied permission to visit him.

• Sakumo confronted Saruobi Shu in an izakaya and openly condemned the Sarutobi clan and Hiruzen over the missing compensation.
• ANBU arrested Sakumo, and Hiruzen ordered him held in the High-Security Prison without visitors.
• Danzo ordered Root to spread rumors that Sakumo planned to rebel and had deliberately caused losses on the front lines.
• Kakashi found his home empty and heard villagers claim that Sakumo had been arrested for treason.
• Kakashi ran to the High-Security Prison, but the ANBU guards refused to let him see his father.