Chapter Summaries

Qifeng’s puppet body was ambushed during a trap, while Nara Shikaku and his teammates fought Suna-ki and his forces. Hidden underground, Qifeng revealed he had survived and prepared to release a new invention into the battle.

• Qifeng was stabbed by a hidden puppet as Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Choza entered the ambush site.
• Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi used their techniques to expose the suna-nin, but Suna-ki intervened with his sand and killed Kubo.
• Nara Shikaku recognized Suna-ki as an Elite Jonin and Third Kazekage disciple, then ordered his team to deal with the other suna-nin first.
• Qifeng’s apparent corpse sank underground, where he revealed that it was a puppet and that his real body had escaped the stabbing.
• Seeing Nara Shikaku’s team struggle against Suna-ki, Qifeng released an emerald-green gas from a bottle and prepared to use his latest invention.

Qifeng poisoned the battlefield to incapacitate Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Suna-ki, then killed Suna-ki after destroying his antidote and resisting his attempt to lure Qifeng out. After securing Suna-ki’s body and reviving the Konoha trio, Qifeng returned to his earlier position and pretended to be wounded.

• Qifeng buried eighteen bottles of a mild neurotoxin around the battlefield and used Wind Release to spread it toward Suna-ki and the other Suna-nin.
• The poison weakened Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Suna-ki, while the Ino-Shika-Cho trio killed the remaining Suna-nin.
• Suna-ki found an antidote, but Qifeng struck it with a kunai and used Earth Release to swallow the bottle.
• Qifeng threw a stronger poison at Suna-ki, who tried to lure his hidden attacker out before succumbing to the combined toxins.
• Qifeng collected his bottles, concealed the poison, took Suna-ki’s body, and used the antidote to help Shikaku and the others awaken.
• Qifeng returned to the place where he had been stabbed, smeared blood on his face, put away his puppet, and lay down.

After Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi woke from being poisoned, they feared Maruyama Qifeng had died but discovered he had survived by treating himself. The group reunited, and Shikaku teased Qifeng by stealing his cigarettes as they recovered.

• Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi woke poisoned, found Akimichi Choza asleep, and realized Suna-ki was missing.
• Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi found Maruyama Qifeng lying still in a pool of blood and feared he had died.
• Maruyama Qifeng woke and explained that he had avoided his vital points, treated himself with medical ninjutsu, and only passed out.
• Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi rejoiced that Qifeng was alive, then Qifeng teased Shikaku for nearly crying.
• Nara Shikaku took Qifeng's cigarettes and smoked them while Qifeng protested that he was a patient.

After surviving a dangerous mission, Qifeng and his companions silently protested Danzo’s assignment of an underprepared squad against Suna-ki. Qifeng avoided the command tent and returned to recover, reflecting on the political maneuvering behind the mission and deciding that remaining a Chunin was safest.

• Danzo’s support squad collected the supplies and bodies while Qifeng, Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, and Yamanaka Inoichi waited in silence.
• Qifeng and Nara Shikaku framed their silent protest as a demand for fair rewards and safer mission assessments, while Yamanaka Inoichi reluctantly went along and Akimichi Choza endured hunger.
• Qifeng refused credit for the mission and joked that he hoped his companions would remember him if they became Jonin.
• After the group returned to camp, Qifeng excused himself to recover while Nara Shikaku and the others headed to the command tent.
• Qifeng considered whether Danzo had knowingly sent them against Suna-ki and whether Hiruzen Sarutobi had arranged for the Ino-Shika-Cho generation to enter the battlefield, then concluded that staying a Chunin suited him.

Qifeng pretended to be injured to secure time away from missions, then looted Suna-ki’s corpse and obtained a rare Experience Card. As he used it, he resolved to keep a puppet outside while his main body stayed hidden amid the growing conflict with Danzo.

• Qifeng told Shizune his injuries would take months to heal and persuaded her not to tell Tsunade.
• After Shizune left and the camp quieted, Qifeng looted Suna-ki’s corpse and obtained a rare Elite Jonin Experience Card.
• Qifeng reflected that Nara Shikaku and the other two had come to undermine Danzo, leaving him worried that his association with them could put him in danger.
• Qifeng decided to keep a puppet outside while hiding his main body, then activated Suna-ki’s Experience Card.

After recovering from his injury, Qifeng was ordered to join Nara Shikaku and the others in taking over Yan Shan Outpost, which Suna-nin had recently destroyed. He suspected Danzo had sent them away to end their dispute, and the group reached the outpost and established basic defenses.

• Qifeng finished his Suna-ki Experience Card, improving his attributes and learning Sand Eye.
• After several restful days, Qifeng received orders to accompany Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, and nine others to Yan Shan Outpost.
• Qifeng recognized that Danzo's deployment was a way to remove Nara Shikaku and the other two from the main force, and he resented being caught up in Konoha's internal conflict.
• Qifeng said goodbye to Shizune and left camp with the group, while Nara Shikaku teased him about being unable to avoid the mission.
• The group reached Yan Shan Outpost after two hours, and Nara Shikaku organized the basic defenses.

Qifeng played cards with Shikaku and Inoichi before joining a border patrol near Yan Shan Outpost. The patrol found Sasori of the Red Sands beside several dead Sand ninja, and Qifeng recognized the threat as Sasori confronted them.

• Qifeng beat Inoichi and Choza at Fight the Landlord while Shikaku learned to play and gave Qifeng trouble.
• Shikaku organized the next patrol shift, and Qifeng went with Putian and two other ninja to watch the border.
• Qifeng spotted a distant figure standing among several motionless bodies and urged Putian to notify the outpost and request reinforcements.
• Putian ordered the patrol to approach and identify the figure, who was standing beside dead ninja in Sand uniforms.
• The hooded figure revealed himself as Sasori of the Red Sands, and Qifeng recognized him and recoiled.

Qifeng and two Sunagakure ninja encountered Sasori, who revealed the Third Kazekage as his Human Puppet and attacked them with Iron Sand. Qifeng escaped on his summoned bird, but Sasori pursued him through the sky.

• Sasori summoned the Third Kazekage Human Puppet and launched an Iron Sand needle barrage at Qifeng, Putian, and their companion.
• Qifeng raised an Earth Wall to shield the group, then used Earth Tremor to obscure their escape as they fled in separate directions.
• Qifeng summoned the Mottled Bird, climbed onto its back, and flew away from the outpost.
• Sasori used Iron Sand wings to fly after Qifeng and rapidly closed the distance.

Qifeng was cornered by Sasori of the Red Sands and used Senju Tobirama’s Experience Card, gaining a 90% match rate and the power of a Super Kage-level ninja. With the Flying Thunder God Formula at his disposal, he prepared to fight Sasori rather than flee.

• Sasori caught up with Qifeng and trapped him with Iron Sand, leaving him no conventional escape route.
• Qifeng revealed that the apparent fighter was a Shadow Clone and summoned his real body beside it.
• Qifeng activated Senju Tobirama’s Experience Card and gained a 90% match rate, temporarily reaching Kage-level strength.
• Qifeng marked several kunai with the Flying Thunder God Formula and sent his puppet away from the battle.
• Qifeng faced Sasori with new confidence and hurled a marked kunai at him.

Qifeng used the Flying Thunder God Technique and Senju Tobirama’s Water Style to overpower Sasori, who responded by bringing out his Red Secret Technique puppets. The chapter ended as Qifeng began casting Water Severing Wave.

• Qifeng teleported with the Flying Thunder God Technique and slashed at Sasori, who recognized the technique but could not identify him.
• Qifeng scattered Flying Thunder God-marked kunai around the battlefield and unleashed a massive Water Dragon Bullet.
• Sasori defended himself inside a sphere of Iron Sand as the water dragon swept through the forest.
• Sasori admitted he had to fight seriously and released his Red Secret Technique: Ten Puppet Performance.
• Qifeng formed a seal and began using Water Style: Water Severing Wave.

Qifeng defeated Sasori using Senju Tobirama's techniques and collected Sasori's puppets and the Third Kazekage's Human Puppet. With twenty-five minutes left on his Experience Card, he headed toward the Suna-nin camp in the Land of Rain to make a major move.

• Qifeng sliced through Sasori's Iron Sand with Water Severing Wave, then pierced it with Water Release: Vortex Blade and wounded Sasori.
• Sasori tried to trap Qifeng with poisoned puppets and Iron Sand, but Qifeng marked his wound with the Flying Thunder God Formula and escaped the attack.
• Qifeng used Flying Thunder God Slash to appear inside Sasori's Iron Sand defenses and cut his throat, killing him.
• Qifeng collected Sasori's body, the Third Kazekage's Human Puppet, and the red-robed puppets, then told the Puppet Disciple to wait for Shikaku and the others.
• Qifeng flew away on a Summoning Beast, then used alternating Flying Thunder God jumps to race toward the Suna-nin camp in the Land of Rain.

Qifeng used the Senju Tobirama Experience Card to unleash a massive Water Style attack on the suna-nin camp, then intensified it with Earth Release and increased gravity. The mudslide crashed into Sunagakure’s hastily assembled defenses, leaving the damage unknown.

• Qifeng reached the suna-nin camp and unleashed Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave from the sky.
• Chiyo rallied the suna-nin and ordered Rasa, the Sand Manipulation ninja, to build a canopy while puppets reinforced it.
• Qifeng added Falling Earth and Heavy Stone Technique, turning the waves into a gravity-powered mudslide.
• The mudslide slammed into the camp’s defenses, sending out a massive shockwave.

Qifeng’s flood overwhelmed Sunagakure’s sand canopy, forcing Chiyo to release Bunpuku and unleash the One-Tails, Shukaku. Rasa opened the canopy to let the muddy water fall on Shukaku, leaving Qifeng face-to-face with the tailed beast.

• Qifeng’s torrent battered the canopy, knocked suna-nin unconscious, and left Rasa struggling to hold it together with Gold Sand.
• Chiyo realized the attack threatened devastating losses, and she ordered Bunpuku brought to the battlefield.
• Bunpuku used the Sleeping Technique and transformed into Shukaku, who emerged and turned his attention toward the suna-nin.
• Chiyo told Rasa to open a hole in the canopy so Shukaku could take a bath and find the enemy.
• Shukaku was drenched in mud, then he and Qifeng froze when they spotted each other.

Qifeng, empowered by Senju Tobirama's Experience Card, forced Shukaku to emerge and tested his power against the One-Tails. He redirected Shukaku's Tailed Beast Bomb toward Sunagakure's leaders, then revealed his Sharingan as he prepared to end the fight.

• Qifeng taunted Shukaku from the sky, and Shukaku attacked him with a Wind Release: Vacant Air Bullet.
• Qifeng evaded the attack with the Flying Thunder God Technique, leading Sunagakure's leaders to suspect he had used space-time ninjutsu.
• Shukaku formed and launched a Tailed Beast Bomb at Qifeng.
• Qifeng summoned Five-Layered Rashomon, which deflected the Tailed Beast Bomb toward Chiyo, Ebizo, and the other suna-nin.
• Qifeng confirmed Rashomon's defensive strength, then revealed his Sharingan and said it was time to end the fight.

Qifeng used the Senju Tobirama Experience Card to subdue Shukaku, destroy the remaining Sunagakure camp supplies, and escape with the collected corpses. When the card expired, he gained substantial attributes and several techniques, including an adapted first step of the Flying Thunder God Technique.

• Qifeng trapped Shukaku in a Sharingan illusion, identified himself as Itachi Uchiha, and crushed Shukaku's manifested body while sparing Bunpuku.
• Qifeng flooded the Sunagakure camp with the Great Waterfall Technique as the Pakura Puppet retrieved the Corpse Collection Tent and the battle's corpses.
• Qifeng returned to the forest near Sasori's battlefield, confirmed his replacement puppet was safe, and escaped to Sasori's hidden base in the Land of Rain.
• Qifeng stored Sasori, the Third Kazekage, and several Sunagakure Jonin corpses in the base.
• Qifeng's Experience Card expired, granting him attribute bonuses, Water Release Chakra, and several learned techniques, including Flying Thunder God: First Step (Adapted).

After using Senju Tobirama’s Experience Card, Qifeng accepted the limitations of his new Flying Thunder God technique and looted Sasori’s corpse, gaining a detailed Puppet Compendium. He began planning to turn Sasori into a Human Puppet and build a puppet force, then continued looting the Third Kazekage’s corpse.

• Qifeng learned that Flying Thunder God: First Step had a long charge-up because his spatial talent was poor, and reminded himself not to mistake the Experience Card’s power for his own.
• Qifeng assessed Sasori as likely Quasi-Kage and successfully looted a detailed Puppet Compendium after two failed attempts.
• Qifeng studied the scroll’s improved Human Puppet methods and its instructions for Sasori’s Secret Red Technique: Hundred Puppet Performance.
• Qifeng considered recreating Sasori of the Red Sands as a Human Puppet, using looted ninja corpses to build puppets while keeping his true identity hidden.
• Qifeng reaffirmed that he would not loot Konoha Ninja corpses and proceeded to loot the Third Kazekage’s corpse.

Qifeng returned to Yan Shan Outpost after gathering rewards and studying Sasori’s Puppet Compendium, only to learn that Danzo was transferring the outpost’s ninja to the Land of Hot Water. The move followed a mysterious expert’s attack on a Sunagakure camp and rising pressure from Kumogakure, leaving Qifeng preparing for a more dangerous battlefield.

• Qifeng received a Bloodline Concentration Purification Card from the Third Kazekage’s corpse, failed to obtain anything from a Sand Village Jonin body, and left Pakura’s puppet guarding his secret base.
• Qifeng reunited with his Puppet Disciple, who reported that Sasori had killed Putian and another ninja and that Danzo had sent Root to take over Yan Shan Outpost.
• Qifeng learned that Danzo planned to transfer the outpost’s ninja away from the Land of Rain battlefield after a powerful Water Release expert wounded a Sunagakure camp.
• Nara Shikaku told Qifeng that Konoha had approved their transfer to the Land of Hot Water, where Jiraiya faced Kumogakure’s Third Raikage and two formidable young ninja.
• Qifeng decided to prioritize studying Sasori’s Puppet Compendium and creating a Sasori Human Puppet to prepare for the more dangerous battlefield.

Qifeng and Nara Shikaku’s group arrived at Jiraiya’s Land of Hot Water camp, where tensions between the Uchiha and Hyuga were disrupting the command tent. Qifeng met Namikaze Minato, and the group settled into vacant tents while Jiraiya dealt with the battlefield’s problems.

• Qifeng and Nara Shikaku led dozens of Konoha Ninja from the Land of Rain battlefield to Jiraiya’s camp in the Land of Hot Water.
• At the command tent, an Uchiha representative argued with a Hyuga representative over the loss of Sakamoto Outpost and their clans’ casualties until Jiraiya calmed them.
• Qifeng entered with Nara Shikaku and noticed Namikaze Minato, who greeted him warmly, along with Uchiha Fugaku, Hyuga Hiashi, and Hizashi Hyuga.
• Nara Shikaku gave Jiraiya the transfer orders, and Jiraiya welcomed the group and asked Namikaze Minato to arrange their lodging.
• Namikaze Minato led the newcomers to vacant tents, where Nara Shikaku and Qifeng made excuses to rest while Akimichi Choza complained that he was hungry.

In the Land of Rain, Qifeng studied Sasori’s puppet-making methods and began preparing to build Sasori’s puppet as a second identity. A message from his Puppet Clone drew him to the Land of Hot Water, where he searched Uchiha and Hyuga corpses and obtained the Sharingan-exclusive Lesser Tsukuyomi Genjutsu.

• Qifeng reviewed Sasori’s scroll and planned to use Shikotsumyaku bones in important Human Puppets while preparing to craft Sasori’s puppet.
• After receiving an urgent message, Qifeng used the Flying Thunder God Technique to travel from the Land of Rain to the Land of Hot Water.
• Qifeng exchanged memories with his Puppet Clone and learned that he had taken charge of collecting corpses at the Konoha camp.
• Qifeng found Uchiha and Hyuga shinobi among the unsearched bodies and used all nine of his corpse-search opportunities on them.
• Qifeng checked his inventory and discovered a Genjutsu Card for Genjutsu—Binding Technique, also known as Lesser Tsukuyomi.

Qifeng acquired a genjutsu technique, a Byakugan, and a guide to human acupoints from his spoils, but he could not safely implant the Byakugan in himself. Half a month later, Obito, Rin, and Kakashi arrived at his morgue tent after a clash with Kumo-nin, leaving Qifeng exasperated by their visit.

• Qifeng learned the Genjutsu: Binding and Hanging Technique from its card and found that his conflicting Kekkei Genkai prevented him from using the Byakugan himself.
• Qifeng transformed the Byakugan card into a real eye, stored it in nutrient solution, and considered using it for Sasori's Human Puppet.
• Half a month later, Obito told Qifeng that Minato's team had fought Kumo-nin at Sakamoto Outpost and that he had been injured.
• Rin bandaged Obito while Kakashi mocked him, and Qifeng wondered why the trio had come to his morgue tent.