Chapter Summaries

Asuma celebrated the New Year with Tsunade, Yūhi Kurenai, and Shizune after completing his Sage Transformation, then promised to help the women advance their abilities. As Konoha welcomed its fifty-sixth year, Asuma took the three women to the bedroom.

• Asuma told Tsunade, Yūhi Kurenai, and Shizune that his Sage Transformation was complete and that he would focus on teaching them.
• Asuma and the three women celebrated with a feast, then visited Konoha’s lively night market.
• Asuma met Uzumaki Karin and Namikaze Minato, and told Minato he had become like the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku.
• Asuma returned to the Sage Domain with Tsunade, Yūhi Kurenai, and Shizune and watched Konoha’s New Year fireworks with them.
• Asuma transferred the three women to the bedroom as Konoha’s fifty-sixth year began.

Asuma created six powerful Clones to form the Tenshin Group, equipping three with Mangekyo Sharingan and assigning each a combat specialty. He then worked with Namikaze Minato to stage attacks on Konoha shinobi and a battle in the Land of Earth to make the group’s threat appear real.

• Asuma controlled six Clones with Spirit Clones, sealing formulas, and Yang Release nails, then implanted three pairs of Mangekyo Sharingan into three of them.
• Asuma named the Mangekyo Clones Uka, Midu, and Bianming, assigned them Genjutsu, medical ninjutsu, and Wind Style, and named the remaining Clones Thunder God, Fire God, and Earth God.
• Asuma and the Clones settled on the name Tenshin Group, and Asuma went to the Hokage Building to discuss their plans with Namikaze Minato.
• Asuma proposed staging an attack that would take a pair of Three Tomoe Sharingan from Uchiha, then give the clan a pair of Mangekyo later, with Clan Head Fugaku deciding who would be involved.
• Asuma proposed seriously injuring Sarutobi Shinya and Shimura Dan, and Namikaze Minato agreed to arrange the staged attacks and share the resulting intelligence with the other four major ninja villages.
• Asuma suggested staging a battle in the Land of Earth to show Iwa Ninja Susanoo, and Namikaze Minato planned to send Clan Head Fugaku after the Tenshin Group.

Asuma planted Immortal Trees across the ninja world, trained Tsunade, Yūhi Kurenai, and Shizune, and launched a plan involving the Tenshin Group. The chapter ended with the group’s Clones stealing Uchiha Kōta’s Sharingan and leaving him alive to warn Konoha and the Uchiha.

• Asuma planted Immortal Trees throughout the countries and left the Tenshin Group’s Clones to hunt bandits before returning to Konoha.
• Asuma linked his chakra with Tsunade, Yūhi Kurenai, and Shizune to teach them Kekkei Mōra Wood Style and Dream Manipulation.
• Asuma projected the opening operation of his plan, in which Clone Tsuchigami confronted Uchiha Kōta and his squad at the Land of Iron border.
• Clone Bianming trapped Sarutobi Heiro and Takeo in a storm of wind blades while Clone Uka helped Clone Tsuchigami defeat Kōta.
• Clone Tsuchigami gouged out Kōta’s Sharingan, and the three Clones withdrew as Kōta ordered his companions to warn Konoha and the Uchiha.

Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Yashiro fought two Tenshin Group members near the Land of Earth, revealing the Uchiha’s Mangekyo and Susanoo powers to Iwagakure’s arriving patrol. The clones escaped underground after drawing attention to the battle, while the Uchiha left a strong impression on the Iwa ninja.

• Namikaze Minato sent Uchiha Fugaku and two squads to investigate the Tenshin Group in the Land of Earth.
• Uchiha Fugaku left Sarutobi Amayo and Taneshiga Sagara with the reconnaissance team, then advanced with Uchiha Yashiro toward two enemy clones.
• Uchiha Yashiro used his Mangekyo to trap the clones briefly, but they escaped and fought back with a rock giant and powerful Wind Style attacks.
• Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Yashiro used their Susanoo to withstand the attacks, and Yashiro cut the rock giant in half.
• Fugaku combined his Fire Style with the windstorm to create a flaming tempest, forcing the Iwa ninja to retreat as the clones sank underground.

White Zetsu and Black Zetsu watched Konoha’s Uchiha display their new Mangekyo powers and worried that Konoha’s strength was growing. Meanwhile, the Tenshin Group abducted Kekkei Genkai ninja from Iwagakure and Kumogakure, prompting both villages to launch a pursuit.

• White Zetsu and Black Zetsu concluded that Konoha had found a way to evolve the Sharingan and discussed using the Tenshin Group and making a deal with Orochimaru.
• Uchiha Yashiro and Uchiha Fugaku failed to capture the Tenshin Group members, then negotiated with the Iwa Ninja and left the Land of Earth.
• Clone Uka and Clone Raijin abducted Kari from Iwagakure and took his blood, leaving him and the two impersonated Iwa Ninja in a cave with a note.
• Clone Mido and Clone Kagami abducted Dodai from Kumogakure, after which the Fourth Raikage ordered a full pursuit and vowed to capture the Tenshin Group.

The Tenshin Group escaped pursuit from Iwagakure and Kumogakure, prompting the major villages to place a massive bounty on them as Asuma began analyzing the stolen blood. In the Land of Birds, Zetsu tried to recruit Bianming and Earth God by revealing the Ten-Tails’ connection to Kekkei Mōra, but they warned him not to deceive them.

• Kitsuchi and the Iwa Ninja attacked Uka and Thunder God, but Thunder God exhausted Kitsuchi while Uka trapped the other pursuers in Genjutsu, allowing the pair to escape.
• Clone Mido and Fire God evaded the Fourth Raikage’s pursuit by entering the Land of Hot Water, while Asuma watched the events through a crystal ball.
• Konoha, the Cloud Ninja, and the Iwa Ninja jointly declared the Tenshin Group wanted and offered one hundred million ryō for each member, as Asuma’s Shadow Clone began analyzing their collected blood.
• In the Land of Birds, Zetsu approached Bianming and Earth God and invited them to join the Akatsuki Organization, but they refused to take part in its conflicts.
• White Zetsu revealed that the nine Tailed Beasts could merge into the Ten-Tails, which possessed Kekkei Mōra, and Bianming and Earth God warned that they would retaliate if Zetsu was deceiving them.

Asuma developed a plan to create Nuclear Release while Black Zetsu tried to recruit the Tenshin Group and struck a deal with Orochimaru. The chapter ended with Asuma realizing Tsunade was pregnant, and Tsunade confirming she was going to become a mother.

• Bianming and Earth God demanded proof of Kekkei Mōra before the Tenshin Group would consider joining the Akatsuki Organization, so Black Zetsu planned to show them the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
• Asuma decided to develop a second Kekkei Mōra by combining Wind Style, Fire Style, and Lightning Style as a step toward Nuclear Release.
• Black Zetsu offered Orochimaru a path to the Rinnegan and immortality, and Orochimaru agreed to consider a deal while keeping information about Asuma as a future bargaining chip.
• The Tenshin Group disappeared from the major ninja villages’ tracking squads while Asuma continued his training and spent time with Tsunade and the others.
• Asuma sensed that Tsunade was pregnant, and Tsunade confirmed it after carefully sensing her body.

Asuma visited Orochimaru and traded intelligence about the Akatsuki’s Moon Eye Plan for information on immortality and a path to controllable Sage Transformation. The deal left Orochimaru viewing Asuma as a partner as he prepared for a coming war and continued his research.

• Tsunade’s friends gathered around her after learning she was pregnant, and Asuma shifted more of his work to Shadow Clones so he could stay by her side.
• Asuma traveled to Orochimaru’s base, identified White Zetsu as the source of Orochimaru’s Hashirama Cells, and refused to provide Uchiha Sharingan for his experiments.
• Orochimaru revealed that the Akatsuki planned to gather the Tailed Beasts and create the Ten-Tails, and that he had enough sacrifices to improve Impure World Reincarnation before an unprecedented Ninja World War.
• Asuma offered Orochimaru knowledge about Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, senjutsu, and using Chakra to alter cells as a path to immortality, and Orochimaru accepted the deal.
• Orochimaru congratulated Asuma on Tsunade’s pregnancy and resolved to prepare a gift and work harder on cloning technology.

Asuma advanced his research toward Nuclear Release and resumed the Tenshin Group’s search for Kekkei Genkai. In Kirigakure, Uka’s group took Mei Terumi’s blood and told her the Fourth Mizukage might have controlled the Nine-Tails, then faced a pursuing Mist Ninja force.

• Asuma concluded that he needed to fuse Dust Release with other Chakra Nature Transformations to gain atomic control and create Nuclear Release.
• Asuma suggested naming his and Tsunade’s unborn child Sarutobi Nawaki, and Tsunade accepted the name emotionally.
• Three days later, Uka, Thunder God, and Fire God infiltrated Kirigakure while Bianming, Midu, and Earth God searched for an Ice Style Ninja.
• Uka’s group drew Mei Terumi’s blood and told her that the Fourth Mizukage might have controlled the Nine-Tails during its jinchuriki’s childbirth.
• Mei Terumi pursued Uka’s group as Yagura and a large force of Mist Ninja followed them into a forest and surrounded them.

Uka and the Tenshin Group clashed with Kirigakure, revealing their Sharingan, Scorch Release, and Storm Release before escaping. After Kirigakure learned the Fourth Mizukage had been controlled by Uchiha Obito, Yagura named Mei Terumi his successor; days later, Uka and Fire God encountered Deva Path Pain in the Land of Wind.

• Uka used Mangekyo Genjutsu to incapacitate Mist Ninja as Fire God and Thunder God attacked with Scorch Release and Storm Release, while Mei Terumi fought back with Corrosive Mist Technique.
• Uka genjutsu-bound Mei Terumi, then the three Tenshin Group members retreated and vanished with Space-Time Ninjutsu; Ao later released Mei Terumi from the illusion, and she freed Yagura from Uchiha Obito's control.
• Yagura confirmed that someone using the Sharingan had controlled him, identified the culprit as the person behind Konoha's Nine-Tails Attack, ordered the matter classified, and chose Mei Terumi as the next Mizukage.
• The other four great shinobi villages renewed their pursuit of the Tenshin Group after hearing that its members displayed three Kekkei Genkai, while Namikaze Minato helped make the deception convincing.
• At Konoha's underground Laboratory Base, Uka and the others returned with Haku; Asuma sent Haku to South Sage Continent to be cared for by Honoka and awaited a meeting with Black Zetsu.
• Three days later, Uka and Fire God met Deva Path Pain on a sand dune in the Land of Wind.

Uka and Fire God joined Pain’s Akatsuki after Uka took a piece of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path for study, and Asuma began analyzing the Ten-Tails sample. Half a month later, Akatsuki started organizing its Tailed Beast hunt while Asuma focused on his research and other priorities.

• Uka used Susanoo and Fire God’s attack to cut a stump from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, then took the sample back to Asuma in the Konoha Sage Domain.
• Asuma sensed the Ten-Tails sample stirring against the Immortal Tree and brought it to the Laboratory Base for analysis.
• Pain gathered Akatsuki’s members and announced that their Tailed Beast capture plan would begin with the One-Tail.
• Uka warned the group that capturing a Jinchuriki inside a hidden village would be difficult, and Pain assigned members to teams.
• Asuma’s Shadow Clone reported that Mei Terumi’s Melt Release was only sixty percent analyzable and her Ice Style was eighty-eight percent analyzable, and Asuma joked about kidnapping her again.

Tsunade gave birth to Little Nawaki, and Asuma divided his attention between caring for his son and preparing for threats beyond the stars. After strengthening the moon as a base and promising to use Impure World Reincarnation for Ōtsutsuki Shinichi, Asuma returned to learn that Yūhi Kurenai had awakened her Dream Manipulation Kekkei Genkai, whose unusual eye pattern left its abilities yet to be revealed.

• Tsunade gave birth to Little Nawaki, and Asuma became a stay-at-home father while Tsunade returned to her research.
• Little Nawaki called Asuma “Daddy” and Tsunade “Mommy,” prompting Tsunade to devote more time to caring for him.
• Asuma planted an Immortal Tree inside the moon, gave Otsutsuki Toneri a Sage Cursed Seal, and agreed to use Impure World Reincarnation on Ōtsutsuki Shinichi.
• Asuma returned from space with materials to forge gifts for Little Nawaki and reforge his flying sword.
• Yūhi Kurenai told Asuma and Tsunade she had awakened Dream Manipulation, then revealed that her eyes had developed a distinct blue-and-red pattern.

Yūhi Kurenai awakened the Dream Eye, an ocular Kekkei Genkai that trapped people in a layered Dream Realm where injuries could affect their real bodies. After testing it with Asuma and Shizune, Shizune decided to develop a new Kekkei Genkai based on Heavenly Sun Life Transfer, using Water Style as its primary nature.

• Tsunade explained that Kurenai's Dream Eye had formed as a Kekkei Genkai, and Kurenai described how it pulled targets into a dreamlike realm through vision.
• Asuma entered Kurenai's Dream Realm, explored scenes from his previous life with her, and learned that he could change its projections by controlling his consciousness.
• Asuma and Shizune tested the Dream Eye with Kurenai and discovered that its layered dreams could trap enemies and turn imagined injuries into physical harm.
• Shizune asked Asuma about developing a Kekkei Genkai from Heavenly Sun Life Transfer, and he supported combining Yang Style with Water Style.
• Shizune chose Water Style as her primary Chakra Nature Transformation and began redirecting her training the next day.

Asuma chose Sai as his disciple after Minato and Kushina discussed the candidates, and he was asked to consider leading a jōnin team. Back in the Sage Domain, he offered a new approach to cultivating Ten-Tails Clones and learned that the Byakugan analysis was nearly complete.

• Asuma selected Sai from Minato’s list of civilian candidates, while Kushina urged him to take Sakura and he suggested that Shizune train her instead.
• Minato asked Asuma to consider becoming a jōnin team leader, and Asuma agreed to think about it before asking Sai to meet him in the Sage Domain.
• Asuma’s Shadow Clones reported that Ten-Tails genes overwhelmed their experimental Clones, so Asuma suggested strengthening the Clones with the Immortal Tree before trying again.
• Asuma visited the Byakugan laboratory, where a Shadow Clone said the analysis would be completed in three months and asked how Asuma planned to equip the eyes.
• Asuma joked with the Shadow Clones about possible eye arrangements, including Tenseigan in both eyes and a Rinne Sharingan as a third eye.

Sai visited the Sage Domain for his first lesson with Asuma, who helped him understand how spiritual will strengthens his painting technique. After Sai successfully created a powerful eagle, Asuma encouraged him to train Yang Style and Water Style toward developing an Ink Style Kekkei Genkai.

• Sai met Asuma beneath the Immortal Tree and explained that his painted creatures appeared inconsistently because he struggled to build emotional strength.
• Asuma explained that Sai’s technique used Yang Style Chakra to give life to his paintings and that strengthening spiritual will could improve it without relying on anger.
• Asuma demonstrated the technique by painting a powerful dragon and showed Sai how emotions and spiritual will changed the feeling of his Chakra.
• Asuma guided Sai to draw on his hard work, training, and his brother’s encouragement, and Sai created an eagle that flew strongly into the sky.
• Asuma told Sai to continue training Yang Style and begin Water Style, explaining that their combination could eventually lead to an Ink Style Kekkei Genkai.

Asuma arranged foundational training for Sai and considered how Konoha’s reforms had strengthened the village while worsening tensions with the Land of Fire’s Feudal Lord. He decided to target the Twelve Guardian Ninja for their bounties and resolved to have a daughter with Yūhi Kurenai.

• Asuma broke down Sai’s secret technique, then sent a Shadow Clone to train him in Chakra Nature Transformation and Chakra Control.
• Asuma reflected on Konoha’s expanded academy system, its Apprentice Genin rank, and the resources from the South Sage Continent that supported it.
• Asuma learned that the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire had formed the Twelve Guardian Ninja and was training ninja at Daimyo’s Mansion, escalating tensions with Konoha.
• Asuma sent word to Clone Kakuzu about the Twelve Guardian Ninja’s likely bounties.
• Asuma watched Little Nawaki play with other children and thought that daughters were less troublesome.
• Asuma decided it was time to have a daughter with Yūhi Kurenai, whose Dream Eye Kekkei Genkai had become inheritable.

Asuma continued developing his techniques and planned to help Shizune awaken a Kekkei Genkai, while also spending time with his family. Later, he assessed his disciples’ progress, addressed Uchiha Shisui’s weak Yang Release, and gave Shisui and Shimura Dan customized Sage Cursed Seals to aid their training.

• Asuma used Moonlit Mirror to monitor his son, then trained and discussed Shizune’s Kekkei Genkai development with her, proposing the Water Transformation Technique and a future gene-editing method using the Sage Cursed Seal.
• Asuma bathed Little Nawaki, became jealous when the boy rushed to Tsunade, and decided to begin his son’s training at age four rather than six.
• Asuma gathered Uchiha Shisui, Shimura Dan, Neji, Uzumaki Karin, and Sai to assess their progress; he warned Karin about wasting her talent and bet that she would lose to Naruto in a private match after the Chunin Exams.
• Asuma recognized that Uchiha Shisui’s Yin Release greatly surpassed his Yang Release and that frequent Mangekyo use could damage his body, while Shimura Dan demonstrated Scorch Release Chakra Mode and Neji showed progress in Chakra Nature Transformation.
• Asuma planted customized Sage Cursed Seals in Uchiha Shisui and Shimura Dan, giving Shisui Yang Release Senjutsu Chakra to ease the Sharingan’s burden and giving Dan Wind Style and Fire Style Chakra Nature Transformations.

Little Nawaki began training and awakened his Sage Body, Natural Energy absorption, and Wood Release. Later, Asuma restored the lunar Ōtsutsuki Byakugan into a Tenseigan and gave Otsutsuki Toneri control of it.

• Asuma persuaded restless Little Nawaki to begin training by promising that becoming Hokage would bring him dango and time to play.
• During his first session, Little Nawaki refined Chakra, absorbed Natural Energy, and awakened Wood Release, shaping plants into a castle before falling asleep from exhaustion.
• Tsunade took charge of Little Nawaki's training and focused on teaching him to control his strength.
• Asuma completed the gene analysis of the lunar Ōtsutsuki Byakugan and brought the eyes to the moon's Immortal Tree.
• Asuma fused thousands of Byakugan into a Tenseigan, and Otsutsuki Toneri resonated with it and gained control of its power.

Asuma prepared for Akatsuki’s coming attack while balancing Konoha’s plans with the birth of his daughter, Sarutobi Mirai. After Mirai was born, Asuma and Minato discussed a plan to protect the One-Tails Jinchuriki during the Chunin Exams, and Asuma decided he needed to speak with the Nine-Tails about Naruto’s training.

• Minato told Asuma that Akatsuki was nearly ready to capture the Tailed Beasts, and they discussed preparing supplies and assigning Naruto, Sasuke, and Haruno Sakura to Asuma’s squad.
• Asuma proposed that Kakashi lead Naruto’s generation while he personally trained the students during Chūnin special training, and Minato agreed.
• Yūhi Kurenai gave birth to Sarutobi Mirai on May 18th, Konoha Year 60, and Asuma visited her and held their newborn daughter.
• Minato told Asuma that the Fourth Kazekage would attend the Chunin Exams and that Akatsuki planned to capture the One-Tails Jinchuriki afterward, following Orochimaru’s attempt to impersonate the Kazekage.
• Asuma agreed to the plan to save the One-Tails Jinchuriki and decided to talk with the Nine-Tails because Naruto’s forced use of its chakra was unreliable.

Asuma gathered the children beneath the Immortal Tree and learned about their plans to take the Chunin Exams and their recent battle with Zabuza. He challenged Naruto and Karin to a match, promising to teach the winner a technique, and they prepared to fight.

• Kushina sent the children away from Mirai, and Kurenai carried Mirai up to the treehouse with Kushina.
• Asuma asked whether Naruto and the others would take the Chunin Exams, and Naruto boasted that he was ready despite worrying about the written test.
• Naruto described how he had used the Rasengan and Multiple Shadow Clone Technique against Zabuza, while Sakura and Sasuke corrected and added to his account of the team's efforts.
• Asuma explained Zabuza's history and Kirigakure's Bloody Mist policies after Kana asked why he had killed his fellow exam participants.
• Asuma challenged Naruto and Karin to a match and promised to teach the winner one of his unique techniques.