Chapter Summaries

Asuma used a blood-drawn Sage Cursed Seal to transform Rin Nohara, embedding symbols infused with his Senjutsu Chakra into every cell of her body. Rin survived the painful ritual and gained a lasting sage state, though Asuma could not predict how the changes might develop.

• Asuma explained that his Sage Transformation seal would spread Cursed Seal power through Rin Nohara's entire body and asked Tsunade, Shizune, and Yūhi Kurenai to help prepare it.
• Tsunade, Shizune, and Yūhi Kurenai drew the symbols over Rin Nohara's body using blood from Asuma's Shadow Clones.
• Asuma activated the seal, and its symbols penetrated Rin Nohara's skin, muscles, organs, nerves, brain, and every other cell, causing her intense pain.
• After the ritual ended, Rin Nohara gained a violet forehead mark and Chakra that initially resembled Asuma's.
• Asuma explained that Rin could control the seal and use Sage Chakra, while its ongoing effects might eventually let her cells absorb Natural Energy on their own.

Asuma and Jiraiya intervened when Hanzō trapped Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan, saving Konan and preventing Nagato from being forced into a deadly choice. Asuma defeated Hanzō with a Shadow Clone, leaving Konan stunned by how easily the demigod fell.

• Asuma handed Rin Nohara over to Kakashi for Anbu training under the codename Sen, then learned that the Mist Ninja had taken Sun Three-Tails for five hundred million ryō.
• In the Land of Rain, Asuma and Jiraiya waited until Hanzō captured Konan and tried to lure Yahiko and Nagato into a trap.
• Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta to protect Yahiko and Nagato, while Asuma rescued Konan from Hanzō.
• Asuma's Shadow Clone fought Hanzō, destroying Salamander Ibuse and breaking through Hanzō's Water Dragon Constriction.
• Asuma's Shadow Clone struck Hanzō into a rock wall and left him unable to move, while Konan watched in disbelief.

Asuma defeated Hanzō and helped end the battle, but Hanzō—controlled by an unseen force—killed Yahiko with a poisoned attack. Asuma saved the poisoned survivors and pondered how Yahiko’s death would affect Nagato, while considering whether Uchiha Madara’s revival might be necessary to defeat Black Zetsu.

• Asuma’s Shadow Clone captured Hanzō, and the Rain Ninja surrendered or fled after Jiraiya called for them to stop fighting.
• Yahiko confronted Hanzō about betraying them, but Hanzō’s abdomen exploded and a poisoned blast pierced Yahiko’s heart.
• Asuma tried to save Yahiko and contained the poison, but Yahiko died; Asuma explained that someone had controlled Hanzō, and Nagato blamed their weakness.
• Asuma and Jiraiya reunited with the other Akatsuki Organization members and returned with Yahiko’s and Hanzō’s corpses.
• Asuma wondered whether Nagato would inherit Yahiko’s ideals and considered whether Uchiha Madara’s revival might help him unite the ninja villages and kill Black Zetsu.

Nagato and Konan chose to build their strength independently and pursue peace after Yahiko’s death, while Obito’s group watched their plans unfold. Back in Konoha, Minato responded to rumors about Orochimaru by ordering an investigation and assigning Asuma to deal with Danzo, while Asuma proposed using Orochimaru as a potential spy against Uchiha Madara.

• Nagato told Jiraiya that he and Konan would inherit Yahiko’s will, then refused Konoha’s help so they could take Amegakure on equal terms and rely on their own strength.
• Nagato declared that he would use the Rinnegan to become a god who could master war and peace, unsettling Konan.
• Obito discussed Black Zetsu’s risky actions and concluded that Asuma was someone they needed to watch carefully.
• Asuma learned that rumors about Orochimaru’s experiments had spread through Konoha and returned with Jiraiya to meet Minato and the others.
• Asuma argued that Danzo had spread the rumors to reclaim Root, and Minato assigned Asuma and Sarutobi Shinya to deal with Danzo while Jiraiya and Tsunade handled Orochimaru.
• Asuma suggested sparing Orochimaru if he defected so he could become a spy against Uchiha Madara, and Minato approved the plan.

Asuma exposed Danzo’s crimes and secured the Shimura Clan’s cooperation before confronting him at Root. After Sarutobi Hiruzen removed Danzo as Root Leader, Asuma killed him and ordered Root’s records and members secured, leaving Hiruzen to question the cost of his son’s actions.

• Sarutobi Shinya told Shimura Shōkō that the Fourth Hokage was moving against Danzo and persuaded him to keep the Shimura Clan loyal by offering Asuma’s instruction to talented clan members.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen went to Root and urged Danzo to stop, but Danzo insisted that Konoha needed him and Root.
• Asuma arrived with Anbu and accused Danzo of human experiments, plotting against him, and attempting to kill Kurenai, Shizune, and Asuma.
• Hiruzen declared that Danzo was no longer Root Leader, and Danzo ordered his Root Shinobi to attack Asuma.
• Asuma sealed the Root Shinobi and killed Danzo with a senbon, then ordered Danzo’s body preserved and Root’s records secured.
• Hiruzen caught up with Asuma and asked why he had killed Danzo, and Asuma said Danzo’s ambition put others, including his brother, at risk.

After Danzo's death and funeral, Asuma trained Yūhi Kurenai in the Flying Thunder God and Spirit Transformation techniques, discovering new uses for both. He ended the chapter testing Spirit Transformation through a Shadow Clone and beginning to develop a more advanced Sword Control Technique.

• News spread through Konoha that Danzo had been killed on a mission, and Root was absorbed into the Anbu; Asuma attended Danzo's funeral through a Shadow Clone.
• Asuma demonstrated the Flying Thunder God to Yūhi Kurenai and explained how he wanted to combine its space-time principles with his Substitution Technique.
• Asuma tested the Spirit Transformation Technique, found that his Spirit Body could absorb Natural Energy and supply Chakra to Yūhi Kurenai, and used it to propel a Kunai with an Electromagnetic Cannon.
• Asuma discovered that a Shadow Clone could perform the Spirit Transformation Technique and then pilot a Kunai, though he could not yet control the weapon directly.
• Asuma resolved to develop the experiment further into a powerful Sword Control Technique.

Asuma helped Yūhi Kurenai consider ways to strengthen herself, then met the defecting Orochimaru at a hidden base and proposed a deal involving the Sharingan. Meanwhile, Asuma’s reputation for killing Hanzō spread across the nations.

• Asuma took Yūhi Kurenai to the hot springs, where she asked about becoming a Jinchuriki and he proposed ways to improve her Constitution and develop a Genjutsu-type Kekkei Genkai.
• Asuma used Lightning Style to stimulate Yūhi Kurenai’s cells, then discussed Yin Style and Yang Release training with her.
• Asuma learned that Orochimaru had defected but continued training with Yūhi Kurenai as news of his killing Hanzō spread.
• Asuma traveled to Orochimaru’s northern Land of Fire base, treated Orochimaru’s injuries, and received a scroll containing research on the Shikotsumyaku.
• Asuma told Orochimaru he had Sharingan intelligence and had come to make a deal.

Asuma traded Orochimaru information about the Rinnegan and its possible connection to Uchiha Madara for intelligence, then earned the Ninja Demigod achievement and received a new Water Style technique. By Konoha 47, peace had settled over the ninja world, but Asuma discovered that he had run out of money.

• Asuma explained the Sage of Six Paths' descendants and suggested that Uchiha Madara had obtained the Rinnegan through Hashirama Cells, while Nagato possessed it but could not fully wield its power.
• Orochimaru accepted Asuma's intelligence and left for the Land of Rice to test his ideas, while Asuma used Flying Thunder God to depart.
• Asuma earned the Ninja Demigod achievement, invested his Attribute Point in Constitution, and gained Level 6 Water Style—Water Body Flicker from the Skill Pack.
• Asuma returned to Konoha and continued developing his techniques as time passed into Konoha 47 and the ninja world grew mostly peaceful.
• Asuma discovered that he had run out of money.

Asuma realized his research and training had left him short of money, so he proposed a paid Jōnin Special Training Class to fund himself while sharing advanced chakra knowledge. Namikaze Minato agreed to have the village pay for two spots for the Anbu, and Asuma planned to broaden training opportunities in Konoha over time.

• Asuma reviewed his expenses and, after discussing Medical Talismans with Shizune, decided that asking the village for money would be the fastest solution.
• Asuma obtained three hundred million ryo from Namikaze Minato, money he was entitled to receive.
• Asuma proposed a private Jōnin Special Training Class teaching Chakra Nature Transformation and how to combine transformations, with separate regular and Bloodline classes charging high tuition.
• Namikaze Minato worried that teaching Kekkei Genkai knowledge would provoke objections, but Asuma said he would run the class privately and later hoped to expand training opportunities for civilian shinobi.
• Namikaze Minato reserved two regular-class places for the Anbu, with the village paying their tuition, and Asuma accepted.

Asuma informed Sarutobi Hiruzen and the Sarutobi Clan elder that he would start a Jonin Special Training Class, then went to Konoha Hospital to examine Gekko Hayate's Kekkei Genkai and Bloodline Disease. He identified a way to address Hayate's pulmonary fibrosis without a lung transplant, while the underlying cause remained uncertain.

• Asuma told Sarutobi Hiruzen he planned to start the Jonin Special Training Class, and Hiruzen agreed.
• Asuma informed Sarutobi Tamayura that Hiruzen had approved the plan, dismissing the elder's objections to teaching outsiders about Kekkei Genkai development.
• Asuma went to Konoha Hospital, where Tsunade showed him the unconscious Gekko Hayate, whose Transparent Release was accompanied by Bloodline Disease.
• Asuma examined Hayate and explained that ongoing lung damage had caused pulmonary fibrosis, while the disease might stem from a flaw in the Kekkei Genkai or Hayate's inability to withstand its power.
• Asuma said he could use his Electromagnetic Eye to kill the damaged cells without a lung transplant and asked Tsunade to find a way to suppress fibroblast proliferation.

Asuma and Tsunade repaired Gekko Hayate’s lungs but found his Transparent Release continued to damage his body, with no complete cure available yet. Asuma considered White Zetsu cell treatment and left to investigate the Sharingan, hoping his research could also change the Uchiha Clan.

• Asuma and Tsunade repaired Gekko Hayate’s lungs, but Asuma found that Transparent Release continued to damage them.
• Asuma explained to Gekko Shinichi and Gekko Kotone that Hayate’s Kekkei Genkai could slowly harm his body even when he did not consciously use it, and Tsunade said they could not yet cure him completely.
• Tsunade and Asuma considered transplanting cultivated White Zetsu cells to strengthen Hayate’s body once their research advanced.
• Asuma speculated that imbalances between Yin Release and Yang Release could underlie some Kekkei Genkai-related illnesses and the Sharingan’s blindness.
• Asuma told Tsunade he would investigate the Sharingan, and she asked whether he planned to experiment on Shisui; Asuma said it could be an opportunity to change the Uchiha Clan.

Asuma trained Uchiha Shisui in genjutsu and fundamentals, while Shisui’s Sharingan evolved and the Uchiha Clan’s ties with Konoha improved. Asuma then showed Shisui a terrifying vision of the Nine-Tails attack and its aftermath, revealed it was a genjutsu, and began his second lesson.

• Uchiha Fugaku visited Asuma to secure a place in the Jōnin Special Training Class, and Uchiha Yashiro joined the class.
• Asuma tested Shisui’s genjutsu and resistance, then began training him according to his abilities.
• Under Asuma’s guidance, Shisui awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan, and Asuma allowed him to share the new method with the Uchiha Clan.
• Shisui saw the Nine-Tails attack Konoha in a genjutsu, watched Asuma and Namikaze Minato die, and experienced his Mangekyō Sharingan awakening and eventual death.
• Asuma revealed that the vision was the Hell Viewing Technique and taught Shisui that fundamentals such as Chakra Control and Yin Style Chakra Nature Transformation formed the basis of strength.
• Asuma asked Shisui to teach him Demonic Illusion: Caged Tiger so they could improve Shisui’s understanding of Yin Style Chakra Nature Transformation.

Asuma taught Uchiha Shisui Demonic Illusion: Caged Tiger by gradually strengthening its Yin Release while keeping its Chakra expenditure constant, and the technique nearly reached level 9. As the first Jonin Special Training Class filled, Asuma reviewed its students and began planning how to train them.

• Asuma repeatedly cast Demonic Illusion: Caged Tiger for Shisui, who studied the changes in Asuma’s Yin Release and eventually could no longer break the technique.
• Shisui returned home, praised Asuma’s teaching to Uchiha Itachi, and agreed to guide Itachi in Genjutsu using the same method.
• Asuma continued training Shisui while the Sarutobi, Shimura, and Hyuga Clans secured places in the Jonin Special Training Class, with Hizashi Hyuga chosen for the Hyuga Clan.
• On February 7, Konoha 47, Asuma reviewed the full rosters: ten students in the regular class and Sarutobi Yoshio and Shimura Dan in the Bloodline Class.
• Asuma planned training in Chakra Control, neural reaction speed, and Chakra Nature Transformation, while considering how to accommodate the Hyuga and the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans’ secret techniques.

Asuma developed Wood Release and prepared to teach Yamato as part of his Jonin Special Training Class. The class began with a difficult Chakra Control exercise, and all twelve students managed to stand on a river that Asuma had made turbulent and scorching hot.

• Asuma reviewed his techniques and chose Wood Release as his next Kekkei Genkai to develop.
• After organizing research on Hashirama, White Zetsu, and Yamato's cells, Asuma created Wood Release and a Wood Clone on February 22, Konoha 47.
• On March 4, Asuma opened the Jonin Special Training Class with twelve students, including Kakashi and Yamato, and set strict rules for training.
• Asuma led the students out of Konoha and tested their Chakra Control by having them stand on a turbulent river.
• Asuma heated the river, but all twelve students stayed on its surface, showing that they had strong foundations.

Asuma’s Jonin Special Training Class pushed Kakashi and the others through exhausting water-walking and reaction drills, with Asuma’s Shadow Clones enforcing harsh sparring penalties. A month later, Hizashi Hyuga demonstrated to Hyuga Hiashi that the basic training had significantly improved his speed, reactions, Chakra Control, and technique power.

• Asuma increased the river’s current and used Heavy Rock Jutsu to make the trainees heavier as they practiced walking upstream.
• Asuma assigned Kakashi to lead afternoon neural reaction training, where Shimura Gen'i learned that finishing last meant being beaten by Asuma’s Shadow Clone.
• The Jonin Special Training Class continued for a month, focusing on basic conditioning and control rather than teaching ninjutsu or secret techniques.
• Hyuga Hiashi summoned Hizashi Hyuga to ask about the class’s results, and Hizashi proposed that they spar.
• Hizashi used his improved speed and reactions to counter Hyuga Hiashi’s Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, then explained that his Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm had grown over thirty percent stronger.

Asuma completed and tested the Nine Dragon Divine Fire Cover, discovering its immense heat and weak defense before redirecting a devastating attack to the sea. As he planned improvements and neared another level-up, he learned that his older brother Sarutobi Shinya had mastered a Kekkei Genkai.

• The major ninja clans saw clear gains from their members’ month of special training and decided to wait for further results.
• Asuma used nine Shadow Clones to complete the Nine Dragon Divine Fire Cover and tested its scorching flames and barrier strength.
• Asuma’s Sage Art—Scorch Release Rasenshuriken shattered the barrier, and the Shadow Clones used the Flying Thunder God Technique to send its force to the sea.
• Asuma considered ways to strengthen the technique’s defense and piercing power, then noted he was close to earning another level-up.
• Yūhi Kurenai and Shizune resumed training after teasing Asuma, and he continued developing techniques.
• Asuma received word that his older brother, Sarutobi Shinya, had mastered a Kekkei Genkai.

Asuma learned that Sarutobi Shinya had developed Explosion Release instead of Magnet Release, and the two brothers’ discussion gave Asuma deeper insight into how spiritual will shaped bloodline powers. After studying Shinya’s new ability and reviewing his own growth, Asuma saw his Chakra Control reach Level 12.

• Sarutobi Shinya demonstrated his Explosion Release by blasting apart an Earth Flow Wall, and explained that his thoughts and understanding had influenced the result of his Chakra fusion.
• Asuma reasoned that clear knowledge and spiritual will shaped the development of Kekkei Genkai, comparing the process to the Uchiha Clan’s Mangekyo ocular techniques; his Character Level increased as he gained this insight.
• Asuma warned Sarutobi Shinya to wait until his Constitution changed before having children, and Sarutobi Hiruzen agreed while suggesting Shinya and Kiyochi Kikka get engaged.
• Asuma, Sarutobi Shinya, and Sarutobi Hiruzen studied Explosion Release, and Asuma sealed away some of Shinya’s Chakra for research.
• Asuma recorded his discoveries, reviewed his attributes and plans to develop Wood Release with Yang Release, then found that his Chakra Control had reached Level 12.

Asuma used his newly advanced Chakra Control to strengthen his Constitution and fully manifest several inherited abilities in his genes, then discovered that Level 13 let him edit genes with chakra and began a long seclusion. Meanwhile, his Shadow Clones handled his duties as Konoha’s first Jōnin Special Training Class prepared for its graduation assessment.

• Asuma used chakra to permeate his cells and fully manifest Scorch Release, Electromagnetic Release, and Wood Release in his genes, increasing his stats.
• Asuma advanced Chakra Control to Level 13 and discovered he could alter his genes with chakra, though he avoided uncontrolled changes.
• Asuma realized that only Wind Style and Fire Style had been fully inherited from his parents, so he created Shadow Clones to handle outside matters and went into seclusion to work on his other Chakra Nature Transformations.
• By December 4th of Konoha 47, the ten trainees of the regular Jōnin Special Training Class gathered before the Forest of Death for their delayed graduation assessment.
• Namikaze Minato, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Hatake Sakumo, Konoha clan heads, and other officials observed the trainees through crystals powered by the Telescope Technique.

Asuma sent Kakashi and nine other participants into the Forest of Death, where Kakashi overcame traps and ambushers before facing the masked Rin Nohara. Their fierce battle showcased Rin’s powerful Water Style and Kakashi’s lightning techniques, and the fight continued across the flooded forest.

• Asuma warned the ten participants about the Forest of Death test, explained the Heaven-and-Earth Scroll objective, and used Flying Thunder God to scatter them around the forest.
• Kakashi spotted and triggered a wire trap from a safe distance, then incapacitated two disguised Anbu with a burst of electricity and found no scroll on them.
• Rin Nohara, masked and wielding Samehada, attacked Kakashi with a series of fast, powerful Water Style techniques.
• Kakashi countered Rin’s water attacks with lightning, then cut apart her lightning-charged water dragon using Chidori—Twin Blade Sharp Kill.
• Kakashi and Rin clashed at high speed across the water as the observers in the tower watched their battle.

Kakashi, Kurama Unkai, Yamato, and the other examinees displayed the results of their special training while defeating their second-stage opponents and reaching the tower. In the third stage, Asuma’s Shadow Clones overwhelmed the examinees with their own clan techniques, leaving the assembled clan leaders demanding to know how he had learned them.

• Kakashi defeated Rin Nohara with a powerful Lightning Style attack, took her Earth Scroll, and continued toward the tower.
• Kurama Unkai defeated Kurama Murakumo in a brief Genjutsu duel, while Uchiha Yashiro, Yamato, and the other examinees showed major improvements against their opponents.
• The examinees returned to the tower, where the clan leaders praised Asuma’s training and asked to expand his special training classes.
• Asuma’s Shadow Clone defeated Kurama Unkai by resisting his Genjutsu and turning Tree Bind Death against him.
• Asuma used the Akimichi Expansion Jutsu and Nara Shadow Secret Technique to overpower Akimichi Dōtō and Nara Tensui, alarming the clan leaders.
• Nara Shikaku and Akimichi Choza confronted Asuma about how he knew their clans’ secret techniques, and the other clan members watched anxiously.