Recaps

Chiyo decided Sunagakure would go to war with Konoha and appointed Rasa acting Fourth Kazekage to command the campaign. Konoha’s leaders learned that Sunagakure was gathering forces near Kikyo Castle, and Danzo explained that the invasion would help Sunagakure conceal its weakness and ease pressure from Iwagakure.

• Chiyo ended the Sunagakure elders’ argument and declared that the village needed a war against the Land of Fire.
• Chiyo appointed Rasa to exercise the authority of the Fourth Kazekage and take responsibility for the war against Konoha.
• Chiyo ordered Sunagakure to prepare its forces and sent Ebizo to demand support from the Daimyo of the Land of Wind.
• Sunagakure began mobilizing supplies, shinobi, and puppet units, while Konoha and Iwagakure detected its movements.
• Mitarashi Shisui reported to Hiruzen Sarutobi that Sunagakure’s forces were gathering near Kikyo Castle for an invasion of Konoha.
• Danzo told Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other elders that Sunagakure was attacking Konoha to seize resources, divert internal tensions, and hide its weakness from Iwagakure.

Hiruzen Sarutobi prepared Konoha for an impending war with Sunagakure while guarding against Iwagakure, Hidden Cloud, and Kirigakure. Danzo opposed Hatake Sakumo’s return to command, but Hiruzen insisted Konoha needed his strength on the Hidden Mist Frontline.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi declared war with Sunagakure inevitable and ordered Orochimaru to lead two thousand ninja to defend Kikyo Castle.
• Hiruzen assigned Danzo five hundred ninja to defend the Land of Grass and the Land of Rain, with special attention to Iwagakure; Danzo also requested Uchiha ninja for his contingent, and Hiruzen approved.
• Hiruzen assigned Utatane Koharu to coordinate logistics and sent Mitokado Homura to seek support from the Daimyo.
• Hiruzen sent Jiraiya to watch the Hidden Cloud approach and ordered Hatake Sakumo back into service to command defenses on the Hidden Mist Frontline.
• Danzo objected that Hatake Sakumo’s return would restore his prestige, but Hiruzen and the other advisors insisted Konoha needed him to defend against Kirigakure.

As Konoha prepared for war, Fang Xu asked Tsunade to approve his early graduation so he could gain battlefield experience, and she agreed. Tsunade then asked to lead his Jonin team, but Hiruzen refused because the front line needed her medical expertise against Sunagakure’s poisons.

• Hiruzen ordered Hatake Sakumo to command Konoha’s defenses against Kirigakure and sent Danzo to guard against Iwagakure, while Danzo privately welcomed the opportunities war might bring.
• Konoha began mobilizing for war, and Fang Xu concluded that he should graduate early before worsening troop shortages sent academy students to the front.
• Fang Xu told Tsunade he wanted to graduate and fight; after he explained his skills and reasons, Tsunade agreed but warned him to survive.
• Tsunade went to Hiruzen and asked to lead Fang Xu’s Jonin team, but Hiruzen said she was needed to build defenses against Sunagakure’s poisons at the front.

Tsunade reluctantly accepted Hiruzen Sarutobi’s plan to place Fang Xu under Shinku Yuhi’s command, while warning that she would sever ties with Konoha if he were endangered for political reasons. Fang Xu sought early graduation to join the war, and after Hatake Sakumo supported him, he submitted his application to Suzuki Nakamura.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi named Shinku Yuhi as Fang Xu’s prospective team leader, and Tsunade agreed despite her concerns about Shinku’s relationship with Fang Xu.
• Tsunade warned Hiruzen Sarutobi that she would break with Konoha if Fang Xu were sent on a suicide mission or used as a political bargaining chip.
• Fang Xu told Hatake Sakumo he planned to graduate early and join the war, and Sakumo praised his reasoning and discussed pairing him with Kakashi.
• Fang Xu agreed to watch out for Kakashi if they became teammates, while Kakashi insisted he did not need looking after.
• Fang Xu submitted an early graduation application to Suzuki Nakamura, who questioned his decision and learned that Tsunade and Hatake Sakumo had approved it.

Fang Xu secured Suzuki Nakamura’s approval for early graduation, with the assessment scheduled alongside Kakashi in three days. On his final day of Ninja Academy classes, Fang Xu returned in person and revealed to the class that his Shadow Clone had been attending for him.

• Suzuki Nakamura approved Fang Xu’s early graduation application after learning that Tsunade and Hatake Sakumo supported it.
• Suzuki Nakamura told Fang Xu he and Kakashi would take the early graduation assessment in three days and asked Fang Xu to attend his final day of classes in person.
• Fang Xu returned to class, and his Shadow Clone vanished in front of the students.
• Obito accused Fang Xu of skipping class, but Kakashi, Rin Nohara, and Kurenai Yuhi revealed that many people already knew about the Shadow Clone.
• Suzuki Nakamura quieted the class and said lessons would continue as normal before he made an announcement at noon.

Fang Xu and Kakashi learned their early graduation applications had been approved, and Fang Xu spent his final full day of classes with Kurenai Yuhi. As they left the academy, he explained that he had sought early graduation because war was coming and even students might eventually be sent to the battlefield.

• Suzuki Nakamura announced that Fang Xu's and Kakashi Hatake's early graduation applications had been approved and that they would take the graduation examination in three days.
• Fang Xu reassured Kurenai Yuhi that he would keep training with her after graduation, and she vowed to work hard and catch up to him.
• Fang Xu attended every lesson with his original body, answering Kurenai Yuhi's questions and explaining medical ninjutsu basics to Rin Nohara.
• After school, Kakashi asked Fang Xu why he had pursued early graduation so publicly, and Fang Xu said war was coming and academy students might be sent to the battlefield.

Fang Xu explained to Kurenai Yuhi and Kakashi that he wanted to graduate early to prepare for the coming war and protect himself and those around him. Back at his lodgings, he revealed that Pichu had evolved into a Chunin-level Pikachu and discussed the dangers ahead with it.

• Fang Xu told Kurenai Yuhi and Kakashi that he wanted real combat experience before the village fell into chaos.
• Kakashi admitted that he had applied to graduate early because he did not want to fall behind Fang Xu, while Kurenai Yuhi resolved to train harder and learn medical ninjutsu.
• Fang Xu returned to his lodgings and summoned Pikachu, which had evolved after nearly two years inside the Beast Taming Space.
• Fang Xu explained that graduation could send them to a real battlefield where people might die, and Pikachu promised through their contract bond to help him.
• Fang Xu regretted not having an Energy Cube maker to accelerate Pikachu's growth, and Pikachu responded by patting his hand and calling to him.

Fang Xu exchanged his Lightning Body-Tempering Technique and was transported to the battle at Enies Lobby, where the scroll weakened Rob Lucci just as he attacked Luffy. Luffy shrugged off Lucci’s diminished blows and prepared to counterattack.

• Fang Xu finished compiling the Lightning Body-Tempering Technique, withheld its core details, and decided to exchange the scroll.
• Fang Xu exchanged the scroll and arrived above the battlefield at Enies Lobby, where Luffy and the Straw Hats were exhausted and Lucci prepared to finish Luffy.
• As Lucci used Soru to attack, the scroll appeared behind him and drained away part of his physical foundation, reducing his speed and strength.
• Lucci’s first weakened punch hit Luffy, but Luffy’s rubber body absorbed it without causing pain, and the Straw Hats noticed Lucci had grown weaker.
• Lucci struck Luffy again with raw strength and sent him rolling, but Luffy stood up unharmed and readied a counterattack.

Luffy defeated Lucci at Enies Lobby and found a mysterious scroll that Nami identified as a Lightning Body-Tempering Technique. The Straw Hats suspected an unseen power had exchanged their enemies’ abilities for scrolls, but, believing it meant no harm for now, they gathered to study it as the Going Merry escaped.

• Luffy knocked the weakened Lucci unconscious with a Gum-Gum Headbutt, then found a strange scroll and tucked it into his waistband.
• Luffy rejoined the Straw Hats aboard the Going Merry, and Nami spotted the scroll as they fled the pursuing warships.
• Nami recognized the scroll as related to the earlier Chakra scroll and read that it described a technique for strengthening the body with lightning.
• Nami and Robin connected Lucci’s loss of power to Enel’s earlier weakening and suggested someone had exchanged their abilities for scrolls.
• The Straw Hats gathered around the scroll to study it, while Luffy focused on the promise of becoming stronger.

After returning from Enies Lobby, Fang Xu absorbed Rob Lucci’s Taijutsu Crystal and gained Lucci’s Six Powers expertise and Life Return. He concealed most of his sudden physical growth, then tested his new abilities in his Spatial Ring.

• Fang Xu received Rob Lucci’s Taijutsu Crystal, which contained Lucci’s accumulated taijutsu experience and complete understanding of the Six Powers.
• Fang Xu absorbed the crystal and endured a painful transformation that strengthened his body and imprinted Lucci’s combat instincts.
• Fang Xu used Life Return to reduce his apparent height and adjust his features, then found his body could withstand Lightning Body Tempering more effectively.
• Fang Xu entered his Spatial Ring and tested Soru, moving dozens of meters with explosive speed.
• Fang Xu used Geppo to move through the air, Rankyaku to slice a boulder, and Shigan to punch a hole through another rock.

Fang Xu tested the Six Powers and his lightning techniques after gaining Lucci’s physique, then built Spatial Bracelets to supplement his lightning reserves. He collected his custom Chakra Longblade and left the Tenten Ninja Tool Shop as onlookers wondered who he was.

• Fang Xu tested the Six Powers and found his physical combat ability had risen to the upper ranks of elite jonin.
• Fang Xu unleashed Thunder Bird, Thunder Beast, Thunder Dragon, and Thunder God, destroying rocks and a hill while using far less stamina and chakra than before.
• Fang Xu designed two Spatial Bracelets to hold storage batteries and channel electricity for his lightning abilities and Chakra Longblade.
• Fang Xu bought five million ryo worth of storage batteries, but discovered their combined charge amounted to only about twice his own lightning reserves.
• Fang Xu collected his custom Eight-Sided Han Sword from the Tenten Ninja Tool Shop and confirmed that it conducted lightning release chakra smoothly, drawing curious remarks from nearby chunin.

Fang Xu passed the Ninja Academy graduation assessment by defeating a Chunin examiner with a lightning-fast strike, astonishing the village leaders and students. Danzo viewed Fang Xu as a threat and began considering ways to have him killed during future missions, while Fang Xu recognized Danzo’s hostility and resolved that he no longer feared his schemes.

• Fang Xu spent two days refining his combined techniques before the graduation assessment, where Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo, and other village leaders watched.
• Kakashi passed the assessment with a swift display of swordsmanship and Lightning Release.
• Fang Xu used Soru to close the distance and held his lightning-charged Chakra Longblade at the Chunin examiner’s throat before the examiner could react.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other spectators marveled at Fang Xu’s speed, while Danzo saw him as a threat and considered arranging his death during missions.
• The examiner declared Fang Xu passed, and Fang Xu met Danzo’s hostile gaze, confident he could withstand Danzo’s covert schemes.

Fang Xu and Kakashi Hatake both passed their early graduation assessments after defeating Chunin examiners. Hiruzen Sarutobi began presenting Kakashi with a Konoha forehead protector, with the graduation ceremony still underway.

• Fang Xu returned to the sidelines after defeating his examiner with a lightning-charged slash.
• Kakashi Hatake fought a cautious Chunin examiner through dozens of exchanges, using Lightning Release Chakra to create an opening and win.
• The examiner declared Kakashi passed, and Obito and Rin Nohara reacted to his victory.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi approached Fang Xu and Kakashi with two Konoha forehead protectors and handed one to Kakashi.

Kakashi Hatake and Fang Xu graduated as genin and learned that their jonin leader had been assigned to them. As they arrived at Training Ground Three, Fang Xu sensed hostility from a Yuhi Clan man, leaving their new team’s first meeting poised to begin.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Kakashi Hatake and Fang Xu their Konoha forehead protectors and told them to report to Training Ground Three that afternoon.
• Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Minato Namikaze discussed Fang Xu’s talent, and Minato agreed that Fang Xu might someday surpass him.
• Tsunade warned Fang Xu to stay alive on missions, and he promised to remember her advice.
• Fang Xu told Kakashi that Sakumo Hatake had been sent to the Hidden Mist Frontline and would not lead their rookie squad.
• Fang Xu and Kakashi reached Training Ground Three, where a Yuhi Clan man eyed Fang Xu with open displeasure.

Fang Xu and Kakashi met their new team leader, Shinku Yuhi, who was wary of Fang Xu because of his closeness to Kurenai. Shinku assigned them a C-rank mission to eliminate bandits suspected of aiding infiltrators, and the team prepared to meet the next morning.

• Fang Xu and Kakashi introduced themselves to Shinku Yuhi, who was surprised by Fang Xu's many skills and unimpressed by his dream of world peace.
• Kakashi said he wanted to become a ninja like his father, and Shinku openly defended Hatake Sakumo's choice to save his comrades.
• Shinku told Fang Xu and Kakashi to meet at the Hokage Building at eight the next morning for a C-rank mission against mountain bandits tied to spies and rogue ninja.
• Shinku warned the boys not to underestimate the mission and ordered them to prepare their gear, medicine, and rations.
• After Shinku left, Kakashi teased Fang Xu about their leader's dislike of him, and Fang Xu said it was because Shinku doted on Kurenai Yuhi.

Fang Xu and Kakashi prepared supplies for their first mission outside the village, with Fang Xu anticipating possible dangers beyond the bandits they were sent to eliminate. At home, Fang Xu made Pikachu his officially registered Summoning Beast so it could accompany him on missions without exposing its true origin.

• Kakashi joked that Fang Xu would face Shinku Yuhi's scrutiny as a future son-in-law, and Fang Xu took him to buy mission supplies.
• Fang Xu bought a large stock of tools and supplies, explaining that the bandit mission could involve Wandering Ninja, spies, traps, or fortifications.
• Fang Xu complained about the taste of Military Ration Pills and said he hoped to develop better nutritional potions.
• Fang Xu returned home, let Pikachu out of the beast taming space, and promised to take it on his mission the next day.
• Fang Xu had Pikachu place its paw on a modified Summoning Contract scroll, registering it as his Summoning Beast.

Fang Xu exchanged Shinobi World medical texts and chakra techniques for Kureha’s medical equipment, books, and herbs. Kureha recognized the value and risks of chakra, while Fang Xu received and absorbed her lifelong medical legacy.

• Fang Xu exchanged his medical texts and Chakra Refinement Technique scrolls through Forced Trade.
• Kureha discovered her laboratory supplies had vanished, then received the Shinobi World books and scrolls in their place.
• Kureha studied chakra and Medical Ninjutsu, tested chakra refinement, and concluded that it could support recovery if practiced carefully alongside medicine and conditioning.
• Kureha decided to modify the chakra system before teaching it to Chopper.
• Fang Xu caught and stored Kureha’s medical supplies, then absorbed her Lifelong Medical Legacy Crystal.

Fang Xu used Kureha's medical knowledge to create improved mission medicines and prepared to leave Konoha with Pikachu. After villagers crowded around Pikachu on the way to the meeting point, Fang Xu arrived on time, where Shinku Yuhi sensed the creature's unusual chakra.

• Fang Xu combined Kureha's medical knowledge with shinobi medicine to make a sweet, fast-acting Nutritional Agent and several other battlefield supplies.
• Fang Xu gave Pikachu some Nutritional Agent and persuaded it to learn human words so it could communicate during missions.
• Fang Xu reviewed his mission gear and told Pikachu to behave as they left the village.
• Villagers gathered around Pikachu, and Fang Xu hurried away after explaining that it was his summoning beast.
• Fang Xu reached the meeting point on time and apologized to Shinku Yuhi, who sensed Pikachu's condensed lightning-natured chakra and unusual vitality.

Fang Xu, Kakashi, and Shinku Yuhi began their first official C-Rank mission to rescue villagers abducted by bandits in the Land of Fire. After planning a simultaneous assault on the bandit stronghold, Fang Xu attacked through the main gate and began cutting down its guards.

• Shinku Yuhi briefed Fang Xu and Kakashi on their mission to eliminate bandits who had attacked caravans and abducted villagers.
• The team questioned the village chief, learned the bandits were in a mountain stronghold, and studied a map of its entrances and patrols.
• Shinku Yuhi stayed behind to observe as Fang Xu and Kakashi planned to attack the stronghold from the front and rear at the same time.
• Fang Xu killed the two guards at the main gate and silently entered the stronghold with Pikachu nearby.
• Fang Xu attacked the bandits gathered around a fire, killing several as another bandit turned to flee.

Fang Xu and Kakashi cleared a bandit stronghold, rescued captured villagers, and learned to be more cautious after Fang Xu exposed a spy disguised as a victim. After completing eighteen bandit missions, they asked Shinku Yuhi for a break, but he ordered them to begin daily D-rank missions instead.

• Fang Xu and Kakashi defeated the bandits at a stronghold, where Fang Xu killed a disguised spy before she could stab Kakashi with a poisoned needle.
• Kakashi admitted his mistake, and Shinku Yuhi praised Fang Xu’s judgment while warning Kakashi to verify people’s identities before rescuing them.
• Fang Xu, Kakashi, and Shinku Yuhi escorted the rescued villagers home, then returned to Konoha and continued taking bandit-clearing missions.
• Over the next month, Fang Xu and Kakashi completed eighteen C-rank bandit extermination missions across the Land of Fire.
• Fang Xu asked Shinku Yuhi to stop assigning them bandit missions, but Shinku Yuhi ordered them to take one D-rank mission every day while he went to the Land of Earth front.

After returning from eighteen bandit missions, Fang Xu reunited with his friends, invited them to ramen, and promised to train with Kurenai and Rin. He walked Kurenai home, then returned alone and let Pikachu out, who seemed hungry.

• Fang Xu and Kakashi agreed to use Shadow Clones for routine D-rank work but refused to clean toilets.
• Fang Xu told Kurenai, Rin, Obito, and Asuma that he and Kakashi had completed eighteen C-rank missions and that Shinku Yuhi had left for the Land of Earth front.
• Fang Xu invited the group to Ichiraku Ramen and offered to help Kurenai and Rin practice battlefield first aid and chakra control.
• Asuma noticed Kurenai's special concern for Fang Xu and gave up on competing for her affection.
• Fang Xu walked Kurenai around the shopping street and back to the Yuhi Residence, then returned home and let Pikachu out.

Fang Xu’s Exchange sent a Ninja Cat into Giovanni’s base beneath the Viridian Gym, disrupting Mewtwo’s restraints and exposing Team Rocket’s operation in a destructive explosion. Arceus’s intervention cost Giovanni his Viridian Force, and Fang Xu gained crystals that awakened his Senju Bloodline and granted him the Viridian Force.

• Fang Xu exchanged a Chakra-bearing Ninja Cat, and Arceus redirected it to the Team Rocket base beneath the Viridian Gym while stripping Giovanni of his Viridian Force.
• The Ninja Cat struck the console and disabled Mewtwo’s restraints, allowing Mewtwo to escape and blast open the underground base.
• Giovanni fled through a backup passage and activated the base’s self-destruct sequence as Officer Jenny and Pokémon League Investigators evacuated the area.
• The base exploded, leaving the Viridian Gym in ruins, while the Ninja Cat appeared in Nanami’s arms at Professor Oak’s Laboratory and Professor Oak flew toward Viridian City.
• Fang Xu realized Arceus had intervened, then received Viridian Force and Super Viridian Physique crystals as Exchange rewards.
• Fang Xu absorbed both crystals, strengthening his body and awakening his Senju Bloodline before manifesting the Viridian Force.

Fang Xu assessed his newly awakened Senju bloodline and tested the healing abilities of Viridian Force before taking Pikachu out for a morning run. At the training ground, he introduced Pikachu to Obito and the others, but Obito touched Pikachu’s electric sac and triggered a Thunderbolt.

• Fang Xu checked his Attribute Panel and found that his overall strength had reached early Kage level, while his chakra remained at Jonin level.
• Fang Xu decided to keep improving his Senju constitution and explore creating Wood Release, then found that Viridian Force complemented his medical ninjutsu by restoring vitality and healing injuries.
• Fang Xu jogged to the training ground with Pikachu and met Obito, Kurenai, Rin, Kakashi, Asuma, and Might Guy.
• Fang Xu introduced Pikachu and explained that he was roughly Elite Chunin level, fast, and strong with lightning.
• Obito touched Pikachu’s electric sac despite Fang Xu’s warning, and Pikachu unleashed a Thunderbolt.

Obito was shocked by Pikachu after touching his sensitive electric sacs despite Fang Xu’s warning, then Might Guy dragged him into an intense morning run. Fang Xu stopped Kurenai and Rin when they struggled to keep up, while Kakashi explained to Asuma why Pikachu’s ability to use lightning without hand seals made him dangerous.

• Pikachu shocked Obito for touching his electric sacs, and Fang Xu explained that Pikachu had held back.
• Rin scolded Obito, while Kakashi and Asuma commented on his shock and Might Guy urged him to keep going.
• Might Guy dragged Obito into a morning workout, and Fang Xu, Kurenai, Rin, Asuma, and Kakashi joined the run.
• Fang Xu stopped Kurenai and Rin after they began struggling by the third lap and left a Shadow Clone to stay with them.
• Asuma questioned Pikachu’s strength, and Kakashi described his quick Thunder Shock and ability to fight without hand seals.

Kakashi recognized Pikachu’s instant, hand-seal-free lightning as a formidable battle advantage, while Konoha’s wartime shortages grew over the next five months. After the Third Hokage caught Fang Xu and Kakashi’s Shadow Clones claiming easy D-rank missions, he ordered their real bodies to report for frontline duty.

• Kakashi explained that Pikachu’s instant lightning attacks bypassed the usual cues ninja relied on, and he told Fang Xu he would like a Pokémon like Pikachu someday.
• Over five months, Konoha’s conflicts with the other great villages intensified, and Fang Xu, Kakashi, and their friends trained while their Shadow Clones handled easy missions and other practice.
• Fang Xu and Kakashi turned seven as the year ended, and Genin in the mission hall complained that the pair’s Shadow Clones kept taking the easiest D-rank missions.
• The Third Hokage confronted Fang Xu and Kakashi’s Shadow Clones, barred them from further village D-rank missions, and ordered their real bodies to report to the Hokage Office for frontline assignments.
• Fang Xu and Kakashi received their clones’ memories at the training ground, and Kakashi remarked that the mission hall’s Genin had finally reported them.