Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Izumi and Kurotsuchi met at the stream and clashed over Izumi’s envy of Kurotsuchi’s status as Uchiha Yin’s student. Kurotsuchi restrained herself after remembering the consequences of causing trouble in Konoha, and Izumi mocked her as she left the confrontation unresolved.

• Uchiha Izumi and Kurotsuchi arrived at the grove at nearly the same time and sat apart beside the stream.
• Kurotsuchi felt inferior as she compared herself to Izumi, while Izumi recognized Kurotsuchi and looked at her with hostility.
• Kurotsuchi confronted Izumi, who answered with sarcastic praise and revealed her envy of Kurotsuchi’s position as Uchiha Yin’s student.
• Kurotsuchi threatened Izumi, but remembered Uchiha Yin’s warning and lowered her fighting stance.
• Uchiha Izumi recognized Kurotsuchi’s restraint and taunted her for not being completely useless as Uchiha Yin’s student.

Uchiha Izumi provoked Kurotsuchi into agreeing to a witnessed match in three days, and both left to train for it. Uchiha Yin reunited with Kushina, who comforted him despite her irritation at his rumpling her hair.

• Uchiha Izumi taunted Kurotsuchi about her abilities and claimed she could not measure up to Izumi's brief guidance from Lord Yin.
• Kurotsuchi challenged Uchiha Izumi to a match with Master Yin as witness, and Izumi scheduled it for dawn in three days.
• Kurotsuchi and Uchiha Izumi went their separate ways to train, each wary of the other's strength.
• Uchiha Yin let Kushina out of his arms and tousled her hair again, while she endured his teasing because he was in a bad mood.

Uchiha Yin told Kushina that Kurotsuchi had confessed to him, and he worried that she mistook gratitude for love. Kushina helped him realize he should follow his heart, then he caught her hiding her true reaction and teased her.

• Uchiha Yin hesitated before telling Kushina that Kurotsuchi had confessed her feelings to him.
• Kushina reacted jealously but held back from hitting Uchiha Yin when she saw how upset he was.
• Uchiha Yin explained that he thought Kurotsuchi was too young to understand the difference between love and gratitude.
• Kushina reminded Uchiha Yin that he had always intended to follow his heart, and he thanked her for helping him see clearly.
• Uchiha Yin caught Kushina rolling her eyes and teased her until she blushed and grew flustered.

Kurotsuchi struggled with her feelings for Uchiha Yin but decided to treat winning his love as a challenge. The next morning, she welcomed Yin home and invited him to breakfast.

• Kurotsuchi returned home late and found the house dark and empty, then ate alone and went to bed troubled.
• Kurotsuchi tried to accept that many people admired Yin, but she remained hurt and eventually fell asleep.
• After waking at dawn, Kurotsuchi decided to pursue Yin differently and resolved to overcome the challenge of winning him.
• Yin nervously entered the house and found Kurotsuchi preparing breakfast.
• Kurotsuchi greeted Yin with a smile and began preparing a portion for him.

Kurotsuchi asked Uchiha Yin to referee a match she had arranged for three days later, hoping to test her strength and prove herself. Meanwhile, Uchiha Izumi impressed her teacher with her Great Fireball Technique, and he resolved to train her more seriously.

• Kurotsuchi asked Uchiha Yin to referee her match in three days, and he agreed.
• Kurotsuchi left to train after breakfast.
• Uchiha Izumi demonstrated a Great Fireball Technique that lasted nearly fifteen seconds.
• Uchiha Izumi told her teacher that Lord Yin had guided her, prompting the teacher to commit to training her properly.

Uchiha Izumi worked to master another Ninjutsu after learning the Great Fireball Technique, hoping to show Lord Yin her progress during the upcoming match. Her first attempt went wrong when she circulated her Chakra incorrectly, but she kept studying the mistake.

• Izumi asked her teacher to teach her more Ninjutsu over the next two days, and he agreed despite suggesting that she rest.
• Her teacher explained a more difficult Ninjutsu and demonstrated its Hand Seals, which Izumi memorized after one viewing.
• After her teacher left, Izumi practiced the Hand Seals and tried to cast the Ninjutsu on her own.
• Izumi failed to control her Chakra, felt it surge through her body, and continued trying to work out what she had done wrong.

Kurotsuchi asked Uchiha Mikoto to help her train in Ninjutsu, while Uchiha Yin remained unaware of her reasons and went to seek Mikoto’s advice. The chapter ended with Yin sensing Mikoto at the Training Ground and wondering why she was there.

• Kurotsuchi asked Uchiha Mikoto to help her train over the next two days, and Mikoto agreed without pressing her about what was wrong.
• Uchiha Mikoto took Kurotsuchi to the Training Ground and began helping her practice.
• Uchiha Yin finished Kurotsuchi’s meal and decided to ask Mikoto what was happening with her.
• Uchiha Yin found Mikoto was not home, used Mind's Eye of the Kagura to locate her, and sensed her at the Training Ground.

Uchiha Yin visited Mikoto while Kurotsuchi trained and learned that she was preparing for an unknown match. He left Kurotsuchi in Mikoto’s care, then returned to his work as Hokage, where Minato had been handling affairs in the Hokage Office.

• Uchiha Yin used Space-Time Ninjutsu to appear near Mikoto and asked what was happening with Kurotsuchi.
• Uchiha Yin told Mikoto that Kurotsuchi had confessed her feelings, and he had turned her down because she was too young to distinguish love from gratitude.
• Uchiha Yin asked who Kurotsuchi would fight, but Mikoto said she did not know and advised him to let Kurotsuchi handle it.
• Uchiha Yin accepted that Kurotsuchi would fight, urged Mikoto to teach her well, and left without realizing her opponent would be Uchiha Izumi.
• Uchiha Yin reflected that Hiruzen Sarutobi had misled him about the duties of Hokage, while Minato had been handling affairs from the Hokage Office.

Uchiha Yin went to the Hokage Office to clear urgent matters with Minato, who reported that Akatsuki missions were repeatedly clashing with Konoha’s and causing casualties. Yin took the threat seriously, but the chapter ended before he decided how to respond.

• Uchiha Yin used Space-Time Ninjutsu to visit Minato in the Hokage Office and asked him to handle all urgent matters at once.
• Minato told Uchiha Yin that Akatsuki missions had recently conflicted with Konoha’s missions, leaving Konoha ninja exposed to powerful opponents.
• Uchiha Yin learned that every recent Konoha mission casualty had resulted from encounters with the Akatsuki and dropped his playful manner.

Uchiha Yin ordered Minato to protect Konoha’s ninja from the Akatsuki, even at the cost of failed missions, then got stuck listening to Minato’s backlog of work. In Amegakure, Nagato’s body had deteriorated into a near-inhuman state, leaving Saro to care for him.

• Uchiha Yin told Minato to monitor the Akatsuki and have Konoha’s ninja prioritize survival if they encountered them on missions.
• Uchiha Yin promised to cover mission losses and personally apologize to dissatisfied clients.
• Minato thanked Uchiha Yin and began presenting the work that had piled up.
• Nagato sat in his bedroom in Amegakure, skeletal and immobilized by rods and machinery.
• Saro continued bringing Nagato meals and caring for him despite the pain of seeing his condition.

Saro managed the Akatsuki’s missions and stayed by Nagato’s side despite her unease about the organization’s income. Orochimaru returned from a mission to resume his secret experiments, while Nagato continued preparing the Akatsuki’s plans; Orochimaru remained undercover for Uchiha Yin.

• Saro told Nagato that the Akatsuki’s missions had all been completed and that she would collect the payments.
• Saro chose to remain with Nagato because she worried his life would become harder without her.
• Orochimaru returned from his mission and went to his laboratory to continue his experiments.
• Nagato refined the Six Paths of Pain, practiced Ninjutsu, and gained reliable control over summoning the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
• Uchiha Yin told Orochimaru to continue acting as his undercover agent, and Orochimaru accepted the Akatsuki’s missions despite disliking them.

Uchiha Yin accompanied Kurotsuchi to her match against Uchiha Izumi and reassured her when a large crowd gathered to watch. Kurotsuchi grew tense as the spectators praised Izumi and Uchiha Itachi while doubting her chances.

• Orochimaru continued his experiments in secret while waiting for Uchiha Yin's instructions.
• Kurotsuchi took Uchiha Yin by the hand and brought him to the Training Ground for her match.
• Uchiha Yin and Kurotsuchi found a much larger crowd than expected, and he encouraged her not to worry.
• Uchiha Yin discovered that Uchiha Izumi was Kurotsuchi's opponent and agreed to referee their match.
• The spectators praised Izumi and compared her to Uchiha Itachi, leaving Kurotsuchi tense and angry that they expected her to lose.

Uchiha Izumi prepared to face Kurotsuchi in a match, while Uchiha Yin warned Izumi not to hurt his student and told Kurotsuchi to fight carefully. Kurotsuchi misunderstood Yin’s warning as confidence in her victory, and the match was about to begin.

• Uchiha Yin realized that Izumi had quickly gained control of her chakra and asked her to go easy on Kurotsuchi.
• Izumi agreed, while Kurotsuchi grew jealous after seeing Yin speak warmly to Izumi.
• The crowd discussed how Izumi had learned to use the Sharingan through Yin’s introduction, and Kurotsuchi overheard them.
• Yin told Kurotsuchi to do her best against Izumi but not act recklessly, and Kurotsuchi mistook his warning for confidence in her.
• Kurotsuchi walked toward Izumi, and Yin followed as the crowd made room for their match.

Uchiha Izumi and Kurotsuchi began a friendly match under Uchiha Yin’s supervision, but Izumi easily evaded Kurotsuchi’s opening attacks. The match continued with Kurotsuchi growing frustrated after her Earth Release attack also failed to hit Izumi.

• Uchiha Yin started the friendly match and warned Izumi and Kurotsuchi to stop before anyone got hurt.
• Uchiha Izumi revealed her Sharingan and waited for Kurotsuchi to attack first.
• Kurotsuchi rushed Izumi and threw a Shuriken, but Izumi dodged it and Uchiha Yin knocked it away from the spectators with a Chakra-filled pebble.
• Kurotsuchi used Earth Release: Rock Pillar Spear, but Izumi leaped clear of the stone pillar and landed unharmed.

Uchiha Izumi took the initiative against Kurotsuchi in their match, using her speed and skill to overcome Kurotsuchi’s Earth Release defense. Kurotsuchi remained resentful as Uchiha Yin watched with concern over how hard Izumi might strike.

• Kurotsuchi grew angry as spectators praised Uchiha Izumi’s performance, while Uchiha Yin was surprised by Kurotsuchi’s volatility.
• Uchiha Izumi charged at Kurotsuchi, who raised an Earth Release: Earth Flow Rampart to block her.
• Uchiha Izumi ran up the wall and leaped over it, then slashed Kurotsuchi’s clothes with a Shuriken as Kurotsuchi tried to dodge.
• Kurotsuchi called Izumi nothing special, and Uchiha Yin frowned as he watched the match.

Uchiha Izumi used her combat experience and the Sharingan’s copying ability to gain the advantage over Kurotsuchi. Kurotsuchi realized Izumi had copied her Earth Release, then looked to Uchiha Yin for help and saw him smiling at Izumi.

• Uchiha Izumi attacked Kurotsuchi with Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique, forcing her to dodge until Izumi stopped to conserve Chakra.
• Uchiha Izumi used Earth Spear, and Kurotsuchi dodged the attack.
• Kurotsuchi recognized that Izumi had copied her Earth Release technique with the Sharingan.
• Kurotsuchi turned to Uchiha Yin for help and saw him watching Izumi with satisfaction.

Izumi trapped Kurotsuchi in the Hell Viewing Technique after Kurotsuchi tried to crush her with an Earth Release technique. Kurotsuchi collapsed in terror, believing Izumi had been killed.

• Mikoto watched Kurotsuchi lose composure as Izumi gained Uchiha Yin's approval.
• Izumi taunted Kurotsuchi and urged her to finish the match.
• Kurotsuchi used Earth Release: Rock Slab Coffin Technique to trap Izumi beneath falling slabs.
• Izumi cast the Hell Viewing Technique, making Kurotsuchi believe the rocks had crushed her.
• Kurotsuchi collapsed in terror as the onlookers realized she was under genjutsu.

Uchiha Izumi defeated Kurotsuchi with an illusion, and Mikoto comforted Kurotsuchi as she cried over the loss. Izumi received praise and encouragement from Uchiha Yin, leaving her delighted with the progress she had made.

• Uchiha Izumi released her illusion, and Kurotsuchi realized she had lost the match.
• Kurotsuchi mistook Uchiha Izumi for Uchiha Mikoto and embraced her before pushing Uchiha Yin away and going to Mikoto.
• Uchiha Yin declared Uchiha Izumi the winner, and Mikoto embraced Kurotsuchi as she silently cried.
• Uchiha Yin praised Izumi's improvement and offered to help her with future questions.
• Uchiha Izumi thanked Uchiha Yin for guiding her and promised to keep training.

After Kurotsuchi lost her spar with Izumi, Mikoto explained that her lack of combat experience and composure had cost her the match. Uchiha Yin thanked Izumi for holding back, then went to check on Kurotsuchi as Anko tried to approach them.

• Kurotsuchi asked Mikoto whether her loss meant she was useless and had embarrassed Uchiha Yin.
• Mikoto told Kurotsuchi that she and Izumi were evenly matched, but Kurotsuchi's inexperience and emotional fighting had led to her defeat.
• Kurotsuchi accepted Mikoto's advice and promised to work hard and keep learning from her.
• Uchiha Yin thanked Izumi for holding back, but Izumi denied doing so and called Kurotsuchi a distinguished guest from Iwagakure.
• Uchiha Yin headed over to Mikoto and Kurotsuchi, while Rin Nohara stopped Anko from coming over to complain.

Uchiha Yin tried to speak with Kurotsuchi about her behavior, but her fear of being scolded overwhelmed her before he could begin. The chapter ended with Kurotsuchi crying and Yin at a loss for how to comfort her.

• Anko wanted to confront Uchiha Yin, but Rin Nohara reminded her of his past scolding, so Anko fled with Rin and Kurenai Yuhi following.
• Mikoto released Kurotsuchi and advised Yin not to be too hard on her, then left Kurotsuchi to face him.
• Yin asked Kurotsuchi to have a proper talk and led her deeper into the Training Ground.
• Kurotsuchi nervously followed Yin, mistook his stern expression for anger, and burst into tears.
• Yin panicked when Kurotsuchi started crying and could not decide what to do.