Chapter Summaries

Hatake Sakumo took command of Konoha’s front against Sunagakure as Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru prepared to leave with the wounded. After the Sannin departed, Qingyun experimented with fire ninjutsu and created a devastating White Finger Sword that left the river steaming and drastically lowered its water level.

• Hatake Sakumo heard reports from Tsunade, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Dan Katō, then assigned Dan to watch Iwagakure and took responsibility for the Sunagakure front.
• Tsunade worried that Sakumo would face Chiyo’s family alone, but Dan Katō reassured her, and Orochimaru agreed that Dan could handle Iwagakure’s forces.
• Orochimaru gave Sakumo a messenger snake, then led Tsunade and Jiraiya away with the wounded.
• Qingyun left Minato Namikaze, Kushina, Nawaki, and Uchiha Mikoto to handle dinner and went to the River to train his Great Fireball Technique.
• Qingyun compressed his internal force to create a smaller, hotter fireball, then channeled its White Flame through his thumb as the Lesser Shang Sword.
• Qingyun’s White Finger Sword blasted water into the air and burned away a vast layer of the River before he severed its connection and marveled at its power.

Qingyun developed a faster way to channel Fire Nature through the Six Meridian Divine Sword, unleashing a series of powerful blasts. After explaining the breakthrough to Minato Namikaze, Kushina, and Nawaki, he advised them on training and staying safe in battle.

• Qingyun realized that converting and compressing Internal Force for Fire Nature took too long, then distributed it through attribute-specific Meridians to bypass the delay.
• Qingyun fired the Six Meridian Divine Sword with greater speed and power, startling Minato Namikaze, Kushina, and Nawaki as explosions wrecked the area.
• Qingyun stopped after using over half his Internal Force and calmed the roiling energy while replenishing his strength.
• Qingyun told Minato Namikaze to recall their spar to help develop Wind Nature Transformation, and warned Nawaki to improve his combat skills and avoid approaching bodies carelessly.
• Qingyun advised Kushina to prioritize sealing jutsu with Grandma Mito and practice Lingbo Micro-Step, later combining it with the Body Flicker Technique.

Qingyun shared his medicinal Buddha's Smile Wine with Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya, helping them increase their chakra. After learning the Uchiha were trying to win Qingyun over and hearing that he had created a powerful seal-free ninjutsu, Tsunade was shocked by his abilities.

• Qingyun prepared dinner and warned Nawaki that the potent wine was not suitable for him.
• Tsunade arrived, drank from Qingyun's flask, and absorbed the wine's medicinal potency with her chakra.
• Orochimaru and Jiraiya returned and drank measured servings of the wine, while Qingyun cautioned them about its effects.
• Tsunade awoke with her chakra increased by about ten percent and questioned Qingyun about what he had been doing.
• Qingyun told Tsunade that the Uchiha had sent a girl to his class to win him over, easing her concern that they would target him.
• Nawaki told Tsunade that Qingyun had created a powerful ninjutsu requiring no hand seals, leaving her stunned.

Qingyun demonstrated his White Flame technique and traded its training methods to Orochimaru for Fire and Lightning Release techniques. Orochimaru discovered that the elemental Finger Sword was too dangerous for his meridians to use, while Qingyun later sent his drunken companions home and left Minato to clean up.

• Qingyun demonstrated a White Flame technique that consumed Orochimaru's water ninjutsu before finally going out.
• Qingyun traded the training methods for the Six Meridian Divine Sword and White Finger Sword to Orochimaru for eight A-rank Fire and Lightning Release techniques.
• Orochimaru successfully formed an elemental Finger Sword but injured his meridians, revealing that only someone with Qingyun's unusually tough meridians could use the method safely.
• Orochimaru returned Qingyun's scroll and said he might develop hand-seal-free ninjutsu from studying the Finger Sword.
• Qingyun drank Tsunade and Jiraiya under the table, and Orochimaru carried them away while Qingyun told Minato to clean up and prepared to take Kushina and Nawaki home.

Qingyun spent months strengthening his ninjutsu and battlefield skills, bringing his companions through dangerous training while mastering eight Fire and Lightning Release techniques. Near graduation, he began developing Chidori and successfully charged forward with the lightning gathered in his hand.

• Qingyun planned to develop Chidori and trained with Orochimaru's scroll of rare Fire and Lightning Release ninjutsu.
• Qingyun trained Minato Namikaze, Nawaki, and Kushina with traps and Explosive Tags, helping Nawaki improve his reactions after an injury.
• Qingyun, Minato Namikaze, Nawaki, and Kushina underwent ambush training with Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru until they could handle the simulated threats together.
• Qingyun mastered the eight ninjutsu, the Body Flicker Technique, and the Shadow Clone Technique, and considered graduating early as his strength approached that of an ordinary Jonin.
• Qingyun gathered Lightning Nature energy in his hand, produced Chidori's birdlike chirping sound, and charged forward with the technique.

Qingyun tested his new Chidori and discussed Nawaki’s wish to become Orochimaru’s apprentice with Tsunade. He revealed his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and explained that he had awakened it after his parents died and gained its third tomoe through training.

• Qingyun used Chidori without his Sharingan, lost track of his surroundings, and crashed through a tree.
• Qingyun activated his Sharingan, used Chidori to smash a boulder, and explained the technique’s advantages and risks to Tsunade.
• Tsunade asked Qingyun what he thought of Nawaki wanting Orochimaru as his apprentice, and Qingyun advised her to let Nawaki decide.
• Tsunade asked whether Qingyun had awakened his Sharingan, and he showed her his Three-Tomoe eyes.
• Qingyun told Tsunade that he awakened his two-tomoe Sharingan after his parents died and gained another tomoe through years of training.

Qingyun told Tsunade about his Sharingan and asked her to keep it secret, then sought permission to graduate early and learn who might lead his team. Tsunade offered to ask Hatake Sakumo to take him and Minato, while Qingyun worried that Sakumo’s new fame would draw dangerous jealousy.

• Qingyun explained that Mito Uzumaki had discovered his Sharingan while testing him, and Tsunade promised to keep it secret.
• Qingyun told Tsunade he wanted to graduate early because his training had reached a bottleneck and he needed battlefield experience.
• Tsunade said she would ask Hatake Sakumo, who would soon return, whether he would lead Qingyun and Minato.
• Qingyun recalled how Sakumo had killed Chiyo's Son and Chiyo's Daughter-in-Law while fighting the Third Kazekage, earning the name Konoha's White Fang and the daimyo’s title of Hokage’s Aide.
• Qingyun warned Tsunade that Sakumo’s fame might make him a target for jealousy.

Qingyun warned Tsunade that Hatake Sakumo’s appointment by the Daimyo could provoke people in Konoha to frame him, and Tsunade agreed to pass on his concerns. Later, Qingyun decided that he and Minato Namikaze were ready to graduate, leaving Minato eager to apply the next day.

• Qingyun explained to Tsunade how Sakumo’s new position might make him a target of jealousy and political schemes, and said he hoped to prevent the tragedy.
• Tsunade believed Qingyun’s warning and promised to tell Sakumo, while saying she would eventually bring Qingyun under her command.
• Qingyun resumed training, first considering Chidori Stream and then how to combine Lingbo Micro-Step with the Body Flicker Technique.
• Qingyun told Minato Namikaze he planned to graduate that year because they needed life-and-death combat to grow stronger.
• Minato Namikaze eagerly announced he would submit an early graduation application to Iruka Umino the next day.
• Qingyun skipped his usual training and slept through the night.

Qingyun reached full mastery of the Nine Yang Divine Skill, opened his extraordinary meridians, and entered the Innate realm after absorbing a vast amount of natural spiritual energy. His breakthrough transformed his body and the surrounding area, and he left the story having explained the breakthrough to Minato Namikaze and Kushina while asking them to keep it secret.

• Qingyun cultivated from morning until noon, opened his Conception Vessel and Governing Vessel, and absorbed the spiritual energy gathering around him.
• Qingyun forced open all eight extraordinary meridians and completed his breakthrough into the Innate realm, greatly strengthening his body and Sharingan.
• Qingyun discovered that his height and hair had grown and that his cultivation had transformed his bones, meridians, dantian, and cells.
• Minato Namikaze and Kushina found the house engulfed by overgrown trees and weeds, so they helped Qingyun clear the area and rebuild two wooden houses.
• Qingyun told Minato Namikaze and Kushina about his breakthrough and asked them to keep it secret, while Kushina sensed his natural energy and clung to him.

Qingyun asked Mito Uzumaki to let Kushina graduate with him and promised to protect her, so Mito challenged him to hold his own against her. Their battle began at the Senju training ground, where Mito unleashed her Adamantine Sealing Chains and Qingyun struggled to evade them.

• Kushina learned her graduation application had been rejected, ran away in tears, and Qingyun sent Minato after her with a promise to find a way for her to graduate with them.
• Qingyun visited Mito Uzumaki and asked her to help Kushina graduate alongside him and Minato.
• Mito questioned Qingyun's motives and demanded that he hold out against her without losing if he wanted her approval.
• Qingyun accepted the challenge, and Mito, Tsunade, and Nawaki watched as the pair faced off at the Senju training ground.
• Qingyun attacked with Fire Release, Lightning Release, and his Lesser Shang Sword, but Mito cut through his fire technique and summoned Adamantine Sealing Chains, forcing him to dodge.

Qingyun fought Mito Uzumaki with Chidori-infused swordsmanship but was bound and had his chakra sealed. After swallowing a Blood Bodhi, he recovered and developed an uncanny Movement Technique that let him attack from multiple directions, leaving Mito Uzumaki and the others stunned.

• Qingyun used Lightning Nature internal force to enhance his speed and attacked Mito Uzumaki’s golden chains with Chidori-infused Quanzhen Swordsmanship.
• Mito Uzumaki overwhelmed Qingyun with golden chains, binding him and sealing his chakra as his injuries worsened.
• Qingyun refused to surrender, insisting he would keep his promise to Kushina, then swallowed a Blood Bodhi to heal and restore his strength.
• The Blood Bodhi’s energy fueled Qingyun as he broke free and refined his Movement Technique until his afterimages could attack independently.
• Qingyun launched attacks from every direction, forcing Mito Uzumaki to defend against the barrage while Tsunade, Nawaki, Kushina, and Minato Namikaze watched in shock.

Qingyun unleashed a powerful Six Meridian Sword Formation against Mito Uzumaki, who stopped it with the Nine-Tails’ chakra and the Elemental Seal. While Qingyun refined the Blood Bodhi’s power into true energy, Mito learned the Nine-Tails feared he could destroy it permanently, and Tsunade asked what had happened.

• Mito Uzumaki used her Adamantine Sealing Chains to surround Qingyun’s afterimages, prompting him to form a Six Meridian Sword Formation with White Flame.
• Mito Uzumaki drew on the Nine-Tails’ chakra and used the Elemental Seal to extinguish Qingyun’s attack before it could kill her.
• The Nine-Tails sensed Qingyun’s power and feared he could erase it permanently, so Mito Uzumaki warned it not to harm Kushina, its future jinchūriki.
• Qingyun absorbed the Blood Bodhi’s remaining medicinal power and transformed his internal force into true energy, then thanked Mito Uzumaki for testing him.
• Kushina rushed to check on Qingyun after Mito Uzumaki lowered the barrier, and Tsunade asked Mito Uzumaki what had happened.

After graduating from the Ninja Academy, Qingyun, Minato Namikaze, and Kushina Uzumaki were assigned to Team 9. A stern white-haired ninja summoned the new team and led them away, beginning their next stage as shinobi.

• Tsunade questioned Qingyun about the Blood Bodhi, while Mito Uzumaki promised to speak to the Hokage about Kushina’s graduation.
• Kushina kissed Qingyun goodbye, and he spent the following days training with Chidori Stream and Lingbo Micro-Step.
• Qingyun, Minato Namikaze, Kushina, and Nawaki passed the theory and practical graduation exams.
• The next day, Qingyun learned that he, Minato Namikaze, and Kushina had been assigned to Team 9, while Nawaki joined Shiki Aburame and Funo Moonlight.
• A stern white-haired ninja called Team 9 to follow him, and Qingyun, Minato Namikaze, and Kushina hurried after him.

Hatake Sakumo tested Qingyun, Minato Namikaze, and Kushina with his killing intent before officially forming Team 9. After assigning them to buy ingredients for a meal at his house, he gave Qingyun a hidden-mission reward when Qingyun put on his forehead protector.

• Hatake Sakumo pressured the three youngsters with his killing intent, and Qingyun recovered enough to challenge his judgment.
• Qingyun, Minato Namikaze, and Kushina joined their auras and endured Hatake Sakumo’s full killing intent until he declared that they had passed.
• Hatake Sakumo established Team 9 and explained that his wife had died giving birth to Kakashi.
• Hatake Sakumo gave the team money and sent them to buy ingredients while he reported to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Qingyun tied his forehead protector around his arm, triggering the hidden Graduation mission and earning Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, Azure Sea Tide Song, and a Jade Flute.

After graduation, Qingyun received new martial arts rewards while Hatake Sakumo eased Hiruzen Sarutobi’s suspicions about his Daimyo-appointed title. Sakumo then brought Qingyun, Kushina, and Minato Namikaze to the Hatake Ancestral Estate, where Kakashi was called to meet their guests.

• Qingyun received Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, Azure Sea Tide Song, and a jade flute from the system after putting on his forehead protector.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Hatake Sakumo to prioritize protecting Kushina, even if he had to abandon Minato Namikaze and Qingyun in a hopeless crisis.
• Hatake Sakumo apologized for accepting the Daimyo’s appointment without permission and affirmed his loyalty to Konoha, reassuring Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Hatake Sakumo left the Hokage Building, recognized Qingyun’s warning had helped him avoid political danger, and went to meet the three young ninjas.
• Hatake Sakumo invited Qingyun, Kushina, and Minato Namikaze to the Hatake Ancestral Estate and asked an elderly servant to bring Kakashi out to meet them.

Qingyun spent an evening with Hatake Sakumo and young Kakashi, then joined Minato Namikaze and Kushina for their first mission. After learning the task was to find a missing cat, Qingyun eagerly set off because the system promised a reward.

• Kakashi met Qingyun, Minato Namikaze, and Kushina, and proudly praised his father, Hatake Sakumo.
• Qingyun shared his medicinal wine with Hatake Sakumo, whose chakra increased after his first bowl before he drank himself unconscious.
• The next morning, Hatake Sakumo led Qingyun, Minato Namikaze, and Kushina to receive their first mission.
• Hatake Sakumo gave them a mission to find Sweetheart, an orange cat with a golden bell missing near Ruri Street.
• The system offered Qingyun a serving of Whose Jade Flute Plays Plum Blossoms for completing the mission, and he hurried the others toward Ruri Street.

Qingyun, Kushina, and Minato Namikaze completed their first low-rank mission under Hatake Sakumo’s guidance, then spent six months on missions and training. The chapter ended with Qingyun agreeing to meet Danzo after two Root ninja summoned him.

• Qingyun, Kushina, and Minato Namikaze searched Liuli Street for an orange kitten, and Qingyun lured it out with cat food after their search failed.
• Hatake Sakumo returned the kitten to its wealthy owner, divided the mission payment, and taught the three students mission skills and fundamentals.
• Over the next six months, the team completed minor missions and trained while Qingyun received mostly useless system rewards.
• Two Root ninja arrived and ordered Qingyun to meet Danzo, but Hatake Sakumo challenged their authority to take him.
• Qingyun agreed to go with the Root ninja and reassured Hatake Sakumo that the Hokage had final authority.

Qingyun met Danzo, who tried to recruit him into Root, but Qingyun stayed cautious and refused to commit. Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived, stopped Danzo, and sent Qingyun back to his mission.

• The Root ninja brought Qingyun to Danzo, who asked whether he knew about Root.
• Qingyun pretended not to know Root and listened as Danzo described it as Konoha’s hidden foundation.
• Danzo invited Qingyun to join Root, but Hiruzen Sarutobi interrupted and said Qingyun was not suited to it.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Qingyun to return to his mission and warned him to report anyone who summoned him unexpectedly.
• Qingyun thanked Hiruzen Sarutobi and left through the dark passage.

Qingyun overheard Hiruzen Sarutobi reject Danzo’s demand to recruit him into Root and worried that Danzo’s attention would bring danger. After weighing how to improve his abilities while keeping his Sharingan secret, Qingyun asked Hatake Sakumo for more challenging missions, and Sakumo agreed to look for a suitable C-rank mission.

• Danzo demanded that Hiruzen Sarutobi hand Qingyun over to Root, but Hiruzen refused and reminded Danzo that he was the Hokage.
• Qingyun overheard their argument, escaped without being noticed, and worried that Danzo might target him or the people around him.
• Qingyun considered seeking Sharingan training from the Uchiha Clan but decided to keep his abilities hidden and ask Mito Uzumaki about Senju records instead.
• Hatake Sakumo reassured Qingyun after he learned that Danzo had tried to recruit him into Root, and Qingyun played the Azure Sea Tide Song for Sakumo and Kushina.
• Qingyun asked Hatake Sakumo to move the team beyond D-rank missions, and Sakumo agreed to look for a suitable C-rank mission for the next day.

Qingyun, Minato Namikaze, and Kushina accepted their first C-rank mission to eliminate 126 bandits, and Hatake Sakumo led them out of Konoha. On the way, they encountered starving refugees in a ruined town, leaving the three shaken by the harsh reality of the shinobi world.

• Hatake Sakumo gave the team a C-rank mission to kill 126 bandits on Westfall Mountain, and Qingyun, Minato Namikaze, and Kushina agreed to proceed.
• Qingyun and his companions bought sharpened weapons and Explosive Tags, then left Konoha with Hatake Sakumo.
• The team emerged from a forest and found a ruined town filled with starving, destitute refugees.
• Minato Namikaze asked whether the world outside was always so bleak, and Hatake Sakumo explained that ninja battles and banditry had devastated the region and that worse suffering existed elsewhere.
• Kushina asked whether the daimyo helped the refugees as she watched them helplessly suffer.