Chapter Summaries

Orochimaru explained the dangers of Ryūchi Cave’s Sage Art and proposed modifying his body to withstand Natural Energy. Hoshi concluded that learning Sage Art would be essential to opposing the Ōtsutsuki Clan and their power.

• Orochimaru told Hoshi that he had confirmed Sage Art depended on balancing chakra with Natural Energy, which humans struggled to absorb safely.
• Orochimaru injected a Natural Energy solution into a lab mouse, which mutated into an aggressive half-snake creature before Orochimaru’s snakes devoured it.
• Hoshi asked Orochimaru why he did not learn Mount Myōboku’s Sage Art, and Orochimaru refused because he would not admit defeat and Ryūchi Cave and Mount Myōboku were enemies.
• Orochimaru proposed using genetic modification to adapt his body to Natural Energy, and Hoshi recognized the idea as a precursor to the Cursed Seal.
• Hoshi considered how Sage Art could help him oppose the Ōtsutsuki Clan and reasoned that the God Tree converted Natural Energy into chakra, risking the destruction of the Ninja World.

Hoshi visited Shikkotsu Forest to investigate its Sage Art and explore whether he could develop a path of his own. He met the Great Slug Sage and prepared to explain why he had come.

• Hoshi rejected the idea of learning Ryūchi Cave's Sage Art and decided to investigate Shikkotsu Forest before considering Mount Myōboku.
• Hoshi asked Tsunade about Shikkotsu Forest, and she summoned a slug clone to take him there.
• Hoshi traveled to Shikkotsu Forest and saw the immense main body of the slug.
• The Great Slug Sage greeted Hoshi and asked what had brought him there.

Hoshi visited the Great Slug Sage to study Shikkotsu Forest’s sage techniques and learn about his own potential. She explained that Hashirama had awakened Sage Mode when his Wood Release absorbed Natural Energy, rather than learning the techniques himself.

• Hoshi told the Great Slug Sage that he wanted to study the sage techniques of the Three Great Sage Regions and develop techniques of his own.
• The Great Slug Sage tested Hoshi’s talent by placing an antenna on his head and declared him unusually special.
• The Great Slug Sage described Shikkotsu Forest’s risky training method, which required learners to sense Natural Energy inside her body within ten minutes.
• The Great Slug Sage explained that Hashirama resisted being swallowed with Wood Release and injured three of her split bodies.
• The Great Slug Sage revealed that Hashirama’s Wood Release absorbed Natural Energy and spontaneously awakened Sage Mode, then passed the process back to him.

Hayate learned that Hashirama’s Wood Release had let him enter Sage Mode effortlessly, then discovered that the Slug Sage considered Hayate’s own talent poor despite his strength. Encouraged by her uncertainty and his faith in the Sword Heart System, Hayate decided to attempt Sage Art using what he had learned about the Three Great Sage Regions.

• The Great Slug Sage explained that Hashirama’s Wood Release absorbed Natural Energy and fed it back to him, leaving Hayate dispirited by the gap between them.
• The Slug Sage said Hayate had poor innate talent but an unknown energy that might help him learn Sage Mode.
• Hayate reflected that the Sword Heart System and Attribute Conversion had compensated for his ordinary ninjutsu talent, while Sage Art would require him to rely on himself.
• The Slug Sage said she could not rule out Hayate learning Sage Art and urged him to try.
• Hayate decided to pursue Sage Art and reviewed the methods of Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest, concluding that he would need to sense Natural Energy directly to avoid their drawbacks.

Hoshi tried to learn Sage Art in Shikkotsu Forest but struggled to calm his mind, and the Slug Sage corrected his mistaken attempts. After recalling her advice, he used Transparency Release and Iaido to become physically attuned to his surroundings.

• Hoshi asked whether he could sense Natural Energy and develop his own Sage Mode without help from the Three Great Sage Regions' affiliated beings, and the Slug Sage advised him to start by calming his mind.
• Hoshi tried meditating but became distracted, then ran around Shikkotsu Forest to clear his thoughts.
• After Hoshi grew drowsy while lying on the ground, the Slug Sage struck him with a clone and explained that sleepiness was not the same as calming his mind.
• Hoshi repeatedly tried to meditate, but his vigilance and attention to the wind kept him from reaching a state of absolute calm.
• The next morning, Hoshi realized the Slug Sage's advice about becoming one with nature could apply to Transparency Release.
• Hoshi took an Iaido stance and activated Transparency Release, which adjusted his body to match the surrounding environment.

Hoshi reached a state of mental stillness in Shikkotsu Forest, allowing Natural Energy to gather on his body and bringing him to the threshold of Sage Mode training. When the Slug Sage guided Natural Energy into him, Hoshi tried to hold it with Chakra, causing it to run wild and petrify him before she pulled it out.

• Hoshi maintained his Iaido stance and entered a deep state of stillness, unaware as hours passed.
• The Slug Sage noticed Hoshi had become invisible to her eyes and sensed Natural Energy gathering on his body.
• The Slug Sage guided a wisp of Natural Energy into Hoshi, and he felt it entering his body.
• Hoshi used Chakra to keep the Natural Energy inside him, causing it to rampage and turn his skin to stone.
• The Slug Sage withdrew the Natural Energy, restored Hoshi's skin, and scolded him for being greedy.

Hoshi learned that the Hayate Clan’s Transparency Release might stem from an ancient affinity for Natural Energy, and he considered how natural aptitude shaped senjutsu. The Slug Sage offered to inject Natural Energy into him so he could attempt to absorb and fuse it himself.

• The Slug Sage praised Hoshi’s talent for sensing Natural Energy but asked how he had disappeared, and Hoshi explained that Transparency Release was the Hayate Clan’s Kekkei Genkai.
• The Slug Sage connected Hoshi’s ability to ancient humans who had special affinities for nature and suggested that such groups survived as ninja clans.
• Hoshi reasoned that senjutsu aptitude depended on both sensing Natural Energy and controlling its use, comparing Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato.
• Hoshi asked how he could absorb Natural Energy into his body, and the Slug Sage offered to inject it while helping him expel any energy that ran rampant.

After a week of meditation practice, Hoshi began learning to absorb Natural Energy with the Slug Sage’s help. His first attempts failed, but the Slug Sage discovered that Natural Energy had entered his body while he slept, leaving Hoshi poised to build on that unexpected progress.

• Hoshi asked the Slug Sage for a week to master meditation without relying on Iaido stance or Transparency Release.
• Hoshi practiced until he could enter a meditative state at will, and the Slug Sage began teaching him to absorb and harmonize with Natural Energy.
• Hoshi tried to draw Natural Energy closer through spiritual communication, but it repeatedly fled his touch and left his body.
• After Hoshi fell asleep from exhaustion, the Slug Sage sensed Natural Energy wandering harmlessly inside him before it eventually departed.

After a month of training in Shikkotsu Forest, Hoshi successfully fused Natural Energy, spiritual power, and chakra into Sage Mode Chakra, discovering its powerful effects on his combat ability and senses. The chakra quickly dissipated because he could not maintain its balance, but the Slug Sage encouraged him to keep practicing.

• Hoshi reduced his visits with Tsunade to once a week after their frequent meetings hindered his focus on Natural Energy.
• After a month of practice, Hoshi used his spiritual power to retain a small amount of Natural Energy and carefully fused it with chakra.
• Hoshi discovered that his Sage Mode Chakra greatly amplified his Sword Qi, physical ability, and sensory range.
• Hoshi lost control of the fusion, causing his Sage Mode Chakra to dissipate almost immediately.
• The Slug Sage praised Hoshi for achieving his first fusion so quickly and encouraged him to try again.

Hoshi discovered that his training had awakened the hidden Nature attribute in Attribute Conversion, giving him a path toward a powerful Sage Mode. After recovering from his excitement, he prepared to continue training with the Slug Sage, who told him to learn to draw Natural Energy into his body without her help.

• Hoshi checked the Sword Heart System and found that completing Natural Energy affinity training had granted him 25 swordsmanship experience and unlocked Attribute Conversion: Nature.
• Hoshi read the new skill entry and learned that Nature was unactivated, with only 5 percent activation progress and a charge-based effect.
• The Slug Sage checked on Hoshi after he stopped responding, and Hoshi told her he had recovered from his disappointment over his failed Sage Mode Chakra attempt.
• The Slug Sage said Hoshi had completed an initial fusion of Sage Mode Chakra and instructed him to practice drawing Natural Energy into his body on his own.

Hoshi trained to absorb Natural Energy in Shikkotsu Forest, gradually advancing his Attribute Conversion: Nature while more than two years passed. Konoha prospered under Tsunade as Akatsuki grew in Amegakure, and Obito prepared to make Nagato experience despair.

• Hoshi struggled to absorb Natural Energy and learned that his slow progress might still let him master perfect Sage Mode in a few years.
• Hoshi continued training as Attribute Conversion: Nature activation progress rose and more than two years passed.
• Tsunade consolidated her authority while Konoha remained peaceful and focused on economic development.
• Yahiko's Akatsuki expanded in Amegakure with Obito's secret assistance.
• Obito took control of Danzo's body, joined Akatsuki as a Squad Leader, and watched the group grow strong enough to challenge Hanzō.

Obito reported to Madara that Akatsuki had grown strong and that Hiruko was developing a way for Nagato to withstand Hashirama Cells. Madara planned to ignite the Third Great Ninja War in three years, while his failing health left the revival plan to Obito and Black Zetsu.

• Obito secretly entered an underground chamber beneath the Akatsuki base, took Danzo's appearance, and ordered Hiruko to develop a reliable way for a blood sample's owner to fuse with Hashirama Cells.
• Obito visited Madara and reported that Hanzō had withdrawn from governing Amegakure after Hoshi crushed his ambition.
• Madara learned that Hiruko had begun preparing Hashirama Cells for Nagato and set a three-year deadline for the work.
• Madara ordered White Zetsu to watch Sunagakure and Kirigakure, intending to spark the Third Great Ninja War and pressure Hanzō from outside and within.
• Madara said he had only a few years left and entrusted his revival plan to Obito and Black Zetsu, unaware that Black Zetsu's loyalty concealed another agenda.

Hoshi and Tsunade discussed marriage and delaying having children until after the coming war, while Hoshi focused on completing Perfect Sage Mode. His training culminated in Attribute Conversion.Nature reaching one hundred percent, though the chapter ended before showing what came next.

• Tsunade asked Hoshi whether he had finished training in Sage Mode and explained that their families were pressing them to marry and have children.
• Hoshi agreed to marry Tsunade after mastering Perfect Sage Mode but argued they should wait to have children until the war ended and Minato could become Hokage.
• Tsunade was moved by Hoshi's concern for their future child, and Hoshi resolved to gain enough power to protect everyone he cared about.
• In Konoha Year 40, Hoshi intensified his training as Attribute Conversion.Nature's activation progress rose to ninety-nine percent.
• Hoshi merged his Chakra with Natural Energy, and Attribute Conversion.Nature activation progress reached one hundred percent.

Hoshi activated Attribute Conversion and underwent a transformation as Natural Energy flooded into him, creating Perfect Sage Mode. He emerged from a cocoon with greatly increased abilities and discovered that the mode would last for 29 minutes.

• Hoshi activated Attribute Conversion, and Natural Energy surged toward him in a massive storm.
• The Slug Sage tried to reach Hoshi but retreated when the Natural Energy resisted her and threatened to drain her.
• After half an hour, the storm subsided, revealing Hoshi inside a cocoon with a steady heartbeat.
• Hoshi broke free of the cocoon with Blue-Silver motes around him and a sword-and-wing mark on his forehead.
• Hoshi sensed that Perfect Sage Mode had greatly enhanced his abilities and saw 29 minutes of Natural Remaining Time on the Sword Heart System.
• Hoshi drew Mikazuki Munechika and admired the Blue-Silver motes surrounding him.

Hayate tested his completed Sage Mode in Shikkotsu Forest, discovering that it greatly enhanced his Sword Qi and healing. He then activated Transparency Release to see whether Sage Mode had improved it, leaving the Slug Sage unable to see him.

• Hayate asked the Slug Sage for permission to test his techniques in Shikkotsu Forest, then used a Sky-Rending Iai Slash that flattened everything within two hundred meters.
• The Slug Sage told Hayate to take future tests to the back mountain, then noticed a cut bamboo stalk sprouting a new shoot.
• At the Slug Sage’s request, Hayate cut his arm and watched the wound heal completely within minutes.
• Hayate activated Transparency Release and asked the Slug Sage whether it had improved, but she could not see him.

After mastering Natural Energy, Hoshi combined Transparency Release and Shunpo to create powerful new sword techniques. Having tested Sky Rift Flowing Light in Shikkotsu Forest, he thanked the Slug Sage and prepared to return to Konoha.

• The Slug Sage explained that Natural Energy concealed Hoshi so effectively that even skilled sensory ninjas would struggle to detect him.
• Hoshi used a Shadow Clone to confirm that he could move at full speed with Transparency Release intact, then unlocked Moon Shadow Steps and the upgrade Sky Rift Flowing Light.
• Hoshi upgraded Sky Rift Flowing Light, bringing his Master-level Swordsmanship to 480/500.
• Hoshi tested Sky Rift Flowing Light on the artificial hill, and its blade lights cut the hill into pieces.
• Hoshi thanked the Slug Sage for caring for him over the past three years, and she told him to return to Konoha.

On his leisurely journey back to Konoha, Hoshi was ambushed by Kakuzu, who sought the bounty on his heart. Hoshi cut through Kakuzu’s attacks and nearly dragged him into a sword strike, then recognized the assassin and mocked his infamous encounter with Hashirama Senju.

• Hoshi sensed a concealed Kage-level presence watching him as he left a town in the Land of Fire.
• Kakuzu attacked Hoshi with a combined Fire Release and Wind Release technique, but Hoshi split the inferno with Sky-Rending Iai Slash.
• Kakuzu used steam as cover and launched Tentacle Fist, but Hoshi severed its black threads with Mikazuki Munechika.
• Hoshi grabbed Kakuzu’s threads and pulled him toward his sword, but Kakuzu cut them to escape the thrust.
• Hoshi recognized Kakuzu as an underground assassin seeking a five-hundred-million bounty and teased him about throwing a Shuriken at Hashirama Senju from eight hundred meters away.

Hayate faced Kakuzu’s strongest form and blocked his Final Shot with repeated blasts of Sword Qi before striking back. The chapter left Kakuzu’s Wind, Fire, and Lightning masks shattered, with Hayate mocking his opponent.

• Kakuzu restored his severed hand and transformed with Earth Grudge Fear, bringing all four masked hearts forward.
• Kakuzu combined Wind, Lightning, and Fire Release into a Final Shot aimed at Hayate.
• Hayate entered Perfect Sage Mode and used deep-blue flaming Sword Qi to halt and drive back the Final Shot.
• Hayate’s final Sword Qi collided with Final Shot in a massive explosion that wounded Kakuzu despite his Earth Grudge Fear defenses.
• Hayate used a fake Phantom Sword Dance and Swallow Reversal to shatter Kakuzu’s Wind, Fire, and Lightning masks.

Hayate Hoshi defeated Kakuzu after destroying his remaining hearts and outmatching his attempts to escape. Hoshi burned Kakuzu’s corpse, unconcerned that the death might change future events.

• Kakuzu used Earth Spear Technique to shield himself and fled after Hoshi destroyed three of his hearts.
• Hoshi enhanced Mikazuki Munechika with Wind Release Chakra, cut through Kakuzu’s threads, and caught up with him.
• Hoshi pierced Kakuzu’s fourth heart, then killed him with the three strands of Sword Qi left by Sky Rift Flowing Light.
• Kakuzu’s final Water-element mask shattered as he died, and Hoshi tossed an Explosive Tag onto his corpse.
• Hoshi reflected that mastering Perfect Sage Mode had freed him from worrying about preserving the plot.

After returning to Konoha, Hoshi reunited with his former students and learned they planned to become supervising Jonin and mentor new graduates. At a gathering in the Senju Clan Compound, Jiraiya challenged Hoshi to show his Sage Mode.

• Hoshi returned to Konoha and learned from Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane’s fathers that their sons attended the Ninja Academy.
• Hoshi met Tsunade, Nawaki, Shikaku, Minato, Kushina, and Kagetsu in the Hokage’s Office and learned Minato’s group wanted to become supervising Jonin.
• Tsunade told Hoshi that Kakashi had graduated from the Ninja Academy at five and become a Chunin at six, while Kurenai and other children were also ready to graduate.
• Hoshi proposed a dinner so Minato’s group could meet potential students, and everyone agreed to gather at the Senju Clan Compound.
• Jiraiya summoned Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima, entered Sage Mode, and demanded that Hoshi show whether his own Sage Mode was stronger.