Chapter Summaries

Inuzuka Gu recognized Robb as an exceptionally gifted Ninja Wolf and explained his potential to Hoshi. After Robb displayed three Chakra attributes, Hoshi took him home with a Ninja Beast Breeding Manual, where his mother welcomed him.

• Inuzuka Gu praised Robb's physical development, intelligence, and Chakra talent, and said he could become as powerful as Enma, the Monkey King.
• Hoshi asked whether Robb could learn to speak and whether Chakra Paper could test a Ninja Beast's attributes; Inuzuka Gu said the test would work.
• Robb used Chakra Paper and revealed Water, Fire, and Wind attributes, impressing Inuzuka Tetsu.
• Inuzuka Gu gave Hoshi the Inuzuka Clan's Breeding Manual before Hoshi and Torikaze left.
• Hoshi brought Robb home, and his mother welcomed him and went to buy more meat so he could grow well.

Tsunade, Hoshi, and their four companions began a year-long closed training program in the Forest of Death, where they would attend daytime classes and search for Scrolls at night. After learning the rules and rewards, they raced the instructors to the Central Tower for their first training session.

• Tsunade, Hoshi, and the others arrived with Mitokado Homura and Torifu Akimichi at Training Ground Forty-Four, the Forest of Death.
• Mitokado Homura told the children they would live in the forest for a year and could leave only once every two months.
• Torikaze explained that they would train by day, survive on their own at night, and search the forest for six Scrolls to earn three comfortable days in the Central Tower.
• Tsunade urged the group to find the Scrolls, then Homura and Torikaze announced that training had begun and raced toward the tower.
• Hoshi and the others hurried after the instructors, while Shinku realized he had fallen behind.

Hoshi and the others began intensive training under Homura and Torikaze, who emphasized strengthening their weaknesses before the Chunin Exam. After training ended, the six entered the forest for Night Class and decided to focus first on finding dinner.

• Shinku arrived last, received extra punishments for protesting, and began frog jumps after Torikaze explained why he needed to improve his physical abilities.
• Torikaze told Hoshi and Sakumo to shore up their weaknesses, and Homura gave them ninjutsu scrolls suited to their abilities.
• Hoshi and Sakumo practiced ninjutsu while Tsunade, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Shinku trained according to Homura's assignments.
• Torikaze and Homura provided the group with a balanced lunch, and the carefully planned training continued until six in the evening.
• Homura announced that Night Class had begun, and Hoshi and the others entered the forest to search for scrolls and solve their dinner problem.

Hoshi and his companions successfully hunted a wild boar, then discovered that the Scroll they needed hung around the neck of a gigantic Brown Bear. With the bear distracted by Hoshi’s meat, Orochimaru proposed outsmarting it instead of attacking head-on.

• Robb sensed an approaching creature, and Hoshi’s group scattered as a huge wild boar charged from the forest.
• Hoshi and Sakumo wounded the boar, Tsunade and Jiraiya attacked its belly, and Orochimaru killed it with Earth Release: Earth Rising Spear.
• Torikaze and Homura watched the group’s teamwork and noticed that a second, more difficult Scroll challenge was beginning.
• Robb’s fearful howls alerted Hoshi’s group to a gigantic Brown Bear behind Jiraiya, and Hoshi distracted it by tossing it meat.
• Tsunade spotted the numbered Scroll around the Brown Bear’s neck, and Orochimaru urged Jiraiya to help outsmart the distracted animal.

Hoshi and his companions tried to take the Scroll from the Brown Bear, but an explosive trap set it off and sent them fleeing. Hoshi lured the bear away while the others prepared an ambush, and they waited for him to bring it back.

• Jiraiya climbed onto the distracted Brown Bear, cut the rope holding the Scroll, and triggered an Explosive Tag hidden behind it.
• Orochimaru used Shadow Hidden Wire Hand to catch Jiraiya as he fell, and Hoshi led the group into the forest to escape the enraged bear.
• Hoshi proposed splitting up so the others could rig a steel-wire trap near the wild boar's corpse while he drew the Brown Bear after him.
• Hoshi used a smoke bomb and Shadow Clone to trick the Brown Bear, then escaped beneath it with Line of Moonlight.
• Orochimaru and the others set a steel wire between two trees and waited in hiding for Hoshi to return with the Brown Bear.

Hoshi and his teammates coordinated an attack that brought down the Brown Bear, and Hoshi cut its throat with a daring aerial sword strike. The wounded bear still tried to swallow Hoshi, but someone pulled him out of danger with two thin lines.

• Torikaze stopped Homura from intervening and waited for Hoshi to appear.
• Hoshi crossed the wire trap and drew the charging Brown Bear into it, letting it crash to the ground.
• Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru struck the fallen bear with a combined attack, while Shinku embedded a Fūma Shuriken in its hind leg.
• Hoshi leaped from a tree and used Line of Moonlight to stab the Brown Bear's neck, then dragged Mikazuki Munechika through its throat as he fell away.
• The dying Brown Bear tried to swallow Hoshi, but two thin lines wrapped around his waist and pulled him to safety.

Hayate Hoshi survived the fight with the Brown Bear, and Sakumo’s desperate rescue left him with his arm stuck in the bear. After the group cleaned up, Hoshi asked Sakumo to name his unusual technique, and Sakumo called it One Thousand Years of Death.

• Tsunade panicked over Hoshi’s bloodied appearance until she heard his strong heartbeat and realized he had been pretending to be near death.
• Hoshi thanked Orochimaru for saving him, and Orochimaru discussed ways to improve Shadow Hidden Wire Hand with him.
• Jiraiya called Hoshi and Orochimaru over to help Sakumo, whose arm was trapped in the Brown Bear after he used Severing Void to stop it from biting Hoshi.
• Hoshi and the others helped pull Sakumo’s arm and White Fang from the bear, then went to a nearby river to wash themselves.
• Hoshi suggested naming Sakumo’s move Konoha’s Taijutsu Secret Technique, and Sakumo named it One Thousand Years of Death.

Hoshi and the others began an advanced chakra-control exercise in an oil-slick pit, where they had to walk up the walls with their hands behind their backs. Tsunade and Shinku discovered a method for standing on the slippery surface, leaving the others to try it.

• Hoshi realized that killing the brown bear had earned him seven experience points, then the group spent the night taking turns on watch.
• Jiraiya led everyone to the Central Tower, where Homura and Torifu announced an advanced chakra-control lesson and collected their weapons.
• Homura sent the six participants into a deep pit whose walls and floor were coated with flowing oil, then ordered them to walk out with their hands behind their backs.
• Homura and Torifu warned that they would throw pebbles, rocks, and Kunai at the climbers and that the pit would fill with oil by evening.
• Hoshi and the others repeatedly slipped, until Tsunade and Shinku formed tiny chakra spikes that pierced the oil and adhered to the wall.

Tsunade and Hoshi learned to react instinctively while climbing the cave wall and dodging objects thrown from above. They reached the cave entrance first, then helped Jiraiya and the others pass the test too.

• After a pebble struck Tsunade and made her lose her footing, Hoshi caught her hand and helped her steady herself on the wall.
• Tsunade realized the exercise required them to watch for falling objects while making their footwork instinctive, and Orochimaru suggested they practice at eighteen meters.
• Hoshi and Tsunade practiced together, gradually improving until they could climb steadily while dodging pebbles.
• When Homura began throwing larger stones and Kunai, Hoshi and Tsunade dodged them and reached the cave entrance, where Tsunade pulled Hoshi up.
• Hoshi and Tsunade explained the key points to Jiraiya and the others, who then passed the test.

After Chakra Control training improved the group’s abilities, Jiraiya unveiled his new defensive Ninjutsu, Needle Jizo. Hoshi then advanced to Intermediate Swordsmanship, only to discover that the system had raised the experience requirement and changed the skill draw interface.

• Hoshi and the others finished gathering six Scrolls and spent three days resting in the Central Tower, while Jiraiya shut himself away to work on a technique.
• Jiraiya demonstrated Needle Jizo, which blocked Sakumo’s White Fang from piercing it without chakra enhancement.
• Hoshi advanced from Basic Swordsmanship to Intermediate Swordsmanship after accumulating 75 experience points in Night Class battles.
• Hoshi saw that Intermediate Swordsmanship required 500 experience points and noticed that the skill draw interface had changed.

After drawing Secret Technique: Swallow Reversal, Hoshi tested it and accidentally cut down a tree, awakening the camp. Sakumo reflected on relying too much on Hoshi and proposed that Night Class members train separately, a plan Hoshi approved.

• Hoshi drew Secret Technique: Swallow Reversal from the Sword Heart System.
• Hoshi tested Swallow Reversal and cut a tree in half, waking Tsunade and the others; Sakumo took over the watch while Hoshi returned to sleep.
• Sakumo examined the clean cuts in the fallen tree and decided he needed to find his own path instead of relying on Hoshi.
• The next morning, Sakumo proposed that Night Class act separately so each member could gain more training and find Scrolls faster.
• Hoshi agreed that they would split up starting that night and told everyone to carry Signal Flares and call for help if they faced danger.

After a year of brutal solo missions and training in the Forest of Death, Hoshi and the others had grown stronger, with Sakumo mastering Lightning Release Chakra Cell Activation and completing Severing Void. Their special training ended with the group receiving Chunin Exam registration forms, and Torikaze invited them to celebrate.

• The Night Class members kept searching for scrolls alone, and Tsunade treated their frequent injuries while mastering Mystical Palm Technique.
• Hoshi, Tsunade, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Shinku developed their skills, while Hoshi's swordsmanship progress reached Intermediate Swordsmanship: 30/500.
• Sakumo mastered Lightning Release Chakra Cell Activation and transformed Severing Void into a state-based technique that let him fight Hoshi evenly for three minutes.
• On the final day of training, Homura gave each of the six a Chunin Exam registration form and announced that their year-long special training was over.
• Torikaze comforted the group and invited them to soak in a hot spring and celebrate over barbecue.

As the joint Chunin Exam approached in the Land of Rivers, the Jiajin Cult secretly prepared to exploit the event to gain powerful ninja followers. Kirū ordered his cultists to gather information on the contestants, leaving the exam’s participants in danger.

• The Land of Rivers and the Hidden Hot Spring Village prepared to host the Chunin Exam, hoping to keep Konoha and Cloud Village from drawing the country deeper into the war.
• Kirū had built the Jiajin Cult among war refugees and used an ancient Scroll of Cursed Technique to gain power.
• Kirū claimed his powers came from Lord Jashin, reshaped the cult’s doctrine around pain and slaughter, and led its followers into secret blood rituals.
• Kirū decided he wanted gifted ninja followers whom he could strengthen with Cursed Techniques.
• Kirū ordered the cultists to suspend their search for sacrifices, stay in the Hidden Hot Spring Village, and gather information on the Chunin Exam contestants.

Konoha’s Genin delegation reached Hidden Hot Spring Village and took the first Written Exam under Torifu Akimichi and Karui. Hoshi used a Shadow Clone to obtain the answers, leaving his group poised to pass without drawing attention.

• Utatane Koharu and Torifu Akimichi led Konoha’s delegation to Hidden Hot Spring Village, where the village separated them from Kumogakure’s delegation.
• At the Ninja Academy, Karui and Torifu Akimichi explained the Written Exam rules and warned that cheating would disqualify an entire team.
• Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Shinku answered the questions from their own knowledge while Hoshi’s group waited for the examiners’ answers.
• Hoshi created a Shadow Clone in the restroom, sent it back invisibly to copy answers, and then wrote them down after it returned.
• Hoshi and the others finished the exam quietly and watched the other candidates.

Hoshi and the other candidates passed the first exam, while Kirū’s Jashinist followers gathered information on the contestants and planned to abduct selected targets during the second round. Kirū chose six Genin, including Hoshi, and prepared to use his Cursed Technique himself.

• Torikaze disqualified candidates caught cheating, and sixty-three people, including Hoshi and his companions, passed the first exam.
• Karui announced that the second round would begin at the entrance of the Hidden Hot Spring Village at nine the next morning.
• Jashinist followers returned to Kirū with contestant profiles stolen from the Konoha and Kumogakure lodgings.
• Kirū rejected most candidates and chose Orochimaru, Hayate Hoshi, Tsunade, Yūhi Shinkō, and two Kumogakure Genin as targets.
• Kirū sent his followers to scout for the six targets and went to a secret room to prepare his Cursed Technique and blood.

Hoshi and Tsunade’s groups began the brutal Trap Forest exam, where contestants had to survive alone, reunite, and collect scrolls to advance. Hoshi used Robb’s keen nose to find Tsunade, and the two set off together to locate Jiraiya and the others.

• The exam rules required contestants to protect their group’s scrolls, reunite after being separated, and collect scrolls, with each submitted scroll advancing only its holder.
• Hoshi’s group and Tsunade’s group hid their scrolls on Hoshi and Orochimaru, then agreed to use sachets carrying Robb’s scent to reunite in the forest.
• The contestants entered Trap Forest, where triggered traps sent up signal flares, but Hoshi ignored them and followed Robb toward a sachet.
• Tsunade defeated a Grass Ninja who attacked her, then barely blocked a sudden strike from Hoshi before recognizing him.
• Hoshi and Tsunade reunited, and after Robb indicated that no sachets were nearby, they left together to search for Jiraiya and the others.

Hoshi and Tsunade encountered a Kumogakure Genin while searching for Robb’s scent pouch, and Hoshi severed the Genin’s arm in their fight. The Genin consumed flesh from the Two-Tails using a Scroll, unleashing its violent chakra and leaving Hoshi facing a berserk opponent.

• A mud-covered scout reported Tsunade and Hoshi’s location to Lord Kirū, who hurried after them.
• Robb caught the scent of the pouch, but Tsunade, Hoshi, and Robb encountered a charging Kumogakure Genin.
• Hoshi sent Tsunade and Robb ahead, then drew Mikazuki Munechika and cut off the Genin’s arm.
• The wounded Genin offered Hoshi a Scroll, secretly smeared his blood on it, and opened it to consume the contents.
• Blue chakra flames erupted as the Two-Tails’ power overtook the Genin, who rose onto all fours while Hoshi recognized the danger.

Hayate Hoshi fought off a berserk Cloud genin empowered by the Two-Tails, then tried to flee when reinforcements arrived. He was trapped by a Jashinist group led by Kirū, who revealed that their cult intended to recruit him.

• The berserk Cloud genin attacked Hoshi with a fireball, claws, and a chakra tail, badly burning Hoshi's side.
• Hoshi endured the genin's assault until his strength began to fade, then stabbed him through the heart with his dagger.
• After hearing that others had arrived, Hoshi fled without treating his wounds, but Kirū's followers trapped him inside a red barrier.
• Kirū and seven or eight followers surrounded Hoshi and began preparing a formation under Jashin's orders.
• Kirū told Hoshi that Jashin wanted him to join the Jiajin Cult, and Hoshi called them insane.

Hoshi recognized Kirū and his followers as members of the Jiajin Cult, then fought to escape their blood-red cage. After Hoshi overwhelmed the cultists, Kirū changed plans and detonated five fleeing followers to gather blood for another technique.

• Hoshi identified the Jiajin Cult and attacked Kirū rather than join him.
• Kirū used his Blood Arrow technique, while Hoshi dodged the arrows and struck two formation anchors with Shuriken.
• Hoshi killed a cultist and used the corpse to block Kirū's Blood Arrows as he pursued the remaining followers.
• Kirū abandoned his plan to turn Hoshi into a Blood Puppet and decided to kill him to protect the cult's secrecy.
• Kirū detonated the five fleeing followers, covering the cage floor with their blood.

Kirū used human blood to revive a fallen Cloud genin as a Blood Corpse and sent it after the injured Hayate Hoshi. Hoshi killed Kirū, but Kirū ordered the Blood Corpse to explode, covering Hoshi in corrosive blood and leaving him in pain.

• Kirū revived the fallen Cloud genin with his Cursed Technique: Corpse Manipulation Blood Art, creating a blue-flamed Blood Corpse.
• The Blood Corpse tracked Hoshi by his blood, forcing him to use Transparency Release, Explosive Tags, and obstacles as he fled.
• Hoshi used Mikazuki Munechika and Swallow Reversal to kill Kirū, causing the Blood Corpse to collapse.
• Kirū revealed he was still able to act and ordered the Blood Corpse to explode.
• The Blood Corpse exploded behind Hoshi, splattering him with corrosive blood that caused searing pain.