Recaps

Obito Uchiha had White Zetsu Tobi possess Uchiha Itachi and gave him medicinal herbs that improved his health. Itachi agreed to serve Obito and help capture tailed beasts, and Obito brought him to the Akatsuki lounge to choose a target.

• Uchiha Itachi realized that Obito Uchiha wanted White Zetsu Tobi to possess him, then reluctantly accepted after Obito stripped him and Tobi wrapped around his body.
• Uchiha Itachi ate the medicinal herbs and felt well enough to stand and walk without coughing or gasping for breath.
• Uchiha Itachi agreed not to oppose Obito's plan to take the Nine-Tails and offered to help capture the other tailed beasts, provided Sasuke and Konoha were not harmed.
• Obito Uchiha demanded that Itachi capture a tailed beast within two months and took him to the Akatsuki lounge.
• Obito Uchiha showed Itachi reports on the tailed beasts, naming the Seven-Tails in Takigakure and the Four-Tails whose jinchūriki, Roshi, had left Iwagakure as possible targets.

Itachi Uchiha agreed to capture Roshi, the Four-Tails’ Jinchūriki, in exchange for help recovering from his illness. Obito Uchiha planned to monitor the mission, while Itachi left with White Zetsu Tobi and began probing for clues about the Masked Man’s identity.

• Itachi Uchiha examined the intelligence and chose Roshi as his target because Roshi was away from Iwagakure and might return soon.
• Obito Uchiha gave Itachi Uchiha Roshi’s file and demanded that he capture the Four-Tails within two months to continue their cooperation.
• Black Zetsu realized that Obito Uchiha had arranged for Tobi to help and monitor Itachi Uchiha, and Obito decided to watch the coming fight himself.
• Itachi Uchiha left with White Zetsu Tobi, who estimated that they would need about ten days for his recovery and another month to prepare the capture.
• Itachi Uchiha inferred from Tobi’s slip that the Masked Man was not Madara Uchiha, then endured Tobi’s chatter about researching how to produce poop.

Konan focused on finding money for the Akatsuki while Luo Mang completed his house and suspected Danzo had arranged a dangerous mission to kill him. Kakashi and Sasuke learned of the threat through the Diary and worried that Luo Mang would be harmed or flee Konoha.

• Konan wondered how Uchiha Itachi had reached an agreement with the Masked Man, then decided to take more missions to earn money.
• Sasuke Uchiha read that Luo Mang had found a way to stay alive and had been ordered to take a mission outside Konoha.
• Luo Mang finished building his house and suspected the masked mission-giver was a Root operative acting on Danzo's orders.
• Kakashi read Luo Mang's Diary, resolved to follow him, and feared he might defect if Danzo attacked.
• Sasuke Uchiha blamed Danzo for targeting Luo Mang and silently hoped his last remaining clansman would survive.

Luo Mang left Konoha on a suspicious mission to retrieve a buried chest, while Kakashi secretly watched for Danzo’s assassins. As Itachi and Sasuke followed events through the Diary, Sasuke awakened his Sharingan.

• Luo Mang received orders to retrieve a buried treasure chest near the Dark Forest and realized the mission might be an assassination setup.
• Luo Mang refused Naruto Uzumaki’s request to join him, then left the village with a Village Exit Pass.
• Kakashi Hatake secretly followed Luo Mang and spotted two Root operatives watching him.
• Uchiha Itachi and Sasuke Uchiha read Luo Mang’s Diary from afar and worried about his danger.
• Sasuke’s helplessness over Luo Mang’s plight stirred his dormant Sharingan, and he realized he had awakened it.

Luo Mang was ambushed in the Dark Forest by two Root assassins and revealed his Sharingan while fighting them. Kakashi intervened, killed the remaining attacker, and escorted Luo Mang back to Konoha, considering how to train him.

• Luo Mang encountered two masked Root assassins in the Dark Forest and used his Sharingan to incapacitate one with genjutsu.
• The other assassin avoided Luo Mang's gaze and attacked from the trees, while Luo Mang pretended to be injured to draw him out.
• Kakashi appeared and killed the remaining assassin before Luo Mang could act.
• Luo Mang claimed to be a Konoha ninja on a commissioned mission, and Kakashi offered to escort him back to the village.
• Luo Mang and Kakashi returned to Konoha together as Kakashi considered Luo Mang's combat skills and future training.

Luo Mang guessed that Kakashi Hatake held a copy of the Diary and received ten Explosive Tags as a reward. After returning to Konoha, he used the Diary to mislead Kakashi and Sasuke about the mission, then wrote about Kakashi's past and Sharingan.

• Luo Mang correctly guessed Kakashi Hatake as a Diary copy holder and won ten Explosive Tags.
• Kakashi escorted Luo Mang to the Hokage Building to turn in the mission, then left him to go home.
• Luo Mang wrote that Danzo had ambushed him and Kakashi had coincidentally saved him, prompting Kakashi to read the Diary.
• The Diary revealed Kakashi's tragic past, and Luo Mang falsely speculated that Hiruzen had sent Kakashi to protect Naruto, easing Sasuke's suspicions.
• Luo Mang described Kakashi's Sharingan as a strain that made him an unreliable teammate, and Sasuke learned that Kakashi's eye had been given to him by a friend.

Kakashi and Sasuke watched a video of Kakashi confronting Orochimaru, who came for Sasuke and his Sharingan but left after terrifying Kakashi. Kakashi connected Orochimaru’s plans and Otogakure to the Konoha Crush Plan, while Sasuke decided to focus on surpassing Kakashi.

• Kakashi watched footage of himself sealing Sasuke’s curse mark before Orochimaru arrived and demanded that Sasuke be handed over.
• Kakashi threatened Orochimaru with his Lightning Blade, but Orochimaru’s killing intent overwhelmed him and he departed without fighting.
• Sasuke exited the video shaken, concluded that Kakashi was not yet strong enough, and chose to make surpassing him his immediate goal.
• Kakashi wrote down Sharingan and Otogakure as clues, then suspected that Orochimaru’s infiltration was connected to the Konoha Crush Plan.

Itachi learned from Tobi that Orochimaru was likely Kage Level and asked Akatsuki to gather information on him, intending to protect Sasuke. The next morning, Sasuke arrived at Luo Mang’s door seeking training, while Naruto also asked to join Luo Mang on a mission.

• Itachi questioned Tobi about Orochimaru’s strength and learned that he had fought Hanzō and was probably Kage Level.
• Itachi suspected Orochimaru had been prevented from using his full strength and asked Tobi to gather information on him.
• Luo Mang prayed in the pocket world, then went to sleep without checking what he received.
• Naruto asked Luo Mang to take him along on a mission, and Sasuke arrived at the door seeking guidance to become stronger.
• Sasuke offered to pay Luo Mang for training, while Naruto offered to treat him to ramen.

Luo Mang welcomed Hinata Hyuga when she came to see him, choosing to spend the day with her instead of guiding Naruto or Sasuke. He invited Hinata to breakfast and began cooking, while she stayed at his home and anticipated her strict training with her father.

• Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha asked Luo Mang to take them on a mission, but Hinata arrived and called to him.
• Luo Mang praised Hinata’s eyes and reassured her when she struggled to meet his gaze.
• Sasuke and Naruto left after realizing Luo Mang would be spending time with Hinata.
• Luo Mang invited Hinata to join him for breakfast and led her into his small home.
• Luo Mang cooked while Hinata waited in the kitchen, hungry after coming without breakfast before her father’s training.

Luo Mang shared breakfast with Hinata, then encouraged her to be more confident while she washed his dishes. Hinata asked him to have a meal with her, and the chapter left her excited by his praise of her eyes.

• Hinata watched Luo Mang cook, then ate breakfast with him and finished all the food despite still feeling hungry.
• Luo Mang promised to treat Hinata to a filling meal another time and considered disguising himself to rob a wealthy traveler for money.
• Hinata told Luo Mang she had come to invite him to a meal, then offered to wash the dishes.
• Luo Mang gave Hinata sleeve protectors and a stool, then encouraged her to look him in the eyes when she spoke.
• Luo Mang praised Hinata's eyes and urged her to become more confident, and she dropped the dishes in her excitement.

Luo Mang encouraged Hinata before she left, then considered Sasuke and Naruto’s connection while writing in his diary. Sasuke, Itachi, and Kakashi separately puzzled over the mention of reincarnation, and Luo Mang teamed up with Naruto for a lumber mission.

• Luo Mang reassured Hinata that her eyes were a gift, and Hinata thanked him before hurrying home alone.
• Luo Mang wondered whether Sasuke and Naruto were drawn together as the reincarnations of Indra and Asura, then wrote about Hinata and went to find a mission.
• Sasuke read Luo Mang’s diary and worried that his attempt to approach him had raised suspicion.
• Uchiha Itachi and Kakashi read the diary and concluded that Sasuke might become a savior or a future rival to one.
• Kakashi arrived at the river and watched Sasuke practice the Great Fireball before starting their lesson.
• Luo Mang met Naruto at the Hokage Building and agreed to join him on a lumber-gathering mission.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stripped Shimura Danzō of his leadership of Root after discovering he had planted a spy in the Anbu and defied the Hokage’s orders. Alone in his office, Hiruzen watched Luo Mang and Naruto Uzumaki on a mission and wondered why Kakashi took Luo Mang so seriously.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi confronted Shimura Danzō for assigning Luo Mang a mission against the Hokage’s orders, while Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado challenged Danzo’s motives.
• Shimura Danzō defended his actions as a way to protect Naruto Uzumaki, but Hiruzen accused him of abusing his authority and planting people in the Anbu.
• Hiruzen removed Shimura Danzō as leader of Root, and Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado agreed with the decision.
• Hiruzen ordered the captured Anbu spy taken away for questioning, and the two advisors left with him.
• Hiruzen watched Luo Mang and Naruto Uzumaki through his Crystal Ball and wondered why Kakashi had taken Luo Mang so seriously.

Luo Mang watched a video of Kakashi fighting Zabuza, hoping to learn whether he could copy techniques through the footage. The video left Kakashi trapped in Zabuza’s Water Prison Technique, while Sasuke studied the fight and resolved to learn from it.

• Naruto asked Luo Mang to take him on a higher-ranked mission the next day, and Luo Mang agreed before heading home.
• Luo Mang opened a video of Kakashi fighting Zabuza and hoped to copy the Water Dragon Bullet Technique through the footage.
• Zabuza confronted Kakashi’s team, used the Hidden Mist Technique, and defeated Kakashi with a series of clones and attacks.
• Zabuza trapped Kakashi in the Water Prison Technique and prepared to kill the others and capture their client.
• Sasuke criticized Kakashi’s repeated defeats, then continued watching to learn how to endure Zabuza’s killing intent and survive a future encounter.

Kakashi watched the final video, which showed his students rescuing him from Zabuza before an unknown Ice Release user intervened. He and Sasuke prepared to grow stronger, while Luo Mang won mastery of the Substitution Technique in the lottery.

• Kakashi watched Naruto and Sasuke work together to force Zabuza to release him from the Water Prison Technique.
• Kakashi decided to prepare for Zabuza’s mist ambushes, improve his swordsmanship, and take the Kubikiribōchō.
• The video ended with an unknown visitor using ice spikes to pierce Zabuza’s neck, prompting Kakashi to plan for an Ice Release enemy.
• Kakashi studied his father’s notes and practiced with a ninja blade, while Sasuke searched his home for lightning techniques he could learn.
• Luo Mang used the lottery and won mastery of the Substitution Technique.

Two months after confirming Sasuke Uchiha and Kakashi Hatake had diaries, Luo Mang was assigned to Kakashi’s team to train and look after Naruto. His diary revealed that the team would face Zabuza on a mission whose danger had been concealed, leaving Kakashi alarmed and searching for information about Haku.

• Luo Mang received a Konoha forehead protector and orders to join Kakashi’s team in three days, train with them, and look after Naruto.
• Luo Mang suspected Kakashi had arranged his assignment and decided to go rather than draw attention to himself.
• Kakashi read Luo Mang’s diary and learned that a future mission would be falsely labeled below its true rank.
• Luo Mang wrote that he planned to let Zabuza escape once so he could deal with him later and reach the wealthy client, Gato.
• Kakashi closed the diary and began gathering information about Haku, whom he believed had rescued Zabuza.

Luo Mang joined Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura’s team and met them at the bridge before Kakashi arrived late. The team gathered for its first meeting, with Luo Mang anticipating Kakashi’s bell test.

• Luo Mang met Sasuke and Sakura at the bridge and explained that the Hokage had assigned him to their team.
• Naruto arrived late, and Luo Mang gave him tissues and told him they would be teammates.
• Naruto celebrated joining the same team as Luo Mang and talked about his dream of becoming a Hokage admired by everyone.
• Kakashi arrived late while reading Icha Icha Paradise, and Luo Mang anticipated that he would make them compete for bells.

Kakashi began a bell-snatching test for Team 7, challenging the students to take the bells from him. Luo Mang and Sasuke coordinated attacks while Naruto charged in with clones, but Kakashi avoided their techniques and knocked the clones down.

• Kakashi told the students to follow him to a river for a test.
• Kakashi explained that the students had to defeat him or take the bells from his hand, and Sasuke objected to working with teammates.
• Luo Mang and Sasuke attacked together, combining thrown weapons, Sasuke’s Great Fireball Technique, and Luo Mang’s Water Release.
• Kakashi used the Substitution Technique to evade their attacks and praised their cooperation.
• Naruto summoned over a dozen shadow clones and shouted as they charged Kakashi, who kicked them all to the ground.

Luo Mang outsmarted Kakashi and took the bells during Team 7’s test, while Kakashi assessed the students’ performance and distributed lunch. The chapter ended with Sakura tied to a post and Naruto offering to give up his bell for her, though his hunger made the offer uncertain.

• Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Luo Mang attacked Kakashi, and Luo Mang used a transformation to seize the bells while Kakashi was distracted.
• Kakashi praised Luo Mang’s teamwork and ranked Sasuke and Naruto behind him, with Sakura last.
• Kakashi criticized Sakura for failing to support the others, Naruto for shouting during a sneak attack, and Sasuke for using genjutsu against him.
• Kakashi gave lunch to the three strongest performers and tied Sakura to a post without food.
• Naruto offered to give Sakura his bell, but his stomach growled, and Sakura refused to take it.

Luo Mang helped his new team share lunch with Sakura Haruno during Kakashi's test, and Kakashi declared them passed for valuing their comrade. Kakashi officially became their teacher and led them to pick up a mission.

• After Kakashi left, Sakura Haruno grew hungry while tied to a post, and Naruto Uzumaki offered to share his lunch with her.
• Luo Mang persuaded Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha to share their food with Sakura Haruno, and Kakashi listened from a nearby tree.
• Luo Mang freed Sakura Haruno's hands, and the four teammates ate together despite the risk of being caught.
• Kakashi appeared and announced that the team had passed because they valued their comrades, then officially accepted them as his students.
• After a vote, Kakashi postponed treating Naruto to another meal and led the team to pick up a mission.

After Team 7 finished a tiring day of D-rank missions, Sakura thanked Luo Mang and realized her feelings had shifted from Sasuke to him. Luo Mang wondered whether his presence would alter Sakura’s future path as Tsunade’s apprentice.

• Kakashi led Luo Mang, Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura through four exhausting D-rank missions, then treated them to ramen with their earnings.
• After dinner, Sakura thanked Luo Mang for helping her earlier, while he treated her feelings as uncertain and left.
• Sakura decided she would not give up on Luo Mang and planned to ask Academy students about his interests.
• Kakashi read Luo Mang’s diary and wondered whether he was pursuing both Sakura and Hinata.
• Luo Mang considered whether his influence would change Sakura’s future apprenticeship under Tsunade and hoped she would still become powerful.

Tsunade found a mysterious Diary that showed a bloody battle between Sasuke Uchiha and Shimura Danzō, triggering her fear of blood. When it revealed that she might train Sakura Haruno and insulted her as an old granny, Tsunade began searching its pages for the author's identity.

• Tsunade and Shizune soaked in a hot spring after Tsunade lost her money gambling.
• Tsunade found a Diary on her bed and read its entries about an unknown person, the Sharingan, and Danzo.
• Tsunade watched the Diary's video of Sasuke Uchiha fighting Shimura Danzō and collapsed after the blood brought back her war memories.
• The Diary glowed and revealed that Tsunade might someday take Sakura Haruno as her apprentice.
• Tsunade read the author's insult about her age and carefully searched the Diary for clues to his identity.

Jiraiya received the Diary and learned that Orochimaru had founded Otogakure and was plotting to attack Konoha. He resolved to investigate the village, find Orochimaru, and stop him if he threatened Konoha.

• Jiraiya discovered the Diary in his inn room and read its videos about future events, including Pain and threats to Konoha.
• Jiraiya watched a video in which Orochimaru revealed that he had founded Otogakure and planned to use pawns for his ambitions.
• Jiraiya concluded that Orochimaru had joined forces with another major village to carry out the Konoha Crush Plan and vowed to kill him if he attacked Konoha.
• Jiraiya considered whether Naruto was the Child of Prophecy and questioned why Tsunade would be Hokage when Pain invaded.
• Jiraiya decided to investigate Otogakure the next day and return to Konoha afterward, then stored the Diary in his head and vowed to capture Orochimaru alive unless he threatened the village.

Sakura brought Luo Mang, Sasuke, and Naruto lunch to thank them for helping her the day before, while Luo Mang worried about future dangers surrounding the Chunin Exams. The team waited for Naruto and Kakashi, with Sasuke left wondering whether Luo Mang had foreseen a perilous mission.

• Luo Mang arrived at the meeting place and found Sakura waiting with three large lunch boxes.
• Sakura explained that she had made lunches for Luo Mang, Sasuke, and Naruto to repay them for helping her.
• Sasuke arrived, accepted his lunch after seeing Luo Mang had accepted one, and asked what mission the team might receive.
• Luo Mang expected more minor missions and privately worried about the coming Chunin Exams and a possible invasion.
• Sasuke noticed Luo Mang’s changing expression and wondered if he knew about a future life-threatening mission.

Luo Mang’s diary revealed Orochimaru’s plan to attack Konoha during the Chunin Ninja Exams and hinted that Sasuke would meet Karin there. Kakashi, Jiraiya, and Sasuke reacted to the revelations, while Itachi’s lapse in concentration let the Four-Tails escape; Obito doubted Itachi had done so deliberately.

• Naruto joined Sakura, Luo Mang, and the others for a day of exhausting missions before Kakashi sent them home.
• Luo Mang wrote that the Land of Waves mission seemed survivable but worried about Orochimaru’s plan to destroy Konoha during the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Kakashi read the diary and regretted letting a Chunin rescue Zabuza, while Jiraiya hurried to investigate Orochimaru and Otogakure.
• Luo Mang worried about Sasuke and another person being targeted, then revealed that Sasuke would meet Karin during the exams; Sasuke was excited to learn about her.
• Itachi pursued the escaped Four-Tails, while Tobi complained about the failed capture and Itachi recalled that thinking of Sasuke had briefly distracted him.
• Obito and Black Zetsu appeared and discussed Itachi’s lapse, with Obito concluding that Itachi probably had not let the Four-Tails escape on purpose.

Uchiha Itachi fought the jinchūriki Roshi and Han, using Susanoo and Amaterasu to wound them but failing to stop Roshi from preparing a Tailed Beast Bomb. Han recovered from Itachi’s attack and challenged him as Itachi and White Zetsu Tobi prepared to evade.

• White Zetsu Tobi spotted Roshi hiding nearby, and Roshi revealed that he had called Han, the Five-Tails' jinchūriki, to help him.
• Uchiha Itachi summoned Susanoo and fought Han, whose Steam Armor attacks damaged the giant's defenses.
• Itachi used Amaterasu on Roshi, then struck Han with Susanoo while Han rushed to help his friend.
• Roshi endured the black flames and began gathering a Tailed Beast Bomb, forcing Itachi to retreat and prepare to dodge.
• Han climbed out of the crater and confronted Itachi as steam billowed around him.