Chapter Summaries

Luo Mang tried to reassure Hinata Hyuga and Sakura Haruno, who feared he would be in danger during his exchange assignment, by offering them a communication phone. Hinata agreed to inspect it, while Sakura remained suspicious that he was using it as an excuse to leave.

• Hinata Hyuga and Sakura Haruno clung to Luo Mang and urged him not to leave Konoha for the exchange assignment.
• Luo Mang recalled a communication phone stored in his Diary and decided it could let the girls check on him while he was away.
• Luo Mang explained that the phone allowed long-distance communication, chatting, and taking pictures.
• Sakura Haruno accused Luo Mang of trying to abandon them and questioned why he would not take their relationship further.
• Hinata Hyuga asked to see the phone, and Luo Mang took it out to show her.
• Sakura Haruno called the phone fake, but Hinata Hyuga trusted Luo Mang enough to inspect it.

Luo Mang left Konoha for Iwagakure as an exchange student while the villages exchanged students and made a show of friendly relations. He departed by carriage with the Iwagakure representative, beginning the long journey.

• Iwagakure’s senior ninja arrived to collect its exchange students and take Konoha’s students back to Iwagakure.
• Tsunade praised Luo Mang before the visitors, then welcomed Akatsuchi as Iwagakure’s exchange student.
• Tsunade learned that Iwagakure had sent a separate group to handle the exchange with Sunagakure, and she completed the student handover with the senior ninja.
• Luo Mang followed the Iwagakure group and boarded a horse-drawn carriage with the senior ninja.
• Luo Mang and the senior ninja set off for Iwagakure by carriage.

Luo Mang traveled toward Iwagakure with his assigned jonin teacher, expecting a relaxed exchange focused on basic ninjutsu and sightseeing. Back in Konoha, Tsunade read his Diary, grew angry at his comments, and checked on the arrangements for the exchange students.

• Luo Mang asked his Iwagakure jonin escort about his lessons and learned that the jonin would teach him some basic Iwagakure ninjutsu.
• Luo Mang chatted with the jonin about Tsunade and Konoha before opening his Diary during the long journey.
• Tsunade returned to the Hokage Office, read Luo Mang's Diary, and broke part of her desk when he wondered if she had sent him away because she thought he considered her old.
• Tsunade read that Luo Mang had persuaded Hinata Hyuga and Sakura Haruno to join the exchange, then complained that he had not explained how he did it.
• Shizune checked on Tsunade, who assured her the arrangements were going smoothly and discussed how many students the teachers would handle.

Luo Mang arrived in Iwagakure after a grueling six-day carriage ride and met Ōnoki at the Tsuchikage's office. Ōnoki learned that Luo Mang was Konoha's only exchange student sent to the village and welcomed him, telling him to rest before beginning lessons.

• Luo Mang arrived in Iwagakure with his Jonin teacher and complained that the hard carriage seat had hurt his backside.
• Luo Mang surveyed Iwagakure's hot, barren surroundings as his teacher guided him through the village toward the Tsuchikage's office.
• Luo Mang and his teacher climbed through a mountain cave to reach Ōnoki's office near the cliff top.
• Ōnoki was surprised to see Luo Mang and asked where Konoha's other exchange students were.
• Luo Mang relayed Tsunade's message that most exchange students had been sent to Sand Well Village, leaving him as Iwagakure's sole student.
• Ōnoki accepted the explanation and told Luo Mang to rest before starting his lessons.

Luo Mang and Temari met in Iwagakure as exchange students and decided to explore the village together. Kurotsuchi stopped them, surprising Luo Mang and prompting Temari to ask who she was.

• Luo Mang left Ōnoki and encountered Temari, who was surprised and excited to see him.
• Temari and Luo Mang discussed their exchange student roles and Sunagakure's hopes of learning from Iwagakure.
• The Jonin gave Luo Mang and Temari village passes and directions to Luo Mang's accommodation before leaving them on their own.
• Temari suggested they explore together and talk, but Kurotsuchi shouted for them to stop.
• Luo Mang recognized Kurotsuchi, and Temari asked who she was.

Kurotsuchi prepared to impress Luo Mang, then arrived to find him with Temari, the Kazekage’s daughter and leader of the exchange students. The two women exchanged barbs before Kurotsuchi urged Luo Mang to leave with her, and Temari objected.

• After reading that Luo Mang was coming, Kurotsuchi applied her expensive scented balm and changed clothes to look more attractive.
• Kurotsuchi came downstairs, saw Temari with Luo Mang, and asked who she was.
• Luo Mang introduced Kurotsuchi as the Tsuchikage’s student and Temari as the Kazekage’s daughter and leader of the exchange students.
• Kurotsuchi questioned why Temari had come to Iwagakure, and Temari explained that she wanted to broaden her horizons.
• Kurotsuchi urged Luo Mang to come with her, and Temari protested that Kurotsuchi was trying to take him away.

Luo Mang tried to smooth over Temari and Kurotsuchi’s rivalry, but his choice to shop with Temari made Kurotsuchi leave in hurt and jealousy. Temari then walked around Iwagakure with Luo Mang, while he promised to comfort Kurotsuchi afterward.

• Luo Mang persuaded Temari and Kurotsuchi to stop glaring at each other and suggested they look around Iwagakure together.
• Temari asked to see Iwagakure’s earthen decorations, and she teased Kurotsuchi into acting as their guide.
• Kurotsuchi demanded that Luo Mang shop with her alone, but Temari clung to his arm and insisted she had arrived first.
• Luo Mang chose to shop with Temari first, prompting Kurotsuchi to run away after saying she hated him.
• Temari encouraged Luo Mang to comfort Kurotsuchi later, then walked with him through Iwagakure.

Luo Mang finished a peaceful shopping trip in Iwagakure and parted from Temari, who invited him to visit her room. After he suspected her attention might be a honey trap and wrote in his Diary about a possible coming conflict, Jiraiya grew concerned and hurried off to investigate.

• Luo Mang and Temari shopped in Iwagakure until night, where locals welcomed them and offered them free items.
• Temari told Luo Mang she had a room alone in West Room 55 and invited him to find her; he accepted and suggested they meet even when nothing was wrong.
• After Temari left, Luo Mang wondered whether her interest was a honey trap and recorded his suspicions and concerns about a future conflict in the Diary.
• Jiraiya read Luo Mang's Diary while resting near Cloud Shadow Village, considered whether Temari's attention was genuine, and noticed Luo Mang's references to pictures, Kakashi, and a coming conflict.
• Jiraiya suspected Kakashi was hiding something from him, left the hot spring in a yukata, and rushed outside.

Luo Mang met Kurotsuchi outside his room, where she pulled him out to go shopping and accepted some cosmetics he gave her. When he asked why she had come so late, she said she wanted to know when he would begin teaching, and he agreed to start the next day.

• Luo Mang arrived at his inn and found Kurotsuchi waiting outside his room.
• Kurotsuchi dragged Luo Mang away, complaining that he had let Temari take him shopping but resisted her.
• Luo Mang offered Kurotsuchi cosmetics, and she accepted them after inspecting their scent.
• Kurotsuchi said she had come to ask when Luo Mang would start teaching, and he agreed to begin the next day.

Luo Mang suspected that Kurotsuchi was pursuing him because of the Diary, but he refused to give up his other relationships for her. After reading his thoughts, Kurotsuchi broke down in tears, kept the gifts he had given her, and vowed to make him regret it, while her father Kitsuchi watched unseen.

• Kurotsuchi postponed Luo Mang's lessons until the day after tomorrow and arranged to meet him the following day.
• Luo Mang suspected Kurotsuchi was pursuing him because of the Diary, but decided he would not abandon Sakura Haruno and his other romantic interests for her.
• Kurotsuchi read Luo Mang's Diary and learned that he had bonds with Sakura Haruno and Hinata Hyuga, and that Temari was fond of him too.
• Kurotsuchi ran off crying, asked why she could not be the only one, and decided to keep the gifts Luo Mang had given her.
• Kurotsuchi vowed to make Luo Mang regret it as her father, Kitsuchi, secretly watched her.

Kurotsuchi dressed up and took Luo Mang on a date outside Iwagakure. She led him to a secluded river and waterfall hidden among the rocky terrain.

• Luo Mang woke to Kurotsuchi knocking at his door the morning after he gave her advice.
• Kurotsuchi arrived wearing a revealing outfit and makeup, and told Luo Mang she had dressed up for him.
• Kurotsuchi took Luo Mang by the hand and led him west out of Iwagakure.
• After crossing a hill and walking for about twenty minutes, Kurotsuchi brought Luo Mang to a lush secret spot with a river and small waterfall.
• Kurotsuchi told Luo Mang she had discovered the secluded hideout a month earlier.

Kurotsuchi brought Luo Mang to a lush riverside spot, where he wondered if Orochimaru or another Diary holder had caused the unusual greenery. After she confronted him about his distracted behavior and his romantic preferences, Kurotsuchi asked him to try getting to know her.

• Kurotsuchi kicked off her sandals and invited Luo Mang to enjoy the riverside while he wondered how the greenery had appeared.
• Luo Mang considered the seven people he knew possessed Diaries and suspected Orochimaru might have survived and conducted experiments nearby.
• Kurotsuchi splashed water in Luo Mang's face after he ignored her, and he apologized for being absorbed in thought.
• Kurotsuchi asked what kind of person Luo Mang liked, and he said he preferred someone pretty and gentle.
• Kurotsuchi told Luo Mang she liked his appearance and suggested they try getting to know each other.

Luo Mang and Kurotsuchi agreed to try dating despite his existing relationship with Sakura Haruno. As they spent time by a small lake, they discussed Iwagakure’s situation and the alliance’s coming plans against Kumogakure.

• Kurotsuchi challenged Luo Mang to explain why he would not choose her, and he said he would not leave Sakura Haruno but would try dating if Kurotsuchi accepted that.
• Kurotsuchi agreed to date Luo Mang and see whether his other qualities could make her accept his flaw.
• Luo Mang wondered whether Orochimaru was nearby and asked Kurotsuchi whether the Tsuchikage knew about the changes in the area.
• Kurotsuchi explained that the Tsuchikage was busy arranging the Exchange Student program and preparing for an upcoming battle against Cloud Shadow Village.
• Kurotsuchi said the allied villages would meet in Konoha to discuss a plan after Konoha’s investigation in Kumogakure was complete, and Luo Mang estimated preparations could take another six months.

Kurotsuchi asked Luo Mang to talk about their personal interests instead of war, and they shared snacks while getting to know each other. They spent the rest of the morning together by the stream as noon and the heat arrived.

• Kurotsuchi complained that Luo Mang kept discussing wars and told him to ask about her interests and hobbies.
• Luo Mang asked what she liked to do and eat, and Kurotsuchi said she enjoyed Coca-Cola, sweets, studying ninjutsu, and wanted to visit the seaside.
• Luo Mang offered Kurotsuchi Coca-Cola and snacks from his storage, and she eagerly tried them.
• Kurotsuchi and Luo Mang chatted quietly and ate together until noon, when the sun made the area by the stream grow hot.

Kurotsuchi took Luo Mang on a date in Rock Shadow Village, teasing him with its roasted stone worms before Kitsuchi interrupted them. She went with her father to talk, leaving Luo Mang to wait at a nearby restaurant and wonder whether their new relationship would remain unchanged.

• Kurotsuchi ended their time by the stream and offered to treat Luo Mang to a local specialty.
• Kurotsuchi led Luo Mang to a shop selling roasted stone worms, and he tried to avoid eating them.
• Luo Mang learned that Rock Shadow Village also served roasted stones before Kitsuchi revealed himself and questioned them about their date.
• Kurotsuchi told Kitsuchi that she and Luo Mang had decided to be together, and Kitsuchi ordered her to come with him.
• Kurotsuchi asked Luo Mang to wait at a nearby restaurant while she talked with Kitsuchi, and Luo Mang agreed.

Luo Mang went to find his Iwagakure Jonin teacher and learned that lessons would involve a joint arrangement with students from another village. The teacher led him outside the village to assess whether the participants could work together, leaving Luo Mang unsure what to expect.

• Luo Mang recalled that Kurotsuchi had missed their dinner plans and decided to begin his exchange lessons.
• Luo Mang walked to the pavilion beneath the Tsuchikage's office and found his Jonin teacher preparing a lesson plan.
• The Jonin teacher invited Luo Mang to join a discussion about joint lessons and said he might like the arrangement.
• Luo Mang followed the Jonin teacher out of Iwagakure to meet the other participants and test whether they could form a team.

Luo Mang and Temari were paired for an exchange program in Iwagakure, where their temporary teachers struggled to find a lesson suited to their different abilities. The teachers settled on a sparring match to assess them, beginning their preliminary training.

• Luo Mang arrived at a rocky meeting place with his jonin teacher and discovered that Temari had been assigned to join his class.
• The two teachers discussed the group and agreed to teach Luo Mang and Temari, though the female jonin insisted that one student was enough.
• The male jonin asked Luo Mang and Temari about their strengths, learning that Luo Mang specialized in Wind Release and Temari in genjutsu.
• Unable to teach either specialty, the male jonin proposed a sparring match to assess their combat skills and teach them tactics.
• Luo Mang accepted the plan and looked to Temari, who agreed to spar with him.

Luo Mang and Temari sparred with their teachers, Sand and Qiao, so the teachers could assess their abilities and guide their training. The spar began with Temari attacking Sand with wind-style Ninjutsu, but Sand blocked it with a massive rock.

• Luo Mang and Temari agreed to spar with Sand and Qiao in a rocky clearing in the wilderness.
• Luo Mang asked the teachers' names and learned that the male teacher was Sand and the female teacher was Qiao.
• Sand explained that the spar would let him assess their limits and offer them personalized instruction.
• Qiao started the spar, and Temari opened her fan and sent a hurricane toward Sand.
• Sand raised a massive rock from the ground to block Temari's wind attack and advised her to conceal her approach and coordinate with Luo Mang.

Luo Mang used his Sharingan to trap Teacher Sha in a powerful genjutsu during the sparring match, then ended the illusion without harming him. Sha and Qiao suspected Luo Mang had a rare bloodline and planned to report their findings to Lord Tsuchikage.

• Temari continued attacking Teacher Sha while Luo Mang searched for a way to demonstrate his abilities.
• Luo Mang activated his Sharingan and froze Teacher Sha in a genjutsu, impressing Temari and leaving Teacher Qiao baffled.
• Luo Mang released the genjutsu after ten seconds, and Teacher Sha stopped the match after assessing the trio’s skills and lack of coordination.
• Teacher Sha asked whether Luo Mang had a special bloodline, and Luo Mang said he was a war orphan raised by adoptive parents.
• Teacher Sha and Teacher Qiao speculated that Luo Mang’s genjutsu might come from a mutated kekkei genkai and decided to report it to Lord Tsuchikage.

Luo Mang and Temari received combat advice from Teacher Qiao while Sand left to report what had happened. Kurotsuchi then arrived and revealed that she would be joining their team, leaving Temari jealous and questioning why she needed to be there.

• Sand left Qiao to continue instructing Luo Mang and Temari, while Luo Mang realized Sand would likely report his identity.
• Temari praised Luo Mang, and Qiao reviewed flaws in his and Temari’s fighting tactics.
• Kurotsuchi arrived and told Luo Mang she had come through her teacher.
• Qiao revealed that Kurotsuchi was a member of their team and would join them going forward.
• Temari challenged Kurotsuchi’s reason for joining, and Qiao said Kurotsuchi could complement their abilities and share ninjutsu advice.