Chapter Summaries

Asuma Sarutobi learned that Kakashi Hatake had already taken Luo Mang on missions, while Sakura Haruno focused her attention on Luo Mang during the group barbecue. The meal continued with Sakura grilling for him as the others ate and talked.

• Asuma Sarutobi praised Luo Mang for taking missions involving killing, and Ino Yamanaka noticed Sakura Haruno gazing at him instead of paying attention to her.
• Choji Akimichi asked why Kakashi Hatake's team had four members and why Luo Mang had joined despite dropping out of the ninja exam.
• Kakashi Hatake said he had seen Luo Mang doing missions, had saved his life in the wilderness, and added him to the team because of their earlier meeting.
• A server brought the beef, and Sakura Haruno offered to grill for Luo Mang while Ino Yamanaka questioned her about her changed feelings.
• Shikamaru Nara let Choji Akimichi take half his beef, while Naruto asked Kakashi about grilling and Sasuke ate quietly.
• Sakura Haruno served Luo Mang the meat she had cooked, and he praised it but told her to grill her own food.

Luo Mang speculated about his Mangekyo abilities and received a thin Ōtsutsuki bloodline from his Diary Reward. He wondered whether giving the bloodline to Hinata could help her awaken the Tenseigan.

• Luo Mang concluded that his left Mangekyo ability, Calamity, had called down lightning through Heaven and Earth Rejection, and wondered whether his right eye might improve his luck.
• Luo Mang wrote that he had recovered from the bloody scene and his guilt, while Kakashi read the Diary and believed he had adjusted to the shinobi world.
• Luo Mang wrote about Asuma's team and speculated that Asuma might be preparing his son to become Hokage.
• Tsunade read Luo Mang's remarks about her in the Diary, flew into a rage, and vowed to confront him when she returned to the village.
• Luo Mang received a thin Ōtsutsuki bloodline as his Diary Reward and considered whether it could help Hinata awaken the Tenseigan.

Jiraiya confronted Orochimaru outside Otogakure after suspecting he planned to attack Konoha. Their fight escalated into a battle of summons, ending with Gamabunta joining Jiraiya against Orochimaru and the giant snake.

• Jiraiya read Luo Mang's Diary on the road to Otogakure and grew furious when it criticized his habits and distracted him with the Child of Prophecy.
• Jiraiya reached Otogakure, where Orochimaru emerged from hiding with Kimimaro, and Jiraiya accused him of planning to attack Konoha.
• Jiraiya attacked Orochimaru with a Great Flame Bullet and Rasengan, but Orochimaru blocked the flames with Rashomon and summoned a giant purple snake to take the Rasengan.
• Jiraiya trapped the giant snake in the Swamp of the Underworld, escaped Orochimaru's Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, and summoned Gamabunta to help fight.

Uchiha Itachi arrived to observe Orochimaru fighting Jiraiya, then joined the battle instead of siding with Orochimaru. Jiraiya summoned Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima and used Sage Art: Goemon against both missing-nin.

• White Zetsu Tobi alerted Uchiha Itachi to a nearby fight between Orochimaru and someone of similar strength.
• Uchiha Itachi saw Orochimaru and Jiraiya fighting while Gamabunta battled Manda, and he watched from hiding.
• White Zetsu Tobi urged Uchiha Itachi to team up with Jiraiya, but Orochimaru detected and attacked the concealed intruder.
• Orochimaru recognized Uchiha Itachi and proposed they defeat Jiraiya together, but Uchiha Itachi attacked Orochimaru with Susanoo and fire.
• Orochimaru emerged from a snake and attacked Uchiha Itachi, who blocked him with Susanoo as Jiraiya summoned Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima.
• Jiraiya entered Sage Mode with the toad sages and unleashed Sage Art: Goemon at Orochimaru and Uchiha Itachi.

Uchiha Itachi captured Orochimaru during Jiraiya’s attack and fled with Tobi, while Jiraiya pursued them. Itachi trapped Jiraiya in Tsukuyomi long enough to reveal his role as an undercover agent and warn him not to harm Sasuke, leaving Jiraiya exhausted as the chase continued.

• Jiraiya and the toad sages disrupted Orochimaru with Frog Song, allowing Uchiha Itachi to trap him in Tsukuyomi and carry him away as Jiraiya’s Rasengan struck a flock of crows.
• Shima sensed Itachi’s escape route, and Jiraiya pursued him while Gamabunta disengaged from Manda.
• Jiraiya threatened Itachi by invoking Sasuke’s safety, prompting Itachi to cast Tsukuyomi on him.
• Inside Tsukuyomi, Itachi told Jiraiya he was an Akatsuki undercover agent and warned him that harming Sasuke would make him expose Konoha’s intelligence and attack the village.
• Fukasaku and Shima noticed Jiraiya’s disrupted chakra and helped him recover after the genjutsu ended; Jiraiya described being stabbed for what felt like three days.

On his day off, Luo Mang welcomed Hinata, who brought him a homemade lunch, and taught her to make breakfast. The two prepared to share the meal together while a Byakugan guard watched from outside.

• Luo Mang answered Hinata’s knock and learned she had brought him a homemade lunch as thanks for his earlier breakfast.
• Luo Mang invited Hinata inside and offered to make breakfast with her, while a hidden Byakugan guard noticed Luo Mang’s abundant chakra and stayed outside.
• Luo Mang taught Hinata how to prepare breakfast, and she listened attentively as they worked closely together.
• Luo Mang saw the large meal Hinata had made and suggested they share it, leaving Hinata surprised by the invitation.

Luo Mang offered Hinata a chance to assimilate a special bloodline that could change her chakra, and she agreed because she trusted him. After she swallowed the pill and began assimilating it, she lost consciousness, leaving Luo Mang anxiously holding her when someone knocked at the door.

• Luo Mang told Hinata that a special bloodline might change her chakra and asked whether she would try it.
• Hinata agreed to the experiment, and Luo Mang gave her a pill made from the thin Ōtsutsuki bloodline.
• Luo Mang instructed Hinata to sit cross-legged and assimilate the bloodline as she began suffering through the process.
• Hinata lost consciousness, and Luo Mang caught her before she hit the floor.
• After half an hour with Hinata still unconscious, Luo Mang heard someone knocking and suspected it was Sakura.

Luo Mang cared for the recovering Hinata Hyuga while Sakura Haruno arrived hoping to spend the day with him. Sakura discovered Hinata at his house and grew jealous, while Hinata leaned into Luo Mang and revealed that they shared a secret.

• Luo Mang wiped Hinata Hyuga clean, covered her, and went downstairs after making sure she was recovering.
• Sakura Haruno arrived with a picnic basket and asked Luo Mang to go out with her, but he tried to turn her away.
• Hinata called out from behind Luo Mang, and Sakura saw her looking flushed and realized she had spent the night at his house.
• Sakura entered despite Luo Mang's reluctance, while Hinata grew weak and fell back into his arms.
• Hinata told Sakura that she and Luo Mang shared a secret.

Luo Mang helped Hinata recover after their secret fusion, while Sakura tried to win his affection with a shrimp breakfast. When Luo Mang admitted he liked Hinata, Sakura warned that the Hyuga Clan could make their relationship dangerous, and Hinata challenged her claim that they were unsuitable.

• Hinata told Luo Mang her legs had recovered, and he helped her stand while apologizing for what had happened.
• Sakura offered Luo Mang a shrimp breakfast, but he said they should let their relationship develop naturally and gently rejected her advances.
• Hinata offered to bring Luo Mang shrimp too, and Sakura asked whether he was rejecting her because he liked Hinata.
• Luo Mang admitted that Sakura could say he was rejecting her because of Hinata, leaving Hinata thrilled and dizzy.
• Sakura warned Hinata that her Hyuga Clan status could make a relationship with ordinary Luo Mang unsuitable and dangerous.
• Hinata questioned why her clan should decide whom she could love.

Sakura Haruno brought breakfast to Luo Mang and ended up sharing it with him and Hinata Hyuga, who grew closer over the meal. Sakura left after Luo Mang declined to go shopping, while Hinata planned to visit him again.

• Hinata Hyuga declared that she would convince her father, but Luo Mang interrupted and suggested they share Sakura Haruno's breakfast.
• Sakura Haruno and Hinata Hyuga went to the kitchen hand in hand, and Hinata praised Sakura's cooking as she ate.
• Sakura Haruno offered Luo Mang food, and he praised her cooking after tasting it.
• Sakura Haruno invited Luo Mang shopping, but he said he wanted to rest before their missions resumed the next day.
• Sakura Haruno left, and Hinata Hyuga said she would visit Luo Mang again before departing.

Luo Mang’s team accepted a C-Rank mission to escort Tazuna to the Land of Waves, while Kakashi and Sasuke learned from Luo Mang’s Diary that Zabuza and Haku would attack them. Luo Mang considered letting Zabuza escape to preserve the predicted events, and Kakashi decided they should follow the prophecy.

• Kakashi arrived and announced that the team would leave the village to escort a client on a C-Rank mission.
• Luo Mang read the mission details: the team would protect Tazuna on his journey to the Land of Waves and assist with bridge construction.
• Luo Mang wrote in his Diary that the trip would begin Sasuke and Naruto’s bond and that Zabuza and Haku would attack the team.
• Kakashi realized that Haku had tricked him in the predicted encounter and that he could have defeated the attackers before exhausting himself.
• Luo Mang considered letting Zabuza escape so events would follow the prophecy, and Kakashi agreed that the team should preserve its course.

Kakashi led Luo Mang and his students out of Konoha to escort Tazuna, while Tsunade returned to the village to confront a brat and meet Hiruzen. Hiruzen wondered whether Tsunade had finally decided to come back for good.

• Kakashi trusted Luo Mang’s prophecy, bought supplies with the team, and left Konoha with Tazuna for their mission.
• Tazuna objected to being assigned young escorts, but Kakashi reminded him that the mission was only C-rank and led the group onward.
• Tsunade returned to Konoha with Shizune and told the guards to notify Hiruzen that she wanted to see him.
• Tsunade refused to explain to Shizune why she had come back, saying she was looking for a brat.
• Hiruzen heard that Tsunade had returned and wondered whether she had finally made up her mind.

Tsunade visited Hiruzen Sarutobi to obtain the roster for Kakashi’s team, while Hiruzen tried to persuade her to become Hokage. Shimura Danzō arrived and waited to speak with Hiruzen, who refused to restore his authority and told him to enjoy retirement.

• Tsunade entered the Hokage Office and told Hiruzen Sarutobi she had returned to ask about a man on Kakashi’s team.
• Hiruzen searched for Kakashi’s team roster and again urged Tsunade to become Hokage.
• Shimura Danzō entered the office and watched as Hiruzen handed Tsunade the records.
• Tsunade left after refusing Hiruzen’s offer, and Danzō stayed behind to speak with him.
• Hiruzen refused to let Danzō return to power in the Anbu or Root and advised him to enjoy retirement or have children.

Tsunade tried to find Luo Mang to confront him about Konoha's finances, but discovered he had left on a mission to the Land of Waves. On the road, Luo Mang encouraged Sakura Haruno to consider becoming a medical ninja, prompting Kakashi to remember his former teammate Rin.

• Tsunade left the Hokage Building, spotted Luo Mang in the team report, and set out to find him.
• Shizune's call drew a crowd around Tsunade, so Tsunade used the Body Flicker Technique to escape and told Shizune to meet her at the Senju Clan Compound.
• Tsunade reached Luo Mang's empty home and read his Diary, learning that he had gone on a mission to the Land of Waves.
• On the road, Sakura Haruno offered Luo Mang medicine after he sneezed, and he suggested she would make a good medical ninja.
• Naruto agreed with Luo Mang's suggestion, while Kakashi remembered that his former teammate Rin had been a medical ninja.

Luo Mang and Team 7 escorted Tazuna toward the Land of Waves while Sakura received medical books and Naruto got a painful forehead flick from Kakashi. When two hidden attackers struck, Sasuke reacted first and launched a Fire Release technique.

• Luo Mang gave Sakura a medical handbook, and Kakashi lent her books on Medical Ninjutsu to copy and study.
• Naruto asked Kakashi for a gift and received a painful flick to the forehead, while Sasuke and Sakura focused on their surroundings and books.
• The team replenished supplies in villages along the way, then formed up around Tazuna as Kakashi led them onward.
• Luo Mang and Kakashi noticed signs of hidden enemies, and Sasuke also sensed something was wrong.
• The Demon Brothers attacked with Shuriken, but Sasuke shoved Naruto out of their path and responded with his Sharingan and Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique.

Luo Mang, Sasuke, and Naruto captured two attackers protecting Tazuna, but both Demon Brothers died without revealing who sent them. After Tazuna admitted that he had concealed the danger of his mission, Kakashi and the others had to decide whether to continue protecting him.

• Luo Mang used genjutsu to incapacitate one attacker, while Sasuke helped capture the other after Naruto's shadow clones joined the fight.
• Sasuke questioned the bound attackers, and Luo Mang killed one before the survivor poisoned himself.
• Kakashi praised the team for subduing the attackers and protecting Tazuna.
• Kakashi pointed out that the attackers were Kirigakure ninja, contradicting the mission details, and pressed Tazuna for an explanation.
• Tazuna admitted that he had hidden his conflict with Gato, who controlled maritime trade and opposed the bridge Tazuna hoped would free the Land of Waves from his monopoly.

Kakashi accepted Tazuna’s mission to escort him back to the Land of Waves, while Uchiha Itachi brought the captive Orochimaru to Amegakure. Itachi revealed he had captured Orochimaru to protect Sasuke and prevent Orochimaru from becoming a threat to Konoha, leaving his next move undecided aloud.

• Kakashi accepted Tazuna’s mission, and Tazuna promised to raise more money after the bridge was built.
• Kakashi led the team onward with Tazuna protected in the middle, while Luo Mang wondered whether he could spare Zabuza.
• Uchiha Itachi arrived at Amegakure with Orochimaru as his captive, and White Zetsu Tobi welcomed the rain.
• Orochimaru asked why Itachi had brought him back, and Tobi said he had been captured as a traitor to the Akatsuki.
• Itachi told Orochimaru he had captured him to keep him from targeting Sasuke, while also planning to prevent Orochimaru’s attack on Konoha.
• Tobi asked whether he could take Orochimaru to discuss art, but Itachi kept his plans for the captive to himself.

Konan warned Nagato that someone had posted a bounty to investigate their organization, and they suspected Orochimaru had leaked information. Uchiha Itachi brought Orochimaru to Pain for his memories to be examined, leaving Itachi poised to learn about Orochimaru’s plans.

• Konan told Nagato that a bounty posted by Kakashi Hatake sought information about people wearing Akatsuki’s black-and-red cloaks.
• Nagato and Konan suspected Orochimaru had betrayed their organization and decided to capture him.
• Nagato sensed Uchiha Itachi returning with Orochimaru and went with Konan to meet them.
• Uchiha Itachi asked Pain to examine Orochimaru’s memories so he could learn about Orochimaru’s plans.
• Pain agreed to examine Orochimaru’s memories, and Konan arrived as Orochimaru showed no sign of recognizing her.

Luo Mang and Team 7 reached Tazuna’s house, where Zabuza ambushed them in the mist. Kakashi turned the expected confrontation around and trapped Zabuza in a Water Prison Technique.

• Naruto asked Luo Mang to teach him Water Release, and Kakashi began explaining how to test chakra nature before Naruto sensed someone nearby.
• Zabuza appeared and demanded Tazuna, prompting Kakashi to reveal his Sharingan and take charge of the fight.
• Zabuza used the Hidden Mist Technique while Luo Mang told the others to stay together and protect Tazuna.
• Kakashi intercepted Zabuza’s blade, but their apparent victory proved to be a sequence of clones and counterattacks.
• Kakashi trapped the real Zabuza in a Water Prison Technique, and Sakura praised him for winning.

Kakashi outmaneuvered Zabuza, then pretended not to notice Haku faking Zabuza's death so they could leave. The group continued to Tazuna's house, expecting Zabuza to return while Luo Mang considered how to spend the two weeks of bridge repairs.

• Kakashi used a clone to trap Zabuza and earned his students' approval.
• Haku appeared, claimed to be a Kirigakure Rogue-Ninja Pursuit Squad member, and offered to kill Zabuza.
• Haku used senbon and Ice Release to make Zabuza appear dead, while Kakashi recognized the deception and played along.
• Haku left with Zabuza and the Kubikiribōchō, and Kakashi let them go despite Tazuna's suspicions.
• The group followed Tazuna toward his house as Luo Mang wondered whether to train during the bridge repairs.