Recaps

Orochimaru prepared to attack Konoha with Kabuto’s help while Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo confronted Zhou Cheng about his rapid growth. Zhou Cheng refused Hiruzen’s order to train at Root, leaving their conflict unresolved.

• Orochimaru identified Zhou Cheng as the boy he had encountered in the Forest of Death and considered recruiting him alongside Sasuke.
• Baki reported that Kabuto had provided maps of Konoha’s security forces, and Orochimaru ordered the attack plan to proceed.
• After the Chunin Exam candidates returned to Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Zhou Cheng and questioned him about his strength and Yang Release.
• Danzo accused Zhou Cheng of being a Kirigakure spy, but Zhou Cheng claimed that diligent training explained his abilities.
• Hiruzen ordered Zhou Cheng to train at Root for a year, and Zhou Cheng refused twice.

Zhou Cheng confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo over their attempts to control and surveil him, demonstrating his genjutsu and Kage-level power. Hiruzen agreed that Konoha would leave Zhou Cheng alone as long as he did not threaten the village, but Zhou Cheng ended the meeting by revealing a miniature Rasenshuriken.

• Zhou Cheng accused Hiruzen and Danzo of wanting to use him, rejected their offer to make him Sixth Hokage, and denied intending to betray Konoha.
• Zhou Cheng trapped Hiruzen and Danzo in a genjutsu that altered their memories of Tobirama Senju choosing the next Hokage, then released them back into the office.
• Zhou Cheng demanded that Konoha stop surveilling him and warned Hiruzen and Danzo that his genjutsu was only one of his trump cards.
• Danzo continued to threaten Zhou Cheng, so Zhou Cheng released pressure approaching Kage level and warned that a fight could destroy the Hokage Building and Hokage Rock.
• Hiruzen agreed that Konoha would not act against Zhou Cheng unless he threatened the village.
• Zhou Cheng formed a miniature Rasenshuriken, startling Hiruzen and Danzo with his mastery of shape and nature transformation.

After demonstrating his power to Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo, Zhou Cheng learned that he would face Gaara in the Chunin Exams’ final matches and planned to draw out the One-Tail’s chakra. That evening, he offered to teach Tai Chi to his friends and other young shinobi.

• Zhou Cheng demonstrated a hand-seal-free Rasenshuriken to Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo, then said he would apply to become a Jonin after the exams.
• Danzo urged Hiruzen Sarutobi to kill Zhou Cheng, but Hiruzen persuaded him to keep Zhou Cheng in Konoha and use his bonds with the children to influence him.
• At Zhou Cheng’s home, the group discussed the final exams, and Zhou Cheng discovered that he would face Gaara.
• Zhou Cheng planned to provoke Gaara into letting Shukaku take control so he could obtain some of the One-Tail’s chakra.
• After spending the evening with his friends, Zhou Cheng offered to teach Tai Chi to the Konoha 12, Haku, Kurama Yakumo, and Karin.

Zhou Cheng encouraged Kurama Yakumo and Karin to learn Tai Chi, then offered Karin a place in Konoha. After Gekko Hayate discovered Orochimaru and Sunagakure’s plan to attack the village, Baki killed him, and the final Chunin Exam began under a cloud of grief.

• Zhou Cheng reassured Kurama Yakumo that Tai Chi could improve her health and told Karin she could learn it despite being from the Grass Ninja.
• Zhou Cheng offered Karin official status as a Konoha Shinobi, and she accepted; he gave her a Flying Thunder God Kunai and told her to stay in Konoha after the exams.
• Gekko Hayate overheard Kabuto and Baki discussing Orochimaru and Sunagakure’s planned attack on Konoha, but Baki spotted and killed him before he could report it.
• Zhou Cheng took Naruto, Sasuke, and Neji on a strenuous morning run before the final Chunin Exam.
• Kakashi told Zhou Cheng and the others that Gekko Hayate had been killed, then urged them to focus on completing the exam while Konoha investigated.

Zhou Cheng challenged Gaara to a match and bet that he would win a secret Wind Release technique for Naruto and others to learn. Disguised as the Kazekage, Orochimaru ordered Baki to kill Zhou Cheng once the attack began, as the Chunin Exam’s first match was announced as Naruto versus Neji.

• Zhou Cheng grieved Gekko Hayate’s death and spotted Baki and the Sound Four behind the Kazekage, while Gaara’s team arrived at the venue.
• Temari warned Zhou Cheng that Gaara would defeat him, but Zhou Cheng challenged Gaara and wagered that Temari would give him a secret Wind Release art if he won.
• Zhou Cheng explained that he wanted the technique for Naruto and hoped to help Haku grow stronger through Wind Release and Water Release.
• Disguised as the Kazekage, Orochimaru told Baki to kill Zhou Cheng when the plan began, and Baki agreed.
• The Third Hokage ordered the exam to begin, and the first match was announced as Naruto against Neji.

Naruto defeated Neji after drawing on the Nine-Tails’ chakra, and the remaining preliminary matches ended before Zhou Cheng faced Gaara. Most spectators expected Gaara to win, while Orochimaru watched closely in hopes of learning Zhou Cheng’s full strength.

• Naruto asked the Nine-Tails for chakra after Neji sealed his chakra points, then used its power to fight back.
• Naruto tricked Neji with a Shadow Clone and won by bursting from underground with an uppercut.
• Kankuro forfeited against Shino Aburame, Shikamaru Nara conceded to Temari, Kurama Yakumo forfeited to Haku, and Sasuke defeated Dosu.
• Zhou Cheng prepared to fight Gaara as the crowd and Konoha’s security forces anticipated Gaara’s victory.
• Orochimaru watched Zhou Cheng, hoping Gaara would force him to reveal the full extent of his strength.

Zhou Cheng fought Gaara in the Chunin Exam arena and revealed powerful self-created wind techniques that overwhelmed the spectators. Gaara realized he could not block Zhou Cheng’s Sky Blade alone and called to Shukaku for help.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Zhou Cheng face Gaara, while Zhou Cheng hoped to provoke Gaara into releasing Shukaku.
• Zhou Cheng unleashed a powerful aura that shocked the spectators and alarmed the Sunagakure shinobi.
• Gaara used sand to block Zhou Cheng’s multiplying shuriken, but Zhou Cheng’s Chakra Blade split his giant sand hand in two.
• Zhou Cheng attacked Gaara from multiple directions at high speed, though Gaara’s sand blocked or evaded every slash.
• Zhou Cheng transformed his Chakra Blade with Wind Release, creating the Sky Blade and carving a crater into the arena.
• Gaara realized he could not withstand the Sky Blade and called to Shukaku for help.

Zhou Cheng pressed his fight against Gaara, who relied on Shukaku’s chakra to withstand Zhou Cheng’s first S-Rank attack. Zhou Cheng then launched two Rasenshuriken at Gaara’s sand sphere, leaving Gaara’s fate uncertain after the explosion.

• Gaara drew on Shukaku’s chakra and formed Shukaku’s Strongest Shield to block Zhou Cheng’s blade-shaped blast, which shattered the statue but left Gaara unharmed inside a sand sphere.
• Gaara struggled with Shukaku for control of his body while Zhou Cheng waited outside and tried to provoke him into emerging.
• Zhou Cheng formed a Water Release: Rasenshuriken and a Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, alarming the gathered shinobi with his ability to use two S-Rank ninjutsu at once.
• Baki and other Sunagakure shinobi rushed toward the arena as Konoha’s jonin raised Earth Formation Walls to protect the spectators.
• Zhou Cheng hurled both Rasenshuriken at Gaara’s sand sphere, and the explosion shattered the protective walls as Temari and Kankuro feared Gaara had been killed.

Shukaku emerged alive and pursued Zhou Cheng out of Konoha, while Orochimaru used the chaos to launch the Konoha Crush Plan. The chapter ended with Orochimaru trapping Hiruzen Sarutobi inside the Four Violet Flames Formation and declaring that he would kill him.

• Shukaku fully emerged after Gaara sank into his body, and Temari realized Gaara was still alive.
• Zhou Cheng attacked Shukaku with a Rasenshuriken and Wind Cutter, then led the tailed beast away from Konoha.
• Orochimaru signaled the start of his plan, and genin across the Chunin Exam arena fell under a genjutsu as explosions rocked Konoha.
• Orochimaru revealed himself to Hiruzen Sarutobi and ordered the Sound Four to trap them inside the Four Violet Flames Formation.
• Orochimaru summoned three giant snakes to attack Konoha and taunted the trapped Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Zhou Cheng and Jiraiya teamed up against Shukaku, combining wind and fire attacks with devastating force. The resulting explosion devastated Konoha, while Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru remained protected inside the barrier.

• Shukaku chased Zhou Cheng through the forest, and Zhou Cheng unleashed a gigantic Rasenshuriken that Shukaku’s Tailed Beast Bomb pierced.
• The clash between their attacks devastated the forest, and Zhou Cheng evaded Shukaku’s Tailed Beast Bomb with the Flying Thunder God Technique as it destroyed a mountain peak.
• Jiraiya arrived on Gamabunta and joined Zhou Cheng in attacking Shukaku with toad oil and flames.
• Zhou Cheng combined his Rasenshuriken with Jiraiya and Gamabunta’s fire, creating a spinning fire-and-wind vortex that Shukaku countered with another Tailed Beast Bomb.
• The collision produced a massive explosion that destroyed buildings and injured shinobi across Konoha, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi furious about the damage.

Zhou Cheng and Jiraiya lured Shukaku away from Konoha and tried to hold him until the Sealing Squad arrived. Zhou Cheng unleashed a devastating chakra spear at Shukaku, who gathered black sand to defend himself.

• Zhou Cheng and Jiraiya led Shukaku away from Konoha while fighting resumed in the village and ANBU suppressed the giant snakes.
• Zhou Cheng proposed finding Shukaku’s jinchūriki and sealing him, so Jiraiya sent a messenger to summon the Sealing Squad.
• Zhou Cheng asked Jiraiya to teach him the Summoning Technique, and Jiraiya agreed to teach him after the battle.
• Zhou Cheng trapped Shukaku in an enormous Underworld Swamp and pierced him with Earth Spears.
• Zhou Cheng compressed chakra into a spear, combined wind and water nature transformations, and hurled it at Shukaku.
• Shukaku sensed the spear’s power and raised a barrier of black sand using Magnet Release.

Zhou Cheng and Jiraiya weakened Shukaku, and Zhou Cheng managed to wake Gaara and seize some of Shukaku’s chakra. As the sealing squad approached, Zhou Cheng explained to Gaara why he would risk his life to protect his friends.

• Shukaku’s Strongest Shield failed to stop the chakra spear, and the resulting blast gravely wounded him.
• Jiraiya and Zhou Cheng rushed to Gaara, and Zhou Cheng used Flying Thunder God to reach him before he sank into Shukaku.
• Zhou Cheng broke Gaara’s hand to wake him, allowing Shukaku’s seal to begin working again.
• When Shukaku attacked Zhou Cheng, Zhou Cheng cut off part of his body, trapped its chakra with Adamantine Sealing Chains, and drew it into himself.
• Zhou Cheng told Gaara that Haku and his Konoha friends had rescued him from loneliness, and vowed to protect them even if he had to kill Gaara.

After helping Gaara find friendship and healing his injuries, Zhou Cheng returned him and Jiraiya to Konoha and brought back the Sealing Squad. Gaara reconciled with Temari and Kankuro, while Hiruzen remained trapped in the Four Violet Flames Formation, facing the First and Second Hokage under Orochimaru’s control.

• Gaara was moved by Zhou Cheng’s story, decided to change, and accepted Zhou Cheng’s offer of friendship.
• Zhou Cheng healed Gaara with Yang Release chakra, and Konoha’s Sealing Squad sealed Shukaku back inside him.
• Zhou Cheng used Flying Thunder God to take Gaara and Jiraiya to Konoha, then made several trips to bring back the Sealing Squad.
• Zhou Cheng found Temari and Kankuro, and Gaara apologized to his siblings as they shared heartfelt smiles.
• Konoha’s shinobi could not breach the Four Violet Flames Formation, where Hiruzen faced the First and Second Hokage, revived and controlled by Orochimaru.

After Hiruzen Sarutobi died fighting Orochimaru, Danzo tried to take control of Konoha, but Zhou Cheng exposed Root’s absence from the battle and turned the shinobi against him. The village delayed choosing a new Hokage for three days, while Zhou Cheng built support by helping with reconstruction and seeing Gaara off.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi sealed the First and Second Hokages, then used the Reaper Death Seal to seal Orochimaru’s hands at the cost of his own life.
• Zhou Cheng used a shadow clone to read Konoha’s Scroll of Seals and learned forbidden techniques, including how to undo the Reaper Death Seal if he found its mask.
• Orochimaru escaped Konoha as a snake, while the Sound Four fled inside a giant snake, and Danzo arrived to claim temporary control of the village.
• Zhou Cheng accused Danzo of keeping Root out of the fighting, prompting Konoha’s shinobi to challenge Danzo’s authority.
• Konoha’s advisors and clan heads arranged a Hokage election for three days later, and Zhou Cheng sent over a hundred shadow clones to help rebuild the village.
• Zhou Cheng went to see Gaara off, earning goodwill from Sunagakure’s shinobi.

After Gaara returned to Sunagakure, Zhou Cheng comforted the grieving Uzuki Yugao and reflected on how to grow stronger. The chapter ended with him planning to improve his kenjutsu, ninjutsu, and chakra natures so he could eventually face powerful enemies.

• Zhou Cheng said goodbye to Gaara, who left for Sunagakure with Baki after learning that Orochimaru had killed Kazekage Rasa.
• Zhou Cheng secured Karin's place in Konoha and returned home after helping rescue people trapped beneath the rubble.
• Zhou Cheng found Uzuki Yugao drinking on Hokage Rock and stopped her from drinking more as she mourned Hayate and the unknown killer.
• Zhou Cheng carried the exhausted Uzuki Yugao home, then sat on her roof and assessed his strength and plans for mastering new abilities.

Zhou Cheng considered his plans for Sasuke, Orochimaru’s subordinates, Danzo, and Uzuki Yugao before Jiraiya offered him a contract with Mount Myōboku. His first summoning brought Gamakichi, who revealed that he could remain in the Shinobi World indefinitely, and the chapter ended with Zhou Cheng asking Jiraiya for a favor.

• Zhou Cheng resolved to send Sasuke to Orochimaru to gain access to Orochimaru’s research and retain control over Kimimaro and Kabuto, while hoping Baki’s survival would help Gaara become Kazekage sooner.
• Jiraiya found Zhou Cheng beside the sleeping Uzuki Yugao, heard what had happened to her, and offered to teach him the Summoning Technique.
• Zhou Cheng signed the Mount Myōboku contract, learned the hand seals, and summoned Gamakichi to the rooftop.
• Gamakichi told Zhou Cheng and Jiraiya that he could remain in the Shinobi World indefinitely, so Zhou Cheng canceled the summoning to let him report this to his father.
• Jiraiya questioned Zhou Cheng about learning the Rasengan and his feelings about Konoha, and Zhou Cheng said he felt nothing for the village before asking Jiraiya for a favor.

Jiraiya agreed to train Naruto while Zhou Cheng tried to learn who might become the Fifth Hokage. As Danzo planned to eliminate Zhou Cheng, the Kurama and Hyuga clans plotted to use the Hokage election to advance their own interests.

• Zhou Cheng persuaded Jiraiya to train Naruto, and Jiraiya said Tsunade or Kakashi could succeed Hiruzen, though he doubted Kakashi would accept.
• Danzo urged the Advisors to hold the Hokage election soon, learned no major clan had pledged support, and ordered Zhou Cheng killed.
• The Kurama Clan leaders decided to support Danzo by sending Kurama Yakumo to Root.
• Hyuga elders urged Hyuga Hiashi to run for Hokage and proposed using Neji's connection to Zhou Cheng to win Zhou Cheng's support.

Zhou Cheng rejected Hyuga Hiashi’s attempt to win his support for the Hokage election by offering Hinata as a bargaining chip, then punished an elder who threatened him. After leaving the compound, he revealed that his new Mind's Eye of the Kagura ability let him send brief messages to people within his sensing range, and he began imagining how it could coordinate the Konoha 12.

• Hyuga Hiashi agreed to seek the elders’ support for his Hokage bid and planned to gain Zhou Cheng’s backing by offering Hinata’s hand in marriage.
• Hinata refused to be used as a bargaining chip, and Zhou Cheng said he would reconsider supporting Hiashi despite his ties to Hinata and Neji.
• A Hyuga elder threatened Zhou Cheng by claiming Hinata might meet the Daimyo of the Land of Fire’s child, so Zhou Cheng trapped the elder in a painful genjutsu.
• Zhou Cheng said he would still speak up for Hiashi because of Hinata and Neji, and told Hiashi to explain Neji’s past to him.
• Hinata heard Zhou Cheng’s voice in her mind, and he explained that his new ability could leave messages in other people’s minds within his sensing range.
• Zhou Cheng realized his Mind's Eye of the Kagura could coordinate the Konoha 12 across his sensing range.

During Konoha’s Hokage campaign, Zhou Cheng backed Hyuga Hiashi and clashed with Danzo’s supporters over his promotion to jonin. Jiraiya intervened to prevent the dispute from turning violent and asked Zhou Cheng to compromise.

• Zhou Cheng attended the first day of campaigning, challenged Danzo over Root’s absence during the disaster, and rallied support for Hyuga Hiashi.
• Zhou Cheng skipped the second day of campaigning and demanded an immediate promotion to jonin, but a Danzo subordinate refused because he lacked the required missions and assessment.
• Zhou Cheng broke the official’s desk and publicly challenged anyone who considered him unqualified, prompting civilians and shinobi to argue over his record and support.
• Jiraiya arrived to stop the growing dispute from turning bloody and asked Zhou Cheng and the other side to take a step back.

Zhou Cheng accepted a Chunin promotion and won public support by defending Konoha’s promotion standards, while warning Danzo to stop targeting him. After Danzo placed a bounty on Zhou Cheng, Zhou Cheng formed a team with Hinata, Haku, Kurama Yakumo, and Karin and led them to the Land of Waves to face Zabuza.

• Jiraiya offered to promote Zhou Cheng to Chunin first, and Zhou Cheng agreed on the condition that the next Hokage establish a fair promotion system.
• Zhou Cheng explained his decision to the crowd, defended the Jonin promotion standards, and threatened Danzo through Danzo’s people.
• Danzo ordered a Root Shinobi to place a thirty-million-ryo bounty on Zhou Cheng.
• Jiraiya left with Naruto to find Tsunade, who was expected to become the Fifth Hokage.
• Zhou Cheng formed a team with Hinata, Haku, Kurama Yakumo, and Karin, then led them on a mission to the Land of Waves.
• Zhou Cheng stayed hidden while his four teammates faced Zabuza so they could gain combat experience and improve their coordination.

After helping his team kill Zabuza and defeating Gato, Zhou Cheng trained the Konoha 12 and built a home for his companions. When Kurama Yakumo disappeared, he found her unconscious in Root and attacked Danzo's headquarters to rescue her.

• Zhou Cheng's team killed Zabuza, then Zhou Cheng killed Gato and shared the mission reward and Gato's money with his teammates.
• Zhou Cheng trained the Konoha 12 for seven days, greatly improving their abilities and physiques, and later left the village with Hinata and Haku to avoid requests for training.
• Zhou Cheng returned to Konoha, learned Tsunade had been chosen as the Fifth Hokage candidate, and bought a large house where Kurama Yakumo moved in with him.
• Kurama Yakumo left a note saying her clan had summoned her, but Zhou Cheng became suspicious when she did not return and could not find her in the clan compound.
• Zhou Cheng sensed Kurama Yakumo unconscious inside Root, killed its guards, and demanded Danzo hand her over before breaking down Root's gate with Earth Release: Rock Pillar Spears.

Zhou Cheng attacked Root to rescue Kurama Yakumo, overwhelming Danzo and the Root shinobi with powerful ninjutsu. He trapped many of them in a vast water sphere while Danzo remained outside, unable to break through.

• Zhou Cheng confronted Root and demanded that Danzo hand over Kurama Yakumo, learning that the Kurama Clan had given her to Danzo.
• Danzo refused, so Zhou Cheng unleashed Wind Release: Rasenshuriken Barrage, destroying Root's entrance and killing more than a dozen shinobi.
• Zhou Cheng used Water Release: Rain Cutter to suppress Root shinobi's chakra natures other than water.
• Root shinobi attacked with Water Release techniques, but Zhou Cheng swallowed them into a huge water sphere with Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave.
• Danzo escaped the sphere but could not break through its tough surface, and he wondered whether Zhou Cheng had read the Scroll of Seals.

Zhou Cheng fought his way into Root to rescue Kurama Yakumo and clashed with Jiraiya over Danzo’s fate. Tsunade arrived as the Fifth Hokage and ordered Root disbanded, but Zhou Cheng still insisted on killing Danzo and provoked Tsunade into a fight.

• Jiraiya broke Zhou Cheng’s water sphere with a Sage Art-Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan and tried to stop him from destroying Root.
• Danzo claimed Kurama Yakumo had joined Root voluntarily and demanded Zhou Cheng be punished, but Zhou Cheng refused to back down.
• Zhou Cheng accused Danzo of conspiring with Orochimaru and Sunagakure, then prepared to kill him despite Jiraiya’s objections.
• Tsunade arrived, ordered Danzo to disband Root, and offered to spare him if he complied.
• Zhou Cheng rejected Tsunade’s terms, and after she shattered a wall with a punch, he stomped through the ground and challenged her strength.

Zhou Cheng rescued Kurama Yakumo from the Kurama Clan and learned that they had handed her over to Danzo. Sasuke decided to leave Konoha for Orochimaru after the Hokage Succession Ceremony, while Tsunade took office and ordered Jiraiya to keep watch on Zhou Cheng.

• Tsunade fought Zhou Cheng, and their clash showed that he could match her tremendous strength.
• The Advisors and clan heads arrived, and Danzo went to help Kurama Yakumo after Zhou Cheng threatened him.
• Kurama Yakumo told Zhou Cheng that her clan had restrained her and handed her over to Danzo, prompting Zhou Cheng to vow revenge on the clan.
• Sasuke told Zhou Cheng that Orochimaru's people had come for him, and Zhou Cheng agreed to keep in contact as Sasuke went to Orochimaru after the ceremony.
• Zhou Cheng trained the Konoha 12 again before Tsunade's succession ceremony, and Tsunade told Jiraiya to watch him closely.

Kimimaro and the Sound Four waited for Sasuke while Danzo hired the masked Akatsuki member to kill Zhou Cheng. After Tsunade became Fifth Hokage, Zhou Cheng asked her for the Thunder God Sword and learned more about his chakra blade, leaving with the weapon promised once he swore not to betray Konoha.

• Kimimaro ordered the Sound Four to stay alert until Sasuke arrived after the Hokage inauguration.
• Danzo agreed to pay the masked Akatsuki member ten million ryo to kill Zhou Cheng, and the masked man told him to lure Zhou Cheng out of Konoha.
• The masked man ordered Itachi to go see his little brother as the tailed beast plan approached.
• After the inauguration, Zhou Cheng visited Tsunade and asked her for the Second Hokage's Thunder God Sword.
• Tsunade agreed to give Zhou Cheng the sword after he swore never to betray Konoha, then explained that his chakra blade relied on Shape Transformation.