Recaps

Naruto escaped the giant snake by filling its stomach with shadow clones, then joined Shikamaru’s group as they rushed to find Hayashi. Meanwhile, Hayashi’s attack failed to stop Orochimaru, who revealed a new body and prepared to strike with a Long Sword.

• Orochimaru praised Sasuke’s instincts as Sasuke charged him.
• Naruto used Wind Release and countless Shadow Clones to burst the giant snake from within and escape.
• Shikamaru and Shino told Naruto that Shino’s kikaichū had been crushed by a powerful aura near Hayashi, so the group hurried toward him.
• Orochimaru evaded Hayashi’s tachi strike, attacked him from above, and forced him to drop the weapon.
• Hayashi hit Orochimaru with Vacuum Sphere, but Orochimaru emerged unharmed from his own mouth and recognized the technique as one associated with someone he disliked.
• Orochimaru drew a Long Sword as Hayashi’s pupils contracted.

Hayashi, Sakura, and Sasuke fought Orochimaru in the forest, but Orochimaru survived Sasuke’s fire attack by leaving behind a decoy and stabbed Hayashi as he protected Sasuke. Shikamaru and the others heard Sasuke’s anguished cry and realized Hayashi was in danger.

• Hayashi fought Orochimaru with his tachi and Ice Release wolves, but Orochimaru destroyed the wolves and forced Hayashi to retreat.
• Sakura joined Hayashi and urged Sasuke to fight; Sasuke regained his resolve and helped attack Orochimaru with shuriken and steel wire.
• Hayashi and Orochimaru clashed with their swords while Sasuke trapped Orochimaru in wires and scorched him with the Dragon Fire Technique.
• Orochimaru’s burning body proved to be an empty shell, and he appeared behind Sasuke with the Kusanagi Sword.
• Hayashi stopped the sword with his hand and took its point through his shoulder to protect Sasuke.
• Sasuke screamed Hayashi’s name, and Shikamaru and the others stopped after hearing the cry.

Hayashi was badly wounded protecting Sasuke from Orochimaru, and Sasuke awakened his three-tomoe Sharingan before fighting Orochimaru. Just as Orochimaru moved to place a cursed seal on Sasuke, Naruto and the others arrived, and Naruto charged at Orochimaru in fury.

• Orochimaru pulled the Kusanagi Sword from Hayashi's shoulder and taunted Sasuke about his weakness.
• Sasuke awakened his third tomoe while watching Hayashi suffer, then attacked Orochimaru with his newly strengthened Sharingan.
• Sasuke wounded Orochimaru and launched a series of attacks, but Orochimaru struck him into the trees with his tail.
• Orochimaru approached the injured Sasuke and stretched his neck to bite him, but a barrage of shuriken interrupted the attack.
• Naruto, Shikamaru, and Ino arrived, saw Hayashi's injuries, and Naruto charged at Orochimaru in anger.

Naruto and Sasuke attacked Orochimaru together, but he shed his pierced body and continued fighting. Shikamaru, Kiba, Shino, and Hinata joined the battle to protect their injured comrade, surrounding Orochimaru with kikaichū.

• Naruto transformed with the Nine-Tails’ chakra and attacked Orochimaru, landing a hit with Wind Release: Gale Palm.
• Sakura treated Hayashi’s wounds while his Uzumaki Clan vitality began healing him.
• Orochimaru grabbed Naruto and reached to disrupt his seal with the Five Elements Seal, but Sasuke struck him from behind with Chidori.
• Orochimaru shed his pierced body, then taunted Naruto and Sasuke as they stood together against him.
• Shikamaru, Kiba, Shino, and Hinata joined the fight, and Shino’s kikaichū swarmed across the clearing.

Orochimaru overwhelmed the young ninjas while moving to attack Sasuke, until the recovering Uzumaki Hayashi intervened and rallied them. Hayashi held Orochimaru back with his killing intent and awakened a wind-nature transformation in his blade.

• Shino, Kiba, Hinata, Shikamaru, Ino, Choji, Naruto, and Sasuke attacked Orochimaru, but his snakes defeated their techniques and left them exhausted.
• Orochimaru released his killing intent, immobilized the group, and stretched his neck toward Sasuke as Naruto cried for help.
• Uzumaki Hayashi appeared and kicked Orochimaru away from Sasuke, then challenged Naruto to choose how they would proceed.
• Hayashi attacked Orochimaru with his sword and urged Naruto and the others to trust him and fight for Konoha.
• Hayashi activated his killing intent to counter Orochimaru's pressure, rallied the group, and infused his blade with wind chakra.

Hayashi and the Konoha genin coordinated a series of attacks that forced Orochimaru to defend himself with Rashomon. Hayashi’s blade cracked the gate but failed to break through, and Orochimaru began gathering chakra for a serious counterattack.

• Hayashi ordered Naruto, Shino, Hinata, Sasuke, Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, Ino, and Sakura to use their abilities against Orochimaru.
• Naruto’s clones and Shino’s insects pressured Orochimaru as Shikamaru’s shadow briefly slowed him, allowing Choji and Naruto to knock him through a tree.
• Sasuke spotted Orochimaru’s relocation, and Hayashi waited with his blade as Orochimaru landed; Ino then used the Mind Body Switch Technique to freeze him for an instant.
• Kiba attacked Orochimaru’s legs with Fang Over Fang, while Sakura threw explosive-tagged kunai at the snakes and Ino collapsed from the strain.
• Orochimaru summoned Rashomon to block Hayashi’s slash; the blow cracked and drove the gate backward but did not cut through it.
• Orochimaru stood behind Rashomon and began gathering chakra, saying he would get serious.

Hayashi awakened Ryūchi Cave’s Sage Mode and fought Orochimaru, splitting Rashomon and wounding him badly, but Orochimaru became determined to stay. As Jiraiya sensed the surge of natural energy, he rushed toward the Forest of Death.

• Shikamaru told Hayashi to escape and bring help, while Shino used his kikaichū to shield him.
• Hayashi transformed into Sage Mode and charged Orochimaru, cutting Rashomon in half with his senjutsu-charged blade.
• Hayashi dodged Orochimaru’s snakes and counterattacked, leaving a deep wound across Orochimaru’s waist.
• Hayashi questioned why Orochimaru was so hard to kill, but Orochimaru said he no longer wanted to leave.
• Jiraiya sensed powerful natural energy near the Forest of Death and hurried there.

Hayashi used Sage Mode to overwhelm Orochimaru with enhanced techniques and summoned a gigantic ice whale. After Orochimaru's Triple Rashomon stopped its charge, Hayashi revived the fallen whale with Inorganic Reincarnation and sent an icy beam at Orochimaru.

• Hayashi broke Orochimaru's snake cage, blocked his wind and sword attacks, and crushed his sword-bearing snakes with Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation.
• Hayashi wounded Orochimaru with Vacuum Sphere and Swallow Snowstorm, while Orochimaru realized Sage Mode had transformed Hayashi's abilities.
• Hayashi unleashed Sage Art: Ice Release: One-Horned White Whale, freezing the clearing and sending the enormous whale crashing through Orochimaru's Triple Rashomon gates.
• Hayashi used Inorganic Reincarnation to revive the fallen whale, which soared over the Forest of Death and fired an icy beam at Orochimaru.

Hayashi cornered Orochimaru with his icy summons, but his Sage Mode was nearing its limit. Jiraiya arrived at the battlefield just as both sides faced an uncertain next move.

• Orochimaru summoned a giant snake to shield himself from the Unicorn Whale’s icy blast, and the attack froze the snake to death.
• Hayashi launched another blast of cold light and created a giant ice wolf to attack Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru blocked the wolf with his Kusanagi Sword but was driven back by the whale’s second icy blast.
• Kiba, Ino, Shino, Naruto, and Sasuke watched as Hayashi trapped Orochimaru between the wolf and the whale.
• Hayashi struggled to maintain Sage Mode while Orochimaru weighed whether to use his forbidden technique.
• Jiraiya emerged from the trees, surveyed the frozen battlefield, and asked what had happened.

Jiraiya arrived in the Forest of Death, rescued the unconscious Hayashi, and forced Orochimaru to flee after destroying his shed-skin decoy. As Jiraiya carried Hayashi back toward the village, he learned the boy had nearly killed Orochimaru and worried about how the Third Hokage would react to his condition.

• Jiraiya caught Hayashi as he fell, then took the boy's sword and handed it to Sasuke.
• Jiraiya recognized Orochimaru beneath his disguise but pretended to mistake him for a Kusagakure prodigy.
• Orochimaru sent a small snake away and left a shed-skin decoy behind; Jiraiya destroyed it with a giant Rasengan, but Orochimaru escaped.
• Jiraiya noticed Hayashi still had a dragon horn and purple markings, and that natural energy overflowed from his unconscious body.
• Shikamaru told Jiraiya how Hayashi exposed Orochimaru's disguise and fought him to protect the group.
• Jiraiya carried Hayashi back toward the village and worried that the Third Hokage might go berserk when he saw the boy.

Jiraiya brought the exhausted and injured Hayashi back to Konoha, where the Third ordered medical care. After Hayashi was taken away, Jiraiya told the Third that he suspected Orochimaru had infiltrated the village.

• In the Snake Den, Hayashi heard an ancient voice invite him to visit Ryūchi Cave before he was kicked back into consciousness.
• Jiraiya carried Hayashi toward Konoha as the boy realized he could barely move and the Senjutsu energy inside him had vanished.
• Naruto, Sakura, Kiba, Shikamaru, and Sasuke welcomed Hayashi back, and he thanked Sasuke for the Tachi.
• Jiraiya took Hayashi, Shikamaru, and Sasuke to the Hokage Building, where the Third summoned medical ninjas to examine the boy.
• After Hayashi was carried away to recover, the Third demanded to know who had hurt him, and Jiraiya said he suspected Orochimaru had infiltrated Konoha.

Jiraiya and Shikamaru reported Orochimaru’s attack on Sasuke and Hayashi to the Third, who ordered the children to keep it secret and promised Konoha would protect them. Danzo warned that he must be consulted before any war was started, and the chapter ended with Hayashi being carried out of the Hokage Building on a stretcher.

• Jiraiya told the Third that Orochimaru had entered Konoha, and Shikamaru and Sasuke described the encounter and Hayashi’s injuries.
• The Third told Shikamaru and Sasuke to keep the incident secret and promised that Konoha would protect them.
• Jiraiya warned that other villages might use the incident as a pretext to attack Konoha, and Danzo insisted that Hiruzen consult him before starting a war.
• The Third asked Jiraiya whether he had heard anything about Tsunade, startling him.
• Sakura, Ino, Naruto, Kiba, and Shino waited anxiously outside the Hokage Building until Hayashi emerged on a stretcher, prompting Sakura to rush toward him.

After receiving earth release chakra from the system, Hayashi’s wounds nearly healed, but he could not claim his bloodline adaptability reward yet. When someone crept into his home, he armed himself with an Ice Release Tachi and waited by the door.

• Hayashi reassured Naruto, Ino, Kiba, Shino, Shikamaru, Sasuke, and Sakura as medical ninja carried him home.
• The system issued rewards for Sasuke Uchiha’s deviation from his misfortune: bloodline adaptability and earth release chakra.
• Hayashi claimed the earth release chakra, which blended into his chakra pathways and helped his wounds nearly heal.
• The system refused to let Hayashi claim bloodline adaptability, and he checked his panel to confirm earth had been added to his attributes.
• After hearing the front door open, Hayashi formed an Ice Release Tachi and waited for the intruder, wondering if it might be Orochimaru.

Kakashi visited Hayashi after learning he had been seriously injured by someone suspected to be Orochimaru, and Hayashi reassured him that he would keep making his own choices. Kakashi accepted Hayashi’s request to treat him to ramen, and they made a promise.

• Hayashi startled Kakashi at the door with an Ice Release blade and accidentally cut his neck before recognizing him.
• Kakashi recalled the Third Hokage telling him that Hayashi had been seriously injured after encountering someone suspected to be Orochimaru.
• Kakashi rushed to Hayashi’s home that night, worried and blaming himself for failing to protect him.
• Hayashi gave Kakashi a bandage and told him not to blame himself, asking him to treat him to ramen if he felt guilty.
• Kakashi ruffled Hayashi’s hair and agreed that it was a promise.

Hayashi recovered at home while Kakashi, Gekko Hayate, and Uzuki Yugao worried over him and scolded him for risking himself. After learning that he and the others had received special approval to advance in the Chunin Ninja Exams, he heard that Jiraiya would train him and Naruto, then asked Hayate to take him on night patrol.

• Hayashi sent Kakashi home and asked him to tell Zabuza and Haku that he was fine.
• Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yugao prepared breakfast for Hayashi, then reprimanded him for charging into danger without knowing whether the enemy was Orochimaru.
• Hayashi apologized, and Gekko Hayate told him to be more careful because people worried about him.
• Gekko Hayate gave Hayashi a scroll showing that the Third Hokage had approved everyone advancing in the Chunin Ninja Exams and said Jiraiya would train Hayashi and Naruto after Hayashi recovered.
• Hayashi asked Gekko Hayate to take him along on night patrol.

Hayashi persuaded Gekko Hayate to let him join his patrol squad, then slipped out during his recovery to find Jiraiya. He found Jiraiya standing outside a bookstore, and the chapter ended when Hayashi asked what he was doing there.

• Hayashi convinced Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yugao to let him accompany Hayate's patrol squad once his injuries healed.
• Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yugao left Hayashi at home to rest and reminded him to take his medicine.
• After checking that Yugao was far away, Hayashi left home and used the Mind's Eye of the Kagura to search for Jiraiya.
• Hayashi found Jiraiya outside a bookstore, startled him with a pat, and asked what he was doing there.
• Jiraiya's carefree grin froze as Hayashi questioned him.

Hayashi confronted Jiraiya about his secret mission, discovered his writing, and used the Third Hokage’s order to tell him he had to train Naruto and Hayashi. Jiraiya protested that he had no time to babysit brats.

• Jiraiya refused to reveal his secret mission to Hayashi, but a bookstore owner’s comment exposed that he wrote Icha Icha Paradise.
• Jiraiya hurried Hayashi from the shopping street to Hokage Rock to keep the bookstore owner from saying more.
• Hayashi teased Jiraiya about his writing, and Jiraiya showed him The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi, a book he was proud of.
• Hayashi told Jiraiya that the Third Hokage had ordered him to take Naruto and Hayashi along for training.
• Jiraiya cried out that he had more serious things to do and no time to babysit brats.

Hayashi told the Third about Jiraiya’s refusal to train him and Naruto, and the Third promised to deal with Jiraiya. The chapter ended with Jiraiya being summoned to the Hokage’s office and loudly disciplined while Hayashi headed home.

• Jiraiya protested that he had been tasked with training both Naruto and Hayashi, then ran off to verify the Third’s orders.
• Hayashi went to the Third’s office, where he overheard a question about developments in the Land of Rain before explaining his dispute with Jiraiya.
• The Third promised to speak with Jiraiya and told Hayashi to rest before meeting at the training ground the next day.
• The Third secretly ordered someone to bring Jiraiya to him, and Hayashi sensed Jiraiya crying out as he was disciplined.

Hayashi had breakfast with Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yugao, who braided his hair into a neat low ponytail before he left to meet Jiraiya and Naruto. At the training ground, Naruto and Jiraiya both stopped to stare at Hayashi’s new look.

• Hayashi told Uzuki Yugao that Jiraiya had invited him to train with Naruto, concealing what he had really been doing the day before.
• Uzuki Yugao tied Hayashi’s long red hair into a braided low ponytail, and he imagined using it to imitate Jiraiya’s hair-based techniques.
• Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yugao admired Hayashi’s hairstyle as he remained lost in thought.
• Hayashi ran through Konoha, where villagers greeted him more enthusiastically than usual, and continued to the training ground.
• Naruto scolded Jiraiya for making Hayashi train before he had fully recovered, while Jiraiya appeared bruised and swollen.
• Naruto and Jiraiya both froze when Hayashi arrived with his new hairstyle.

Hayashi and Naruto followed Jiraiya into the forest for training, where Jiraiya assigned them Water Walking. Hayashi crossed the stream easily, but Naruto fell in, and Jiraiya watched Naruto’s stomach with sudden interest.

• Naruto admired Hayashi’s new hairstyle, and Jiraiya wondered if changing his own hair might attract girls.
• Jiraiya led Naruto and Hayashi into the forest, promising to train them.
• At a stream, Jiraiya told the two to practice Water Walking while he tried to nap.
• Hayashi walked across the water, but Naruto plunged into the stream despite insisting he had mastered the technique before.
• Hayashi pulled Naruto from the water, while Jiraiya watched Naruto’s stomach with narrowed eyes.

Jiraiya reinforced Naruto’s seal, helping him master walking on water, then gave Naruto and Hayashi summoning scrolls to practice with. Naruto summoned a tadpole, while Hayashi vanished after using his scroll, leaving Naruto shouting his name in alarm.

• Jiraiya sensed Nine-Tails chakra pressing against Naruto’s seal and reinforced it while suspecting Hayashi had prompted Naruto to draw on it.
• Naruto returned to the stream and successfully stood and bounced on the water’s surface.
• Jiraiya explained that he was called the Toad Sage because of his summoning beasts and gave Naruto and Hayashi summoning scrolls.
• Naruto used his scroll and summoned a tadpole, which Jiraiya told him to send back.
• Hayashi pressed his hand to his scroll, and after the smoke cleared, he had vanished; Naruto shouted his name.

Hayashi was transported to Ryūchi Cave, where Tagorihime demanded he undergo trials to meet the White Snake Sage, and he activated Sage Mode and charged at her instead. In Konoha, Naruto reported Hayashi's disappearance, and Hiruzen demanded that Jiraiya explain where he had sent him.

• Hayashi awakened in Ryūchi Cave and learned from Tagorihime that he could seek the White Snake Sage by passing the attendants' trials or turn back to seek a snake contract.
• Tagorihime threatened to devour Hayashi if he failed and claimed Ryūchi Cave's natural energy would suppress his abilities.
• Hayashi activated Sage Mode, absorbed the cave's natural energy, formed an ice tachi, and rushed at Tagorihime.
• Naruto told Kakashi that Hayashi had disappeared, and Kakashi brought Naruto and Jiraiya to the Hokage Building as Gekko Hayate guarded the office.
• Hiruzen heard Naruto's account and demanded that Jiraiya tell him where he had sent Hayashi.

Jiraiya realized Hayashi had likely been transported to Ryūchi Cave, where the White Snake Sage might be able to help, and vanished to seek advice from the Great Toad Sage. In Ryūchi Cave, Hayashi overwhelmed Tagorihime with his sword aura until the White Snake Sage intervened and ordered her to guide him inside.

• Jiraiya explained that Hayashi had likely been taken to Ryūchi Cave, the most dangerous of the three sacred grounds.
• Naruto urged Jiraiya to seek help from Mount Myōboku, prompting Jiraiya to use the Reverse Summoning Technique and go ask the Great Toad Sage.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Naruto, Kakashi, and Gekko Hayate to wait for Jiraiya's news and have faith in Hayashi.
• Hayashi charged at Tagorihime and cut through her earth-and-stone barrier with Azure Sword Aura.
• The White Snake Sage dissolved Hayashi's sword aura and ordered Tagorihime to let him in.
• Tagorihime welcomed Hayashi to Ryūchi Cave and offered to guide him to the White Snake Sage.

Hayashi traveled through Ryūchi Cave with Tagorihime and learned how its inhabitants manipulated natural energy. At the temple entrance, he met the other two attendants, Ichikishimahime and Tagitsuhime, before the White Snake Sage impatiently called for them to bring him inside.

• Hayashi released Sage Mode at Tagorihime’s request and asked her how she floated.
• Tagorihime explained that creatures raised in the sacred land could naturally manipulate energy, unlike people who had to gather sparse natural energy from the outside world.
• Hayashi followed Tagorihime to a temple deep in the cavern, where he saw two other attendants waiting.
• Ichikishimahime introduced herself and clung to Hayashi’s arm until Tagitsuhime’s glance made her let go.
• Tagitsuhime offered to take Hayashi to the White Snake Sage, who called impatiently from inside the temple for them to bring him in.

Hayashi entered the White Snake Sage’s temple and learned that she had summoned him because she knew his Sage Mode was flawed. He insisted on returning to Konoha, but the White Snake Sage said he could not leave and bit his arm.

• Tagitsuhime led Hayashi into the temple while Ichikishimahime teased Tagorihime about her interest in him.
• Tagorihime sensed that Hayashi’s energy held both self-destruction and salvation, and predicted he might sacrifice himself to save someone or the world.
• The White Snake Sage confronted Hayashi about causing trouble and revealed that she had brought him to Ryūchi Cave.
• Hayashi asked why he had been summoned and how he could return to Konoha, but the White Snake Sage said his Sage Mode was flawed and he could not leave yet.
• The White Snake Sage lunged at Hayashi and sank her fangs into his arm.