Recaps

The White Snake Sage bit Hayashi and flooded his body with venom to force his incomplete Sage Mode toward completion. As Tagitsuhime carried him to a stone chamber, Hayashi activated Sage Mode, and Ryūchi Cave’s natural energy enveloped him in a cocoon of light.

• The White Snake Sage immobilized Hayashi and bit his arm, filling him with venom that caused searing pain and bleeding.
• The White Snake Sage explained that Hayashi’s incomplete Sage Mode was forcing natural energy into his body and ordered Tagitsuhime to take him to the stone chamber.
• The White Snake Sage warned Tagitsuhime to bring Hayashi back if he turned into a monster, then said she would not let him continue his self-destructive habits.
• Tagitsuhime carried Hayashi to the stone chamber and urged him to work through the White Snake Sage’s venom.
• After hearing Tagitsuhime’s call, Hayashi clapped his hands and activated Sage Mode, drawing natural energy from throughout Ryūchi Cave.
• The natural energy gathered around Hayashi, lifted him from the stone platform, and formed a glowing cocoon around his body.

As Hayashi lay unconscious in a cocoon of light, he struggled through a vision of hollow hearts and heard the White Snake Sage and his friends urge him to wake. He recovered, transformed into Konoha’s Dragon Princess, and opened his eyes with his power restored.

• Tagitsuhime rebuked Tagorihime for warning Hayashi, then told her to consult the White Snake Sage and stayed to guard him.
• Hayashi’s unconscious mind revisited the picture scroll and saw that the people in it had empty spaces over their hearts.
• The White Snake Sage urged Hayashi to wake, while memories of Tanabe, Naruto, Kakashi, and Sakura helped him regain control of his body.
• Hayashi felt anger as he saw Sasuke, Gekko Hayate, Yugao, the Third, and Jiraiya beyond his reach, and that anger transformed his pain into energy.
• Hayashi’s Sage Mode markings faded, icy-blue arcs appeared around his eyes, and a second dragon horn emerged before he awoke with his power restored.

Uzumaki Hayashi perfected Sage Mode and gained extraordinary control over natural energy. After learning that Tagorihime had been taken to the White Snake Sage’s temple for warning him, he rushed there to plead for her, arriving to find the temple smelling of fresh blood.

• Uzumaki Hayashi awakened with dragon horns and mastered precise control of natural energy, and Tagitsuhime congratulated him as a Sage.
• Tagitsuhime told Hayashi that Tagorihime had disobeyed the White Snake Sage by warning him and was now suffering inside the Sage’s temple.
• Hayashi promised to protect Tagorihime and flew out to find the temple, using natural energy to guide and propel him.
• Hayashi sensed fresh blood near the temple, feared for Tagorihime, and flung open its doors.

Hayashi showed the White Snake Sage his newly achieved Sage Mode and learned that it was still missing something, though it was already powerful. After realizing he could contract with Tagorihime, he asked to do so and accepted the White Snake Sage’s trial to earn her permission.

• Hayashi entered the temple and found Tagorihime serving the White Snake Sage, who clarified that she had never intended to punish her.
• The White Snake Sage examined Hayashi’s Sage Mode and told him to stay in Ryūchi Cave to balance his natural energy before returning as its Sage.
• The White Snake Sage revealed that Hayashi could leave Ryūchi Cave or seek a contract with a giant snake, and hinted that he could contract with Tagorihime.
• Hayashi asked Tagorihime to contract with him, and the White Snake Sage agreed on the condition that he defeat all three of her confidantes together.
• The White Snake Sage warned Hayashi that failure meant being devoured, and he chose to take her trial again.

Hayashi asked the White Snake Sage to send a message to his village before restarting his trial at Ryūchi Cave. The Sage created a vast canyon for his battle against the three attendants, and Hayashi prepared to begin.

• Hayashi stopped Tagorihime to ask the White Snake Sage to send a message assuring his companions that he was safe and would return for the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Hayashi wrote a note to his village, and the White Snake Sage sent it through a rift in space.
• Ichikishimahime, Tagitsuhime, and Tagorihime arrived, and the White Snake Sage transformed the temple into a vast canyon.
• The White Snake Sage created a viewing stand, and Tagorihime said she looked forward to facing Hayashi again.
• The three attendants lined up at the far end of the canyon, and the White Snake Sage ordered them to start.

Uzumaki Hayashi fought the three snake princesses in Ryūchi Cave, insisting that he would take Tagorihime with him and unleash his Sage Mode. The battle escalated as Tagitsuhime and Ichikishimahime attacked under the White Snake Sage’s orders, ending with Ichikishimahime hurling a spear of concentrated Senjutsu energy at Linshi.

• Tagitsuhime, Ichikishimahime, and Tagorihime took their positions and revealed their powerful Senjutsu energy.
• Hayashi declared that he would sign a contract with Tagorihime and knocked aside her first attack with an ice tachi.
• Hayashi unleashed his full Sage Mode and charged at Tagorihime through the canyon’s gathered natural lights.
• Tagitsuhime intercepted Hayashi, and their weapons clashed until the White Snake Sage ordered the princesses not to hold back.
• Ichikishimahime formed a spear from the natural energy of a towering torrent and hurled it at Hayashi.

Hayashi used his Sage Art to overwhelm Ichikishimahime’s water spear and turned the white whale into an autonomous attacker. While Ichikishimahime struggled to evade it, Hayashi fought Tagitsuhime and forced her to call for Tagori’s help.

• Hayashi created a vast field of snow and ice and sent his white whale to collide with Ichikishimahime’s Holy Spear of Gungnir.
• The whale smashed Ichikishimahime’s spear down, but she recalled its water and began forming another spear.
• Hayashi used Inorganic Reincarnation to let the whale absorb natural energy, then blasted Ichikishimahime with a lethal beam that disintegrated part of the canyon wall.
• Ichikishimahime dodged behind Tagitsuhime and asked her to hold off Hayashi while she gathered energy.
• Hayashi clashed blades with Tagitsuhime as the whale pursued Ichikishimahime, and Tagitsuhime called for Tagori to back her up.

Tagorihime trapped Hayashi in a gale and attacked his mind to stop him from taking her away, but he endured the assault and struck back. She saw through his deception, and their clash resumed with the outcome still undecided.

• Tagorihime unleashed blue-green winds and a mental technique that tormented Hayashi with visions and voices from Konoha.
• Hayashi lost control of his wind and fell as his light steps collapsed, prompting Tagorihime to rush to catch him.
• The White Snake Sage recognized that Hayashi had kept his fighting spirit, and Hayashi revealed he had used his fall to gather Senjutsu energy.
• Hayashi reformed his Ice Blade and attacked Tagorihime, but the figure below him changed into Tagitsuhime while Tagorihime remained behind.
• Tagorihime detected Hayashi's lie and renewed the gale as his blade collided with Tagitsuhime's blade light.

Hayashi fought Tagitsuhime while Ichikishimahime and Tagorihime supported the trial from the sidelines, and he realized the others were only allowed to help when Tagitsuhime needed them. After Tagitsuhime slammed him into the rocks and revealed her predatory nature, Hayashi pulled himself free and charged back at her with a strengthened Ice Blade.

• Hayashi clashed blades with Tagitsuhime as Ichikishimahime dodged the frost whale and Tagorihime's winds swept the canyon.
• Hayashi used the frost whale to pressure Tagitsuhime, prompting Ichikishimahime to explain that the others could help only when Tagitsuhime needed them.
• Tagitsuhime struck Hayashi with overwhelming force and buried him in the rocks, then asked whether he would surrender.
• Tagitsuhime revealed a snake-like face and offered not to devour Hayashi if he surrendered.
• Hayashi freed himself, formed a stronger Ice Blade, and charged at Tagitsuhime.

Hayashi unleashed his hidden Adamantine Sealing Chains and a massive ice wolf against Tagitsuhime in the canyon. Tagitsuhime powered up with red energy and charged through the snow toward Hayashi, who appeared to be preparing an even greater attack.

• Hayashi injured Tagitsuhime with a barrage of Sage Art Vacuum Spheres, but she broke through the attack and charged at him.
• White Whale froze Tagitsuhime in place, allowing Hayashi to unleash four Adamantine Sealing Chains that could suppress natural energy.
• Hayashi drew in senjutsu energy and created a huge snow wolf, which attacked Tagitsuhime alongside the chains.
• Tagitsuhime destroyed the first snow wolf and pushed through the snowy tide as another wolf emerged.
• Tagitsuhime's blades flared with red energy, and she charged toward Hayashi, slashing through the chains as the canyon heated around her.

Hayashi unleashed his full strength against Tagitsuhime after realizing she intended to swallow him, forging the Snowfield’s natural energy into an enormous frost-and-snow Tachi. The chapter ended as he aimed the blade at Tagitsuhime and prepared to strike with his pure-white killing intent.

• Hayashi overpowered Tagitsuhime's attack and kicked her backward, leaving her shaken by his sudden resilience.
• Hayashi told Tagitsuhime that he was furious because she truly meant to swallow him if he lost.
• Hayashi absorbed the Snowfield, White Whale, and Snow Wolf into his Ice Blade, forming a gigantic Tachi of frost and snow.
• Hayashi revealed his pure-white killing intent and said he had to survive and take Tagorihime with him.
• Ichikishimahime praised Hayashi as he raised his hands and aimed the enormous Tachi at Tagitsuhime.

Hayashi unleashed a frost-and-snow Tachi formed from his Senjutsu and determination, defeating Tagitsuhime in their final clash. Tagitsuhime knelt before him with her sage power exhausted, and the devastated canyon fell quiet.

• Tagitsuhime released her full crimson sage power and challenged Hayashi to meet the force of his obsession.
• Hayashi summoned the enormous frost-and-snow Tachi and drove it down at Tagitsuhime.
• Tagitsuhime met the strike with her crimson blades, but the clash shattered her weapons and devastated the canyon.
• Hayashi's blade dispersed into frost flowers as Tagitsuhime knelt before him, defeated and drained of sage power.

After defeating Tagitsuhime, Hayashi helped her to her feet instead of killing or mocking her. Tagorihime offered him her strength, while Tagitsuhime became dazed and tried to take his other hand, leaving Ichikishimahime horrified as the trial ended.

• Tagitsuhime expected Hayashi to kill her after he defeated her, but he asked whether she was all right.
• Hayashi gently helped Tagitsuhime stand, leaving her stunned by his kindness.
• Tagorihime told Hayashi that Ryūchi Cave recognized his power and offered to lend him her strength.
• Ichikishimahime told the others to return to the White Snake Sage and announce that the trial was over.
• Tagitsuhime tried to take Hayashi's other hand while Tagorihime stood in her way, and Ichikishimahime ran off in shock.

After the trial, Hayashi found Tagitsuhime acting strangely affectionate toward him, while Tagorihime grew jealous and Ichikishimahime hurried off to fetch the White Snake Sage. Tagitsuhime ended the confrontation by teasing Tagorihime with an inexplicable “ehe.”

• Ichikishimahime accused Hayashi of winning Tagitsuhime over, while Tagorihime shielded him from view.
• Tagitsuhime rushed to Hayashi and happily rubbed his palm over her head, leaving him and Ichikishimahime astonished.
• Tagorihime also claimed Hayashi’s other hand, and he asked Ichikishimahime to fetch the White Snake Sage to examine Tagitsuhime.
• Ichikishimahime left the canyon, and Tagorihime confronted Tagitsuhime about her behavior toward Hayashi.
• Tagitsuhime said “Ehe,” stuck out her tongue at Tagorihime, and turned away, prompting Tagorihime to protest.

Hayashi brought Tagitsuhime to the White Snake Sage, who used her mental power to restore Tagitsuhime’s senses. As Lin prepared to leave after completing his contract, Tagorihime confronted Tagitsuhime over her thoughts about him.

• The White Snake Sage teleported Hayashi, Tagorihime, and Tagitsuhime to her temple.
• Lin asked the White Snake Sage to examine Tagitsuhime, whose behavior had seemed strange.
• The White Snake Sage enveloped Tagitsuhime in her mental power and shouted at her to wake up.
• Tagitsuhime regained her senses and blushed when she realized everyone had been watching her.
• Tagorihime demanded to know what presumptuous thoughts Tagitsuhime had harbored about Hayashi and said she had been holding back.

Tagorihime and Tagitsuhime clashed over their resolve and their connection to Hayashi, until the White Snake Sage stopped them and made Hayashi choose between them. The Sage silenced him and declared that neither woman would get her way.

• Tagorihime attacked Tagitsuhime with azure wind blades after rejecting her apology, and Tagitsuhime endured the wounds without fighting back.
• Tagitsuhime declared that she accepted Tagorihime's resolve and demanded that Tagorihime acknowledge her own, then met her azure energy with crimson energy.
• The White Snake Sage overwhelmed both women with senjutsu energy and ordered Hayashi to say which one he wanted to contract with.
• Hayashi resolved to choose Tagorihime, but the White Snake Sage magically stopped him from speaking.
• The White Snake Sage released Tagorihime and Tagitsuhime, then told them she would not let either of them have their way.

The White Snake Sage revealed that Hayashi had not fully passed her trials because his self-destructive nature remained unchanged. She arranged for Ichikishimahime to contract with him so Tagorihime and Tagitsuhime could accompany him, and Hayashi agreed.

• The White Snake Sage told Hayashi that he had not passed with flying colors because he remained willing to destroy himself.
• The White Snake Sage warned Tagorihime that following Hayashi could lead to a gruesome death, but Tagorihime and Tagitsuhime both said they would go with him.
• The White Snake Sage asked Ichikishimahime whether she wanted to die, and Ichikishimahime said she would obey first and then look for a chance to escape.
• The White Snake Sage chose Ichikishimahime to contract with Hayashi, allowing all three princesses to leave while avoiding the deaths of her trusted aides.
• Hayashi knelt and agreed to sign a contract with Ichikishimahime.

Hayashi rejected the White Snake Sage’s attempt to make him prove his resolve by killing him, then signed a contract with Ichikishimahime and was sent to balance his Senjutsu energy. Elsewhere, Jiraiya received a mysterious scroll while trying to wake the Great Toad Sage.

• Hayashi stopped his own blade at his neck and told Tagorihime and Tagitsuhime that he would sacrifice his life to bring happiness to everyone.
• Tagorihime accepted Hayashi’s resolve and gave him the contract scroll, and he signed it with his blood.
• The White Snake Sage teleported Hayashi and the three princesses to a canyon, where he landed hard and Ichikishimahime laughed at him.
• Tagorihime led Hayashi farther into the canyon to balance the Senjutsu energy in his body.
• Jiraiya pleaded with the sleeping Great Toad Sage, then was struck by a mysterious scroll and began to unroll it.

Jiraiya learned that the scroll bearing Hayashi’s message had come from the snakes’ cave and that the sage there had acknowledged the child his Summoning Scroll sent over. He returned to Konoha with the scroll and found the office crowded with people.

• Jiraiya read the scroll and recognized the name Dragon Princess Hayashi.
• Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima sensed that the scroll came from the snakes’ cave and believed the snake sage had acknowledged the child.
• Sage Fukasaku told Jiraiya to return to Konoha and wait until the Great Toad Sage awakened.
• Jiraiya summoned himself back to Konoha and was shocked to find many people in the office.

Konoha's shinobi gathered in the Hokage Office, fearing Hayashi had vanished, until Jiraiya returned with a Scroll from him. Sakura recognized Hayashi's strange writing as a sign that he was in control, and the others realized his baffling remarks had served the same purpose.

• Zabuza warned Kakashi that he would leave Konoha if the Dragon Princess did not return, while Naruto urged everyone to believe in Hayashi.
• Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yugao prepared to search for Hayashi, but the Third Hokage told everyone to wait for Jiraiya and trust Hayashi's resilience.
• Jiraiya returned with a Scroll, and Sakura snatched it, read the first line, and visibly relaxed.
• Sakura told Naruto that Hayashi had written something strange and explained that he often made baffling remarks when he had everything under control.
• Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi, and the Third recalled Hayashi's earlier strange remarks, and Jiraiya realized the Scroll's wording had been meant to reassure them.

Jiraiya told Konoha’s leaders and teams that Hayashi was safe and training at Ryūchi Cave, though he had not said when he would return. After everyone left to resume their Chunin Exam preparations, Jiraiya offered Naruto a chance to learn a powerful jutsu.

• Jiraiya read Hayashi’s message and said he was probably training at Ryūchi Cave and would not miss the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Naruto joked that Hayashi would be welcome anywhere, and Jiraiya hit him on the head for insulting him.
• The Third Hokage urged the children to prepare for the Chunin Exams, and Hinata spoke up that her team was preparing.
• Zabuza took Haku to patrol, and the others left the office while Hiruzen returned to his paperwork.
• Naruto complained that he wanted to train with Sasuke and Sakura, so Jiraiya secretly asked if he wanted to learn a powerful jutsu.

Jiraiya agreed to teach Naruto the Rasengan after Naruto asked for help catching up to Hayashi. Meanwhile, Orochimaru ordered Kabuto Yakushi to proceed with a planned gift despite Hayashi’s disappearance, setting his sights on Konoha.

• Naruto questioned Jiraiya’s offer to teach him a powerful jutsu and asked whether it could help him catch up to Hayashi.
• Jiraiya remembered Minato creating the Rasengan and accepted Naruto’s request to help him grow stronger.
• Jiraiya promised to teach Naruto the Rasengan, and Naruto eagerly agreed to train and protect others.
• Kabuto Yakushi told Orochimaru that Hayashi had disappeared from Konoha.
• Orochimaru ordered Kabuto Yakushi to release the planned gift as scheduled, then watched Konoha from the attic.

Jiraiya taught Naruto to control chakra by swirling water inside a balloon, but Naruto kept bursting the balloons with brute force. As he struggled, Naruto imagined Hayashi returning and suddenly claimed he had a great idea.

• Jiraiya bought water balloons and demonstrated how to make the water churn inside one without bursting it.
• Naruto repeatedly burst balloons by squeezing them, while Jiraiya told him to focus on chakra control and mocked his progress.
• Naruto vowed to master the technique in three days, but soon gave up and wondered how Hayashi would handle the exercise.
• Naruto imagined Hayashi returning to the training ground and called out to him before realizing the figure was only in his mind.
• Jiraiya tried to bring Naruto back to his senses, and Naruto suddenly announced that he had thought of a great idea.

Naruto completed the first stage of his training after Hayashi’s idea helped him make chakra spin inside a water balloon. As Naruto slept beneath a tree, Jiraiya wrote about the day, while Kakashi encouraged Sasuke and Sakura to keep training together for Hayashi’s return.

• Naruto used Hayashi’s suggestion to channel chakra into a water balloon from different points, creating a spinning vortex that burst the balloon and completed the first stage of his training.
• Naruto collapsed from exhaustion, and Jiraiya caught him, covered him with his coat, and began recording the day in his notebook.
• Kakashi ended Sasuke and Sakura’s training and asked them about their worries over Hayashi passing out in the Forest of Death.
• Sasuke admitted he was practicing swordsmanship because Hayashi had promised to train with him, and Sakura reminded him that Team 7 would stay together.
• Sakura offered Sasuke her hand, and the two vowed to work hard and surprise Hayashi in the exam.

Hayashi learned that he had spent several days recovering in Ryūchi Cave and worried he would miss the Chunin Ninja Exams, while Tagorihime went to investigate Manda’s warning. In Konoha, Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and Kakashi pressed Jiraiya to send another reminder because the final exam was the next day.

• Hayashi learned from Tagorihime that he had been circulating his energy for several days and feared he would miss the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Tagorihime reassured Hayashi that there was still time, then left to visit the Snake Den in Ryūchi Cave.
• Tagorihime and Ichikishimahime questioned a snake about Manda’s warning of plentiful prey from Konoha, but learned nothing beyond his order to prepare.
• Ichikishimahime killed the snake after Tagorihime told her to stop playing with it.
• Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and Kakashi urged Jiraiya to send another reminder as the final exam was scheduled for the next day.