Chapter Summaries

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.

After learning that Hayashi had been badly injured in an encounter with someone suspected to be Orochimaru, Kakashi rushed to visit him and struggled with guilt over failing to protect him. Hayashi reassured him and asked for ramen, and Kakashi promised.

• Hayashi startled Kakashi with an Ice Release blade, accidentally cutting his neck, then apologized.
• Kakashi recalled the Third telling him that Hayashi had been badly injured after encountering someone suspected to be Orochimaru during the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Kakashi blamed himself for breaking his promises to protect Hayashi and hurried to visit him that night.
• Hayashi gave Kakashi a bandage and told him not to blame himself, saying his choices were his own.
• Hayashi asked Kakashi to treat him to ramen if he still felt guilty, and Kakashi promised.

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.

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.