Chapter Summaries

Orochimaru searched for Gua after learning he had disappeared, while Gua stayed at an inn with the despondent Gray-haired Kabuto Yakushi. Kabuto ate the food Gua gave him, then stood crying silently by the open window.

• Orochimaru interrogated Danzo about Gua, then went to the Third Generation, who did not know where Gua was.
• Orochimaru suspected Gua had fled because he sensed danger and searched from Konoha outward for him.
• Gua remained at the inn with Gray-haired Kabuto Yakushi while his Taijutsu, Eyesight, and Impure World Reincarnation training continued at tenfold speed.
• Kabuto told Gua he was hungry, and Gua gave him five baked flatbreads, which he ate quickly.
• Kabuto walked to the window, and Gua opened it; Kabuto stood in the light and cried without a sound.

Gua learned that the Third had stopped the Uchiha-Hyuga conflict and realized his family had fled Konoha based on a mistaken understanding of events. The family was left stranded in the Land of Grass, while Kabuto quietly mourned Yakushi Nonō.

• Gua took Kabuto out for a walk, learned Kabuto thought he was nine, and brought him to a cheap ramen shop where Kabuto forced down two terrible bowls.
• Gua overheard exaggerated rumors that the Uchiha and Hyuga had fought Konoha, but later learned the Third, Jiraiya, and Tsunade had stopped them.
• Dashan told Gua that the Third had intervened, and Gua concluded the Third had feigned illness and let Danzo settle the conflict before returning to win support.
• Gua apologized for leading his parents to leave Konoha, while Uchiha Nai comforted him and Uchiha Oyama considered where the family should go next.
• Kabuto sat apart from Gua's family and remembered Yakushi Nonō, whom he had killed.

Gua stayed in the Land of Grass with Dashan and Nai while the Third Generation stabilized Konoha and sent Jiraiya and Tsunade to search for him. Gua heard rumors that Orochimaru was rampaging through the Land of Rain, though he doubted the reports.

• Dashan and Nai decided to remain in the Land of Grass because returning to Konoha seemed too dangerous.
• The Third Generation settled the Kumogakure affair and warned the Hyuga and Uchiha against forming an alliance.
• The Third Generation asked Jiraiya and Tsunade to find Gua, and they set out toward the Land of Grass with Shizune.
• Orochimaru left Konoha and began searching wildly for Gua across the world.
• Gua eavesdropped on gossip in the Land of Grass, heard that Orochimaru might be in the Land of Rain, and dismissed the rumor as unlikely.
• Gua pushed his ramen toward Kabuto and told him to eat more because he was still growing.

Gua and Kabuto settled into life in the Land of Grass while Gua missed Itachi and Izumi, who both regretted being separated from him. Meanwhile, Orochimaru searched the Land of Rain for Gua as Hanzo repeatedly chased him, and Orochimaru remained convinced Hanzo was hiding him.

• Kabuto secretly beat up the ramen shop owner twice until the food improved, and Gua waited outside while he ate.
• Izumi and Itachi each thought about Gua and wished they had stayed with him or could find him again.
• Gua and Kabuto walked home in their winter hoods, and Gua told Kabuto that Itachi and Izumi were really good friends of his.
• Obito and Zetsu watched Orochimaru flee Hanzo in the Land of Rain, puzzled by Orochimaru's strange behavior.
• Orochimaru continued searching for Gua while Hanzo pursued him, and Orochimaru vowed that he would find Gua.

Gua noticed several unfamiliar shinobi in the Land of Grass and feared Konoha had sent them to find him. After he shared his suspicions with Nai, Oyama returned with news that something had happened.

• Gua bought dubious rumors at the shinobi mission station and concluded that Orochimaru might have infiltrated Amegakure and fought Hanzo of the Salamander.
• A shinobi bumped into Gua, and Kabuto offered to kill him before Gua stopped him.
• Gua noticed several unfamiliar shinobi nearby and worried that Konoha had sent them to track him down.
• Gua told Nai about the shinobi, but she doubted that the Third Generation would target him.
• Oyama returned from gathering intelligence and announced that something had happened.

Gua and his family debated whether to return to Konoha after learning that shinobi were nearby, while Kabuto offered Gua two scrolls he had stolen from the Land of Earth. The chapter left Gua thrilled by Kabuto’s detailed map and curious about the second scroll.

• Uchiha Oyama reasoned that the shinobi might not be from Konoha, though he could not be certain what they wanted.
• Nai, Dashan, and Gua discussed returning to Konoha or fleeing to the Land of Waterfalls, but none of them found a good solution.
• After Nai and Dashan left to seek information, Kabuto suggested that Gua consider going back to Konoha.
• Kabuto gave Gua two scrolls he had stolen while infiltrating the Land of Earth.
• Gua unrolled the larger scroll and discovered it contained a highly detailed map of the Land of Earth.

Gua accepted Kabuto’s scrolls, including a Particle Style technique, and decided to copy the technique using his cheat. When Kabuto asked to return to Konoha with Gua and his parents, Nai agreed to consider it and arrange an identity for him.

• Kabuto gave Gua a scroll containing Particle Style, and Gua realized the scrolls could help them return to Konoha.
• Gua copied the Particle Style technique despite Kabuto warning that ordinary people could not learn it.
• Dashan and Nai returned, and Gua gave them Kabuto’s scrolls and explained how they could help the family get back to Konoha.
• Nai asked Kabuto if he wanted to go with them, and Kabuto nervously asked to return to Konoha too.
• Nai agreed to plan for Kabuto’s return and said they would need to arrange an identity for him because of Danzo and Root.

The family gave Kabuto a new identity as Uchiha Kabuto and became snowbound in the Land of Grass. Meanwhile, Obito persuaded Orochimaru to join the Akatsuki for fifty million ryo, though Orochimaru planned to escape and continue searching for Gua.

• Nai named Kabuto Uchiha Kabuto and invented a backstory making him Uchiha Oyama's illegitimate son.
• The family was trapped by heavy snowfall in the Land of Grass, while Gua wondered what had happened to Hanzo of the Salamander.
• Nagato and Konan captured Orochimaru after they killed Hanzo of the Salamander and tried to recruit him into the Akatsuki.
• Obito offered Orochimaru fifty million ryo in research funding, and Orochimaru agreed to join the Akatsuki.
• Nagato and Konan reluctantly approved the payment, while Orochimaru put on his Akatsuki Cloak and planned to escape and find Gua.

Itachi trained with Izumi while Gua remained stranded by the snow, and Jiraiya and Tsunade traveled toward the Land of Rain to find Orochimaru. Orochimaru learned the Akatsuki’s plans and secretly intended to take their information and funding back to Konoha so he could search for Gua.

• Itachi sparred with Izumi, knocked her into the snow, and encouraged her determination to become a shinobi and protect Gua.
• Gua waited for the snowfall to stop so he could return to Konoha, while Kabuto watched over him with a smile.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade crossed the Land of Grass, with Tsunade insisting they go together to find Orochimaru in the Land of Rain.
• Orochimaru joined Pain, Konan, Obito, and Jue as an Akatsuki founding member, and the group discussed recruiting more members.
• Obito explained the Akatsuki’s history and tailed-beast plan to Orochimaru, who planned to take the organization’s secrets and research funding back to Konoha to help find Gua.

Uchiha Oyama, Uchiha Nai, Gua, and Kabuto returned to Konoha on their own, where the Third Generation heard their explanation and discovered the Dust Release scroll Gua had brought back. After the Third Generation took the scroll into safekeeping and offered compensation, Gua asked to see the Scroll of Seals.

• Gua decided Jiraiya and Tsunade had come to arrest the family, so they left the Land of Grass and traveled back to Konoha.
• The family secretly entered Konoha by climbing down Hokage Rock and went to the Hokage Office.
• Uchiha Oyama told the Third Generation that they had left by mistake, found Kabuto, and taken a detailed map from the Land of Earth.
• Gua tried to conceal the Particle Style scroll, but the Third Generation spotted it and took it, promising the village would compensate him.
• Gua asked to see the Scroll of Seals.

Gua returned to Konoha with his family and Kabuto, but the Third Generation only agreed to consider his request to see the Scroll of Seals and used the favor to register Kabuto as a resident. After discovering their house had been ransacked, Gua reunited with Itachi, who asked where he had been.

• Gua asked the Third Generation to let him see the Scroll of Seals, but the Third Generation said he would consider it and sent the family home to wait for an answer.
• Uchiha Nai asked the Third Generation to register Kabuto as a resident, and he agreed.
• Gua and his family returned to their house and found that it had been ransacked, so they began cleaning it up.
• Itachi noticed that Gua's gate was open, entered the house, and found Gua and Kabuto lifting the tatami.
• Itachi helped Gua and Kabuto set down the tatami, then asked Gua where he had been; Gua said he had gone to the Land of Grass.

Gua welcomed Itachi and Kabuto into the household, where the two boys competed over their place in the family. While shopping with Itachi, Gua encountered Naruto, who challenged him to a duel, and carried the protesting boy along instead.

• Gua introduced Kabuto to Itachi as his older brother and explained that Kabuto was their father's illegitimate son.
• Kabuto and Itachi grew jealous and territorial over Gua, but both helped tidy the house and then offered to help with dinner.
• Nai sent Gua and Itachi out to buy groceries, and Gua realized he would have to pay with his own money.
• Naruto blocked Gua's path and challenged him to a duel after searching for him for two months.
• Gua lifted Naruto out of his charging attack and carried him along while they continued shopping.

Gua brought Naruto home after making him help carry groceries, surprising Kabuto and Gua’s family. Naruto settled in for his first meal at someone else’s home, while Gua planned to visit Orochimaru and learn what he had discovered during Gua’s absence.

• Gua carried Naruto through the shopping street, then made him carry a bag of food in exchange for a share of the feast.
• Gua and Itachi returned home with Naruto, leaving Nai, Dashan, and Kabuto bewildered by Gua’s casual claim that he had picked the boy up on the way.
• Nai asked Naruto about his name and family, and Gua reassured his parents by calling Naruto his friend.
• Nai took Naruto’s groceries into the kitchen as Itachi and Kabuto helped prepare the meal.
• Gua thought about visiting Orochimaru, while Naruto sat beside him and resolved to challenge him again after letting him have the first three moves.

Gua finished lunch with Itachi, Kabuto, and Naruto, then set out with them to visit Izumi. Meanwhile, in the Land of Rain, Orochimaru fought Jiraiya and Tsunade, was rescued by Obito, and Jiraiya revealed a tiny Reverse Summoning Technique to Tsunade.

• Gua and Itachi awkwardly agreed to visit Izumi after lunch, and Itachi assured Gua that he had taken good care of her.
• Gua left with Itachi, Kabuto, and Naruto, who carried two pieces of tempura from Nai’s house as they headed toward Izumi’s home.
• Jiraiya confronted Orochimaru in the Land of Rain, and Orochimaru said he had joined Akatsuki for fifty million and the promise of further payment.
• Tsunade attacked Orochimaru, and Jiraiya joined the fight until Obito intervened after Orochimaru was badly injured.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade retreated, and Jiraiya showed Tsunade a tiny Reverse Summoning Technique that Orochimaru had given him.

Jiraiya and Tsunade received Orochimaru’s warning about the Akatsuki and a demand to find Gua. Back in Konoha, Gua reunited with Izumi at the Naka River, where she cried in his arms before asking where he had been.

• Jiraiya and Tsunade read Orochimaru’s intelligence about the Akatsuki and his demand that Konoha search for Gua.
• Gua and Itachi visited Izumi’s home but found her away, then located her sitting by the Naka River.
• Izumi recognized Gua, ran to him, and sobbed in his arms while Itachi, Kabuto, and little Naruto watched.
• Kakashi observed the reunion from a tree as part of his surveillance of Gua.
• Izumi asked where Gua had been, and little Naruto made her laugh with his guess about why the Land of Grass had its name.

Gua visited Orochimaru’s laboratory and learned that Orochimaru had gone abroad to look for him, leaving Gua touched and confused by his devotion. Back in Konoha, Gua recruited Kabuto’s interest in science and saw the Uchiha’s standing improve—until he heard that Danzo had been released from prison.

• Gua entered Orochimaru’s laboratory, where he found Anko in charge and discovered Orochimaru had gone abroad to search for him.
• Itachi told Gua that Orochimaru had also barged into the Uchiha Clan Compound looking for him, and Gua was moved by Orochimaru’s loyalty.
• Gua asked Kabuto whether he liked science, and Kabuto said he was willing to learn.
• Gua settled into a comfortable routine in Konoha while the Third Generation awarded his family the title of Glorious Family and placed a plaque outside their home.
• Gua noticed that the Hyuga and other clans had stopped targeting the Uchiha, then learned that Danzo had been released from prison.

After Danzo was released from prison, he learned that Uchiha Gua’s family had returned to Konoha with Kabuto Yakushi disguised as Uchiha Kabuto, and confronted the Third Generation about them. The Third Generation dismissed Danzo, while Root began watching Gua’s home, unaware that Gua could see them from afar.

• Danzo reorganized Root and raged when he learned that his operatives had failed to kill Yakushi Nonō and Kabuto Yakushi, while Gua’s family had returned to Konoha with Kabuto registered as Uchiha Kabuto.
• Danzo confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi over allowing Gua’s family back into the village, but Hiruzen reminded him of their shared past.
• Fugaku collected Uchiha Kabuto’s identification papers, and Danzo recognized the child in the photograph as Kabuto Yakushi.
• Danzo told the Third Generation that Kabuto had been in Root and claimed he had defected to the Land of Earth, but Hiruzen dismissed him and said he had his own plans.
• Kabuto remained registered as Uchiha Kabuto, and Root operatives began watching Gua’s home as Gua spotted them from nearly a hundred meters away.

Gua spent days watching the Root operatives spying on his family, while Kakashi secretly monitored them for the Third Hokage. When Gua and Kabuto finally left to visit Orochimaru’s laboratory, Root prepared to capture them and Kakashi followed.

• Gua noticed a Root operative watching him, while Kakashi secretly watched the Root operatives on the Third Hokage’s orders.
• Gua spent several days at home observing Root, and Kakashi wondered if Gua had spotted him hiding nearby.
• After six days, Gua decided to visit Orochimaru and asked Kabuto to come with him.
• Root operatives signaled to one another and began pursuing Gua and Kabuto, while Kakashi followed behind them.

Gua visited Orochimaru's Laboratory, then took Kabuto to check on Naruto and found the child's apartment filthy and neglected. After they cleaned it, Naruto returned carrying a bucket of paint, leaving Gua shocked by what he seemed about to do.

• Gua visited the Laboratory and advised Anko on cell membranes, impressing her with his scientific knowledge.
• Gua left with Kabuto and decided to visit Naruto, while Root operatives followed them and Kakashi watched from the shadows.
• Gua and Kabuto reached Naruto's apartment, and Kabuto picked the lock when nobody answered the door.
• Gua found the apartment moldy and messy, then cleaned and aired it out with Kabuto's help.
• Naruto arrived carrying a bucket of paint, startling Gua.

Gua and Kabuto spent time with Naruto before Root operatives ambushed them by the river, demanding that they come along. As a Root leader charged Kabuto, Kakashi watched from hiding and was stunned by what happened next.

• Naruto visited Gua and shared his pastries with him and Kabuto.
• Gua and Kabuto took Naruto to Ichiraku Ramen, then brought him home before returning toward their own home.
• Four Root operatives ambushed Gua and Kabuto by the riverside while another kept watch from hiding.
• The Root leader ordered Kabuto and Gua to come with them, and Kabuto vowed to protect Gua.
• The Root leader charged Kabuto as Kakashi prepared to intervene, but something unexpected stunned him.