Chapter Summaries

Liu Yun received permission to read the Scroll of Seals and memorized most of its forbidden jutsu, then collected a one-million-ryo mission reward. Back home, he prepared to refine the weapons and mask he had taken from the battle at Uzushio Village.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi allowed Liu Yun to read the Scroll of Seals on the condition that he ask Tsunade's permission before practicing its dangerous jutsu.
• Haru escorted Liu Yun to the Scroll Storage Room, where Liu Yun found that the Scroll of Seals could be refined only with Hokage permission.
• Liu Yun memorized the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, the Reaper Death Seal, the Flying Thunder God Technique, and most of the scroll's other forbidden jutsu.
• Liu Yun collected a one-million-ryo reward at the Mission Hall and visited his uncle at the Ninja Hospital before returning home.
• Liu Yun placed Kiba, Kubikiribōchō, and the Shinigami Mask on his table, then began refining Kiba after its special condition was met.

Liu Yun refined Kiba and Kubikiribōchō, discovering their lightning and chakra-recovery traits. After testing them in the forest, he broke Kubikiribōchō to activate its Broken Blade trait.

• Liu Yun failed to refine the Shinigami Mask because he had not learned the Reaper Death Seal.
• Liu Yun inspected Kiba's instant Lightning Summoning and Heaven-Splitting Lightning Serpent traits, then examined Kubikiribōchō's Bloodthirst and Broken Blade traits.
• Liu Yun equipped both blades and tested Lightning Summoning, striking a wild boar with an instant bolt that consumed less than twenty percent of his chakra.
• Liu Yun wounded a large boar with Kubikiribōchō and found that its Bloodthirst trait restored his chakra as the boar bled.
• Liu Yun used Lightning Summoning again, then snapped the damaged Kubikiribōchō to activate its Broken Blade trait.

Liu Yun and his squad were ambushed by Takigakure rogue ninja during a supposedly C-rank escort mission. He revealed a powerful new lightning technique and struck down their jonin leader, leaving the other two enemies' fate unresolved.

• Liu Yun recognized the attackers as Takigakure rogue ninja and told Minato and Nawaki to protect their deceptive merchant client.
• Liu Yun incapacitated the leading jonin with Lightning Summoning, then escaped the other attackers' water prison as they raised a rock wall.
• The Takigakure jonin recovered and ordered his men to attack Liu Yun together while Jiraiya watched from hiding.
• Liu Yun activated Lightning Release: Heaven-Splitting Thunder Serpent, coating himself in lightning armor and sending lightning serpents after the three attackers.
• The jonin blocked the serpents with an earth wall, but Liu Yun transformed two serpents on him into lightning swords that pierced his chest and throat.

Liu Yun defeated three Takigakure rogue ninja with his self-developed Lightning Release: Heaven-Splitting Thunder Serpent and agreed to teach it to Minato and Nawaki once he perfected it. After Jiraiya praised the team, he confronted the merchant about lying about the mission's rank.

• Liu Yun checked that the three Takigakure ninja were dead and recovered chakra with his blade.
• Minato and Nawaki asked about Liu Yun's jutsu, and he named it Lightning Release: Heaven-Splitting Thunder Serpent and said its current form was A-rank.
• Liu Yun agreed to teach Nawaki and Minato the jutsu after he perfected it, though he told Nawaki they would discuss a condition later.
• Jiraiya returned after confirming there were no other ambushes, praised Liu Yun's jutsu, and commended Minato and Nawaki for their teamwork.
• Jiraiya turned to the merchant and demanded an explanation for why he had lied about the mission's rank.

Liu Yun and Jiraiya forced the merchant to explain why the Takigakure rogue ninja had attacked his caravan, uncovering a rare piece of Chakra Metal Mine ore. Jiraiya decided to take the merchant back to Konoha for questioning, but the merchant objected and insisted on going to Kusagakure.

• Liu Yun intimidated the merchant into revealing that the Takigakure ninja had been after something in the caravan's box.
• Nawaki knocked over the box with shuriken, and Jiraiya discovered a piece of Chakra Metal Mine ore inside.
• Jiraiya questioned the merchant about where he had found the ore and whether it pointed to an undiscovered ore vein.
• Liu Yun threatened the merchant until he claimed he was the only person who knew about the ore and did not know how the Takigakure ninja found out.
• Jiraiya decided to take the merchant to Konoha for questioning, but the merchant protested that he wanted to go to Kusagakure.

Liu Yun reported his new jutsu to Hiruzen Sarutobi and received the Hokage's training notes. Back at the academy, he saw Kushina thriving among the Uzumaki children and noticed Hayato was still hospitalized after their fight.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned the Yamanaka Clan head to investigate the man accused of falsifying a mission rank, then asked Liu Yun about his new jutsu.
• Liu Yun described Lightning Release: Heaven-Splitting Thunder Serpent and credited his study of the Scroll of Seals for inspiring its development.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Liu Yun his training notes and invited him to seek advice, while Minato and Nawaki watched with envy.
• At Class 3-A, Liu Yun asked Kushina about caring for the children, and she said she was happy to have her clansmen around.
• Liu Yun noticed Ayaka Uzumaki sitting beside Minato and several other red-haired Uzumaki in class, then remembered Hayato was still in the Ninja Hospital.

Liu Yun crafted and equipped Hiruzen Sarutobi's Training Notes, which greatly improved his aptitude for the five nature transformations and Fusion Ninjutsu. At dawn, Yakushi Nonō learned that the orphanage's village funding had stopped and offered to find more work to support it.

• Liu Yun decided he needed equipment to improve his Sealing Jutsu aptitude and considered seeking help from Mito and Kushina.
• Liu Yun copied Hiruzen Sarutobi's Training Notes before crafting the original into blue equipment.
• Liu Yun equipped the notes and gained a much deeper understanding of the five nature transformations and how to create Fusion Ninjutsu.
• Yakushi Nonō met Keiko Yakushi at the orphanage and learned that the village had stopped providing its quarterly funds.
• Yakushi Nonō reassured Keiko Yakushi and offered to find another job to earn money for the orphanage.

Uchiha Setsuna used a clan meeting to urge Uchiha Enichi to challenge Tsunade’s apprentice, Moonlight Ruyun, while Moonlight Ruyun visited Hiruzen Sarutobi to ask for more training materials. The chapter left Enichi committed to the challenge and Hiruzen surprised by Ruyun’s quick mastery of the scroll.

• Uchiha Enichi went to the clan meeting expecting praise, but found the Uchiha elders and clansmen watching him in silence.
• Uchiha Setsuna asked Uchiha Mikoto about Moonlight Ruyun, and Enichi described Ruyun’s fight with Hayato as a lucky win.
• Uchiha Setsuna challenged Enichi to fight Ruyun, and Enichi agreed to avenge Hayato and promised to stick to that explanation.
• Moonlight Ruyun brought his copied scroll to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who encouraged him to ask questions about Five-Element Fusion.
• Moonlight Ruyun told Hiruzen Sarutobi that he had already learned everything in the scroll and asked for more training scrolls.

Liu Yun demonstrated to Hiruzen Sarutobi that he had mastered the scroll’s material on the Five Basic Nature Transformations and understood the essence of Fusion Ninjutsu. Hiruzen refused to give him more of his own scrolls, promised to provide basic ninjutsu instead, and then went to review intelligence about the Chakra Metal Mine.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi tested Liu Yun on the techniques in the scroll and praised his understanding and original insights.
• Liu Yun explained the principles of Fusion Ninjutsu, convincing Hiruzen Sarutobi that he had grasped its essence.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi celebrated Liu Yun’s talent, but refused to give him his other scrolls and said he would prepare ninjutsu scrolls to build Liu Yun’s foundation.
• An Anbu ninja reported that the Yamanaka clan head had extracted all the intelligence, and Hiruzen Sarutobi went to the Interrogation Room to review it.

Liu Yun accompanied Hiruzen Sarutobi to learn that a merchant's map might point to a chakra metal lode in the Land of Waterfalls. Hiruzen ordered an investigation while Liu Yun considered whether he could get involved.

• Yamanaka Makoto told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Tanaka Ichirō’s memories suggested a chakra metal lode might exist, though they did not confirm it.
• Yamanaka Makoto explained that Tanaka Ichirō had found ore, a map, and ninja tools on a dying Takigakure ninja, then hired Konoha Ninja to escort him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Liu Yun examined the map and saw that the marked location was near the Land of Grass border in the Land of Waterfalls.
• Liu Yun confirmed that Takigakure missing-nin had attacked his team after identifying Tanaka Ichirō, and Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Sakumo to investigate.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Tanaka Ichirō killed after learning he had trafficked children and violated Konoha rules.
• After leaving the Hokage Building, Liu Yun wondered whether he could get involved with the possible lode and Takigakure’s Hero Water.

Liu Yun reviewed the many ninjutsu scrolls Hiruzen Sarutobi had given him, then visited the Senju Clan Compound for dinner. Tsunade caught him as he tried to leave and confronted him about secretly developing an A-Rank jutsu.

• Liu Yun examined over a hundred scrolls, including several A-Rank jutsu, and chose Earth Substitution and Vacuum Serial Waves as techniques worth learning.
• Liu Yun visited the Senju Clan Compound, where Uzumaki Clan members were training and Ayaka Uzumaki told him Kushina was practicing Sealing Jutsu.
• Nawaki warned Liu Yun that Tsunade was cooking and urged him to stop her, but Liu Yun arrived too late to avoid dinner.
• Tsunade stopped Liu Yun as he tried to leave and asked how he had developed an A-Rank jutsu without telling her.

Hiruzen refused to tell Danzo about Hatake Sakumo’s secret mission to investigate a chakra metal mine, while Danzo wrongly believed Sakumo had been sent to attack Kumogakure’s delegation. At dinner, Liu Yun endured Tsunade’s awful-tasting medicinal food and learned it could strengthen his body and increase his chakra; after everyone else left, Tsunade invited him inside.

• Hiruzen weighed the value of the chakra metal mine against the risk of Takigakure discovering Konoha’s mining operation.
• Danzo accused Hiruzen of sending Hatake Sakumo to kill Kumogakure’s envoys, but Hiruzen denied it and kept Sakumo’s real mission secret.
• Tsunade served Liu Yun, Nawaki, and the Uzumaki Clan members a bitter medicinal meal, and Liu Yun discovered it produced a warm sensation in his body.
• Tsunade explained that the herbs nourished the body and supported physical training, so Liu Yun ate the entire meal despite its terrible taste.
• Tsunade sent Nawaki and the Uzumaki Clan members away, then told Liu Yun to follow her inside.

Liu Yun met with Tsunade, who praised his new lightning technique and offered to help him train. After playfully calling him “Teacher Liu Yun,” Tsunade prepared to have him sign the Shikkotsu Forest Summoning Scroll.

• Tsunade asked Liu Yun how much of his assigned reading he had finished, and he admitted he had completed only the first book.
• Tsunade told Liu Yun to bring her any training questions and asked him to explain the Heaven-Splitting Lightning Serpent technique.
• Liu Yun described his plan to expand the technique and said he had promised to teach it to Nawaki once it was perfected.
• Tsunade offered to prepare special medicine to help Liu Yun increase his chakra reserves and agreed to learn the technique from him.
• Tsunade teased Liu Yun by calling him “Teacher Liu Yun,” then told him to wait while she fetched the Shikkotsu Forest Summoning Scroll.

Liu Yun signed the Shikkotsu Forest Summoning Contract, summoned Katsuyu, and received Tsunade’s Medical Ninjutsu notes. Tsunade proposed that he move in with her and study Medical Ninjutsu for two hours each day.

• Liu Yun signed the Shikkotsu Forest Summoning Contract and became its third contractor.
• Liu Yun performed the Summoning Technique and summoned Katsuyu, who greeted him and then returned to Shikkotsu Forest.
• Nawaki envied Liu Yun’s contract and asked Tsunade if he could graduate early, but she refused.
• Tsunade gave Liu Yun her Medical Ninjutsu notes and suggested that he move in with her for daily lessons.

Liu Yun moved into Tsunade’s house to study Medical Ninjutsu and began planning to train in Sealing Jutsu with Kushina. After reviewing his growing strength and crowded schedule, he decided to pursue early graduation.

• Liu Yun accepted Tsunade’s offer to move into the room next to hers and begin Medical Ninjutsu lessons the next day.
• Liu Yun returned with his belongings, and Nawaki welcomed him before retreating to train when Tsunade questioned him.
• Kushina visited Liu Yun, examined a Wind Release scroll, and agreed to train in Sealing Jutsu with him.
• Liu Yun crafted and equipped Tsunade’s Medical Ninjutsu Notes, which improved his medical aptitude and Medical Ninjutsu effectiveness.
• Liu Yun reviewed his equipment and training commitments, then decided it was time to graduate from the Ninja Academy early.

The Third Raikage and Dodai discussed Kumogakure’s failed attack on Uzushio Village, the intelligence leak, and the ransom mission headed to Konoha. Ōnoki suspected Kumogakure had suffered heavy losses and ordered an attack on its Envoy Mission.

• The Third Raikage reassured Dodai that Mito Uzumaki’s strength, not Dodai’s planning, had caused the defeat at Uzushio Village.
• Dodai concluded that Ōnoki had used Iwagakure’s participation as a scheme against Kumogakure, and the Third Raikage agreed the suspicion was plausible.
• Dodai reported that Mito Uzumaki was probably not in Konoha and that new sensing and defensive formulas protected Uzushio Village.
• Ōnoki learned that Kumogakure’s Envoy Mission was traveling to Konoha and inferred that Konoha had captured important Kumogakure ninja.
• Ōnoki ordered his men to kill Kumogakure’s Envoy Mission before it reached Konoha.

In Kirigakure, the Third Mizukage blamed Genji for the disastrous operation at Uzushio Village and ordered him to take responsibility, while village clans openly condemned the Mizukage. In Konoha, Danzo ordered Root to disguise themselves as Iwagakure ninja and kill the Kumogakure Envoy Group.

• Genji told the Third Mizukage that the Hozuki Clan had failed to summon the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, and the Mizukage told him to negotiate with Konoha for the blades’ return.
• The Third Mizukage accused Genji of betraying his trust and causing Kirigakure’s losses, then ordered him to accept responsibility.
• Genji warned the Third Mizukage to distrust Iwagakure, continue the plan against Uzushio Village, and negotiate with Konoha for the Ninja Blades; the Mizukage agreed.
• Suikazan Fuguki told the Third Mizukage that several clans condemned him as a coward and praised the Second Mizukage, provoking him into a furious outburst.
• Danzo learned that Hiruzen Sarutobi would not attack the Kumogakure Envoy Group and ordered Root to kill them while disguised as Iwagakure ninja and bring back their bodies.

Liu Yun trained in medical ninjutsu with Tsunade and decided to graduate early from the Ninja Academy. Tsunade told him to prove himself as the academy’s number one before applying, and Liu Yun chose to challenge everyone that day.

• Liu Yun told Tsunade he had been training with Might Duy, then began a medical ninjutsu lesson with her.
• Tsunade taught Liu Yun about the Mystical Palm Technique and praised his talent as a Medical Ninja.
• Tsunade’s cooking left Nawaki and Kushina struggling, while Liu Yun announced he planned to graduate early.
• Tsunade explained that Liu Yun needed to show his strength to the village’s Ninja Clans and told him to become the academy’s number one first.
• Liu Yun declared that he would take on everyone at the Ninja Academy that day.

Uchiha Setsuna refused the Hokage’s invitation to watch Moonlight Ruyun’s early graduation and decided to send Enichi to challenge him instead. The other Konoha clans headed to the Ninja Academy, where the teachers learned that Ruyun would face several older prodigies.

• Uchiha Setsuna rejected the invitation, and Fugaku worried that the Uchiha’s absence would offend the Hokage.
• Uchiha Setsuna told Fugaku to fetch Enichi so he could challenge Moonlight Ruyun, insisting that the Uchiha were invincible.
• Soki Hyuga activated Hizashi’s Caged Bird Seal, then ordered him and Hiashi to accompany him to the Ninja Academy.
• The Hokage invited every shinobi clan in Konoha to watch Ruyun graduate early, and the clan heads set out for the Academy.
• The Academy’s teachers learned that Ruyun would challenge Nawaki, Shikaku Nara, Choza Akimichi, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Minato Namikaze, leaving his teacher worried he might lose.

At a grand Ninja Academy graduation ceremony, Liu Yun was given a public stage to display his strength before Konoha's leaders and clan heads. He chose six students, including Yakushi Nonō, and challenged them to fight him all at once.

• Yakushi Nonō worried that her earnings could not feed all the children at the orphanage.
• Shikaku Nara, Choza Akimichi, and Inoichi Yamanaka discussed Liu Yun's challenge and realized the Hokage and several renowned ninja were watching.
• Liu Yun arrived with Kushina and recognized that Tsunade and Hiruzen Sarutobi had arranged a major audience for his demonstration.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi gave a Will of Fire speech, then invited Liu Yun to choose his opponents.
• Liu Yun selected Minato, Nawaki, Shikaku Nara, Choza Akimichi, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Yakushi Nonō, then told them to attack together.