Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Makoto realized Kakashi already considered him a friend, even as he continued using the system to manipulate their bond. In Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi punished Danzo for attacking the Orochimaru Team and rejected the elders’ demand to transfer Makoto from Orochimaru’s squad.

• Uchiha Makoto recognized that Kakashi already saw him as a friend and pushed aside his guilt over exploiting Kakashi’s trust.
• An Anbu operative reported to Hiruzen Sarutobi that the Orochimaru Team had defeated its attackers and all Root operatives, including Kazuya, had died.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Danzo and Root confined to Root headquarters and barred from village affairs for six months.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu challenged Hiruzen Sarutobi over the deaths, but he defended the Orochimaru Team and praised Uchiha Makoto’s talent.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu proposed moving Uchiha Makoto to another squad, and Hiruzen Sarutobi refused.

Hiruzen Sarutobi rejected Homura and Koharu’s concerns and trusted Orochimaru and Uchiha Makoto to remain together. After returning to Konoha, Uchiha Makoto and Kakashi were seized by Anbu and taken for interrogation, where Makoto endured a beating without revealing his strength.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi refused to separate Orochimaru’s team, citing the burden on other jonin, the team’s bond, and his trust in Orochimaru and Uchiha Makoto.
• Uchiha Makoto and Kakashi returned to Konoha and were immediately surrounded by six Anbu who claimed they were acting on the Hokage’s orders.
• Uchiha Makoto and Kakashi agreed to go to the Interrogation Department, where Makoto prepared himself to withstand questioning.
• An Anbu interrogator questioned Makoto about the mission and challenged his account of the team’s victory.
• The interrogator punched Makoto twice, but Makoto concealed his toughness by pretending to be in pain, prompting the Anbu to suspect something was unusual about him.

After three days of training in the Interrogation Department, Uchiha Makoto was released and met with Hiruzen Sarutobi. Hiruzen upgraded Makoto and Kakashi’s mission to B-rank, and Makoto left with Orochimaru’s warning to watch out for Danzo.

• Uchiha Makoto spent three days in the Interrogation Department, eating, sleeping, and practicing the Yin-Yang: Dual Extremes Seal while the Anbu left him alone.
• Orochimaru brought Uchiha Makoto to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who explained that the interrogation had been standard procedure and praised Makoto’s loyalty to Konoha.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi upgraded the mission to B-rank, doubled its payment, and added a completed B-rank mission to Makoto and Kakashi’s records.
• Uchiha Makoto thanked Orochimaru for helping him, and Orochimaru warned that Danzo would not give up and told him to be careful.
• Orochimaru noticed Makoto’s unusual cursed seal and offered to introduce him to Tsunade if he needed help with the Yin Seal.

After receiving Orochimaru’s ninjutsu instruction, Uchiha Makoto declined to sign the Ryūchi Cave summoning contract and focused on training and building up his energy reserves. He also noticed that Kakashi had disappeared, apparently after being transferred and isolated by Konoha’s leadership.

• Orochimaru told Uchiha Makoto that missions were paused, Kazuya had died, and he could seek private ninjutsu lessons from him.
• Orochimaru offered Uchiha Makoto the Ryūchi Cave summoning contract and explained that the Sage Mode trial could leave failures as snake food.
• Uchiha Makoto decided not to sign the contract because he considered the trial too dangerous and himself too weak.
• Uchiha Makoto trained with Obito, Guy, and Shisui, whose trust helped him complete the Yin-Yang: Bipolar Seal framework in a few days.
• Uchiha Makoto discovered that Life Return 7.0 accelerated the Bipolar Seal’s storage of chakra and life energy.
• Uchiha Makoto searched for Kakashi but could not find him, and suspected Konoha’s leadership had transferred and isolated him.

Uchiha Makoto visited Hatake Sakumo to find out why Kakashi had been missing for a month, and learned that Kakashi was away on an Anbu mission. Sakumo welcomed him warmly and said Kakashi should return soon, leaving Makoto to plan another visit.

• Uchiha Makoto decided to visit the Hatake home because Kakashi had been missing for a month.
• Hatake Sakumo answered the door, introduced himself as Kakashi’s father, and invited Makoto inside.
• Sakumo told Makoto that Kakashi was on a classified Anbu mission and should return soon.
• Sakumo shared stories about Kakashi’s childhood and thanked Makoto for being his friend.
• Makoto declined to leave a message and said he would visit again another day.

Uchiha Makoto left his visit with Sakumo feeling encouraged, and Kakashi began to accept that Makoto might truly be his friend. Later, Makoto taught Obito and Guy water walking and introduced them to Moonwalk, but both struggled with the first exercise.

• Uchiha Makoto said goodbye to Sakumo and resolved to grow strong enough to act if tragedy came.
• Sakumo told Kakashi that Uchiha Makoto had visited and considered him a friend, prompting Kakashi to reconsider their friendship.
• Uchiha Makoto explained water walking and Moonwalk to Obito and Guy, who eagerly agreed to train.
• Uchiha Makoto demonstrated water walking, but Obito immediately fell in and Guy sank after three seconds.
• Obito blamed his slippery shoes, while Guy blamed the wind.

Uchiha Makoto taught Obito and Guy about chakra nature transformation while putting their water-walking practice to the test. Elsewhere, Asuma mastered the Great Fireball Technique and resolved to train until he could defeat Uchiha Makoto.

• Uchiha Makoto explained the seven basic chakra natures and told Obito to master basic fire release before attempting advanced techniques.
• Guy trained relentlessly at water walking while Obito struggled to keep his footing.
• Uchiha Makoto attacked Obito with Tempest Kicks to test his chakra control, repeatedly knocking him into the river.
• Asuma mastered the Great Fireball Technique with help from his family's tutor.
• Asuma resolved to train harder and defeat Uchiha Makoto so his father would recognize him and Kurenai would notice him.

Uchiha Makoto’s training gains were interrupted when Asuma accused him of pursuing Kurenai Yuhi and challenged him to a duel. Makoto refused, and Asuma was left trying to defend his own achievements after Makoto and Obito questioned how much of his strength came from his father’s influence.

• Uchiha Makoto watched Obito and Guy improve their training and reflected on his growing chakra, Moyu’s upgrades, and the Dual Polarity Seal’s version 2.0.
• Asuma charged up to Makoto and accused him of making a move on Kurenai Yuhi, who denied being Asuma’s girlfriend.
• Makoto told Asuma that Kurenai could choose her own friends and dismissed Asuma’s challenge to duel over her.
• Asuma boasted that he had mastered the Great Fireball Technique, but Makoto and Obito taunted him about relying on the advantages of being the Hokage’s son.
• Asuma struggled to defend his efforts, and Makoto told him to prove that he did not rely on his father.

Uchiha Makoto challenged Asuma to defeat Obito and Guy before seeking a fight with him, then wagered his ninja career against Asuma losing. Obito fought Asuma by the river and held his own, leaving the battle unresolved as Asuma grew impatient.

• Uchiha Makoto told Asuma to beat Obito and Guy before challenging him, then bet that Asuma would call him Big Brother Makoto if he lost and that Makoto would resign if he lost.
• Asuma accepted the bet, and Kurenai Yuhi anxiously tried to stop the fight.
• Obito challenged Asuma and dodged his Great Fireball Technique with Flash Step before landing a punch that forced Asuma back.
• Asuma attacked with fists and kicks, but Obito blocked and evaded him, countering between attacks.
• Asuma became increasingly impatient when Obito's improved close-combat skills kept him from landing a clean hit.

Obito defeated Asuma in their match, earning praise and a promise from Uchiha Makoto to teach him a new Fire Release technique. After Obito and Guy made rapid training progress, a clan member summoned Obito and Makoto to a meeting at the Uchiha ancestral hall.

• Asuma left himself open, and Obito kicked him back with a Konoha Whirlwind.
• Asuma and Obito clashed with Great Fireball Techniques, but Obito’s stronger fireball nearly hit Asuma before Uchiha Makoto stopped it with Iron Body.
• Uchiha Makoto declared Obito the winner and reminded Asuma to honor their bet; Asuma left in silence, followed by Kurenai Yuhi.
• Obito asked for a reward, and Uchiha Makoto promised to teach him a new Fire Release technique the next day.
• Over the following days, Obito and Guy trained intensely while Uchiha Makoto helped them improve.
• A Uchiha clan member summoned Uchiha Makoto and Obito to a meeting at the ancestral hall.

Uchiha Makoto, Obito, and Shisui were summoned by the Uchiha elders, who promised to support their training and reveal the clan’s legacy once they awakened the two-tomoe Sharingan. Makoto distrusted their promises and resolved to take control of the clan himself.

• Uchiha Makoto and Obito went to the ancestral hall after the elders summoned them, where they met Shisui.
• Uchiha Yashiro praised the three young Uchiha and said the clan would grant them access to its legacy and secret techniques after they awakened the two-tomoe Sharingan.
• Uchiha Makoto recalled that the clan had ignored the attempt on his life and suspected the elders wanted to use him for the clan’s benefit.
• Uchiha Makoto decided that once he was strong enough, he would remove the elders and control the Uchiha Clan himself.
• After the meeting, Obito celebrated the promised resources, and Uchiha Makoto told him and Shisui they would return to training.

Orochimaru brought Uchiha Makoto to his hidden laboratory and revealed his human experiments, then asked whether Makoto would join his research. Makoto was left facing a dangerous choice about how to respond.

• Uchiha Makoto went to Orochimaru's usual laboratory for his daily lesson, but Orochimaru led him to a secluded house instead.
• Orochimaru opened a secret passage and brought Uchiha Makoto down to his real underground laboratory.
• Uchiha Makoto saw rows of human test subjects, an operated-on person who was still alive, and Orochimaru's research records.
• Orochimaru explained that pursuing the mysteries of life came at a price and described the test subjects as that price.
• Orochimaru asked Uchiha Makoto whether he would be willing to join his research.

Uchiha Makoto agreed to join Orochimaru’s secret research, and Orochimaru declared him an unprecedented talent in ninjutsu development and chakra theory. Orochimaru’s complete belief in Makoto’s boast manifested a new talent enhancement, though the day’s Lie-Into-Reality use was spent.

• Orochimaru threatened Uchiha Makoto with death if he refused to join the experiments or reveal the laboratory’s secrets.
• Orochimaru explained that Makoto’s forehead seal and his work showed exceptional talent, and Makoto eagerly accepted the chance to assist with research and study ninjutsu.
• Orochimaru said he would defect from Konoha and continue his research elsewhere if the village discovered the experiments.
• Uchiha Makoto asked whether Orochimaru considered him a super research prodigy, and Orochimaru affirmed that he had no equal in innovative ninjutsu and chakra theory.
• The system registered Orochimaru’s trust at 100 percent, manifested a talent enhancement for Makoto, and announced that his daily ability use had been exhausted.

Uchiha Makoto joined Orochimaru’s research and gained access to his knowledge after acquiring the super research prodigy talent. A year of study and training passed, leaving Makoto eight years old in Konoha’s forty-third year.

• Uchiha Makoto accepted Orochimaru’s invitation to join his research after realizing his new talent improved his ability to reason and learn.
• Orochimaru placed a cursed seal on Uchiha Makoto’s neck as a precaution, and Makoto pretended to fear its effects.
• Orochimaru said he would reduce the team’s routine missions so Makoto could spend more time studying in the laboratory.
• Uchiha Makoto continued training with Obito and Guy while studying Orochimaru’s research and theories, impressing Orochimaru with his rapid progress.
• A year passed, and Uchiha Makoto turned eight as Konoha’s forty-third year began.

After a month studying underground with Orochimaru, Uchiha Makoto finally returned to the sunshine and reunited with Obito and Guy, who had graduated early as genin. He gathered them, Kakashi, Shisui, and Rin for a celebratory barbecue, leaving the group seated around the grill.

• Orochimaru left on a mission, allowing Uchiha Makoto to escape the underground laboratory and enjoy the sunlight.
• Uchiha Makoto met Obito and Guy, congratulated them on becoming genin, and offered to buy them barbecue.
• Uchiha Makoto sent crows to invite Kakashi and Shisui to join the meal.
• Obito challenged Kakashi and nearly admitted that he wanted to win Rin's affection.
• Rin arrived and accepted Obito's invitation to the celebration.
• Uchiha Makoto and the others gathered around a barbecue grill.

Uchiha Makoto celebrated Obito’s graduation with his friends, then joined Kakashi and Harada Yuichi in entering the Chunin Exams at Orochimaru’s order. The written test began, and Makoto watched Kakashi race through the questions while Harada struggled with the harder section.

• Uchiha Makoto resolved to protect Hatake Sakumo from the public condemnation that could lead to his suicide.
• Obito lamented that graduating meant he would no longer see Rin at the Academy every day, and his friends cheered him up during the celebration.
• Konoha announced a large-scale Chunin Exams amid rumors of border clashes, and Orochimaru ordered Uchiha Makoto, Kakashi, and Harada Yuichi to participate.
• Half a month later, Uchiha Makoto, Kakashi, and Harada Yuichi sat for the written exam, where Kakashi quickly answered questions and Harada struggled with the latter half.

Uchiha Makoto, Kakashi, and Harada Yuichi passed the Chunin Exam’s written test and Forest of Death round with little trouble, then advanced through the individual preliminaries. The finals match list set Uchiha Makoto against Kakashi Hatake in the opening bout, prompting Uchiha Makoto to suspect the matchups had been politically arranged.

• Uchiha Makoto recognized the written test’s security questions as traps and left them blank, while Kakashi and Harada Yuichi also avoided answering them.
• Uchiha Makoto, Kakashi, and Harada Yuichi entered the Forest of Death, quickly defeated a team holding the needed scroll, and reached the central tower well ahead of the time limit.
• Uchiha Makoto, Kakashi, and Harada Yuichi each won their preliminary matches in the individual combat round.
• Uchiha Makoto noticed that the preliminaries kept the strongest clan contenders from facing one another and suspected Konoha’s leadership had arranged the fights to manage politics and conceal its strength.
• Uchiha Makoto saw that he was scheduled to fight Kakashi Hatake in the first match of the finals and suspected the pairing was deliberate.

Uchiha Makoto faced Kakashi Hatake in the tournament’s final round and abruptly conceded after Kakashi’s shuriken nicked his arm. His decision stunned the crowd and amused Orochimaru, leaving the match—and Makoto’s intentions—unresolved.

• Uchiha Makoto watched the tournament and observed how clan children’s inherited techniques gave them an advantage over civilian ninja.
• Uchiha Makoto and Kakashi Hatake entered the arena as the crowd, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Orochimaru, and Asuma Sarutobi watched.
• Uchiha Makoto threw a kunai at Kakashi, who dodged and countered with three shuriken.
• Kakashi’s shuriken struck Uchiha Makoto’s left arm, and Makoto immediately raised his hand and conceded.
• The spectators erupted in disbelief, while Hiruzen Sarutobi watched in silence, Asuma Sarutobi froze, and Orochimaru laughed with delight.

Uchiha Makoto deliberately forfeited his Chunin Exam match to Kakashi Hatate, then escaped Orochimaru’s laboratory and reflected on how he had redirected their research toward scientific ninja tools. He left the chapter enjoying his freedom while his unconventional ideas continued to hold Orochimaru’s interest.

• Uchiha Makoto let Kakashi Hatate’s shuriken wound him and forfeited their match, making Kakashi the winner.
• Kakashi asked why Makoto had given up, and Makoto claimed he was tired of fighting and wanted to avoid more work.
• After the Chunin Exams ended, Makoto fled Orochimaru’s laboratory and enjoyed time outside with his teammates.
• Makoto recalled how he had steered Orochimaru away from direct immortality research and toward scientific ninja tools.
• Orochimaru had questioned Makoto’s approach, but Makoto’s arguments and flashes of inspiration kept the research direction open.

Uchiha Makoto and his teammates were promoted to chunin, while Orochimaru warned them that Shimura Danzō was active again and might target Makoto. Makoto remained confident and considered Danzō a potential test subject as the newly promoted team donned their flak jackets.

• Over half a year, Uchiha Makoto advanced his scientific ninja tool research with Orochimaru's resources and his friends' trust, developing ambitions for powerful human enhancements.
• Orochimaru announced that Uchiha Makoto, Kakashi Hatake, and Harada Yuichi had all passed the chunin examination, including Makoto despite his surrender in the finals.
• Orochimaru warned the team that Shimura Danzō had become active again and cautioned Makoto that Danzō might send stronger forces after him.
• Uchiha Makoto calmly dismissed the warning and privately considered killing Danzō and using him to test his enhancement research.
• Uchiha Makoto, Kakashi Hatake, and Harada Yuichi changed into their new Konoha outfits and flak jackets.