Chapter Summaries

Hiruzen Sarutobi and the two advisers kept Minato Namikaze occupied to prevent him from acting against Orochimaru, while Yechen watched Orochimaru cause chaos on Konoha’s eastern outskirts. As reinforcements left the Hokage Building, Yechen suspected Hiruzen was holding Minato back and saw an opportunity approaching.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura stalled Minato Namikaze in the Hokage Building because Hiruzen wanted to keep Orochimaru’s return to Konoha possible.
• A giant white snake rampaged through the forest east of the village, and Yechen realized Orochimaru was making his escape.
• Yechen watched squads leave the Hokage Building to reinforce the village and respond to the crisis.
• Yechen wondered why Minato was not confronting Orochimaru himself and concluded that Hiruzen and the two advisers were likely keeping him occupied.

Yechen disguised himself as Obito Uchiha and infiltrated the Hokage Building to secretly inspect Konoha’s Scroll of Seals. He found several techniques of interest and began considering what the Reaper Death Seal and other supernatural powers might reveal.

• Yechen used the Thousand Faces Illusion Technique to take Obito Uchiha’s appearance and genjutsu to incapacitate the Anbu Ninja guarding the mission hall and the secret chamber.
• Yechen sensed Minato Namikaze and Hiruzen Sarutobi in a meeting room before heading to the third floor.
• Yechen used his space-time ability to bypass the ward and enter the secret chamber without triggering an alarm.
• Yechen found the Scroll of Seals, checked it for traps, and opened it without taking it from the chamber.
• Yechen read about the Spirit Transformation Technique and the Reaper Death Seal, dismissing the former as unhelpful and examining the possible origins of the Death God’s power.

Yechen examined the forbidden techniques in the Scroll of Seals before triggering a Flying Thunder God Mark that Minato Namikaze had left as a contingency. Yechen escaped, while Minato arrived too late to catch him but discovered evidence of the intrusion.

• Yechen considered the dangers of human Senjutsu and recorded the preliminary contents of Impure World Reincarnation.
• Yechen discovered Minato Namikaze’s Flying Thunder God Mark in the final section of the Scroll of Seals and realized opening it had triggered the mark.
• Yechen used the Byakugan’s Sky-Splitting Eye to sever the mark’s spatial connection, then escaped with the Void Flash Evasion Technique.
• Minato Namikaze arrived through another mark and found signs that someone had disturbed the Scroll of Seals.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other two entered, and Minato Namikaze told them an intruder had been there.

Yechen returned home after secretly visiting the Hokage Building and watched Orochimaru escape Konoha, but the next morning two Anbu arrived with a request from Minato Namikaze. The chapter ended with Yechen being summoned to the Fourth Hokage’s office.

• Minato Namikaze released two Anbu from genjutsu, and he and Hiruzen Sarutobi suspected the intruder had Mangekyō Sharingan abilities but lacked evidence.
• Yechen returned home, hid his involvement, and waited to see whether Orochimaru could escape.
• Konoha’s sealing barrier failed, and Orochimaru escaped through the outer wall on Manda.
• Two Anbu squads sealed Orochimaru’s laboratory, so Yechen abandoned the idea of searching it for useful spoils.
• The next morning, two Anbu visited Yechen and told him that the Fourth Hokage wanted him in his office.

Minato Namikaze summoned Yechen after the previous night’s events and asked him to help pursue Orochimaru once the Anbu found his trail. Minato stopped Yechen as he tried to leave, and Yechen anticipated that he was about to question him about the break-in at the Hokage Building’s secret chamber.

• Two Anbu Ninja escorted Yechen to the Hokage Building while patrols filled the unusually quiet streets.
• Minato Namikaze told Yechen that Orochimaru had escaped Konoha after the Anbu discovered evidence of human experimentation in his laboratory.
• Minato asked Yechen to pursue Orochimaru once the Anbu located him, and Yechen agreed.
• As Yechen prepared to leave, Minato stopped him to raise another matter, and Yechen expected it to be the secret-chamber break-in.

Yechen met Minato Namikaze and intimidated Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura when he sensed their hostility. He then returned to studying the forbidden techniques from the Scroll of Seals and decided against learning the Spirit Transformation Technique.

• Minato Namikaze invited Yechen to eat with him and Kushina but only chatted about everyday life.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura entered Minato Namikaze’s office, and Yechen sensed their malice as he left.
• Yechen used his mental energy to frighten the three elders, making them put their plans to avenge Danzo and target the Uchiha on hold.
• Yechen returned to the Nine Heavens Evolving Heaven Palace, saw Chōmei chase and beat Son Goku, and sent ninety-five Shadow Clones to train.
• After studying the forbidden techniques for three days, Yechen rejected the Spirit Transformation Technique because of its risks and the overlap with his existing training.

Yechen researched the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu and began developing ways to improve it without sacrificing living people. After returning to Konoha, he learned Minato Namikaze had kept Orochimaru’s defection secret and later sensed Hiruzen Sarutobi watching him.

• Yechen decided to research the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu and seek substitutes for its living sacrifices.
• After seven days, Yechen saw the jutsu appear at level 1 on his skill page, though his research had yielded no major breakthrough.
• Yechen returned to Konoha and learned from his Shadow Clone that Minato Namikaze had suppressed news of Orochimaru’s defection.
• Yechen set aside the mystery, ate on the village food street, and slept soundly at home.
• The next day, Yechen sensed Hiruzen Sarutobi watching him and decided to wait for a chance to teach the old man a lesson.

Yechen visited Minato Namikaze to learn why Konoha had delayed announcing Orochimaru’s defection, and Minato explained that Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya hoped to bring Orochimaru back. Minato weighed the risks to Yechen and the village, then decided to send Yechen after Orochimaru and showed him new intelligence.

• Yechen went to the Hokage Building and asked Minato Namikaze why the plan had changed.
• Minato explained that Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya had persuaded him to delay announcing Orochimaru’s crimes and defection while Jiraiya tried to bring him back.
• Yechen realized Hiruzen Sarutobi had monitored him because he knew Yechen’s original assignment and feared he might intercept Orochimaru.
• Minato considered the political risks of exposing Yechen’s Mangekyō Sharingan and the danger Orochimaru posed if he escaped with Konoha’s secrets.
• Minato decided Yechen still needed to act and presented him with intelligence from the Anbu.

Minato Namikaze sent Yechen to a town in the southern Land of Fire to support Jiraiya and bring Orochimaru back if persuasion failed. Yechen reached the area and waited in the nearby mountains, but neither man appeared before nightfall.

• Minato Namikaze gave Yechen intelligence locating Jiraiya and Orochimaru near a southern town and ordered him to intervene only if Jiraiya failed to persuade Orochimaru.
• Yechen destroyed Hiruzen Sarutobi's crystal ball with his Mangekyō Sharingan after noticing Hiruzen spying on him again.
• Yechen left Konoha, intending to recruit Orochimaru into the Gods Alliance and observe Jiraiya's Sage Mode.
• Yechen flew to the town and hid in the mountain forest without using his Byakugan, hoping to see Jiraiya and Orochimaru reveal their abilities.
• Night fell, but Jiraiya and Orochimaru did not appear, leaving Yechen puzzled by the quiet surroundings.

Yechen followed Jiraiya and Orochimaru into a forest and secretly watched their battle through plants grown with the Nurturing Wood Technique. As Jiraiya questioned Orochimaru about leaving the village, Orochimaru revealed his dream of mastering every ninjutsu and living forever, then defended using people as test subjects.

• Yechen received his Shadow Clone's memories, discovered Jiraiya was chasing Orochimaru, and followed them from the town.
• Jiraiya and Orochimaru outran the pursuing Anbu Ninja and entered a forest, where their battle began.
• Yechen used the Nurturing Wood Technique to observe the fight remotely through plants.
• Jiraiya asked Orochimaru whether he planned to defect and why he had done those things.
• Orochimaru told Jiraiya he wanted to learn every ninjutsu, uncover its principles, and find a way to live forever.
• Orochimaru claimed that people who contributed nothing could serve as test subjects and help him pursue immortality.

Jiraiya fought Orochimaru in an attempt to bring him back, but Orochimaru met him with excitement and answered each attack with his own techniques. The battle continued as Orochimaru summoned several kinds of large snakes to attack Jiraiya from multiple angles.

• Jiraiya realized words would not persuade Orochimaru and decided he had to fight him to bring him back.
• Orochimaru opened the fight with the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique, and Jiraiya dodged the shuriken before counterattacking.
• Jiraiya evaded Orochimaru's Wind Release: Great Breakthrough and kicked at him, but Orochimaru blocked the strike and sent him flying back.
• Jiraiya unleashed Fire Release: Flame Bullet, which Orochimaru countered with Hidden Shadow Snake Hands.
• Jiraiya followed with the stronger Great Flame Bullet, forcing Orochimaru to retreat before the fireball struck a tree.
• Orochimaru summoned several kinds of large snakes with Multiple Hidden Shadow Snake Hands to attack Jiraiya in a coordinated assault.

Jiraiya and Orochimaru fought for more than an hour without either gaining a decisive advantage, while Yechen watched from the clouds. As both fighters began to tire, they summoned Gamabunta and Manda to help end the battle.

• Jiraiya used Needle Jizo and the Wild Lion's Mane Technique against Orochimaru, who countered with Wind Cutter, leaving them evenly matched.
• Jiraiya and Orochimaru continued fighting with ninjutsu and taijutsu, damaging the forest as Yechen observed their inconclusive battle.
• After more than an hour, both fighters grew exhausted and decided to use their ultimate trump cards.
• Jiraiya and Orochimaru simultaneously cast the Summoning Technique, bringing Gamabunta and Manda onto the battlefield.
• Gamabunta asked Jiraiya why he was fighting Orochimaru, and Jiraiya asked him to help hold off their opponents.

Orochimaru bargained with Manda by promising him two hundred human sacrifices, convincing Yechen that Orochimaru was not a companion he wanted. Jiraiya and Gamabunta attacked Manda, and their first clash ended with both summons knocked back.

• Manda threatened Orochimaru for saddling him with a troublesome opponent, then agreed to help in exchange for two hundred sacrifices.
• Yechen heard Orochimaru's bargain and abandoned the idea of recruiting him.
• Jiraiya sent Gamabunta leaping at Manda, who coiled and thrust his head up to meet him.
• Orochimaru leaped off Manda's head as Gamabunta drew his sword and attacked.
• Manda dodged the slash and lunged at Gamabunta, whose blade struck Manda's teeth in a clash that sent both summons sliding backward.

Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta to hold off Orochimaru while he prepared to use Sage Mode. As Jiraiya summoned the elders Fukasaku and Shima, Yechen observed the process and sensed the surrounding natural energy.

• After a prolonged fight, Jiraiya and Orochimaru separated, both badly injured.
• Jiraiya asked Gamabunta to hold off their opponents while he prepared a technique, and Gamabunta agreed.
• Jiraiya summoned Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima to help him absorb natural energy.
• Yechen recognized that Jiraiya was preparing Sage Mode and focused on sensing the natural energy around him.
• Yechen considered Sage Mode’s requirements and decided to keep pursuing his own cultivation technique instead.

Jiraiya entered Sage Mode after Gamabunta was injured protecting him, then used his enhanced perception and attacks to drive Manda back and foil his ambush. Gamabunta withdrew to recover while Jiraiya prepared to continue fighting Orochimaru and Manda.

• Orochimaru and Manda attacked Jiraiya while he tried to enter Sage Mode, and Manda struck Gamabunta with his tail.
• Jiraiya successfully entered Sage Mode and destroyed Orochimaru's Snake Kiss with a Fire Release: Flame Bullet.
• Jiraiya launched more Flame Bullets at Manda, who feigned being hit and tried to ambush Gamabunta from underground.
• Jiraiya sensed Manda's attack and warned Gamabunta, who leaped away from the snake's snapping jaws.
• Gamabunta moved aside to recover and asked Jiraiya to beat Manda, and Jiraiya agreed.

Jiraiya used Sage Mode-enhanced ninjutsu to attack Orochimaru and Manda, forcing Manda to escape his hair senbon and nearly striking him with an Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan. Orochimaru blocked the Rasengan with a vast snake swarm, and Jiraiya called on Sage Shima and Sage Fukasaku to help him use Fire Release.

• Jiraiya deflected Orochimaru's shuriken with Sage Mode-enhanced Needle Jizo.
• Jiraiya fired Sage Art: Hair Needle Senbon at Orochimaru and Manda, piercing Manda through gaps in his scales.
• Manda used Snake Molting Technique to escape the senbon, then charged Jiraiya and tried to swallow him.
• Jiraiya dodged Manda and formed a Sage Art: Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan, but Orochimaru summoned a tidal wave of venomous snakes to block it.
• Jiraiya withdrew from the snake swarm and asked Sage Shima and Sage Fukasaku to help him use Fire Release.

Jiraiya and the two toads attacked Orochimaru with Sage Art: Goemon, but Orochimaru escaped by using a Shadow Clone while the real one fled underground. As Orochimaru headed for the Land of Fire's border, Uchiha Ye Chen appeared before him.

• Jiraiya, Sage Shima, and Sage Fukasaku combined to unleash Sage Art: Goemon, forcing Manda to return to Ryūchi Cave and engulfing Orochimaru's apparent body in flames.
• Jiraiya realized the Orochimaru he had attacked was a Shadow Clone, while Yechen understood that the real Orochimaru had escaped underground during Manda's attack.
• Orochimaru emerged in a forest more than ten kilometers from the battlefield and decided to leave the Land of Fire to continue his research.
• As Orochimaru hurried toward the border, Uchiha Ye Chen appeared in the sky ahead, and Orochimaru recognized him with alarm.

Yechen confronted Orochimaru and tried to capture him for Konoha, but Orochimaru survived their clash by using his Orochimaru-Style Substitution Technique. Orochimaru emerged uninjured but weakened, leaving their fight unresolved.

• Yechen demanded that Orochimaru return to Konoha, then blocked his Hidden Shadow Snake Hands and shuriken attacks.
• Orochimaru stretched his neck and thrust a sword from his mouth, but Yechen's Cyclone Shield stopped the attack.
• Yechen struck Orochimaru's shoulder with a Gold-Shattering Finger, then spotted an activated Explosive Tag in Orochimaru's palm and escaped with Void Flash Evasion Technique.
• The Explosive Tag blasted Orochimaru's body, but Orochimaru crawled from its mouth using his Orochimaru-Style Substitution Technique and recovered from his injuries.

Yechen pursued Orochimaru, who summoned a coffin using Impure World Reincarnation. The coffin revealed Shimura Danzō, whom Yechen had killed, and Danzō recognized Orochimaru before noticing Yechen.

• Orochimaru escaped from Yechen by transforming his legs into a snake's tail, but Yechen chased him using Wind Wings.
• Orochimaru stopped and summoned a coffin with Impure World Reincarnation, while Yechen waited to see what was inside.
• Orochimaru opened the coffin, and Shimura Danzō emerged, confused about where he was.
• Danzō realized Orochimaru had used Impure World Reincarnation on him and accused him of betraying the village.
• Orochimaru directed Danzō's attention to Yechen, and Danzō froze when he saw him.

Orochimaru reanimated Shimura Danzō to test his improved technique and distract Yechen while he prepared to escape. Danzō challenged Yechen, who remained confident that his abilities could overcome the reanimated body.

• Shimura Danzō recovered his senses and accused Yechen of killing him and betraying the village.
• Yechen examined Danzō and reasoned that Orochimaru had used an old tissue sample to reanimate him.
• Danzō demanded that Orochimaru release his control so he could attack Yechen, and Orochimaru complied before retreating to a tree.
• Danzō prepared to fight, confident that his reanimated body was immune to Sharingan genjutsu and could defeat Yechen.
• Yechen dismissed Danzō's threat and revealed that his spiritual power and other abilities could overcome Impure World Reincarnation.