Chapter Summaries

After Kushina was attacked by a White Zetsu disguised as Hiruzen Sarutobi, Hatake Ziyan questioned the real Hiruzen but could not determine whether he was involved. Days later, Ziyan learned that Hiruzen had betrayed Konoha by revealing its arrangements, though the attack plots failed, and the year ended without further major incidents.

• Orochimaru took White Zetsu's corpse to his laboratory, while Hatake Ziyan went to question Hiruzen Sarutobi about the chakra he had sensed.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Biwako Sarutobi claimed he had stayed home, and Hiruzen denied attacking Kushina; Ziyan left without resolving his suspicions.
• After Ziyan left, Biwako confronted Hiruzen about going out two hours earlier, and Hiruzen admitted he had met someone because he resented Ziyan but promised not to harm Konoha.
• Several days later, Ziyan's clones reported that Akatsuki's emergencies had been fabricated to lure Konoha's defenders away, and Ziyan learned Hiruzen had revealed their arrangements.
• Ziyan reflected that the Nine-Tails had restrained its chakra during the attack and that his sealing technique had prevented its release.
• Konoha Year 49 ended without further major incidents, and all of the Konoha 12 had been born.

With little to occupy him, Hatake Ziyan accepted a system mission to train two groups of young fighters and raise them to Kage Level. He secured Minato Namikaze’s support and proposed nine candidates, leaving three places undecided.

• Hatake Ziyan reviewed how Kushina, Kakashi, Obito, and Nawaki had fared and inspected his status panel.
• Hatake Ziyan chose the system’s combined training mission after learning that the two groups could not share members, but recruits who joined Konoha could qualify.
• Hatake Ziyan told Minato Namikaze he wanted to train twelve young Konoha fighters to at least Kage Level, and Minato agreed to support him.
• Hatake Ziyan named Kakashi, Guy, Shisui Uchiha, Obito, Itachi, Senju Nawaki, Shizune Kato, Yamato, and Gekko Hayate as his first nine candidates.

Minato Namikaze approved Hatake Ziyan's plan to train powerful shinobi for Konoha, and the higher-ups unanimously supported it. Ziyan gathered nine young prodigies at the Training Ground and challenged them to touch his clothes, then began defeating their coordinated attack.

• Minato Namikaze agreed to support Hatake Ziyan's training plan, and the higher-ups unanimously approved it after Shikaku argued that Ziyan posed no threat to Konoha.
• Hatake Ziyan summoned nine selected shinobi to the Training Ground and challenged them to touch his clothes, calling them trash and promising they would not have to obey him if they won.
• Senju Nawaki and Kakashi moved aside, while Shizune collapsed; the other shinobi attacked Ziyan with combined Fire Release, Guy's taijutsu, and Gekko Hayate's flank.
• Hatake Ziyan raised a Wood Locking Wall to block the fireballs, and Guy broke through it with Konoha Strong Whirlwind.
• Hatake Ziyan appeared behind Gekko Hayate and knocked him unconscious, then evaded Shisui's sword strike and struck Shisui's neck with a knife-hand.

Hatake Ziyan defeated Guy and the others in a trial fight, then secured their agreement to study under him and explained that he intended to train them to better serve Konoha. He gave Shisui a Sealing Scroll containing a secret ninjutsu that could purify bloodlines and strengthen their bodies.

• Hatake Ziyan knocked Shisui unconscious, prompting Obito and Itachi to withdraw, while Guy stayed to challenge him.
• Guy opened the sixth gate and fought Hatake Ziyan at high speed before using Morning Peacock, but Ziyan blocked it with a powerful air punch and Guy collapsed from exhaustion.
• Hatake Ziyan asked the group to study under him, and they agreed; the others woke the unconscious students while Shizune treated Guy.
• Hatake Ziyan explained that he had gathered the young shinobi to train them, praised Guy's hard work, and said talent required effort to fulfill.
• Hatake Ziyan gave Shisui a Sealing Scroll containing his bloodline-purifying, body-strengthening ninjutsu and warned the students to keep it secret.

Hatake Ziyan gave nine young shinobi the Ninja-Adapted Yijin Jing and arranged for their training before leaving Konoha to find three recruits. In the Land of Water, he met the imprisoned Kimimaro and wagered that the Kaguya Clan’s uprising would fail, offering to save some of the clan if Kimimaro agreed to go with him.

• Hatake Ziyan gave the group the Ninja-Adapted Yijin Jing, and they discussed its potential to purify bloodlines and strengthen them.
• Hatake Ziyan prepared training plans for the nine and left Konoha to seek Orochimaru’s former subordinates and Haku.
• Hatake Ziyan learned that the Kaguya Clan planned to rebel against the Water Ninja Village and that the village intended to attack the clan first.
• Hatake Ziyan found Kimimaro imprisoned in a cave and told him he could save the clan in exchange for a price.
• Hatake Ziyan wagered that the Kaguya Clan’s uprising would fail, offering to take Kimimaro with him and preserve some members of the clan if he won.
• Kimimaro asked what Hatake Ziyan would give him if Kimimaro won.

Hatake Ziyan offered Kimimaro a chance to join him, then proved his overwhelming power when Kimimaro refused to believe his identity. Kimimaro learned from the Kaguya grand elder that Ziyan had once slaughtered the clan’s leader, and the elder feared what would happen when Ziyan returned in three days.

• Hatake Ziyan offered to grant Kimimaro one favor if Kimimaro pledged his loyalty, but Kimimaro dismissed him as a fraud.
• Hatake Ziyan overwhelmed Kimimaro with his aura, then left and told him to call his name when he had made up his mind.
• Kimimaro broke out of his cave and went to the Kaguya grand elder to ask about Hatake Ziyan.
• The Kaguya grand elder recognized Ziyan’s portrait and recalled how Ziyan had killed the Kaguya Clan Leader and wounded or killed the rest of the party decades earlier.
• Kimimaro told the grand elder that Ziyan had invited him to leave and planned to return in three days, frightening the elder because Kimimaro had refused.

Kimimaro questioned the Kaguya Clan's grand elder about Hatake Ziyan, then returned to his cave as Hatake Ziyan watched. The grand elder's leaders rejected his warning and refused to hand over Kimimaro, but Hatake Ziyan appeared before him that night, leaving him with no thought of resistance.

• The Kaguya Clan's grand elder begged Kimimaro to obey Hatake Ziyan, but Kimimaro asked whether Hatake Ziyan had severed the elder's legs, sending the elder into a panic.
• Kimimaro returned to his cave while Hatake Ziyan watched, surprised that his old slash had broken the grand elder's nerve.
• The grand elder summoned Kaguya Clan Leader Youxing and other leaders, warning them that Hatake Ziyan had returned and wanted Kimimaro.
• Youxing and the other leaders dismissed the warning and refused to give up Kimimaro, so the grand elder ordered them to stop planning an attack on the Water Ninja Village and prepare for the crisis.
• As the grand elder lamented the clan's fate, Hatake Ziyan appeared and told him he did not slaughter innocent people, and the elder abandoned any thought of resistance.

Hatake Ziyan agreed to save ten Kaguya Clan children after a choice offered him a cure for Kimimaro’s bloodline disease. Three days later, as Mei Terumi’s Water Ninja Village forces attacked the clan, Kimimaro charged toward Mei while Ziyan watched, ready to intervene.

• Hatake Ziyan offered to train Kimimaro, and the Kaguya Clan grand elder immediately agreed to let him take the boy.
• A choice gave Hatake Ziyan the option to save ten Kaguya children for a cure to the Shikotsumyaku bloodline disease or let the clan perish for Jugo’s whereabouts.
• Hatake Ziyan promised to take ten children if Kimimaro came with him, then left the grand elder and waited for the Water Ninja Village forces.
• Three days later, Hatake Ziyan watched Mei Terumi lead an infiltration of the Kaguya Clan compound, where fighting broke out after a signal flare was launched.
• Kimimaro left his mountain cave and charged toward Mei Terumi, who used her Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique against the Kaguya fighters.
• As clan members screamed inside Mei Terumi’s mist, Kimimaro attacked her with Shikotsumyaku: Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets.

Hatake Ziyan stopped Kimimaro from charging into Mei Terumi’s corrosive mist, demonstrated the gap in their strength, and offered to train him so he could avenge his clan. The chapter ended with Mei Terumi objecting furiously to being called a woman.

• Kimimaro’s finger bones were corroded by Mei Terumi’s mist, but he covered himself in bone armor and prepared to charge her.
• Hatake Ziyan appeared and restrained Kimimaro, then warned Mei Terumi to stay still with a look and a threat.
• Hatake Ziyan cracked Kimimaro’s bone armor and said he could train him to kill Mei Terumi in three years.
• Hatake Ziyan cut Mei Terumi’s hair with a leaf and treated Kimimaro’s hand after the mist corroded it.
• Mei Terumi angrily insisted that she was a teenage girl, not a woman.

Hatake Ziyan persuaded the dying Kimimaro to abandon his wish to die and travel with him, revealing that some of Kimimaro’s clansmen were still alive. After leaving the Kaguya Clan’s territory, Ziyan learned where to find his next target and told Kimimaro they were going to pick up Haku.

• Kimimaro coughed up blood, and Hatake Ziyan used healing chakra to stabilize his bloodline disease.
• Hatake Ziyan urged Kimimaro to find his own reason to live and revealed that he had sent ten Kaguya Clan members away.
• Kimimaro agreed to go with Hatake Ziyan, promising to leave once he was strong enough to kill his enemies.
• Hatake Ziyan and Kimimaro vanished, leaving Mei Terumi to kill more Kaguya Clan members in frustration.
• A black-uniformed man reported to Hatake Ziyan, who then told Kimimaro they were going to find Haku.

Hatake Ziyan and Kimimaro reached the snowy village where Haku lived after two days of travel. They found the villagers guarding Haku’s home, and Hatake Ziyan met Haku at the courtyard gate.

• Hatake Ziyan pushed Kimimaro through the mountain journey, then gave him a robe and let him rest when he was exhausted.
• Hatake Ziyan and Kimimaro arrived at the snow-covered village and asked an old man about Haku.
• The old man denied that Haku lived there and summoned villagers, who confronted Hatake Ziyan and Kimimaro.
• Hatake Ziyan stopped Kimimaro from attacking the villagers, then knocked them unconscious with a surge of mental power.
• Hatake Ziyan and Kimimaro went to a courtyard in the village’s southwest corner, where Haku opened the gate.
• Hatake Ziyan greeted Haku and asked whether that was his name, and Haku confirmed it and asked how he knew.

Hatake Ziyan found Haku and his mother, revealed that he knew they belonged to the Yuki Clan, and tried to recruit Haku to Konoha. When Haku’s Ice Release kekkei genkai awakened, Ziyan stabilized the transformation, and Haku’s mother took him back into her arms once the ice receded.

• Hatake Ziyan asked Haku whether he was a boy or a girl, prompting Haku to call him a bad man and alert his mother.
• Hatake Ziyan introduced himself to Haku’s mother, revealed that he knew she and Haku were from the Yuki Clan, and invited them to join Konoha.
• Haku’s mother refused to let Haku become a ninja, but Haku’s chakra surged out of control and triggered his Ice Release awakening.
• Hatake Ziyan entered the house and stabilized Haku’s awakening by channeling chakra into him, while Haku’s mother attacked him with Ice Release: Ice Spike.
• Kimimaro carried Haku’s husband outside and left him in the snow as ice covered the house.
• After the ice walls vanished, Haku’s mother rushed over and took Haku from Hatake Ziyan’s arms.

Hatake Ziyan stabilized Haku after his kekkei genkai awakened and persuaded Shizuki to let Haku come with him to learn to control it. The family prepared to leave, but Kimimaro kept knocking out Haku’s father whenever he tried to interfere or tell the village.

• Hatake Ziyan explained that Haku’s kekkei genkai could endanger him and others unless he learned to control it, then offered to protect him.
• Kimimaro vouched for Hatake Ziyan’s status and strength, and Shizuki agreed to accompany him and judge the destination for herself.
• Kimimaro knocked out Kenji when he tried to enter the house and interrupt the conversation.
• After waking, Kenji learned that Haku might become a ninja and rushed outside to tell the village, but Kimimaro knocked him unconscious again and forbade anyone from leaving without Hatake Ziyan’s permission.

Shizuki chose to leave Haku in Hatake Ziyan’s care while she went with Kenji to a place he had arranged. The next morning, Haku woke up and cried at the news that his parents had left, and Hatake Ziyan decided to take him and Kimimaro to Konoha.

• Shizuki decided not to go to Konoha and entrusted Haku to Hatake Ziyan until he could protect himself.
• A man in black took Shizuki and Kenji away, and Shizuki knocked Kenji unconscious again when he began to wake.
• Haku woke the next morning, learned that his parents had left, and began crying as his tears froze into beads of ice.
• Kimimaro calmed Haku enough for him to believe that Hatake Ziyan was looking after him, and Haku told Hatake Ziyan to find somewhere else to stay.
• Hatake Ziyan said he would take Haku and Kimimaro to Konoha, and Haku cried that he did not want to leave in case his mother could not find him.

Hatake Ziyan calmed Haku with a genjutsu, then traveled with Haku and Kimimaro while training them. At their destination, Kimimaro fought Jugo in a cave and restrained him as his body transformed.

• Hatake Ziyan used a genjutsu featuring Haku's mother, Shizuki, to calm Haku and make him agree to obey.
• Hatake Ziyan set off with Haku and Kimimaro, teaching Haku to mold chakra and Kimimaro the Ninja-Adapted Yijin Jing along the way.
• After more than ten days, Hatake Ziyan reached a cave where natural energy gathered and sent Kimimaro inside to test his strength against its inhabitant.
• Kimimaro entered the cave and was attacked by an orange-haired boy, whom he struck and bound with his spine.
• The boy transformed into a horned, keratin-covered monster as his strength and chakra increased, then returned to his original appearance while Kimimaro watched.

Hatake Ziyan found Jugo and promised to help him control his natural-energy gift. After demonstrating his strength by slicing through a mountain, he convinced Jugo to trust him and led the group back toward Konoha.

• Kimimaro brought the restrained Jugo out of the Cave and presented him to Hatake Ziyan.
• Jugo begged to be returned to the Cave, but Hatake Ziyan reassured him that he could prevent him from harming anyone and offered to help control his gift.
• Hatake Ziyan dismissed Jugo's clan's efforts and, when Jugo remained unconvinced, demonstrated his natural-energy control by slicing through a mountain.
• Jugo believed Hatake Ziyan could help him, and Hatake Ziyan set off for Konoha with Jugo, Kimimaro, and Haku.

Hatake Ziyan brought Kimimaro, Haku, and Jugo to Konoha after a month of grueling training and introduced them to the other children. He offered to train the twelve personally, but none volunteered to go first.

• Kimimaro reassured Jugo that he would help control his berserk episodes, and Haku promised to do the same when he grew stronger.
• Hatake Ziyan put the three children through intense training on their journey, including a bounty mission against a rogue Stone Ninja elite jonin that left Kimimaro and Jugo badly injured.
• Hatake Ziyan brought the children to Konoha, where Namiashi Raidō recorded their information, then arranged for them to stay at Hatake Sakumo's home.
• The next morning, Hatake Ziyan introduced Yuki Haku, Kaguya Kimimaro, and Jugo to the other nine children at the Training Ground.
• Hatake Ziyan offered to teach the twelve personally, but none stepped forward; Jugo stopped Haku from volunteering.

Hatake Ziyan used an illusion to provoke Obito into awakening his Mangekyō Sharingan by making him believe Kakashi had killed Rin. Obito broke free after the awakening and learned that Rin was safe.

• Hatake Ziyan singled out Obito for instruction and secretly trapped him in a Genjutsu.
• Inside the illusion, Hatake Ziyan praised Obito, and Rin appeared to confess that she liked him.
• Kakashi stabbed Rin in the illusion, and Obito awakened his Three-Tomoe Sharingan before it evolved into the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Obito's new power broke Hatake Ziyan's illusion, and Hatake Ziyan told him that Rin was alive and urged him to sense his new eyes.

Obito awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan with Hatake Ziyan’s help, and Hatake Ziyan revealed that Shisui had awakened his as well. He told the Uchiha that the Mangekyō was not the final stage and warned that overusing its abilities could cause blindness.

• Obito examined his newly awakened Mangekyō Sharingan and excitedly thanked Hatake Ziyan.
• Shisui congratulated Obito, and Hatake Ziyan revealed that Shisui had already awakened his own Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Shisui and Obito questioned how Hatake Ziyan knew about their abilities, and Hatake Ziyan refused to explain.
• Hatake Ziyan told the Uchiha that the Mangekyō Sharingan had further evolutions and warned that excessive use could lead to blindness.
• The Uchiha and the other ninja reacted with shock as Hatake Ziyan clapped to bring them out of their stupor.

Hatake Ziyan arranged individualized training and ninjutsu for the twelve children, while allowing Itachi to wait before attempting to awaken his Mangekyō Sharingan. After finishing the plans, Ziyan relaxed at the Training Ground and sparred with the children, while Minato Namikaze grew worried about Haku and Kimimaro’s identities.

• Hatake Ziyan asked Itachi whether he wanted help awakening his Mangekyō Sharingan, but Itachi chose to wait and try on his own.
• Hatake Ziyan gave Shisui, Kakashi, Guy, and Nawaki advice suited to their abilities and prospects.
• Hatake Ziyan assigned Yamato Wood Release training, taught Hayate sword techniques, and helped Shizune develop her secret techniques.
• Hatake Ziyan limited Haku, Kimimaro, and Jugo to the Ninja-Adapted Yijin Jing because they were still young.
• Hatake Ziyan finished arranging the children’s training, then spent his days relaxing and sparring with them.
• Minato Namikaze became deeply worried about the identities of Haku and Kimimaro.