Recaps

Ling trained under Tobirama while hiding his unusual abilities from Kakashi, Hiruzen, and Root. After entering the Academy and defeating Sasuke, he continued to refine his skills as Hiruzen and Danzo maintained their watch over him.

• Ling remembered his past and learned from Tobirama that his mother, Rin, had sent him away to save him from Kirigakure pursuers, then began intensive chakra and water training.
• Root’s intruders searched for Ling, but Kakashi drove them off and took Ling from the orphanage to live at the Hatake Residence.
• Ling secretly developed his Water Blade, concealment, and chakra-metal techniques while Kakashi tested his abilities and Root continued surveillance.
• Ling used the chakra metal to attempt Rending Space, then entered the Academy after four years of training and met Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Hinata Hyuga, and other students.
• Ling befriended Ino, Sakura, Tenten, and Hinata, visited Ino’s flower shop, and warned off a Root watcher with a precise water attack.
• Ling defeated Sasuke in the Academy assessment with a restrained Water Release counter, while Danzo ordered Root to prepare a closer assessment of him.
• Ling practiced Kakashi’s chakra-control exercises and resolved to keep his advanced training secret as Hiruzen watched him and Danzo ordered Root to continue surveillance without approaching.

Ling joined Team 7, concealed his unusual abilities, and helped the team survive the Land of Waves mission and advance through the Chunin Exams. After Orochimaru attacked in the Forest of Death and cursed Sasuke, Ling guarded his unconscious teammates while preparing for what came next.

• Ling passed the graduation exam, joined Team 7 under Kakashi, and passed the bell test by urging his teammates to value one another.
• Ling secretly trained in Flying Thunder God techniques and Water Release while Root watched him, then helped Team 7 defeat Zabuza’s ambush on the Land of Waves mission.
• Ling helped break Haku’s ice-mirror formation, then watched Haku die protecting Zabuza and saw Zabuza kill Gato and his thugs.
• Ling found Zabuza afterward and urged him to return to the Land of Water with Haku’s body, then returned to Konoha as Danzo and Orochimaru took interest in him and Sasuke.
• Ling accepted Kakashi’s application for Team 7 to enter the Chunin Exams and helped the team reach the real exam room after Lee attacked Sasuke.
• Ling used discreet water techniques to pass Ibiki’s written test, then led Team 7 through the Forest of Death after they defeated an ambushing team.
• Ling shielded Team 7 when Orochimaru attacked, but Orochimaru cursed Sasuke and sealed Naruto’s Nine-Tails chakra before vanishing.
• Ling dragged Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura to safety and guarded them while recovering his chakra.

Ling navigated the Chunin Exams, the Konoha Crush, and a wary partnership with Orochimaru while Tobirama’s warnings pointed toward threats beyond the village. After helping bring Tsunade back as Hokage, Ling gained rank and access to restricted knowledge but remained under Danzō’s scrutiny.

• Tobirama advised Ling to draw Orochimaru into covert cooperation, and Ling agreed while protecting his companions during the Forest of Death.
• Ling and Team 7 reached the Central Tower with Karin, then Ling began cultivating Orochimaru’s interest and helped train Ino during the month before the finals.
• Ling fought Gaara as the Konoha Crush began, then joined Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji against enemy ninja while Naruto faced Gaara.
• The Third Hokage sealed the First and Second Hokage and crippled Orochimaru, while the reincarnated Tobirama warned Ling about Kara, outsiders, and Karma.
• Ling secretly traded knowledge with Orochimaru, evaded Root’s pressure, and left Konoha with Jiraiya and Naruto to find Tsunade.
• Ling helped Tsunade overcome her fear and reject Orochimaru’s bargain, and she returned to Konoha to become the Fifth Hokage.
• Tsunade promoted Ling to special jōnin and granted him money and restricted-library access, but Danzō again tried and failed to recruit him into Root.

Ling uncovered the origins of his Pure Water bloodline, defeated threats from the Sacred Lord’s followers, and helped stop Danzo and reseal Moryo. After becoming a Jōnin, he investigated Kirigakure’s disappearances and reached a hidden underwater ruin connected to the Sacred Lord.

• Ling and Tobirama researched the Yuki Clan’s Pure Water descendants, and Ling later rescued Ino and Dr. Mitsui’s assistant during Asuma’s escort mission to the Land of Tea.
• At the Thousand-Draw Stone ruins, Ling purified the damaged water vein and defeated the Sacred Lord’s attack with a Soul-Cleansing Arrow, forcing him to flee.
• Ling witnessed Sasuke leave Konoha, received Orochimaru’s evidence against Danzo, and later helped Tsunade defeat Danzo when he activated the Reverse Four Symbols Seal.
• Ling trained in senjutsu at Shikkotsu Forest for a year and a half, then returned to Konoha and joined Tsunade’s operation against Root.
• As captain of Team 10, Ling protected Shion, defeated Yomi’s priest Yougu, and helped reseal Moryo in the Land of Swamps.
• After returning to Konoha, Ling was promoted to Jōnin and received a secret mission to investigate Kirigakure’s missing clan members and possible ties to the Sacred Lord.
• Ling escaped Kirigakure’s surveillance and traveled toward the northwestern waters, where he found underwater ruins containing transformed missing ninja and approached their glowing pyramid unseen.