Chapter Summaries

Kenichi Amamiya helped Orochimaru test Rejection among volunteers seeking to donate an arm for Hiruzen Sarutobi, and a compatible donor was chosen for the transplant. After Orochimaru invited Mitaraishi Anko to barbecue, Kenichi suspected his teacher was preparing to leave Konoha.

• Orochimaru explained that Hiruzen Sarutobi was unlikely to be attacked inside Konoha and agreed to help with the arm transplant for the generous payment.
• Orochimaru brought Kenichi Amamiya to a group of volunteers gathered to test Rejection and find a compatible arm donor for Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Kenichi Amamiya carried out the tests, and a suitable donor was selected while Hiruzen Sarutobi thanked him.
• Orochimaru left with Kenichi Amamiya, then invited him to barbecue and later included Mitaraishi Anko.
• Kenichi Amamiya interpreted Orochimaru's unusual concern for Mitaraishi Anko as a sign that Orochimaru planned to leave Konoha.

Kenichi Amamiya considered whether the body could influence the soul and whether he could gradually change Orochimaru’s identity, then destroyed his notes to keep the idea secret. At the Third’s inauguration, Orochimaru assigned Kenichi research into controlling the proliferation of Cancer Cells, which he linked to the extraordinary vitality of Hashirama Senju’s cells.

• Kenichi Amamiya wondered whether bodily changes could affect the soul and decided to investigate Orochimaru, but burned the notes that recorded his plan.
• Kenichi Amamiya attended the Third’s inauguration ceremony, then left with Orochimaru before the Will of Fire speech ended.
• Orochimaru assigned Kenichi research into making Cancer Cells proliferate in a stable, controllable way.
• Kenichi connected Cancer Cells’ traits to Hashirama Senju’s cells and speculated that they might hold the key to evolution or immortality.

Kenichi Amamiya watched Jiraiya confront Orochimaru over the experiments at the Lab Base, knowing the clash would likely force his teacher to defect. As Kenichi escaped the battle, a Root ninja attacked him, and Kenichi struck back with a Yang Release needle.

• Kenichi Amamiya stored Kakashi’s concealed Mangekyō Sharingan and considered studying its Dōjutsu Power while saving it for a future trap for Obito.
• Jiraiya stormed Orochimaru’s Lab Base after witnessing a villager ruined by Hashirama Cells, and the two Sannin began fighting.
• Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta, making the battle too conspicuous for the Third to quietly cover up.
• Kenichi Amamiya left the main battlefield while Orochimaru held Jiraiya off, but a Root ninja blocked his escape and attacked.
• Kenichi Amamiya evaded the Root ninja’s strikes and pierced him in the lung with a needle made from Yang Release Chakra.

Kenichi Amamiya escaped a Root ninja and made his way to the underground laboratory, where he reunited with Orochimaru after the pair defected from Konoha. Hiruzen initially assigned Kenichi a B-rank rogue-ninja classification, then raised it to A-rank after learning he had defeated a Root Jonin, while Konoha kept the defections secret for the time being.

• Kenichi Amamiya traded wounds with a Root ninja, struck him with Chidori, and fled before reinforcements could arrive.
• Kenichi shook off his pursuer, traveled for a day, and headed toward the underground laboratory where he expected to find Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru met Kenichi at the laboratory, and the two entered together after Kenichi asked whether his teacher was injured.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Orochimaru and Kenichi listed as rogue ninja, initially classifying Kenichi as B-rank.
• Danzo objected to Kenichi's B-rank classification and revealed that Kenichi had badly injured the Root Jonin Tanuki with Chidori.
• Hiruzen raised Kenichi's classification to A-rank and ordered Konoha to keep the defections under wraps.

Kenichi Amamiya discussed the Heaven's Curse Mark and Sage Mode with Orochimaru, then discovered he could sense Natural Energy with remarkable ease. He kept his talent hidden and, after Orochimaru refused to fund his research, planned to earn money by taking commissions.

• Kenichi Amamiya noted that Konoha had classified Orochimaru as an S-Rank Rogue Ninja and himself as an A-Rank Rogue Ninja.
• Orochimaru asked Kenichi Amamiya why the Heaven's Curse Mark killed so many people, and Kenichi suggested that many could not absorb Natural Energy.
• Orochimaru explained the principles of Sage Mode, and Kenichi Amamiya found that he could sense Natural Energy and draw it toward himself almost instantly.
• Kenichi Amamiya concealed his unusual affinity and listened as Orochimaru explained how to balance Natural Energy with physical and spiritual energy.
• Kenichi Amamiya asked Orochimaru for research funding, but Orochimaru refused and told him to earn money himself.
• Kenichi Amamiya decided to seek permission to take commissions.

Kenichi Amamiya used Yuki to test how fear and repeated stimuli could create a conditioned reflex while helping Orochimaru manage their prisoners. Orochimaru sent Kenichi to investigate recent changes in the Land of Rain, then prepared to test Living Corpse Reincarnation.

• Kenichi Amamiya learned that Root had sent Orochimaru the imprisoned girl and suspected Orochimaru planned to use Yuki as a vessel for Living Corpse Reincarnation.
• Kenichi Amamiya frightened Yuki with Lightning Release Chakra and continued training her to develop a conditioned response.
• Kenichi Amamiya collected the prisoners’ meal trays and reflected on the cost of supporting Orochimaru’s operation.
• Orochimaru ordered Kenichi Amamiya to investigate recent changes in the Land of Rain and build contacts there.
• After Kenichi Amamiya left, Orochimaru secured the base and prepared to test Living Corpse Reincarnation.

Kenichi Amamiya traveled toward the Land of Rain disguised as a merchant while considering using Impure World Reincarnation on Hashirama Senju. After Kakashi inspected him and left, Kenichi realized Anbu had been sent to hunt him and his teacher.

• Kenichi Amamiya reflected on the risks of Sage Art Chakra and considered using Hashirama Senju's cells for Impure World Reincarnation.
• Kenichi Amamiya encountered five bandits who demanded his goods, but a masked ninja killed them before he could act.
• Kenichi Amamiya recognized Kakashi, who demanded his Travel Permit and showed him Wanted Posters of Kenichi and his teacher.
• Kenichi Amamiya convincingly denied knowing the wanted men, and Kakashi inspected his goods before leaving.
• Kenichi Amamiya concluded that Kakashi had been dispatched to hunt him and his teacher, then hoped to find more bandits as sacrifices.

Kenichi Amamiya tested Impure World Reincarnation on two bandits, then chose to research parasites preserved in amber. After completing his Sharingan research overnight, he gained the Three-Tomoe Sharingan without physical strain and considered how to evolve it further.

• Kenichi Amamiya knocked out two bandits, used one as a sacrifice for Impure World Reincarnation, and watched the First's body collapse because the sacrifice could not bear his soul.
• Kenichi Amamiya set aside plans to reincarnate Kushina Uzumaki and decided to research the parasites in amber, hoping he might revive one.
• Kenichi Amamiya's Cheat System completed its analysis of the Three-Tomoe Sharingan while he slept.
• Kenichi Amamiya discovered that his new Three-Tomoe Sharingan gave him greatly enhanced vision and caused him no physical burden.
• Kenichi Amamiya considered experimenting on how emotions affected the Sharingan and planned to explain his eyes as transplanted from a pair he had obtained earlier.

Kenichi Amamiya entered the Land of Rain and approached Amegakure, where Pain and Konan confronted him. After asking to join the Akatsuki, he was challenged to fight Preta Path and realized the opponent’s chakra absorption could let him practice Senjutsu freely.

• Kenichi Amamiya crossed into the Land of Rain, sold his goods, and headed toward Amegakure while checking his research progress on the Chakra Parasite.
• Kenichi Amamiya noticed Nagato’s Rain Tiger at Will Technique around Amegakure and was surrounded by Deva Path Pain, Konan, Jigokudo, and Preta Path.
• Kenichi Amamiya revealed his identity as Konoha’s A-Rank Rogue Ninja, and Konan recognized him.
• Kenichi Amamiya asked to join the Akatsuki on behalf of himself and his teacher, Orochimaru, and Nagato agreed that Orochimaru was strong enough to join.
• Preta Path challenged Kenichi Amamiya to a fight, and Kenichi realized Preta Path’s chakra absorption could help him practice Senjutsu.

Kenichi Amamiya passed Pain’s test by entering Sage Mode and petrifying the Preta Path with Natural Energy. Pain accepted him into Akatsuki and gave him Orochimaru’s ring to return, while Kenichi considered how he might study the Rinnegan and help the organization make money.

• Kenichi Amamiya pretended to be surprised when the Preta Path absorbed his Chidori and Chakra, then used the opening to absorb Natural Energy.
• Kenichi Amamiya quickly entered Sage Mode, then attacked the Preta Path with taijutsu and let it grab his leg.
• The Preta Path absorbed too much Natural Energy and turned to stone, and Kenichi Amamiya kicked it into fragments.
• Pain accepted Kenichi Amamiya into Akatsuki, gave him the Gyokunyo ring, and handed him Orochimaru’s Kong ring to return to his teacher.
• Pain said he would explain Akatsuki’s plans and arrange tasks for Kenichi Amamiya, who privately hoped the organization would recruit Kakuzu.

Kenichi Amamiya returned from the Land of Rain after joining Akatsuki with his partner, then reported to his teacher. He discovered that Orochimaru had completed the Living Corpse Reincarnation technique and taken over Yuki’s body.

• Kenichi Amamiya left Akatsuki after receiving a ring, while Nagato and Konan discussed recruiting Kakuzu and growing the organization.
• Kenichi Amamiya crossed into the Land of Fire and noticed that its border patrols had become unusually sparse.
• Kenichi Amamiya hurried back to the laboratory, thinking about Akatsuki, Pain’s Rinnegan, and the benefits of learning the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.
• Kenichi Amamiya entered the laboratory and found Orochimaru wearing Yuki’s face, confirming that his teacher had reincarnated into her body.
• Kenichi Amamiya told Orochimaru that Hanzo the Salamander had died in the Land of Rain.

Kenichi Amamiya told Orochimaru that Hanzō had died and described Akatsuki and its leader Pain, whose Rinnegan captured her interest. Orochimaru accepted Akatsuki’s invitation and offered Kenichi materials and the chance to learn Living Corpse Reincarnation, leaving her poised to pursue the organization.

• Orochimaru questioned Kenichi Amamiya about how he learned of Hanzō’s death, and he explained that Pain, Akatsuki’s leader, had told him.
• Kenichi Amamiya described his mission and told Orochimaru that Pain possessed the Rinnegan, renewing her interest in Akatsuki.
• Kenichi Amamiya gave Orochimaru the Kong ring, and she accepted Akatsuki’s invitation.
• Orochimaru praised Kenichi Amamiya and told him the materials he had requested were waiting in Lab Three.
• Orochimaru explained that her new body came from Living Corpse Reincarnation and offered to teach him the technique, while Kenichi Amamiya said he was too young to need it.

Kenichi Amamiya studied Explosive Tags as a possible model for combining Chakra with a Thermobaric Bomb, while Orochimaru recovered from Living Corpse Reincarnation and concealed its effects. Pain summoned them to their first Akatsuki meeting, where Kenichi teased the organization about customizing its uniforms.

• Kenichi Amamiya found a Thermobaric Bomb blueprint without explosive proportions and decided to study Explosive Tags for ideas about making a Chakra-powered bomb.
• Orochimaru revealed that her strength had nearly recovered, though Living Corpse Reincarnation had left her with fragments of her host's memories.
• Pain summoned Orochimaru and Kenichi Amamiya to an Akatsuki meeting through a communication technique and explained that they should use their ring names.
• Kenichi Amamiya recognized the Rinnegan and asked Konan to make the Akatsuki clothes cooler, prompting Nagato to rebuke him.

Nagato assigned Kenichi Amamiya a mission to raise Akatsuki’s funds without harming civilians, while Orochimaru provoked him by demanding to study the Rinnegan. Back at the Lab Base, Kenichi Amamiya agreed to handle the funding mission and planned to target Gato, as Orochimaru headed to Amegakure to test Pain’s abilities.

• Nagato asked Kenichi Amamiya to raise funds for Akatsuki without harming civilians, and Orochimaru offered to do so only if he could study Nagato’s Rinnegan.
• Orochimaru challenged Nagato, but Nagato calmly told him he could try, while Konan watched angrily.
• Nagato assigned Kenichi Amamiya the funding mission and sent him back to the Lab Base.
• Orochimaru asked Kenichi Amamiya to handle his mission while he went to Amegakure to test Pain’s strength and learn the Rinnegan’s abilities.
• Kenichi Amamiya agreed and considered Gato a suitable target for raising funds, while keeping Obito’s Mangekyō Sharingan in his Sealing Scroll.

Kenichi searched the Land of Waves for Gato Company and found Gato at the port, where four shinobi attacked him. As a thunderstorm gathered and the attackers concealed themselves in mist, Kenichi prepared to strike with lightning.

• Kenichi failed to find Gato Company in town, gathered blood and plant samples, and saw how poor and peaceful the Land of Waves was without Gato’s influence.
• Kenichi spotted a Gato Company ship at the port and controlled Gato with his Sharingan.
• Four shinobi emerged and attacked Kenichi with the Great Waterfall Technique, but he blocked it with an Earth Wall.
• Kenichi sensed the storm’s lightning as the shinobi filled the port with mist.
• Kenichi used the mist’s conductivity and called out, “Fall, Lightning Dragon!”

Kenichi Amamiya tested a powerful Sage Art Lightning Release technique, lost control of its enormous Lightning Dragon, and hurled it far away. He robbed Gato of his money, spared him, and altered his memories before leaving him with a false account of what happened.

• Kenichi Amamiya created a gigantic Lightning Dragon with his Sage Art Lightning Release technique, then threw it toward a distant location to keep it from striking him.
• The Land of Water ninjas fled, and Kenichi Amamiya dispersed the mist and found Gato hiding underwater beneath a small boat.
• Gato led Kenichi Amamiya to his cargo ship and handed over more than one hundred million ryo.
• Kenichi Amamiya spared Gato and used his Sharingan to make him remember that a passing ninja dressed in Konoha clothes had robbed him.

Kenichi wondered where his Lightning Dragon had landed, while it struck a valley in the Land of Wind and interrupted Konan as she recruited Sasori for Akatsuki. Back in his laboratory, Kenichi found Shikotsumyaku blood from Orochimaru and began preparing a thermobaric explosive, which blew up his home.

• Kenichi worried that the Lightning Dragon he had thrown might cause trouble after traveling far from the Land of Waves.
• Konan invited Sasori to join Akatsuki, and Sasori agreed after reflecting on his desire for revenge.
• The Lightning Dragon crashed into a valley, creating a glass-lined crater and alerting Konan and Sasori to its immense power.
• Konan gave Sasori an Akatsuki ring and left before Sunagakure's ninja arrived; Sasori stayed to examine the crater.
• Kenichi returned to the laboratory, found a tube of Shikotsumyaku blood Orochimaru had left for him, and stored it for later.
• Kenichi started preparing a thermobaric explosive in the laboratory, then blew up his home.

Kenichi Amamiya destroyed his laboratory while testing Lightning Release Chakra-infused Thermobaric Explosive, then fled with stored materials to another lab as signs of war emerged. He encountered Kakashi and Might Guy, learning that Kakashi was searching for Orochimaru and Kenichi himself before likely being sent to the front line.

• Kenichi Amamiya’s experiment caused the Thermobaric Explosive to react violently, destroying the laboratory, though he escaped the blast.
• Kenichi Amamiya collected materials, including Kaguya Clan blood, in a Sealing Scroll and burned the ruined laboratory to conceal its contents.
• Kenichi Amamiya noticed Konoha ninja rushing along the road and suspected war had begun, likely against Kumogakure.
• Kenichi Amamiya hid when he sensed ninja nearby, then recognized Kakashi and Might Guy in the woods.
• Kakashi told Might Guy that the Third had assigned them to search for Orochimaru and Kenichi Amamiya, though Kakashi expected to be sent to the front line as the crisis worsened.

Kenichi Amamiya restored Orochimaru's abandoned laboratory and began testing ingredient ratios for a more powerful Thermobaric Explosive. In the Land of Rain, Orochimaru witnessed Nagato's Rinnegan and decided to join Akatsuki, though Nagato reminded him to focus on his mission.

• Kenichi Amamiya considered studying Kumogakure's body-tempering methods and ran to Orochimaru's hidden laboratory before the samples in his Sealing Scroll spoiled.
• Kenichi Amamiya restarted the laboratory's diesel generator and transferred his samples to specialized equipment, finding that some bacteria had died.
• Kenichi Amamiya recorded the idea of giving bacteria Chakra, then prepared numbered Thermobaric Explosive mixtures to test outside the laboratory.
• Orochimaru witnessed Nagato use Shinra Tensei and eagerly decided to join Akatsuki.
• Nagato reminded Orochimaru not to forget his mission because Akatsuki needed money.

Nagato woke from a dream about Sasori joining Kenichi Amamiya and Orochimaru’s disruptive group, while Kenichi tested thermobaric explosives and began planning how to combine them with Chakra. Kenichi returned to the Lab Base and worked on his theory, unaware that someone had appeared behind him.

• Nagato woke from a nightmare and hoped Kenichi Amamiya and Orochimaru could handle raising funds without causing trouble.
• Kenichi tested eight thermobaric explosive samples in a remote area of the Land of Fire and recorded their results.
• Kenichi found that Sample Number Seven had the greatest explosive force, while Sample Number Five released poisonous smoke.
• Kenichi considered testing the bombs against village barriers and incorporating Chakra into them.
• Kenichi returned to the Lab Base, began outlining two ways to combine Chakra with the explosives, and failed to notice someone behind him.