Recaps

After Hiruzen Sarutobi died sealing Orochimaru, Lin Guang awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan but hid its power, then helped drive Orochimaru’s group from Konoha. The village mourned and began rebuilding, while Lin Guang was promoted to chunin and agreed to train with Jiraiya and Naruto after the recovery effort.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi died after sealing Orochimaru’s hands and the former Hokage, and Lin Guang awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan while suppressing its power.
• Jiraiya attacked Orochimaru, but the Sound Four rescued him and fled; Lin Guang struck them with an enormous ice pillar before collapsing.
• Asuma Sarutobi and Konoha’s jōnin organized recovery, and the village buried Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other fallen the following day.
• Konoha promoted Lin Guang, Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Neji Hyuga, Hyūga Jō, Satō Maji, Shikamaru Nara, and others to chunin.
• Jiraiya told Lin Guang he would train him and Naruto after Konoha settled, then said he would leave the village to warn nearby troublemakers.

After the Third Hokage’s death, Jiraiya left Konoha for Amegakure while Lin Guang and Naruto helped with reconstruction and reflected on their loss. Meanwhile, Sand Ninja discovered the Fourth Kazekage’s corpse, and Orochimaru remained in hiding after escaping Konoha.

• Jiraiya met Kakashi at the cemetery, spoke with him about Obito and the dead, and said he was leaving to address discontent in Amegakure.
• Lin Guang examined his Mangekyō Sharingan, recognized its influence on Uchiha temperament, and resolved that Orochimaru had to die.
• Naruto joined Lin Guang in directing reconstruction work, and the two comforted Konohamaru by giving him Ichiraku Ramen vouchers.
• Two foreign ninja used genjutsu on a Konoha gate guard and entered the village unnoticed.
• Sand Ninja found the long-dead Fourth Kazekage, and Baki realized Orochimaru had killed him and impersonated him.
• Orochimaru discussed his escape with Kabuto and complained when Kabuto praised his killing of two of the Five Kage.

Orochimaru accepted his defeat, while Konoha’s advisors asked Jiraiya to become Fifth Hokage after Sunagakure surrendered. Jiraiya refused and offered to search for Tsunade instead, as two strange men overheard Kakashi mention Sasuke.

• Kabuto reminded Orochimaru that they had seen Sasuke Uchiha and Lin Guang’s potential, and Orochimaru lamented losing his hands and Ninjutsu while recalling Itachi and his former organization.
• Jiraiya returned from gathering intelligence in Kirigakure and met Advisors Mito and Koharu, who told him Konoha needed a Fifth Hokage and had chosen him.
• Jiraiya declined the position and proposed finding Tsunade, so Mito and Koharu agreed to consider it and assigned three ANBU to accompany him.
• Kakashi waited for Sasuke to take offerings to Obito, while two strange men wearing rings marked “Vermilion” and “South” overheard them mention Sasuke.
• Naruto could not find his free ramen coupon, so Lin Guang offered to pay for their meal.

Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki entered Konoha and fought Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi until Kakashi Hatake arrived. Meanwhile, Naruto ate ramen with Lin Guang, and Sasuke Uchiha sensed that someone had come to the village.

• Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi confronted Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki by the river and recognized them as wanted rogue ninja.
• Kisame Hoshigaki overpowered Asuma, while Uchiha Itachi saw through Kurenai’s genjutsu and sent her into the river.
• Kakashi Hatake arrived and copied Kisame’s Water Release: Water Shark Bullet Technique with his Sharingan, causing their water attacks to collide.
• Sasuke Uchiha felt a premonition that someone had come to Konoha.
• Naruto thanked Lin Guang for treating him to ramen after eating his fill.

Kakashi and his allies confronted Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki, who came to Konoha searching for something, while Sasuke investigated the Uchiha clan’s stone tablet. Jiraiya invited Lin Guang and Naruto to leave the village with him; Lin Guang agreed, but Naruto refused.

• Kakashi, Asuma Sarutobi, and Kurenai Yuhi faced Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki, and Itachi warned Kisame against prolonging the fight.
• Uchiha Itachi said they had come to look for something, then attacked Kakashi with Water Release and detonated a clone that Kakashi narrowly dodged.
• Sasuke Uchiha returned to the sealed Uchiha clan grounds and studied the stone tablet with his Sharingan.
• Jiraiya caught up with Lin Guang and Naruto after their walk and invited them to accompany him to find someone important.
• Lin Guang accepted Jiraiya’s invitation and planned to train outside the village, while Naruto declined.

Lin Guang followed a strange sensation to the Village-Guarding River, where he found Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki fighting Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai. When Itachi prepared to use Tsukuyomi, Lin Guang used his Mangekyō Sharingan to weaken the technique as the battle continued.

• Lin Guang sensed something through his Mangekyō Sharingan and left Jiraiya and Naruto to investigate the Village-Guarding River.
• Lin Guang spotted Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki fighting Kakashi Hatake, Asuma Sarutobi, and Kurenai Yuhi, then chose to watch rather than call Jiraiya.
• Itachi criticized Kakashi's body for being unsuited to the Sharingan and announced that he would show the true power of the kekkei genkai.
• Kakashi warned Asuma and Kurenai not to look at Itachi's eyes as Itachi prepared to use Tsukuyomi.
• Lin Guang activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and canceled roughly a third of Tsukuyomi's ocular power.

Kakashi endured Itachi's Tsukuyomi while Lin Guang secretly weakened the technique, and Kakashi deduced that Itachi and Kisame were pursuing Naruto as the Fourth Hokage's legacy. As Kisame prepared to kill the Konoha ninja, Might Guy arrived and struck him down.

• Itachi's Tsukuyomi left Kakashi in agony, while Itachi sensed a hidden Mangekyō Sharingan user in the grove and Lin Guang stayed concealed.
• Kakashi questioned why Itachi had spared him, and Itachi denied seeking Sasuke before claiming he wanted the Fourth Hokage's legacy.
• Kakashi recognized Naruto as the likely target and told Itachi and Kisame that he knew about Akatsuki.
• Itachi ordered Kisame to take Kakashi and kill Asuma and Kurenai, so Kisame attacked them with Samehada.
• Might Guy arrived with Konoha Whirlwind, knocked Kisame tumbling, and introduced himself as Konoha's Blue Beast.

Might Guy and the other Jonin drove Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki away, and Lin Guang stopped Itachi's Amaterasu from burning him. Lin Guang then joined Jiraiya and Naruto as they left Konoha for Naruto's training journey.

• Might Guy arrived, helped Kakashi, and ordered Kurenai Yuhi to take him to the hospital while Asuma Sarutobi covered them.
• Uchiha Itachi called off Kisame Hoshigaki and left, but first attacked Lin Guang with Amaterasu.
• Lin Guang used his Mangekyō Sharingan and blue flames to consume the Amaterasu, then returned home.
• Lin Guang, Jiraiya, and Naruto set out from Konoha for Naruto's training journey.
• Jiraiya told Naruto that he reminded him of the Fourth Hokage.

Naruto celebrated learning that he resembled the Fourth Hokage, while Jiraiya and Lin Guang continued guiding him outside Konoha. Meanwhile, Kisame Hoshigaki and Uchiha Itachi watched the trio from a distance, and Sasuke pushed himself to practice Chidori again; the chapter ended with Jiraiya teasing Naruto about Kakashi’s bell exercise.

• Naruto learned that he looked like the Fourth Hokage and excitedly declared that he could become Hokage, then stepped in dog poop twice.
• Sasuke, troubled by Naruto’s recent feats, repeatedly practiced Chidori despite his injuries.
• Kisame Hoshigaki and Uchiha Itachi observed Jiraiya, Lin Guang, and Naruto from a hill and discussed how dangerous their opponents would be.
• Lin Guang sensed someone watching them, and Jiraiya understood that a powerful ninja—likely an Akatsuki member—was nearby.
• At a temple, Naruto questioned Jiraiya about the Fourth Hokage and learned about Jiraiya’s own teacher, the Third Hokage.
• Jiraiya guessed that Kakashi had tied Naruto to a log during the bell exercise, and Lin Guang joined in teasing him.

After learning that Uchiha Itachi had returned and was seeking Naruto, Sasuke raced to Shukuba Town to find him. Naruto and Lin Guang trained at an inn while Jiraiya went out, and Sasuke searched the town for them.

• At Kakashi's hospital room, Sasuke heard that Itachi was back and looking for Naruto, then rushed out to find him.
• Sasuke asked Sakura where Naruto was, then learned at Ichiraku Ramen that Naruto had gone to Shukuba Town with Lin Guang and Jiraiya.
• In Shukuba Town, Jiraiya booked an inn and told Naruto to refine his chakra while Lin Guang watched over him.
• Naruto and Lin Guang went to their room and trained, with Naruto using shadow clones to speed up his chakra refinement.
• Sasuke reached Shukuba Town and searched its inns and establishments for Naruto, while Naruto's clones filled the room as he trained.

Lin Guang and Naruto were confronted by Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki, who came to take Naruto, until Sasuke arrived and attacked his older brother. As the fight escalated, Lin Guang used Ice Release and Itachi countered with a Great Fireball, leaving the battle underway.

• Sasuke found the inn, and Lin Guang warned Naruto that enemies were outside just before Itachi and Kisame burst into the room.
• Itachi asked Naruto to come with them, and Lin Guang led Naruto outside while stalling for Jiraiya; Kisame prepared to attack until Itachi sensed Sasuke approaching.
• Sasuke confronted Itachi and charged him with Chidori, but Itachi caught him and dispelled the attack with ease.
• Naruto gathered the Nine-Tails' chakra and tried to summon Gamabunta, while Kisame struck at him and Lin Guang intercepted with ice blades.
• Lin Guang unleashed Ice Release: Shadowless Ice Thorn and grazed Kisame, then followed with Raging Blade Ice Shatter as Itachi answered with the Great Fireball Technique.

Jiraiya arrived in time to stop Kisame Hoshigaki from attacking Naruto and Lin Guang, and the Akatsuki revealed that capturing Naruto was their top priority. Sasuke challenged Uchiha Itachi but was overwhelmed and trapped in Tsukuyomi, while Naruto charged forward to confront Itachi.

• Jiraiya dispelled the mist and joined Lin Guang and Naruto, while Kisame Hoshigaki and Uchiha Itachi revealed that they had targeted Naruto for the Nine-Tails.
• Jiraiya and Kisame Hoshigaki faced off as Sasuke rose and insisted that he alone would kill Uchiha Itachi.
• Uchiha Itachi repeatedly defeated Sasuke and used Tsukuyomi to make him relive the Uchiha clan massacre.
• Naruto charged at Uchiha Itachi after Kisame Hoshigaki commented on Itachi using Tsukuyomi against his younger brother.

Lin Guang pursued Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki after they escaped Jiraiya’s Toad Mouth Bind, freezing and genjutsu-striking them before confronting Itachi. In Tsukuyomi, Itachi revealed how Shimura Danzō’s seizure of Shisui Uchiha’s eye led him to slaughter the Uchiha Clan to protect Sasuke, and Lin Guang learned Itachi had been a double agent.

• Jiraiya trapped Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki inside the Great Rock Lodging Toad’s stomach while Sasuke Uchiha sank into its wall.
• Uchiha Itachi used Amaterasu to burn an exit, then escaped with Kisame Hoshigaki while genjutsu confused Jiraiya and Naruto.
• Lin Guang pursued the pair, froze them in ice, and then trapped Kisame Hoshigaki in genjutsu.
• Uchiha Itachi used Tsukuyomi to show Lin Guang how Shimura Danzō had taken one of Shisui Uchiha’s eyes and how Itachi had joined a Masked Man to massacre the Uchiha Clan to save Sasuke.
• Lin Guang learned that Uchiha Itachi had acted as a double agent for Konoha and the Akatsuki and had already delivered his intelligence to the designated department.

Lin Guang learned from Itachi that the man who helped massacre the Uchiha clan was not the real Madara, then let Itachi and Kisame leave. After returning to Jiraiya and Naruto, Lin Guang contained Amaterasu and secretly used genjutsu to hide his Sharingan from Might Guy, while Kisame noticed Lin Guang’s Sharingan outside the village.

• Itachi told Lin Guang that the supposed Madara had a Mangekyō Sharingan with a Space-Time Ninjutsu ability and asked him to look after Sasuke.
• Lin Guang suggested Naruto watch over Sasuke, and Itachi ended the Tsukuyomi before leaving with Kisame.
• Lin Guang released his genjutsu on Kisame and returned to Jiraiya and Naruto, then froze Itachi’s Amaterasu flames with his Mangekyō ability while concealing it as Ice Release.
• Jiraiya freed Sasuke from the Rock Inn Toad’s intestinal walls, and Naruto caught him as Might Guy arrived and attacked Jiraiya.
• Lin Guang blocked Might Guy’s kick and cast genjutsu to hide his Sharingan, but Kisame later told Itachi that Lin Guang had a Sharingan too.

After Uchiha Itachi and Kisame escaped, Jiraiya arranged for Sasuke to receive treatment and set out with Naruto and Lin Guang to find Tsunade. As they traveled, Lin Guang considered leaving the group so he could focus on developing his Mangekyō Sharingan.

• Uchiha Itachi erased Kisame's memory of encountering Lin Guang, making Kisame believe they had fled Konoha without meeting him.
• Jiraiya told Might Guy to take Sasuke to the Medical Team, explaining that Sasuke had broken bones and serious mental trauma from Uchiha Itachi's Tsukuyomi.
• Naruto vowed to pursue the two men in black cloaks, but Jiraiya warned him that he was far too weak and said they needed to find Tsunade to help treat Sasuke and Kakashi.
• Might Guy gave Naruto a green bodysuit, which Naruto gladly accepted while Lin Guang refused to wear it.
• Might Guy returned to Konoha with Sasuke as Jiraiya, Naruto, and Lin Guang continued their journey; Lin Guang decided to look for a chance to leave and train his Mangekyō Sharingan.

Lin Guang told Jiraiya he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and learned that Uchiha Itachi had been a double agent protecting Konoha and Sasuke. He left Naruto and Jiraiya to train alone, intending to master his new abilities as the Akatsuki threatened Naruto and the village.

• Jiraiya explained that the Akatsuki sought the Nine-Tails sealed inside Naruto, and Naruto resolved to grow stronger after they found Tsunade and saved Sasuke.
• Lin Guang told Jiraiya he planned to leave the group and train alone, then used Genjutsu to keep Naruto unaware of their conversation.
• Lin Guang revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan to Jiraiya and said he had awakened it after witnessing their master's death.
• Lin Guang recounted meeting Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki, learning that Itachi had been a double agent who wanted to protect Konoha and Sasuke.
• Jiraiya agreed not to stop Lin Guang from training alone, and Lin Guang prepared to leave before Naruto regained awareness.

Lin Guang left Jiraiya and Naruto to pursue training, while Jiraiya encouraged Naruto by revealing that Lin Guang was nearing the strength of Kisame Hoshigaki and Uchiha Itachi. After Might Guy warned two Konoha guards about Itachi’s attack on Sasuke, Lin Guang considered disguising himself and infiltrating the Akatsuki.

• Lin Guang left Jiraiya, asked him to keep his Mangekyō Sharingan secret, and ensured Naruto would not remember seeing it until he became stronger.
• Jiraiya told Naruto that Lin Guang was approaching the strength of Kisame Hoshigaki and Uchiha Itachi, motivating Naruto to train harder with him.
• Satō Maji and Hyūga Jō stood guard at the village entrance when Might Guy arrived carrying the badly injured Sasuke Uchiha.
• Might Guy warned Satō Maji and Hyūga Jō that Uchiha Itachi had defeated Kakashi and attacked Sasuke, and told them to flee if they encountered him.
• Lin Guang weighed training at the three sage locations before considering disguising himself and infiltrating the Akatsuki.

Lin Guang learned from Jiraiya that the Akatsuki was based in Amegakure and traveled there to investigate. He entered the impoverished village disguised as Uchiha Hikari and began relying on two local siblings for help.

• Lin Guang used genjutsu to make Naruto forget their encounter, then asked Jiraiya where the Akatsuki was based.
• Jiraiya warned Lin Guang about the Akatsuki's strength and told him its headquarters was in Amegakure.
• Lin Guang traveled to Amegakure and observed the village's rainy climate, unusual buildings, and poor conditions.
• Two siblings offered to find Lin Guang a place to stay in exchange for food, and he introduced himself as Uchiha Hikari.
• Mingkong Qian and Mingkong Zhi guided Lin Guang to a convenience store, where the clerk recognized him as their leader.

Lin Guang bought food and masks in Amegakure, then followed Mingkong Qian and Mingkong Zhi to find lodging. They led him into an ambush by a gang of robbers, and the chapter ended as the bearded leader fired a barrage of senbon at him.

• Lin Guang bought two loaves of bread for Mingkong Qian and Mingkong Zhi and paid for eight masks.
• Mingkong Qian led Lin Guang down a dim street to show him a place to stay.
• Mingkong Qian revealed that she and her brother had lured Lin Guang into a robbery, while a bearded man summoned twenty or thirty accomplices.
• Lin Guang used Genjutsu: Sharingan to incapacitate most of the robbers, and the survivors realized he had the Sharingan.
• The bearded man fired roughly a hundred senbon from a ninja tool umbrella at Lin Guang.

Lin Guang defeated the Amegakure ninjas who attacked him, imprisoned them in ice, and killed them after Mingkong Qian warned that their god would target them. He found a house to use as shelter and created a shadow clone to guard him while he rested.

• Lin Guang blocked the bearded man's senbon with Ice Release, then turned the attackers' Water Dragon Bullets into an ice dragon with his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• The bearded man ordered the Amegakure ninjas to flee, but Lin Guang froze the street and trapped them in an ice prison.
• Mingkong Qian said that God would kill them and Lin Guang, so Lin Guang crushed the imprisoned ninjas and the two children inside a shrinking ice prison.
• Lin Guang disposed of the bodies in a sewer and used the bearded man's key to enter a house where he planned to stay.
• Lin Guang reflected on the Mangekyō Sharingan abilities he had discovered, then created a Shadow Clone to keep watch while he rested.

Yuri Mikaze discovered ice containing human remains in Amegakure’s sewers and reported it to the leader, who recognized unusual dōjutsu power in the Ice Release and decided to seek out its creator. Lin Guang realized he had left traces behind and set out to gather intelligence, while the leader and Konan examined the ice.

• Yuri Mikaze found glittering ice containing human limbs and organs in the sewer and reported it to Amegakure’s leader.
• Amegakure’s leader recognized dōjutsu power in the Ice Release and planned to have Uchiha Itachi meet its creator.
• Lin Guang regretted leaving traces of his Ice Release and decided to gather intelligence about Amegakure and the Akatsuki.
• Konan rewarded Yuri Mikaze and sent him down from the tower on a paper airplane.
• Amegakure’s leader showed Konan the ice, and she learned that its caster had imbued it with dōjutsu power.

Lin Guang surveyed Amegakure and used Genjutsu to question Yuri Mikaze about the village’s leader and Konan. He learned the leader met Yuri in the central tower but uncovered no information about the Akatsuki, leaving his investigation unresolved.

• Lin Guang walked through Amegakure, assessed its weak defenses, and considered investigating the tower at the village center before deciding it was too risky.
• Yuri Mikaze bumped into Lin Guang and boasted about meeting Amegakure’s leader and Lady Angel.
• Lin Guang used Genjutsu to make Yuri Mikaze answer his questions, then set noise-making ice and ice mirrors around his home as security.
• Yuri Mikaze said the leader had short orange hair and that he met him in the central tower, while describing Lady Angel as a beautiful woman with blue-violet hair.
• Lin Guang realized the tower held Amegakure’s leader but remained unsure whether the leader was connected to the Akatsuki.

Lin Guang questioned Yuri Mikaze about the Akatsuki, but Yuri’s head exploded before he could answer, leaving Lin Guang with a mysterious black nail that triggered a vision of a purple-eyed figure. After unlocking Conqueror’s Haki to resist its pressure, Lin Guang was confronted by Konan, who demanded he come with her over Yuri’s death.

• Lin Guang asked Yuri Mikaze whether he knew the Akatsuki, but Yuri’s head exploded and a black iron nail fell from it.
• Lin Guang touched the nail, saw a shadow with purple concentric-ring eyes, and unlocked Conqueror’s Haki to resist the pressure.
• Amegakure’s leader ordered Konan to retrieve the person who killed the informant, giving her a black steel rod to guide her to the target.
• Lin Guang examined the nail, then noticed Konan approaching and used his Sharingan to cast genjutsu on her.
• Konan tore through the illusory streets, saw through Lin Guang’s genjutsu, and ordered him to come with her or be killed.

Konan brought Lin Guang to Pain, who explained the Akatsuki’s plans and invited him to learn about the organization. Lin Guang concealed his knowledge with genjutsu and pretended to be shocked as Pain described its ambitions.

• Konan threatened Lin Guang with a Paper Shuriken, and he agreed to follow her.
• Lin Guang froze Yuri Mikaze and disposed of him in a sewer before leaving with Konan.
• Konan brought Lin Guang to Pain at the top of the tower, where Pain questioned whether he belonged to the Uchiha Clan.
• Pain told Lin Guang about the Akatsuki and its plan to gather the Tailed Beasts, create wars, and use the Ten-Tails to conquer the world.
• Lin Guang used genjutsu to hide that he already knew of the Akatsuki, then acted frightened as Pain explained its plans.

Lin Guang joined the Akatsuki as its ninth member after Pain explained how the organization funded its plans, and Konan showed him how she made Explosive Tags. Meanwhile, Naruto traveled with Jiraiya, enjoyed a day of eating and games, then found Jiraiya’s bankbook and confronted him about his savings.

• Pain asked Lin Guang whether he would join the Akatsuki, and Lin Guang agreed while declaring his hatred for Uchiha Itachi.
• Konan welcomed Lin Guang as the Akatsuki’s ninth member, introduced herself and Pain, and took him to see the organization’s base.
• Naruto traveled with Jiraiya while searching for Tsunade and training, then spent his money eating and playing in town.
• Naruto found Jiraiya’s bankbook after buying a mask and tripping, then confronted Jiraiya about being stingy despite his savings.