Chapter Summaries

Lin Guang led the rescue team to Akatsuki’s hideout after learning that Gaara was near death following the extraction of Shukaku. He shattered the barrier blocking the entrance with Susanoo, and the group prepared to enter.

• Lin Guang told Naruto and the others that he knew where the hideout was and led them to rescue Gaara, whose life was fading after Shukaku had been extracted.
• Might Guy’s team joined Kakashi’s group, and Neji Hyuga sensed several people and a strange statue inside the hideout.
• Might Guy failed to break the barrier covering the entrance, while Pain and the Akatsuki members sensed the approaching reinforcements and discussed Lin Guang’s strength.
• Lin Guang examined the barrier with his Sharingan and smashed through it with Susanoo.
• Lin Guang warned everyone to be careful as they prepared to enter the hideout.

Lin Guang confronted Sasori inside the Akatsuki lair while Kakashi and Might Guy pursued Deidara with Naruto, who learned Gaara was likely dead. Lin Guang and Sasori began testing each other in battle, and Granny Chiyo judged that neither had yet shown even a fifth of his strength.

• Deidara flew away with Gaara's corpse while Sasori stayed behind to face Lin Guang.
• Lin Guang sent Kakashi, Might Guy, and their team after Deidara, then entered the lair with Sakura and Granny Chiyo.
• Naruto learned Gaara was likely dead and charged after Deidara, his anger stirring the Nine-Tails chakra.
• Sasori attacked Lin Guang with Hiruko's stinger and a barrage of senbon, which Lin Guang blocked with an ice mirror.
• Lin Guang charged Sasori with an ice blade, and the two traded attacks as Sakura and Granny Chiyo watched.

Lin Guang forced Sasori to abandon Hiruko and learned that Sasori had killed the Third Kazekage and turned him into a puppet. Sasori unleashed the puppet’s weapons and poisonous smoke, while Lin Guang protected Sakura and Granny Chiyo and drove the smoke away with wind.

• Lin Guang used Ice Flame to freeze Hiruko and force Sasori to reveal his handsome true body.
• Sasori summoned his favorite puppet, the Third Kazekage, and Granny Chiyo revealed that Sasori had killed the Kazekage over a decade earlier.
• Lin Guang recognized Sasori as a threat to Konoha and focused on destroying the Third Kazekage Puppet before he could reach Sasori.
• Sasori shook off Lin Guang’s ice flames and sent hundreds of puppet arms after him, but Lin Guang burned them with Phoenix Flower Jutsu.
• Sasori filled the hideout with chakra-enhanced poisonous smoke, and Lin Guang shielded Sakura and Granny Chiyo before blowing the smoke away with Great Breakthrough.

Lin Guang fought Sasori’s Third Kazekage Puppet and froze Sasori with a combined Ice and Wind Release attack, but Sasori revealed his own puppet body and survived Lin Guang’s Susanoo assault. Sasori then vanished, leaving Lin Guang unsure where his opponent was.

• Sasori released the Third Kazekage Puppet’s iron sand, and Granny Chiyo explained that human puppets retained the kekkei genkai and chakra they had in life.
• Lin Guang froze the Iron Sand Rain with Snow Tiger Sky-Rending Roar and Great Breakthrough, encasing Sasori in ice.
• Sasori shattered the ice and revealed that he had turned his own body into a human puppet.
• Lin Guang summoned Susanoo, brought Sakura and Granny Chiyo inside it, and attacked Sasori with a giant ice spike and a crushing blow.
• Sasori’s body disappeared from Susanoo’s grasp, and his voice echoed around the cave as Lin Guang searched for him.

Lin Guang, Granny Chiyo, and Sakura fought Sasori as he unleashed the Performance of a Hundred Puppets. Lin Guang killed Sasori with his Frost Dragon Slash of the Cold Abyss, then asked Sakura to treat his injured chakra pathways before they went to find Naruto and the others.

• Sasori surrounded Lin Guang's Susanoo with more than a hundred puppets, forcing Lin Guang to ask Granny Chiyo and Sakura to hold him off while he prepared a technique.
• Granny Chiyo and Sakura battled Sasori's puppets, and Sakura injected them both with her antidote to guard against his poison.
• Lin Guang gathered his remaining chakra and told Granny Chiyo and Sakura to move away before unleashing his strongest attack.
• Lin Guang used Ice Release: Frost Dragon Slash of the Cold Abyss, and the ice dragon shattered Sasori and his puppets.
• Granny Chiyo mourned Sasori and resolved that she could use One's Own Life Reincarnation on Gaara instead.
• Lin Guang asked Sakura to treat his chakra pathways and said they would find Naruto and the others afterward.

Lin Guang and the others stopped Deidara, but Gaara had died from having Shukaku extracted. Granny Chiyo sacrificed her life to revive him, leaving Gaara back with Sunagakure as Kazekage.

• Granny Chiyo used One's Own Life Reincarnation to heal Lin Guang's chakra pathways, and he recovered enough chakra to pursue the others.
• Kakashi crippled Deidara, Naruto recovered Gaara's body, and Neji caught Deidara before he blew himself up; Lin Guang shielded everyone from the blast.
• Naruto grieved over Gaara and nearly lost control to the Nine-Tails' chakra, but Kakashi used Jiraiya's talisman while Lin Guang cooled Naruto with Ice Release.
• Granny Chiyo used One's Own Life Reincarnation to give her life to Gaara, asking Naruto to support him before she died.
• Gaara revived and reunited with the Sunagakure ninja, while Temari checked on him and told him to rest.

Lin Guang explained that Granny Chiyo had died using a life-for-life technique to revive Gaara, and urged Naruto to grow stronger so he could protect more people. After the group prepared to return to Sunagakure, Lin Guang privately considered the Akatsuki’s growing threat and planned to warn Jiraiya.

• Lin Guang told Naruto that Granny Chiyo had used a life-for-life technique to save Gaara and had died in the process.
• Sakura mourned Granny Chiyo as her younger brother struggled to accept her death, while Temari recognized that she had entrusted Sunagakure’s future to Lin Guang, Gaara, and Naruto.
• Gaara asked everyone to pray for Granny Chiyo, and Lin Guang and Naruto helped him stand.
• Lin Guang urged Naruto to seek promotion and become strong enough to protect more people, and Naruto agreed with him.
• Lin Guang privately recalled that the Akatsuki had captured at least three Tailed Beasts and decided to inform Jiraiya after returning to Konoha.
• Lin Guang concluded that Deidara had survived by using a clay decoy and vowed to defeat him when they met again.

Lin Guang and his teammates returned to Konoha after defeating Sasori, and Tsunade announced that Lin Guang and Naruto would be promoted to Jonin. Sakura later questioned how Kakashi and Lin Guang had obtained their Sharingan, prompting Tsunade to suspect that Shimura Danzō held the surviving Uchiha eyes.

• Tsunade and Jiraiya welcomed Lin Guang, Naruto, Kakashi, and Sakura back to Konoha and praised their mission work.
• Lin Guang asked about Jonin promotions, and Tsunade scheduled his and Naruto’s ceremony for the day after tomorrow.
• Lin Guang, Naruto, Satō Maji, and Hyūga Jō celebrated their return at Ichiraku Ramen and discussed their progress.
• Might Guy took Kakashi to Konoha Hospital, where Tsunade examined him after his prolonged use of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Sakura asked Tsunade how Kakashi and Lin Guang had obtained their Sharingan, and Tsunade said Shimura Danzō controlled the surviving Uchiha eyes.

Tsunade received intelligence that Orochimaru would appear at Tenchi Bridge, and Naruto insisted on going to find Sasuke. Danzo assigned Sai to join Naruto and Sakura, while Lin Guang offered to serve as their third teammate.

• Tsunade learned from Kankuro's letter that Sasori had left information about a spy meeting Orochimaru at Tenchi Bridge in ten days.
• Naruto read the intelligence and insisted on going to Kusagakure with Sakura, so Tsunade required him to find a strong Jonin for a three-person squad.
• Shimura Danzō gave Sai his name and ordered him to join Naruto and Sakura on their mission.
• Naruto decided to ask Lin Guang to join his squad, unaware that Lin Guang was already meeting with Tsunade.
• Lin Guang agreed to fill the third spot, and Tsunade told him that Danzō had already arranged for Sai to join Team 7.

Tsunade assigned Lin Guang to join Naruto's team for a dangerous mission, confident in his strength and experience. After Sai attacked Naruto and his friends, Lin Guang captured him and suspected Tsunade was dealing with trouble involving the ANBU.

• Tsunade told Lin Guang to join Naruto's team and dismissed Shizune's concerns about his readiness.
• Lin Guang found Naruto with Shikamaru and Choji and agreed to join them for their mission.
• Sai attacked the group with an ink beast, and Naruto fought him on a rooftop.
• Lin Guang trapped Sai in an ice prison after Sai tried to escape, then left him with Shikamaru.
• Lin Guang headed back to Tsunade, recognizing the ANBU scent on Sai and suspecting she was in trouble.

Lin Guang and Tsunade opposed Konoha’s elder advisers’ plan to restrict Naruto and place him under constant surveillance. The chapter ended with Lin Guang revealing his Mangekyō Sharingan as he vowed that he and Naruto would never fail.

• Shikamaru stopped Naruto from hitting Sai and asked Lin Guang how he had obtained his Sharingan, but Lin Guang left without explaining.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu told Tsunade they wanted Naruto kept away from missions involving the Akatsuki, assigned to a closely monitored four-person squad, and restricted in his movements.
• Tsunade refused the advisers’ demands and stood by Naruto, while the advisers argued that he was a Jinchūriki who should be kept under surveillance.
• Lin Guang arrived and challenged the advisers, and Tsunade argued that restricting Naruto would not prevent the Akatsuki from attacking him or endangering Konoha.
• When the advisers questioned whether Naruto could defeat the Akatsuki, Lin Guang declared that he and Naruto would never fail and revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan.

Lin Guang used his Mangekyō Sharingan and his victory over Sasori to secure a new squad assignment, with Tsunade as its leader and Yamato joining to watch over Naruto. The chapter ended as Sai joined the team and provoked Naruto with a cutting assessment of his strength.

• Lin Guang revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan to Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, then agreed to Danzo's choice of Sai as the squad's fourth member.
• Danzo demanded Lin Guang's eyes, but Lin Guang refused and insisted that he would protect Naruto.
• Tsunade made Lin Guang the squad leader and assigned Yamato to join Team 7 after Lin Guang recognized the Root recruit she had warned him about.
• Naruto and Sakura met Sai, whom Naruto recognized as the attacker Lin Guang had subdued and who had been released from the interrogation unit.
• Sai apologized for attacking Naruto, then bluntly declared Naruto weak and Lin Guang powerful, prompting Naruto to try to fight him until Sakura held him back.

After Naruto and Lin Guang were promoted to Jonin, Lin Guang unlocked new abilities and briefly reunited with the women he had kept in an alternate space. As Team 7 prepared to leave for Tenchi Bridge, Sai received a top-secret mission from Danzo.

• Sai insulted Sakura during Team 7's first meeting, and Lin Guang held her back before warning Sai about his sharp tongue.
• Tsunade held a village ceremony promoting Naruto and Lin Guang to Jonin, and the system unlocked several abilities for Lin Guang.
• Lin Guang brought Shinobu Kocho, Tamayo, and the other women out of the alternate space, then gave Shinobu the Venom-Venom Fruit power and Tamayo the angel bloodline.
• Lin Guang planned to confront Orochimaru at Tenchi Bridge and noted that the Dōjutsu he had implanted in Sasuke had continued growing stronger.
• A Root member delivered Danzo's top-secret mission to Sai, who accepted it.

Lin Guang led Naruto, Sakura, Sai, and Yamato toward Kusagakure, trying to keep the uneasy new squad working together. After stopping at a hot spring inn, they relaxed and began to get acquainted, while Lin Guang prepared to leave the bath and make dinner.

• Lin Guang set out for Kusagakure with Naruto, Sakura, Sai, and Yamato, who could use Wood Release to restrain Naruto's Nine-Tails.
• Naruto and Sai argued over Sasuke, and Sakura punched Sai after he insulted him; Lin Guang broke up the conflict and warned the team to cooperate against Orochimaru.
• Lin Guang used an Ice Release technique to threaten to imprison the bickering teammates, then suggested a stop at a hot spring inn.
• At the inn, Lin Guang introduced Yamato to Naruto and Sai, and Yamato warned Naruto that Tsunade had once severely injured Jiraiya for peeking at her bathing.
• Lin Guang left the men's bath to prepare dinner, while Sai also got out and cautioned Naruto not to soak too long.

Lin Guang treated Team 7 to a lavish dinner, then led them along a forest trail to avoid Orochimaru’s traps. As the team camped in a wooden house Yamato created, Lin Guang judged that his strength might now surpass Orochimaru’s and prepared to face him.

• Lin Guang paid for a lavish dinner, and Naruto, Sakura, Sai, and Yamato joined him for a meal that brought Team 7 closer together.
• Lin Guang chose a narrow forest trail to reduce the risk of encountering traps Orochimaru might have laid along their route.
• When the team stopped for the night, Yamato used Wood Release: Four Pillars House Technique to create a wooden house for shelter.
• Lin Guang considered Orochimaru’s weakened condition and his own increased strength, concluding that Orochimaru might no longer be his match.
• Naruto confronted Lin Guang about staying awake, then vowed to beat Orochimaru after Lin Guang told him to train.

Team 7 reached Tenchi Bridge and tried to meet Kabuto Yakushi using Yamato disguised as Sasori, but Orochimaru exposed their deception. The team joined Yamato on the bridge and faced Orochimaru and Kabuto.

• Sai scouted Tenchi Bridge with ink mice, and Yamato disguised himself as Sasori while Lin Guang, Naruto, Sakura, and Sai waited nearby.
• Kabuto met Yamato and tested his disguise as Lin Guang read their conversation through lip-reading.
• Orochimaru appeared behind Kabuto, and Kabuto revealed that Orochimaru had long since undone Sasori’s control technique.
• Kabuto broke Yamato’s Wood Release puppet, and Orochimaru attacked Yamato with Multiple Hidden Shadow Snake Hands.
• Orochimaru spotted Team 7’s hiding place, so Lin Guang led Naruto, Sakura, and Sai onto the bridge to face him and Kabuto.
• Orochimaru recognized Lin Guang as Uchiha Hikari of the Akatsuki and identified Naruto as the Nine-Tails boy.

Naruto confronted Orochimaru at Tenchi Bridge after seeing him, Sasuke’s apparent ally, and lost control under the Nine-Tails’ chakra. Lin Guang restrained the Nine-Tails’ influence so Naruto could fight, and the chapter ended with Kabuto noting how much Naruto’s jinchūriki power had grown.

• Naruto’s hatred of Orochimaru triggered a Tailed Beast Cloak, and Lin Guang threatened the Nine-Tails into limiting its chakra and easing its hold on Naruto’s mind.
• Naruto thanked Lin Guang, then Kabuto taunted him by saying Sasuke had joined Orochimaru willingly, while Sakura angrily defended Naruto.
• Orochimaru challenged the Konoha ninja to force Sasuke’s whereabouts from him, and Naruto struck him hundreds of meters into the forest.
• Yamato worried that Naruto’s escalating Nine-Tails power could endanger him, while Lin Guang trusted that the Nine-Tails would keep Naruto’s chakra use limited.
• Kabuto calmly remarked that Naruto had grown as a jinchūriki as Naruto fixed his stare on him.

At Tenchi Bridge, Orochimaru revealed that Yamato had been one of his experiments, then provoked Naruto by mentioning Sasuke. Naruto lost control as the Nine-Tails’ chakra surged, and Lin Guang tried to keep him from going further.

• Orochimaru emerged unharmed and recognized Yamato as one of the test subjects from his experiments in Konoha.
• Orochimaru challenged Naruto and taunted him by saying Sasuke belonged to him, driving Naruto to release three tails of the Nine-Tails’ chakra.
• Naruto’s chakra blast sent Kabuto Yakushi flying into Sakura and knocked her unconscious, so Lin Guang ordered Sai to carry her to safety.
• Sai left Sakura behind after reaching safety and used Ninja Art: Super Beast Imitating Drawing to fly away for Danzo’s top-secret mission.
• Naruto fought Orochimaru with flexible chakra arms and tore off one of his arms, but Orochimaru restored it by emerging from his own mouth.
• Naruto grew angrier and began losing awareness, so Lin Guang grabbed his shoulder and warned that three tails’ worth of chakra was his limit.

Lin Guang fought Orochimaru while helping Yamato suppress Naruto's rampaging Nine-Tails chakra. Orochimaru appeared to steal Lin Guang's Mangekyō Sharingan, but Lin Guang revealed that his eyes were still intact.

• Lin Guang used Ice Release to restrain Naruto's Nine-Tails chakra, then handed Naruto to Yamato, whose Wood Release reduced him from four tails to three.
• Lin Guang attacked Orochimaru with Ice Flame and Shadowless Ice Thorn, but Orochimaru survived by shedding his skin.
• Lin Guang burned Orochimaru's shed skin with Great Dragon Fire Technique, then searched for him when the body vanished.
• Orochimaru ambushed Lin Guang and had snake heads bite out both of his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Lin Guang unleashed snow and freezing cold, then revealed a glowing pair of Mangekyō Sharingan still in his eyes.

Lin Guang fought Orochimaru with Ice Release and Susanoo, surviving Orochimaru’s Kusanagi Sword while striking back with devastating attacks. The battle remained unfinished as Sakura tried to reach the injured Naruto.

• Lin Guang revealed that Orochimaru had taken ice beads instead of his Sharingan and froze Orochimaru’s snakes with a snow tiger’s roar.
• Lin Guang’s snow tiger fired an Ice Release Chakra Cannonball through Orochimaru’s Triple Rashomon, freezing and pulverizing the forest beyond it.
• Orochimaru attacked Lin Guang from underground with the Kusanagi Sword, but Lin Guang’s ice-blue armor left him unharmed.
• Lin Guang summoned Susanoo and knocked Orochimaru back, while Naruto recovered from his tailed transformation.
• Sakura ran toward Naruto and Yamato, but they warned her to stay away while Lin Guang and Orochimaru continued fighting.