Chapter Summaries

Tsunade and Orochimaru secured funding to improve Impure World Reincarnation, while Longjian Senju grew into an unusually intelligent, strong-willed child. The chapter ended with Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō considering how to let Longjian attend the Ninja Academy safely.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō learned about the risks of Impure World Reincarnation and questioned Tsunade and Orochimaru about their research funding.
• Tsunade and Orochimaru described their effort to use sealing jutsu to slow soul dissipation, and Shimura Danzō approved funding for an improved technique.
• Orochimaru reported that the artificial human Longjian had begun moving, and Longjian later left his growth tube and was raised by Orochimaru and Tsunade.
• Konoha's younger generation grew up amid altered timelines, while Longjian developed quickly and displayed a blunt, domineering temperament.
• Longjian demanded to attend the Ninja Academy so he could make friends, and Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō debated precautions before letting him go.

Orochimaru and Mito Uzumaki outfitted Longjian with devices that concealed and restrained his Rinnegan, and he used its limited sight ability to navigate. Dan Katō brought Longjian Senju to the Ninja Academy, where Longjian won over his classmates by offering them discounts at his family’s businesses.

• Orochimaru and Mito Uzumaki created a lens to hide and seal most of Longjian’s Rinnegan power and a powerful, chakra-activated sealing bandage.
• Longjian activated the Rinnegan’s basic domain sight to perceive his surroundings despite the lens blocking his vision.
• Dan Katō took Longjian by the hand and escorted him to the Ninja Academy, nervously explaining the school along the way.
• The teacher introduced Longjian Senju to Class A, explaining that his eye injury required him to use a clan technique to identify objects.
• Longjian offered his classmates a fifty-percent discount at the academy’s convenience store and cafeteria, and the children enthusiastically welcomed him.

Longjian Senju settled into his first day at the Ninja Academy, while Black Zetsu returned to find Yin gravely injured and demanded an explanation from Leaf Dragon. Black Zetsu learned that Yin had searched for him in the Forbidden Zone and began trying to revive the child.

• Longjian Senju won over his classmates by promising them a discount, then sat among Obito Uchiha, Shisui Uchiha, Rin Nohara, Kakashi Hatake, and Might Guy.
• Longjian Senju completed his first day at the Ninja Academy without disrupting class and left with Dan Katō.
• Longjian Senju told Dan Katō that he was worried about being shorter than other children and said Orochimaru had suggested his promise to his classmates.
• Black Zetsu returned to the Jashin Cult and found Yin nearly motionless, then demanded an explanation from Leaf Dragon.
• Leaf Dragon explained that Yin had searched the cult for Black Zetsu and insisted on entering the Forbidden Zone, so he could not stop him.
• Black Zetsu realized he had misunderstood Leaf Dragon again, considered releasing two of his restraints, and tried to revive Yin.

Black Zetsu revived Yin after the boy collapsed, then learned that Yin had used a ritual pillar to reach him and might be able to communicate with the Evil God. Black Zetsu decided to focus on Yin as a possible way to rescue Mother, while Yin grew frustrated that Black Zetsu showed so little reaction.

• Black Zetsu revived Yin and discovered that Konoha’s barrier had improved enough to detect his infiltration, leading him to suspect Orochimaru was driving its scientific progress.
• Yin explained that he had gone looking for Black Zetsu, entered the Forbidden Zone, and touched a red pillar after Leaf Dragon stopped him.
• Black Zetsu recognized the pillar as a ritual channel to the Evil God and learned that Yin had wished to see him in exchange for some of his life, energy, stamina, or potential.
• Black Zetsu realized Yin might be able to make a wish to the Evil God to rescue Mother and decided to focus his efforts on the boy.
• Yin gnawed on Black Zetsu’s hand and silently complained that Black Zetsu’s subdued reaction earned him too few points.

Black Zetsu tested Yin’s connection to the Evil God and learned what it could provide and at what cost. He left the altar with Yin asleep on his back, still planning to use the boy for his schemes but feeling a little attached to him.

• Black Zetsu gave Leaf Dragon a control pill and relaxed his restrictions after the man accepted an undeserved punishment without resistance.
• Black Zetsu took Yin to the Jashin Cult Forbidden Zone, where Yin’s touch made the Blood-red Pillar glow.
• Yin asked the Evil God whether it could break Kaguya Otsutsuki’s seal, and Black Zetsu learned that the cost was beyond Yin’s means.
• Black Zetsu questioned the Evil God about the Rinnegan and other plans, learning that it took things from the living world or a Parallel World and that speaking to it exhausted Yin.
• Black Zetsu carried the sleeping Yin away, reflecting that he could grieve for the boy for one second when he died.

Dan Katō reported that Longjian was settling into the Ninja Academy, though he had promised the students half-price purchases at Hiruzen Sarutobi’s expense. After discussing Longjian’s adjustment and the grief Dan still carried over Uchiha Ichiro’s death, Hiruzen fell asleep at his desk, and Shimura Danzō took over his unfinished work.

• Dan Katō told Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō that Longjian had adapted well at the Ninja Academy and promised students half-price purchases funded by the Hokage.
• Shimura Danzō revealed that Orochimaru had stolen his hidden money to support the Konoha Laboratory, so Hiruzen agreed to cover the discount.
• Dan Katō reported that Longjian gravitated toward children from the Uchiha Clan, and Hiruzen asked Dan to keep observing him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō recalled Uchiha Ichiro and discussed Dan Katō’s lingering grief and their own failures to care for the younger generation.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi drifted off while speaking, and Shimura Danzō moved his unfinished paperwork to his own desk and continued working.

Dan Katō reflected on his promise to Uchiha Ichiro and decided to focus on raising Longjian Senju without treating the child as a replacement for the dead. Meanwhile, Orochimaru tried to keep Longjian in the Laboratory and told the child that their gender was “mushroom.”

• Dan Katō visited the Memorial Stone and compared Longjian with Uchiha Ichiro, reminding himself to let Longjian live as their own person.
• Dan Katō recalled Uchiha Ichiro’s request to protect the child and resolved to raise Longjian while still searching for his own path.
• In Orochimaru's Laboratory, Orochimaru urged Longjian to stay inside and warned that people outside Konoha wanted the child’s eyes.
• Longjian asked Orochimaru about their gender, and Orochimaru seriously claimed that Longjian was a mushroom.
• Longjian realized Orochimaru was teasing them and concluded that they were genderless.

Longjian Senju settled into an easy routine at the Ninja Academy, walking to school with Shisui Uchiha and Obito Uchiha while Dan Katō secretly watched over them. The chapter left Longjian enjoying his new friendships and the calmer pace of daily life.

• Dan Katō examined Obito Uchiha's swollen wrist, but Obito refused treatment until Longjian Senju told Rin Nohara about the injury.
• Longjian Senju, Obito Uchiha, and Shisui Uchiha walked to the Ninja Academy together while Dan Katō followed them using the Spirit Transformation Technique.
• Rin Nohara scolded Obito Uchiha and treated his wrist as Longjian Senju and Shisui Uchiha watched and teased him.
• Might Guy challenged Kakashi at the Academy gates, but Kakashi refused before the bell sent the children to class.
• Longjian Senju arrived in class at the final chime and reflected that his new companions made everyday life pleasant and easy.

Disguised as a vagrant in the Land of Rain, Jiraiya learned from Leaf Dragon that the country’s suffering followed its leaders’ betrayal of Konoha. After Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan carried him to their secret base, Jiraiya planned to question them about the Jashin Cult and Leaf Dragon’s body.

• Jiraiya disguised himself as a vagrant and explored the impoverished Land of Rain while searching for signs of the Jashin Cult.
• Leaf Dragon explained that Hanzo of the Salamander had aided the Lands of Wind and Earth during their invasion of Konoha in exchange for a promise of territory, and that Konoha later raised its prices on goods sold to the Land of Rain.
• Nagato bumped into Jiraiya and tried to steal his pouch, but Jiraiya pretended to collapse and begged for money for treatment and food.
• Nagato returned the pouch in a panic, and Yahiko and Konan comforted him after he thought Jiraiya had died.
• Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan carried Jiraiya to their secret base, while Jiraiya decided he could go easy on them when he questioned them.

Jiraiya disguised himself as a starving vagrant and was taken in by Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan, who believed he had amnesia. He joined the children in their Cave, and by dinner he had decided he could not leave them to fend for themselves.

• Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan brought the unconscious Jiraiya to their Cave, where Little Dot’s filthy face-licking interrupted Yahiko as he noticed Jiraiya had no vagrant’s smell.
• Jiraiya woke after Yahiko ran outside, listened as Yahiko and Nagato disagreed about stealing, and learned they hoped to join Hanzo’s army when they were older.
• When the children returned, Jiraiya pretended to have amnesia, and Yahiko introduced himself and offered to let him stay until he remembered his name.
• The children gave Jiraiya an unusually generous dinner, and he privately concluded that he could not leave them alone.

Jiraiya questioned Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato about life in the Land of Rain and pretended that memories of a religious group were returning. After learning Nagato was an Uzumaki and hearing about the Goodness Cult, Jiraiya concluded that Black Zetsu was behind the clues.

• Yahiko described the Land of Rain’s hardships and said he planned to join Hanzo’s forces, while Jiraiya challenged his belief in Hanzo.
• Yahiko declared that he would become god if Hanzo refused to change, and Konan and Nagato encouraged him.
• Jiraiya pretended to remember searching for the Jashin Cult, and the children told him about the Goodness Cult, which distributed free food.
• Jiraiya asked Nagato’s full name, prompting Nagato to remember that he belonged to the Uzumaki family.
• Jiraiya told Leaf Dragon that Nagato’s heritage and the Goodness Cult proved Black Zetsu was involved.

Jiraiya, still pretending to have lost his memories, joined Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato while investigating the Land of Rain. He learned that Hanzo was secretly conducting poison-gas experiments on children and planned to find a way into the laboratory to check for Black Zetsu's involvement.

• Jiraiya questioned Nagato about his parents and learned that Nagato had become separated from them as a child before meeting Yahiko and Konan.
• Jiraiya sent two Shadow Clones out to gather intelligence, then exchanged cautious questions with Yahiko and reached a provisional understanding with him.
• Jiraiya joined the children's thefts the next day while observing the Land of Rain and learning that Hanzo's [Goodness Cult] distributed food and maintained a favorable public image.
• Jiraiya learned from a Shadow Clone that Hanzo was using children as subjects for experiments involving "Ibuse Poison Gas" at a guarded laboratory.
• Jiraiya decided to create a disturbance and infiltrate the laboratory to investigate whether Black Zetsu was involved.

Jiraiya spoke with Yahiko about his mission and offered him and Konan a choice between going to the Land of Fire or staying in the Land of Rain to learn self-defense. As Yahiko considered the offer, Jiraiya wondered whether he might be the Child of Prophecy and decided he must avoid books and students until he rescued Leaf Dragon.

• Jiraiya watched the sleeping children and considered whether they would agree to leave the Land of Rain with him.
• Yahiko woke and joined Jiraiya beneath an umbrella, where Jiraiya gave him his coat.
• Jiraiya explained that he would take Nagato to the Uzumaki Clan and offered Yahiko and Konan a choice of going to the Land of Fire or staying in the Land of Rain.
• Jiraiya warned Yahiko not to join Hanzo of the Salamander's forces and said his mission was to rescue someone from human experiments.
• Yahiko said he needed to discuss Jiraiya's offer with Konan and asked whether Jiraiya would harm the Land of Rain.
• Jiraiya considered whether Yahiko was the Child of Prophecy and resolved not to write books or take a student until he rescued Leaf Dragon.

Kakashi celebrated his fifth birthday with his parents and friends while Hatake Sakumo waited anxiously for Leaf Dragon to return from his mission. Leaf Dragon arrived late, bloodied but safe, and was welcomed home by Sakumo and Chidori Cloud.

• Hatake Sakumo and Chidori Cloud decorated the house for Kakashi’s birthday, and Sakumo accidentally made Kakashi think his father cared more about Leaf Dragon.
• Chidori Cloud and Sakumo comforted Kakashi, then welcomed Obito Uchiha, Longjian Senju, Shisui Uchiha, Rin Nohara, and Might Guy to the party.
• Kakashi enjoyed dinner and his friends’ gifts, while Sakumo worried that Leaf Dragon had not returned as promised.
• Leaf Dragon arrived late wearing a dragon-patterned mask, explaining that he had been attacked and that Kakashi’s gift had been damaged.
• Sakumo and Chidori Cloud embraced Leaf Dragon, who relaxed and said he was home.

On Kakashi’s fifth birthday, he met his parents’ old friend, the ANBU operative Leaf Dragon, who entertained him with a story while secretly reporting five years of intelligence to Konoha. Leaf Dragon refused to reveal his real name and left to continue his unfinished mission, and Kakashi never saw him again.

• Leaf Dragon greeted Kakashi and introduced himself only by his ANBU codename, leaving Kakashi and his parents puzzled about his real name.
• During Kakashi’s birthday gathering, Leaf Dragon began telling the family about the turmoil he had witnessed since leaving Konoha.
• Hatake Sakumo persuaded Leaf Dragon to finish his story by posing Kakashi cutely and having him meow.
• As Kakashi fell asleep, Leaf Dragon recounted the intelligence he had gathered, and Chidori Cloud recorded it for Lord Hokage.
• Leaf Dragon confirmed the intelligence records, refused to stay in Konoha or disclose his real name, and promised Hatake Sakumo he would try to return alive.
• Kakashi’s first meeting with Leaf Dragon became their last.

Jiraiya gained Yahiko’s trust and prepared to take him, Konan, and Nagato to the Land of Fire. While searching Hanzo of the Salamander’s laboratory for the Jashin Cult and Leaf Dragon, he found evidence of brutal experiments on children and reconsidered how to intervene, ending with Leaf Dragon’s hints sparking an idea.

• Jiraiya reassured Yahiko that he would need to judge the truth for himself, and Yahiko decided to trust him and tell Konan and Nagato about the invitation.
• Jiraiya and Leaf Dragon discussed Yahiko’s potential and agreed that night was the right time to act.
• Jiraiya infiltrated Hanzo of the Salamander’s laboratory and found children suffering through lethal experiments.
• Jiraiya found no trace of the Jashin Cult and weighed the consequences of exposing or killing Hanzo of the Salamander.
• Leaf Dragon reminded Jiraiya of Konoha’s conflict with the Land of Rain, its suffering people, and Konoha’s Mangekyō Sharingan, prompting Jiraiya to glimpse a possible plan.

Jiraiya accepted a morally troubling plan to control Hanzo of the Salamander and sent intelligence to Konoha before leaving the Land of Rain with Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato. Reflecting on his bond with Yahiko, he realized he was following a path shaped by Leaf Dragon and that each generation carried the past forward.

• Leaf Dragon advised Jiraiya to send intelligence to Shimura Danzō so Kagami Uchiha could control Hanzo of the Salamander and help Konoha monitor the neighboring nations.
• Jiraiya weighed the plan against his moral principles, judged it the most practical way to reduce casualties, and secretly contacted Konoha through the toads of Mount Myōboku.
• Jiraiya left the Land of Rain with Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato, gave Yahiko the code name "The Dead Man," and passed Kagami Uchiha intelligence about Hanzo and the Laboratory.
• After parting from the children and Kagami Uchiha, Jiraiya reflected on why Yahiko reminded him of his younger self and told Leaf Dragon he felt he was walking the same path.
• Jiraiya recognized that Leaf Dragon had shaped his conduct and that the lessons of each generation would be passed to the next.

Black Zetsu discovered that Leaf Dragon’s demanding lessons had left Yin overwhelmed, bruised, and convinced he was stupid. He decided to observe the next lesson himself to find out why Yin was struggling.

• Leaf Dragon taught Yin Sealing Jutsu formulas, but Yin failed to understand and ran to Black Zetsu in tears.
• Black Zetsu noticed Yin had not joined him in bed and suspected Leaf Dragon had mistreated him.
• Black Zetsu found Leaf Dragon training a battered Yin and activated his Cursed Seal, causing Leaf Dragon to collapse.
• Yin worried that Leaf Dragon might die before finishing his lessons, and Black Zetsu stopped the Cursed Seal.
• Black Zetsu comforted Yin, admitted he was a little unintelligent, and learned that Leaf Dragon had taught him Sealing Jutsu, chakra extraction, and Taijutsu.
• Black Zetsu decided to sit in on Yin’s lessons the next day to see what was going wrong.

Black Zetsu cared for Yin’s injuries and wrestled with his growing attachment to the child, insisting that he only valued Yin as a means to obtain the Rinnegan and save Kaguya. After Yin fell asleep beside him, Black Zetsu wondered whether he envied an ordinary family life and ended the night alone at the window beneath the moon.

• Black Zetsu bandaged Yin’s ankle and soothed him while Yin drank warm water and grew sleepy.
• Black Zetsu considered using Yin’s life force to obtain the Rinnegan, then questioned why he cared whether the child survived.
• Yin startled awake when Black Zetsu gripped his leg too tightly, and Black Zetsu reassured himself that his affection was part of his plan.
• Yin settled into bed beside Black Zetsu, who reflected on his mission to save Kaguya and wondered whether he envied ordinary family life.
• Black Zetsu placed Yin gently beneath the covers, left the bed, and stood by the window in the moonlight.

Yin clung to Black Zetsu after waking, and Black Zetsu abandoned his attempt to distance himself from the child. While watching Yin’s training, Black Zetsu discovered Leaf Dragon’s extraordinary talent for Sealing Jutsu and realized he had badly underestimated him.

• Yin woke to find Black Zetsu reading nearby, then cried about being cold, itchy, and left alone until Black Zetsu comforted him.
• Yin happily saw the points Black Zetsu had contributed to the system, while Black Zetsu gave up on keeping his distance.
• Black Zetsu watched Leaf Dragon teach Yin and decided the lessons were too difficult for an ordinary child, so Yin’s Sealing Jutsu studies should be set aside.
• Black Zetsu asked Leaf Dragon about his Sealing Jutsu skills, and Leaf Dragon claimed he excelled at every type, could break Konoha’s barrier, and knew how to seal the Nine-Tails.
• Black Zetsu tested Leaf Dragon with a lump of Jashin Cult flesh, and Leaf Dragon quickly sealed it, astonishing Black Zetsu with his ability.