Chapter Summaries

After recovering from his injuries, Xue Ge returned to class, caught up with his friends, and accepted invitations to spar with Kakashi and attend the Hanabi Festival. Danzo then took him to the Forest of Death to meet a dedicated instructor, leaving Xue Ge to find her alone in a bamboo grove.

• After two weeks in the hospital, Xue Ge returned to class on crutches and described his recovery and training to Muzi.
• Obito, Rin, Guy, and Kakashi gathered around Xue Ge, and Kakashi invited him to spar the following night.
• Muzi shared bread with Xue Ge and invited him to the Hanabi Festival on Sunday, and he gave her his address.
• Xue Ge cleaned his house while waiting for Danzo, then changed into ninja attire when Danzo arrived.
• Danzo took Xue Ge to the Forest of Death and explained that he had arranged a dedicated ninja to train him.
• Danzo sent Xue Ge alone toward a bamboo grove to meet his new instructor.

Xue Ge won Iris Moon’s approval as her student after drinking a vat of liquor and learning how chakra could regulate his body. Meanwhile, Hiruzen recognized that the mysterious Shura might be a grave threat and prepared to confront him, leaving Sakumo instructions in case he did not return.

• Xue Ge met the drunken Iris Moon, who tested him by ordering him to drink an entire vat of liquor.
• Iris Moon demonstrated her powerful Water Release, revealed her experience as a former Jonin, and accepted Xue Ge as her student after he finished the liquor.
• Iris Moon taught Xue Ge to use chakra to accelerate his metabolism and help his body withstand alcohol, injuries, and toxins.
• Hiruzen reviewed Minato’s report about Shura and ordered the village to strengthen its defenses and summon Sakumo and Tsunade.
• Hiruzen armed himself for a two-day absence and gave Sakumo a written order to serve as acting Naruto if he failed to return.

Hiruzen investigated Madara Uchiha’s grave at the Valley of the End and found what appeared to be Madara’s remains. After Hiruzen left, Zetsu revealed that he had planted another body in the coffin and began considering Xue Ge as a future pawn in his plan.

• Hiruzen summoned Enma to search the area, then dug up Madara Uchiha’s coffin and found a skeleton in dark red armor.
• Hiruzen collected a bone sample for DNA comparison, resealed the coffin, and hurried back to Konoha to arrange checks and security.
• After Hiruzen left, Zetsu emerged and revealed that he had placed another Uchiha’s remains in the coffin to conceal Madara’s absence.
• Zetsu decided to keep watching Madara while also monitoring Xue Ge, whom he had secretly saved from the cliff fall with Wood Release.
• Zetsu considered Xue Ge a possible successor to Madara’s plan and vanished into the soil as Hiruzen returned to Konoha unaware of the deception.

Iris Moon explained how Xue Ge could begin adapting taijutsu to his unusual chakra flow, then insisted they spend the night drinking. Madara forced Kakuzu into serving him and ordered him to raise an equal sum of money within three months.

• Iris Moon explained that taijutsu could use chakra to enhance the body and advised Xue Ge to combine taijutsu with his chakra flow before developing new ninjutsu.
• Iris Moon promised to plan Xue Ge's taijutsu training, then pressured him into drinking with her by the lakeshore.
• Madara examined Kakuzu's savings and recognized him as a valuable source of money for his planned Secret Base.
• Madara used a Transcription Seal to bind Kakuzu as his subordinate and threatened to kill him if he ran away.
• Madara ordered Kakuzu to bring him another sum equal to his savings within three months, and Kakuzu reluctantly agreed.

Xue Ge visited the Hatake compound, sparred with Kakashi, and learned more about his master, Iris Moon, from Sakumo. After Xue Ge left, Sakumo urged Kakashi to keep training, warning that Xue Ge’s hard work could make him stronger.

• Xue Ge and Kakashi fought for over ten minutes under Sakumo’s watch, and neither gained the upper hand before Sakumo stopped them.
• During dinner, Kakashi praised Xue Ge’s improvement, and Sakumo encouraged the two boys to support each other as rivals and possible future teammates.
• Xue Ge asked Sakumo about Iris Moon, and Sakumo said she was a powerful taijutsu expert brought to Konoha by Danzo three or four years earlier after being badly injured.
• Sakumo explained that Iris Moon served Root and might be held back by a burden in her heart, but he did not know her real name.
• After Xue Ge left, Sakumo told Kakashi to keep working hard because Xue Ge’s determination could help him surpass Kakashi.

Iris Moon explained how Xue Ge could turn his naturally uneven chakra flow into explosive taijutsu power, then began training his control and reflexes. Xue Ge lasted only two seconds against her opening attacks and realized taijutsu was her true specialty.

• Iris Moon summoned Xue Ge to the lakeside and explained how he could conceal and release the imbalance in his chakra flow to power taijutsu and seal-free ninjutsu.
• Xue Ge understood the principle and asked Iris Moon to teach him.
• Iris Moon began training Xue Ge to dodge her attacks without blocking or fighting back, aiming to build his control and reactions.
• Iris Moon struck Xue Ge down twice, and he lasted only one second against her first attack and two seconds against the next.
• Iris Moon told Xue Ge to train his instincts to move before conscious awareness, and he recognized that taijutsu was her true strength.

Xue Ge joined his classmates for Konoha’s Hanabi Festival after Danzo gave him a yukata and permission to take the evening off. Hiruzen opened the festival with a speech, and as the crowd poured into the shopping streets, the village leaders made plans to celebrate in their own ways.

• Danzo gave Xue Ge a black yukata and let him take the evening off to attend the festival.
• Xue Ge met Muzi, Kakashi, Obito, Rin, and Guy, and they headed together to the Naruto Building.
• At the Naruto Building, Xue Ge spotted Shisui and recognized Hiruzen, Danzo, Sakumo, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and other village leaders.
• Hiruzen welcomed the crowd and declared the festival open after Tsunade urged him to keep his speech lively.
• Tsunade invited Jiraiya, Minato, Shizune, and Orochimaru out for a drink, while Hiruzen arranged a gathering with Torifu Akimichi and Sakumo stayed with his son.