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.