Recaps

As trouble brewed among the Five Great Nations, Ye Chen prepared for the coming storm by recruiting players and issuing missions. The chapter ended with an announcement that Hidden Jun Ninja would launch its fifth closed beta.

• Mei Terumi and Kirigakure's senior officials discussed a secret report and decided to avoid getting involved in the coming trouble.
• Orochimaru received a secret report, then ordered his group to ambush the approaching Kazekage.
• Ye Chen published a recruitment post on the official Hidden Jun Ninja forum and issued missions to players through the system.
• Forum users argued about the Ninja Village War and envied the exclusive rewards earned by closed-beta players.
• A promotional video appeared on the forum and announced Hidden Jun Ninja's fifth closed beta.

Ye Chen welcomed 144 players into Hidden Jun Village ahead of an impending war and discovered that the system had selected an elderly player with terminal cancer. After letting Old Yu explore the village at his own pace, Ye Chen steadied himself and resumed his preparations for the coming conflict.

• Netizens rushed to claim slots for Hidden Jun Ninja’s fifth closed beta, and 144 new players joined Hidden Jun Village.
• Ye Chen assessed the recruits and worried that many were life-skill players who might not be suited to the war threatening the Shinobi World.
• Ye Chen found an elderly player named Old Yu Next Door and learned that Yu Zhongqing was a 76-year-old retired worker with late-stage lung cancer.
• Yu Zhongqing explored Hidden Jun Village, taking in its scenery while the other new players watched him with curiosity.
• Ye Chen decided not to interfere with Yu Zhongqing’s experience, regained his composure, and returned to his planned prewar preparations.

Ye Chen expanded the Hidden Jun Village’s intelligence network and built a fortified garrison at the former site of Kusagakure while preparing for the village’s future. He realized Konoha’s Chunin Tournament could become a pretext for the great nations to threaten his village, and intercepted intelligence confirming that danger was arriving.

• Ye Chen sent players to investigate Amegakure and offered bounty rewards for intelligence.
• Ye Chen prioritized building a Resurrection Hall and military defenses at the former site of Kusagakure.
• Raijin told players about the coming Konoha Chunin Exams, and Ye Chen concluded that the tournament might draw the great nations against the Hidden Jun Village.
• Ye Chen intercepted intelligence through a bounty mission accepted by Master of Open Stratagems and learned that the expected threat had come at last.

Master of Open Stratagems learned that Tsunade was leading a large group of ninja toward the Land of Grass, and Raijin recognized many famous figures among them. Ye Chen used the system’s target lock to inspect the approaching group and saw Naruto and Sasuke among its formidable ranks.

• A frontline player reported that over a hundred unidentified ninja were approaching the Land of Grass from the Land of Rain’s border.
• Master of Open Stratagems asked Raijin to identify the group after a player described its leader as Tsunade.
• Raijin warned that Tsunade was a powerful Kage-level ninja whose support made the group especially dangerous.
• As the frontline player described more of the group, Raijin recognized Kakashi Hatake, Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, members of other villages, and others associated with the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Ye Chen activated the system’s target lock and saw Naruto and Sasuke among the approaching ninja.

Ye Chen used the system to identify the shinobi teams gathered at the Land of Grass border, including Tsunade and a disguised Orochimaru. Worried that confronting them outside the Hidden Jun Village would leave him vulnerable, he considered taking the initiative before the visitors stopped to rest.

• Ye Chen identified teams from Konoha, Sunagakure, Iwagakure, Kumogakure, Otogakure, Takigakure, Amegakure, and Kusagakure among the visitors.
• Ye Chen noticed that a pale woman in Kusagakure clothing detected his scrutiny and recognized her as Orochimaru in disguise.
• Ye Chen worried that Tsunade and Orochimaru could threaten the Hidden Jun Village if he confronted them away from its protection.
• Tsunade led the group to the designated location and told everyone to rest.

Ye Chen learned that Tsunade’s forces planned to use the Chunin Tournament to investigate Amegakure while pressuring the Hidden Jun Village, not destroy it. He decided the village should accept the invitation and use the tournament to give its players combat experience.

• Tsunade ordered the Genin to rest, then led Kakashi Hatake and the other Konoha High Command members into the woods to discuss a tournament venue.
• Tsunade chose the Forest of Death and assigned Kakashi Hatake and the others to bring dangerous creatures into it.
• Tsunade explained that Konoha’s main objective was investigating Amegakure and that the forces would camp near the border to watch both sides.
• Tsunade ordered Yamato to invite the Hidden Jun Village’s Village Chief to the tournament and threatened to force his cooperation if he refused.
• Ye Chen realized Konoha intended only to intimidate the Hidden Jun Village and decided to accept the invitation so its players could gain experience.

Ye Chen met Granny Qianyin at the Summoning Hut, where she insisted she would help him whenever he was in trouble. Later, he agreed to bring people to the Chunin Tournament after Yamato invited him again, but he set out several conditions.

• Granny Qianyin scolded Ye Chen for avoiding her and promised to help him whenever he faced trouble.
• After Ye Chen left, Granny Qianyin decided to make an exception and go on a trip to support him.
• Yamato arrived at Hidden Jun Village and watched Ye Chen chatting with the villagers before Ye Chen greeted him and led him away from the crowd.
• Yamato asked Ye Chen again to bring people to the Chunin Tournament, and Ye Chen agreed.
• Ye Chen told Yamato he had several conditions for participating.

Ye Chen told Yamato that every ninja from his village must join the tournament and that their leader must negotiate in person. Tsunade came to Hidden Jun Village to discuss the conditions with Ye Chen, who brought her to his residence for a private conversation.

• Ye Chen gave Yamato his two conditions for Hidden Jun Village's participation in the tournament, and Yamato left to report them.
• Yamato returned with Tsunade, who met Ye Chen and softened after he praised her.
• Ye Chen asked Tsunade to discuss the matter inside Hidden Jun Village, and she ordered Yamato to wait outside.
• Raijin and the other players crowded around Tsunade at the village entrance, and Ye Chen guided her inside.
• Ye Chen brought Tsunade to his residence and closed the door so they could talk privately.

Ye Chen hosted Tsunade in his sparse home, winning their gambling match and feeding her until she trusted him. He then offered to reveal the Hidden Jun Village's full strength at the Chunin Tournament, leaving Tsunade to consider his terms.

• Tsunade entered Ye Chen's home and commented on its shabby furnishings.
• Ye Chen brought out a gaming table, and he beat Tsunade in several rounds of gambling.
• Ye Chen served Tsunade tonkotsu ramen, sake, and side dishes, and she ate until she was mostly full.
• After their tests of each other eased Tsunade's suspicions, Ye Chen asked whether she planned to investigate Amegakure in the Land of Rain.
• Ye Chen offered to have everyone from the Hidden Jun Village participate in the Chunin Tournament and reveal the village's full strength.

Ye Chen negotiated with Tsunade for Hidden Jun Village to join the Chunin Tournament as trial administrators who would obstruct the contestants without taking tournament slots. They agreed on cooperation in the tournament and reconnaissance of Amegakure, and the Chunin Tournament began.

• Ye Chen explained that Hidden Jun Village's Chunin-and-below villagers would act as trial administrators, testing contestants without competing for slots or rewards.
• Tsunade agreed to let Hidden Jun Village participate after Ye Chen said his villagers would bear their own losses.
• Ye Chen planned to use the tournament to train Hidden Jun Village's forces ahead of upheaval in the nearby Land of Rain.
• Tsunade explained that teams would enter the Forest of Death with Heaven or Earth scrolls and have five days to cross it while Hidden Jun Village obstructed them.
• Ye Chen offered Hidden Jun Village's experts for reconnaissance of Amegakure and asked the Five Great Shinobi Villages for help if his village faced danger; Tsunade agreed on Konoha's behalf.
• Ye Chen and Tsunade settled the details of their cooperation, and the Chunin Tournament began.

Ye Chen assessed Hidden Jun Village’s player strength, which had grown to 156 Genin, forty-eight Chunin, and six Jonin, while considering how much the world line had changed. After Tsunade reported that the Chunin Tournament had begun, Ye Chen opened it to Hidden Jun Village’s players and offered battle merit rewards for casualties.

• Ye Chen reviewed the fifth closed-beta players’ progress, noting that many had advanced while Old Mr. Yu and life-skill players focused on other pursuits.
• Ye Chen used the system to confirm Hidden Jun Village had 156 Genin, forty-eight Chunin, and six Jonin.
• Ye Chen considered the growth of the six Jonin players and the steep chakra costs that made further advancement difficult.
• Ye Chen reflected on the unexplained absence of Kusagakure’s research institution and Hozuki Castle, concluding that world-line changes were connected to Hidden Jun Village and himself.
• Tsunade notified Ye Chen that the Chunin Tournament had begun, and Ye Chen announced that players could enter for battle merit and exchange rewards.

The six Jonin players from Hidden Jun Village entered the Forest of Death to maintain order, while Ye Chen hesitated over whether to warn Tsunade about Orochimaru. Hidden Jun Village's squads seemed strong enough to dominate the exam, but Master of Open Stratagems had underestimated the number of exceptional competitors.

• Master of Open Stratagems complained that the forest blocked legion chat, and the six Jonin players discussed their duty to maintain order rather than compete.
• Master of Open Stratagems guessed that their Village Chief would also oversee the exam and chose to relax, while Bullfighting Master insisted they should take their mission seriously.
• Ye Chen debated warning Tsunade that Orochimaru was hiding among the participants, but stayed silent because Konoha's turmoil could benefit Hidden Jun Village.
• Tsunade noticed Ye Chen's unease, warned him against acting underhandedly, and headed into the forest with him following.
• Hidden Jun Village sent squads led by one Chunin and supported by two Genin, but Master of Open Stratagems had not expected so many exceptional competitors.

Emperor of Sinking and two followers ambushed a squad of three young ninjas in the dense forest, but the Byakugan boy had already spotted them. The two squads began clashing, with the girl and Emperor of Sinking exchanging volleys of ninja tools as the other two boys prepared to fight.

• Emperor of Sinking hid in the forest with two trusted followers, waiting to ambush an unsuspecting squad.
• The squad of three— a Byakugan boy, a bowl-cut boy wearing leg weights, and a girl with hair buns—approached, and the Byakugan boy noticed the ambushers.
• Emperor of Sinking and his followers launched a surprise attack, but the Byakugan boy warned his companions and threw a Kunai at Emperor of Sinking.
• The girl used Twin Rising Dragons to summon long scrolls and countered Emperor of Sinking's barrage with a denser storm of ninja tools.
• The bowl-cut boy took a horse stance as green currents of air surged around him, while the Byakugan boy formed an invisible shield of air around his body.

Corpse Bearer and Bullfighting Master watched Emperor of Sinking’s team battle Tenten, Rock Lee, and Neji Hyuga, marveling at the trio’s different taijutsu styles. Raijin identified the youths as future taijutsu prodigies, inspiring the two players to pursue taijutsu more seriously.

• Corpse Bearer and Bullfighting Master found Emperor of Sinking locked in battle with three youths and watched because Jonin players were forbidden from interfering.
• The two players analyzed Tenten’s weapons, Rock Lee’s green aura, and Neji Hyuga’s fighting style as examples of varied taijutsu.
• Raijin arrived after detecting chakra fluctuations and recognized the youths as Tenten, Rock Lee, and Neji Hyuga.
• Raijin explained that the trio were exceptionally talented taijutsu prodigies whose future achievements could match the other future Five Kage.
• Corpse Bearer and Bullfighting Master grew eager to train in taijutsu after hearing Raijin describe its potential.

Emperor of Sinking and his two confidants unleashed Rasengan together against Tenten, Rock Lee, and Neji Hyuga, leaving a crater and forcing the youngsters to reassess the danger. Emperor of Sinking then equipped powerful ninja tools and charged at them with his Death-Substitution Puppet.

• Emperor of Sinking struggled against the three youngsters and was especially astonished by Tenten's huge supply of ninja tools and seemingly boundless chakra.
• Emperor of Sinking called for his confidants to use Rasengan, and all three attackers formed the A-rank technique in their palms.
• Tenten launched herself away, Rock Lee sped out of the battlefield, and Neji Hyuga expanded his chakra defense as the Rasengan attack exploded.
• Neji Hyuga remained standing inside the crater left by the combined Rasengan, while Tenten and her companions stared at the damage in alarm.
• Emperor of Sinking donned his Dark Day rattan armor, summoned his Death-Substitution Puppet, and charged the three youngsters with the puppet at his side.

Emperor of Sinking fought Tenten, Rock Lee, and Neji Hyuga in the Forest of Death, using his Rasengan and other weapons against the three youths’ coordinated attacks. As the battle intensified, he threw out a barrage of Five Elements Talismans to drive them back.

• Emperor of Sinking attacked the three youths with a Rasengan as Tenten summoned a pillar of fire and Rock Lee charged toward him.
• Neji Hyuga used Rotation to block Emperor of Sinking’s Rasengan while Tenten and Rock Lee pulled back from the clash.
• Emperor of Sinking closed in and prepared another Rasengan as Rock Lee circled him and Neji continued fighting.
• A chain-bound black ball forced Emperor of Sinking to dodge, allowing Rock Lee to unleash a rapid barrage and Neji to strike at gaps in his vine armor.
• Emperor of Sinking threw out numerous Five Elements Talismans to force the three youths back.

Emperor of Sinking detonated his Five Elements Talismans at close range, but the three young genin pressed their attack through the ensuing chakra vortex. Neji Hyuga disabled Emperor of Sinking's chakra with Eight Trigrams Palm: Sixty-Four Palms, leaving Sinking fleeing as the spectators praised the technique.

• Emperor of Sinking detonated his prepared Five Elements Talismans while relying on his Dark Day Vine Armor and Death-Substitution Puppet to withstand the blast.
• The girl with the hair buns unleashed powerful flames through a special ninja tool, intensifying the chakra explosion as the boy in the green training suit leaped above it.
• Neji Hyuga charged into the chakra vortex, expanded his invisible shield of air, and struck Emperor of Sinking with precise palm and finger attacks.
• Emperor of Sinking lost his chakra connection at the points Neji Hyuga struck and fled rather than risk further attacks.
• Corpse Bearer, Bullfighting Master, and Raijin recognized Neji Hyuga's technique as Eight Trigrams Palm: Sixty-Four Palms and praised his ingenuity.

Emperor of Sinking was overwhelmed by three young Genin and, unable to use most of his ninjutsu, activated the Five Elements Talismans covering his body. The resulting explosion blasted the youths out of the forest, leaving Emperor of Sinking’s fate uncertain.

• The boy in the green training outfit sent the Death-Substitution Puppet flying with a devastating kick as Emperor of Sinking fled.
• The Byakugan boy and the girl with buns pursued Emperor of Sinking, while his blocked chakra channels stopped him from using Rasenshuriken.
• Emperor of Sinking realized the three youths were far stronger than he expected and gave up trying to escape.
• Emperor of Sinking covered himself with Five Elements Talismans and released chakra through his pores to activate them.
• The talismans unleashed a powerful explosion that blasted the three youths out of the forest.

Emperor of Sinking revived in Hidden Jun Village after his injuries left him unable to fight, while Neji Hyuga, Tenten, and Rock Lee were left badly wounded in the forest. Kakashi Hatake and Asuma Sarutobi came to help them, as Ye Chen deflected Tsunade’s questions about Hidden Jun Village’s Rasengan users by hinting at family ties to the Fourth Hokage.

• Emperor of Sinking ended his life and returned to Hidden Jun Village, disqualifying himself from the competition.
• Neji Hyuga, Tenten, and Rock Lee survived the chakra tide but were too injured to continue fighting safely.
• Tsunade tried to go help the trio, but Ye Chen stopped her and pointed out that Kakashi Hatake and Asuma Sarutobi were already approaching.
• Kakashi Hatake and Asuma Sarutobi bandaged the wounded youths, reassuring Tsunade.
• Tsunade questioned Ye Chen about his team’s Rasengan training and possible ties to Minato Namikaze or Jiraiya.
• Ye Chen vaguely claimed that his family had ties to the Fourth Hokage, prompting Tsunade to warn him against lying.

Ye Chen left Tsunade to follow him toward another fight during the Chunin Tournament, where Dai Xiaomei’s Hidden Jun Village team encountered three Konoha youngsters. Dai Xiaomei baited her livestream viewers into betting before the Konoha team attacked, and she put on enchanted chain mail for protection.

• Ye Chen argued that Tsunade should not interfere too much in the tournament, then headed toward another battlefield; Tsunade sighed and followed him.
• Dai Xiaomei’s Hidden Jun Village team met a Konoha team made up of a plump boy, a thin boy, and a pale-blond girl.
• Dai Xiaomei bragged to her livestream viewers and wagered that her team would win, promising to accept a punishment if she lost.
• The three Konoha youngsters coordinated an attack, with the plump boy charging forward as the other two circled around.
• Dai Xiaomei, whose fighting skills were limited, put on enchanted chain mail to strengthen her defense.

Raijin explained the Ino-Shika-Cho trio’s secret techniques while Corpse Bearer and Bullfighting Master watched, hoping to learn them. Dai Xiaomei prepared a modified cooperation ninjutsu with her two companions, and the chapter ended as she summoned Wood Release: Wood Thorn Dragon against Choji’s charging Human Bullet Tank.

• Raijin identified Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino as the Ino-Shika-Cho formation and described their family techniques.
• Corpse Bearer and Bullfighting Master watched Choji’s Human Bullet Tank and asked Raijin about the trio’s secret techniques.
• Raijin noticed Dai Xiaomei standing motionless and wondered why she was not reacting to the attack.
• Dai Xiaomei emptied her mind to serve as the focal point for a modified cooperation ninjutsu with her two companions.
• Dai Xiaomei and her companions formed a chakra link, and she called out Wood Release: Wood Thorn Dragon, rise!

Dai Xiaomei fought Choji and Shikamaru with her teammates, but Shikamaru caught her with an advanced form of Shadow Possession Jutsu. Raijin explained the technique's limitations as Corpse Bearer and Bullfighting Master considered its danger.

• Dai Xiaomei's Wood Thorn Dragon whipped Choji's enlarged body and sent him flying backward.
• Dai Xiaomei's Wood Thorn Dragon missed Shikamaru, who dodged and charged toward her.
• Shikamaru used his shadow to bind Dai Xiaomei and force her to mirror his movements.
• Corpse Bearer asked whether Dai Xiaomei would imitate Shikamaru if he hurt himself, and Raijin said she would in theory.
• Raijin explained that Shadow Possession had limits involving its targets, casting range, and the caster's Chakra reserves.

Shikamaru used Shadow Possession Jutsu to drag Dai Xiaomei away from the battlefield, while Ino attacked Dai Xiaomei’s remaining companions. The fight descended into a chaotic brawl among the three women as Raijin and his companions watched.

• Raijin explained that Shikamaru’s Shadow Possession Jutsu would likely last only five minutes, easing Corpse Bearer and his companion’s concerns.
• Shikamaru ran off the field while holding Dai Xiaomei with his jutsu, forcing her to chase him in heavy chain mail and leaving her exhausted.
• Ino used Mind Body Switch Technique on one of Dai Xiaomei’s companions and attacked the other with taijutsu.
• The two women began brawling, and Ino joined the struggle after one of them grabbed her ponytail.
• Raijin and his two companions watched as Ino and the two female players tangled together in a chaotic fight.

Choji healed his injury by eating, then helped Shikamaru knock Dai Xiaomei away before heading to assist Ino. Dai Xiaomei played dead while Shikamaru recovered with a secret pill, and Raijin questioned why she was not using her chakra advantage to defeat the others.

• Ino and Shikamaru called for Choji’s help while Choji ate snacks to heal the welt on his belly.
• Choji charged Dai Xiaomei as the Human Bullet Tank, and Shikamaru released his Shadow Possession so Choji could strike her.
• Dai Xiaomei’s chain mail protected her from serious injury, and she lay still while Shikamaru recovered.
• Choji gave Shikamaru a red pill with a special use and went to help Ino.
• Raijin said Dai Xiaomei could defeat the three young ninjas with her chakra reserves and wondered why she was playing dead.

Corpse Bearer and Bullfighting Master revealed to Raijin that Hidden Jun Ninja’s in-game movement commands could produce beneficial physical effects in real life, and they asked him to keep the discovery secret. Raijin agreed and received their findings, while they decided to wait and see whether Dai Xiaomei noticed her exhaustion.

• Corpse Bearer explained that Dai Xiaomei had become exhausted in real life because the game’s realistic combat could affect players’ bodies.
• Corpse Bearer told Raijin that he and Bullfighting Master had tested the game’s hidden motion-controlled effects and found that some in-game movements transferred to reality beneficially.
• Raijin asked whether he could use ninjutsu or Summoning Technique in real life, and Corpse Bearer said they could not be sure but offered to share their experience if Raijin kept the secret.
• Raijin agreed to keep the discovery confidential, and Corpse Bearer promised to tell him everything they knew.
• Bullfighting Master explained that they trusted Raijin because they had entered the game together and were grateful for his help.
• Corpse Bearer said they would wait to see whether Dai Xiaomei noticed the effects and would involve her if she did.