Recaps

Karn posted a one-million-ryo bounty asking Kakuzu to meet him, then toured the Land of Fire to study its economy. After Kakuzu arrived, Karn offered him a lucrative on-call job guarding his planned casinos and collecting debts, and Kakuzu heard out the proposal.

• Karn left his Konoha guards and posted a one-million-ryo bounty for Kakuzu at the Underground Bounty Station.
• Karn spent half a month visiting towns and villages across the Land of Fire to assess commerce and economic conditions.
• Karn returned to Kawaki Town, where Xia Chuan told him Kakuzu had been waiting for three days.
• Karn gave Kakuzu a separate two-million-ryo welcome gift and proposed a long-term business arrangement.
• Kakuzu refused to join an organization, so Karn explained that he would only be called for casino security or debt collection and offered at least two hundred thousand ryo per job.

Karn established plans for his casinos and expanded his pharmaceutical business in the Marvel Universe, then returned to the Shinobi World to prepare a casino in Kawaki Town. He realized he needed capable subordinates and set off for Konoha to find Yakushi Nonō before Danzo could recruit her.

• Kakuzu accepted Karn's offer to guard the casinos for three million ryo per month, and Karn planned casino openings in Kawaki Town and Tanzaku Town.
• Karn returned to the Marvel Universe, reviewed his company's first sales, hired an administrative assistant, and arranged to buy gambling equipment.
• Karn waited for the equipment, tended to business and personal matters, and worried about threats in the Marvel Universe, including The Ancient One and future disasters.
• Karn returned to the Shinobi World, installed the gambling machines in the Kawaki Town casino, and asked Xia Chuan to find guards and an experienced manager.
• Karn considered recruiting Yakushi Nonō before Danzo could claim her, then headed to Konoha to investigate through an orphanage donation.

Tsunade sought Karn’s advice after the Third Hokage rejected her medical reform proposal, and Karn agreed to hear what happened at the Jonin meeting. He asked her to explain only the parts related to the reforms.

• After the Jonin meeting, Tsunade complained to Dan Katō that the Third Hokage had rejected her medical reform proposal without giving a reason.
• Tsunade spotted the wagons outside Karn Food Store and went inside to find Karn, buying a box of chocolate as she asked to discuss her proposal.
• Karn pretended not to remember their earlier discussion, then agreed to talk after Tsunade pressed him and warned that he would not discuss Konoha politics.
• Tsunade invited Dan Katō to join them, and Karn led both of them to the living quarters behind his shop.
• Karn declined to read Tsunade’s report, challenged her claim that the reforms would prevent wartime casualties, and asked her to recount the meeting’s discussion of the medical system.

Karn advised Tsunade to pursue Medical System Reform in affordable stages, then visited Konoha’s orphanages to donate money and search for Yakushi Nonō. At the third orphanage, he found Nonō and offered to sponsor her education and training.

• Karn suggested Tsunade begin Medical System Reform with measures that required little or no additional spending, and Tsunade decided how to persuade Teacher Sarutobi.
• Karn joked that he would hire Tsunade for five hundred thousand ryo a month, then sold her on his expensive cakes while Dan Katō listened.
• After Kawaki Miwa reported that Konoha had three orphanages, Karn prepared donations totaling one million five hundred thousand ryo and went to visit them.
• Karn failed to find Nonō at the first two orphanages but found a girl named Nonō at the third.
• The orphanage director told Karn that Nonō had left the Ninja Academy because the orphanage was short of money, so Karn offered to sponsor her return to school.

Karn funded Yakushi Nonō and two other orphans’ schooling, prepared to open an arcade, and considered secretly learning ninjutsu. The chapter ended with Kushina disguising herself as Kawaki Miwa and frightening Karn, who fired his submachine gun at the floor.

• Karn promised to cover the three orphans’ school expenses, and Yakushi Nonō thanked him before he suggested she visit the Karn Pharmacy to learn about Medical Ninjutsu.
• Kawaki Miwa told Karn that two orphanage directors had welcomed his offer to sponsor eligible children, then confirmed that the third shop was ready to open as an arcade.
• Karn postponed his casino plans, told Kawaki Miwa to prepare the arcade for the game consoles, and decided to ask Xia Chuan or Kakuzu about learning ninjutsu.
• Kushina entered disguised as Kawaki Miwa, and Karn fired several shots into the floor before she revealed herself with the Transformation Technique.
• Kushina admitted she had meant to play a joke, while Karn scolded her for frightening him.

Karn took Kushina’s wallet as compensation after her prank damaged his shop and cost him bullets, then treated her to ramen. Back at the Senju Clan Compound, Kushina found Tsunade still working on Medical Ninjutsu to heal Nawaki’s lasting injuries.

• Karn scolded Kushina for impersonating Miwa and warned her not to prank him again.
• Kushina offered her wallet to cover the damage, and Karn pocketed it as compensation before promising to treat her to a meal.
• Karn took Kushina for ramen, where she ate three large bowls, then returned to his food shop.
• Kushina went home and discovered that Tsunade was still researching ways to heal Nawaki’s injuries.
• Kushina brought Tsunade tea and chocolate, helped clear the stacks of documents, and heard that Tsunade’s healing regeneration technique was not yet working as she envisioned.

Tsunade gave Kushina money after hearing how Karn had tricked her, while Karn discussed his donations and medicine business with Hiruzen Sarutobi. Danzo urged Hiruzen to keep Karn away from Kushina and train her as a jinchūriki, but Hiruzen refused and asserted his authority.

• Tsunade gave Kushina fifty thousand ryo after learning she had spent her money on Karn's wooden board and concealed weapon.
• Karn told Hiruzen Sarutobi that he was donating to Konoha's orphanages, and Hiruzen questioned him about Kushina.
• After Karn left, Danzo warned Hiruzen that Karn might get close to Kushina and argued that Root should train her to use the Nine-Tails' power.
• Hiruzen ordered Danzo not to interfere with Kushina or Karn, and Danzo left resentful of Hiruzen's authority.

Karn arranged his business in Konoha, expanded his operations in Kawaki Town, and tried to learn chakra extraction with Xia Chuan’s help. When Kakuzu arrived for a ten-million-ryo fee, he agreed to help Karn learn ninjutsu.

• Karn left Konoha with most of the seventy million ryo, planning to fund Xia Chuan’s business, hire Kakuzu, and buy valuables.
• Xia Chuan recruited staff and guards for Kawaki Town, and Karn tripled her pay for her growing contributions.
• Karn asked Xia Chuan to explain chakra and ninjutsu, then had her transfer chakra into him so he could try to sense and extract it.
• Xia Chuan exhausted herself during two chakra-transfer attempts, but Karn still failed to extract chakra and stopped asking her to continue.
• After finishing a bounty assignment, Kakuzu came to Kawaki Town and agreed to help Karn transfer chakra after seeing the ten million ryo in the case.

After returning to the Marvel Universe, Karn learned basic chakra techniques from Kakuzu and resumed managing his businesses. He met Maya and Killian to discuss funding their research, and Maya offered him a chance to invest in her A.I.M. project.

• Karn spent more than a month learning chakra extraction, the Three Basic Techniques, and the Shadow Clone Technique from Kakuzu, paying him five million ryo.
• Karn returned to his businesses, reviewed company reports, and planned to expand the pharmaceutical wholesaler’s overseas sales team.
• After a headhunting firm contacted Maya, Karn invited her to collaborate and arranged a meeting in Queens.
• Karn presented Maya and Killian with documents about his planned biological research center and offered them support.
• Maya told Karn that she and A.I.M. would accept his investment in her ongoing project.

Karn secured a deal with Maya and Killian to fund their Extremis Virus research, hoping to use the finished project alongside Hashirama Cells to strengthen himself. After covering the team's costs and preparing his business for expansion, he restocked his Spatial Backpack while waiting for the Dimensional Trading System to find another world.

• Karn offered to fund Maya and Killian's Extremis Virus project in exchange for fifty percent ownership and full access to its research progress, and both Maya and Killian agreed.
• After more than a month of negotiations, Maya joined Karn's Biological Research Center while Killian represented the team in their partnership; Karn provided a rented laboratory, equipment funding, and salaries.
• Karn spent over ten million US dollars on the research center and project, then purchased a new identity and sold his jewelry to raise additional funds.
• Karn considered how the mature Extremis Virus might counteract the effects of Hashirama Cells and other Kekkei Genkai, and planned to contact Orochimaru in the future.
• Karn continued his biological studies despite his growing business, waited for the Dimensional Trading System to find another world, and filled his Spatial Backpack with supplies for the Shinobi World.

Karn expanded his plans for the booming Kawaki Town casino and returned to Konoha to meet a representative from Spring Beauty Bookstore. He left Kushina waiting as he went to discuss the success of his three books and their second volumes.

• Karn told Xia Chuan to expand the Kawaki Town casino, reinvest its profits, and set aside twenty percent for operating funds.
• Xia Chuan recommended Miwa and Nanami as possible managers for the Tanzaku Town casino, and Karn said he would ask whether they were willing to leave Konoha.
• Xia Chuan told Karn that a representative from Spring Beauty Bookstore had been looking for him, so Karn returned to Konoha.
• Karn offered Kushina free access to the game shop, then argued with her about the price of an all-you-can-eat meal.
• Kawaki Miwa brought in the Spring Beauty Bookstore representative, and Karn led him to a private room to talk.

Karn received royalties from the Spring Beauty Bookstore and gave its representative the next volumes of his novels. Kushina confided in Tsunade that she had no friends at school, and Tsunade promised to stand up for her.

• The Spring Beauty Bookstore's assistant delivered Karn's royalties and reported that his novels were selling well.
• Karn gave the assistant the second and third volumes of his three novels and offered to work with the bookstore on more books.
• Kushina learned how much Karn had earned, then returned to the Senju Clan Compound and told Tsunade about him.
• Tsunade warned Kushina not to read Karn's adult novels and teased her about visiting him often.
• Kushina told Tsunade that nobody at school liked her, and Tsunade comforted her and promised to protect her.

Karn weighed the stalled Extremis Virus research against the risks of human trials and decided to seek IRB approval while considering help from Tsunade. After making arrangements in the Marvel Universe, he traveled to the Shinobi World with illness samples and research data.

• Killian urged Karn to begin human trials of the Extremis Virus, while Maya objected because its failure rate was nearly ninety percent.
• Karn decided to apply for an IRB review and give Maya three months to make a breakthrough before proceeding with human trials.
• Karn paid a staff member two thousand dollars to complete his biology assignment and examined the latest Extremis Virus data.
• Karn reviewed his expanding businesses and wealth, then decided to ask Tsunade to research the Extremis Virus and treatments for terminal illnesses, using Nawaki's recovery as an incentive.
• Karn stocked his Spatial Backpack, arranged his affairs and classes, and traveled to the Shinobi World.

Karn reviewed his businesses and security concerns with Kawaki Miwa before traveling to Konoha to check on his shops. There, Nanami reported that Kushina Uzumaki had been visiting daily and asking to be told when Karn returned.

• Kawaki Miwa told Karn that Xia Chuan had gone to handle trouble in Tanzaku Town and that rogue ninja were causing trouble in River Valley County.
• Karn ordered Kawaki Miwa to hire Kakuzu's subordinates to eliminate the people behind the attacks and to arrange additional bodyguard missions.
• Karn traveled to Konoha using the Trading System's shuttle function and reviewed his thirteen shops with Nanami.
• Nanami told Karn that Kushina Uzumaki had been visiting the shop every day and had asked to hear when he returned.

Karn congratulated Kushina on graduating from the Ninja Academy and gave her a towering cake to celebrate. As Kushina left with it, Karn noticed Minato Namikaze watching nearby, but Kushina said she did not want to celebrate with the classmate who had mocked her.

• Karn asked Nanami to contact Tsunade and invite her for a drink, then heard reports on his businesses and orphanage sponsorship.
• Karn waited at his room, where Kushina arrived and showed off her graduation Forehead Protector after placing third in her school.
• Karn gave Kushina chocolate, then brought out a nearly meter-tall cake as her real graduation gift.
• Kushina decided to share the cake with her squadmates, while Karn declined to join the celebration.
• Karn spotted Minato Namikaze hiding nearby, and Kushina said she knew him as a classmate who had mocked her before leaving with the cake.

Karn asked Tsunade to develop medicines for several terminal illnesses and invited her to work with him on the extremis virus, which could help Nawaki recover. Tsunade became interested but decided to ask Mito Uzumaki for permission to use her grandfather's cells in the research.

• Karn gave Tsunade files on terminal illnesses, and she said she would need to run tests before promising to develop cures.
• Tsunade explained that her Medical Ninjutsu research had been driven by Nawaki's inability to become a ninja.
• Karn showed Tsunade the extremis virus research, and she praised its potential to regenerate missing limbs and restore Nawaki's abilities.
• Tsunade considered using her grandfather's cells to reduce the virus's risks and decided to consult Mito Uzumaki before agreeing to collaborate.
• Karn gave Tsunade a box of food and sake before leaving the izakaya.

Tsunade promised Nawaki she would help him become a ninja and defended Karn from Konoha's leaders, who wanted to investigate him and benefit from his serum research without funding it. After leaving the Hokage Building, Tsunade planned to discuss the research with Karn, while Karn asked Jiekang Weilai about Yakushi Nonō.

• Tsunade ate the cake Kushina had left for her, then pretended to sleep when Kushina found her eating the other slice.
• Tsunade promised Nawaki that she would find a way for him to become a ninja within a year.
• Tsunade told Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura about Karn's serum and refused to let them investigate or target him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi refused to provide research funds but asked Tsunade to keep the village informed, and Tsunade left to discuss the project with Karn.
• Karn visited the pharmacy, waited for Jiekang Weilai to finish serving a customer, and asked him about Yakushi Nonō's studies.

Karn and Tsunade agreed to collaborate on experiments combining the extremis virus with Hashirama cells, while Hiruzen and Danzo prepared a scheme involving Kushina and Karn. The chapter ended as Karn stopped Kushina from approaching an unexpected visitor who had entered the closed Dessert Shop.

• Karn planned to have Yakushi Nonō study under Tsunade to keep her away from Danzo.
• Tsunade told Karn that the village leaders would not contribute to their research, so Karn offered to supply the equipment and death row prisoners himself.
• Karn and Tsunade agreed that she would find an Earth Release ninja and Hashirama cells for experiments combining them with the extremis virus.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi said he had deployed ANBU and sealed the border as part of a plan to strengthen Kushina's bond with Konoha and investigate Karn's medicines.
• Kushina visited Karn after her first day with her mission team, but Karn stopped her when an unexpected person entered the closed Dessert Shop.

Karn killed a Cloud Ninja spy who approached his Dessert Shop, then hid with Kushina while explosions drew Konoha’s forces to the scene. After they emerged and reported the attack, Karn questioned how Minato Namikaze had learned Kushina was in danger, making the gathered police suspicious of him.

• Karn recognized the dark-skinned man approaching his shop as a likely Cloud Ninja spy and shot him with submachine guns after Kushina appeared.
• The spy used the Substitution Technique, but Karn shot him again with a Thompson and an Assault Rifle, killing him.
• Karn hid with Kushina in a basement and set off grenades to draw Konoha’s ninja and deter any accomplices.
• Karn and Kushina emerged and told the Konoha Military Police Force that a ninja had attacked them, while Karn asked them to notify Tsunade.
• Minato Namikaze arrived and said an ANBU member had told him Kushina was in danger, prompting Karn and the police to grow suspicious.

After a Cloud Ninja spy attacked Karn and Kushina, Karn lost faith in Konoha and arranged to leave the village, while Tsunade investigated the incident. Tsunade learned that Minato Namikaze and an ANBU member might be connected and headed to confront Konoha’s leaders with Orochimaru.

• Karn told Tsunade that a Cloud Ninja spy had attacked him and Kushina, refused her offer of protection, and asked her to escort him out of Konoha.
• Tsunade persuaded the Security Force to let Karn leave, and Karn returned to the Marvel Universe after Tsunade and Kushina went out of sight.
• Kushina recounted the attack to Tsunade, including Karn’s question to Minato Namikaze and the ANBU member’s failure to protect them.
• Tsunade cursed the people behind the incident and promised Kushina that Karn would return to Konoha.
• Tsunade encountered Orochimaru on her way to the Hokage Building, agreed to let him join the research, and took him with her to confront the old man.

After Hiruzen Sarutobi’s scheme drove Karn out of Konoha, Tsunade worried that the extremis virus research and exclusive medicine deal would fall apart. Karn returned to the Marvel Universe and decided to seek a relationship with the Uchiha Clan while preparing to resume the project.

• Tsunade told Orochimaru that Karn had left Konoha after the confrontation, delaying the experiments and threatening Konoha’s exclusive medicine supply.
• Tsunade reassured Kushina that Karn would return, then asked Mito Uzumaki to warn those plotting against Kushina.
• Mito Uzumaki told Tsunade that she had little time left and urged her to protect Kushina and Nawaki without blaming herself if Nawaki could not be cured.
• Tsunade resolved to gain influence by completing medical reforms and taking control of the medical department.
• Back in the Marvel Universe, Karn reflected on Konoha’s attempt to test him and decided to contact the Uchiha Clan when he returned.
• Karn planned to obtain the extremis virus serum and research equipment after taking time to unwind.

Karn returned to Konoha, arranged to move the Extremis Virus laboratory outside the village, and told Tsunade he would limit his visits because he no longer felt safe there. He planned to expand his business through the Land of Waves toward the Land of Water, while Orochimaru warned that Sarutobi would not let Karn escape his grasp easily.

• Karn asked Tsunade to relocate the laboratory outside Konoha and restrict access, and she agreed to have Orochimaru build it.
• Karn arranged funding, equipment, and thirty death-row prisoners for the research, gave gifts and letters to his Konoha contacts, and told Tsunade he would rarely visit.
• Karn decided to expand his business beyond Konoha, using the Land of Waves as a base to enter the Land of Water and investigate possible recruits.
• Xia Chuan established a shipyard in the Land of Waves with hired shipwrights and carpenters, supported by Konoha chunin and samurai guards.
• Tsunade gave Orochimaru the plans for the new laboratory, and he remarked that Karn was wary of Konoha and warned that Sarutobi would keep pursuing him.

Karn negotiated a trade deal with Kirigakure, securing a future market for his medicines and other goods in exchange for collateral that included chakra metal. Meanwhile, Orochimaru and Tsunade continued testing the Extremis Virus with the First's cells and needed Karn to supply more serum.

• The Third Mizukage dismissed Karn's request to meet, so the Mizukage Assistant sent him to Genji instead.
• Genji agreed to trade medicines, grain, and ironware with Karn, protect his shipping fleet, and include chakra metal as collateral every two or three transactions.
• Karn and Genji set a port in the Land of Water as their trading site and scheduled their first transaction for two months later.
• Karn planned pharmaceutical and food-processing factories in the Land of Waves and a modern army and arms production in the Land of Tea.
• Orochimaru and Tsunade tested the Extremis Virus with the First's cells, but the experiment destroyed more equipment and used up their serum.
• Orochimaru told Tsunade to contact Karn for more serum so their experiments could continue.

Karn supplied Orochimaru and Tsunade with equipment and test subjects as they investigated whether the Extremis virus could stabilize Hashirama cells. Their latest experiment showed partial regeneration after an explosion, leaving them close to a possible success but still in need of further testing.

• Tsunade and Orochimaru explained that the Extremis virus suppressed Hashirama cells and improved healing, but subjects still exploded when their emotions peaked.
• Karn reviewed their data, arranged replacement equipment and serum, and discussed obtaining different kinds of subjects, including ninja.
• Karn continued managing supplies and subjects while practicing ninjutsu; his chakra developed all five elemental affinities, though Kakuzu doubted his combat potential.
• Karn paid Kakuzu to teach him the Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique so he could escape danger.
• A test subject's arm exploded but began regenerating, and Tsunade recorded the response as Orochimaru declared his hypothesis correct.