Recaps

After the Nine-Tails attack, Xia Yan told Shōma Senju how he had secured the Anbu Director position and asked him to help rally the clans, then agreed to receive the Senju Clan’s records. Alone, Xia Yan planted a Nine-Tails chakra seed, and its rapid growth produced a startling result.

• Shōma Senju learned that Xia Yan had killed the Anbu Director, saved Minato Namikaze, and reorganized the Anbu’s Second Division.
• Xia Yan asked Shōma Senju to contact the clans and explain his plans, and Shōma agreed to give him the Senju Clan’s records.
• Xia Yan considered how to approach the Uchiha and examined the chakra seeds he had collected, including the Nine-Tails seed.
• Xia Yan planted the Nine-Tails seed near his heart, and the process drained his chakra reserves.
• Xia Yan’s Unique Mission progress rose from eighteen to thirty percent, accelerating the seed’s growth; he ate the resulting fruit and discovered it had truly become a Nine-Tails.

Xia Yan discovered that his system-created Nine-Tails had an independent personality, relied on him, and could supply chakra to cultivate his seeds. Meanwhile, Xia Yan consolidated his authority as Anbu Director and confronted Antelope, leaving him with a warning about the ruthless struggle for power.

• Xia Yan spoke with the juvenile Nine-Tails, who chose to stay with him and explained that he could provide chakra but needed more chakra to grow.
• Xia Yan used the Nine-Tails' chakra to cultivate his Fire Release and Sealing Jutsu seeds, while reassuring him that he would not seal him.
• Xia Yan considered using the Nine-Tails' chakra in combat and learned that they could eventually enter Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, though the little fox was currently too weak for sustained synchronization.
• Xia Yan reflected on Konoha's rebuilding plans, rejected Hiruzen Sarutobi's proposal to relocate the Senju Clan, and supported Minato Namikaze while he recuperated at Mount Myōboku.
• Antelope visited Xia Yan's office, and Xia Yan warned him that people seeking power had to become hunters rather than prey.

Xia Yan recruited Antelope and ordered plans to expand both the Anbu’s administrative staff and combat divisions, appointing Kakashi and Trout to lead the rebuilding. Danzo, enraged by his losses and Hiruzen Sarutobi’s refusal to restore his authority, vowed to seize the Hokage’s position.

• Xia Yan persuaded Antelope to cooperate with his planned Anbu reforms by offering him a chance to gain greater authority as the organization expanded.
• Xia Yan summoned Kakashi and Trout, assigned Kakashi to rebuild the Second Division, and appointed Trout acting captain of the Third Battalion.
• Xia Yan explained that he intended to expand the Anbu’s clerical staff and combat personnel, breaking with the organization’s traditional size.
• Danzo smashed objects in Root headquarters as he recalled his failed plans during the Nine-Tails Incident and blamed Senju Natsuhiko, Minato Namikaze, and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Danzo vowed to betray Hiruzen Sarutobi, become Hokage, and show what it meant to overstep his bounds.

Hiruzen Sarutobi approved Xia Yan’s proposed changes to the Anbu while Danzo plotted to seize the Hokage’s position by assassinating Hiruzen and undermining Shikaku Nara. At Mount Myōboku, Minato and Kushina learned more about Xia Yan’s role in saving Minato and focused on recovering together, while Xia Yan began considering a trip to the Land of Fire Capital to investigate the Nine-Tails chakra.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi read Xia Yan’s Anbu reforms and approved them, while suspecting Minato Namikaze had devised the plan to expand his influence through the Anbu.
• Danzo plotted to kill Hiruzen Sarutobi, damage the Yamanaka Clan with evidence, and pressure Shikaku Nara to withdraw from the Hokage succession.
• Sage Fukasaku told Minato Namikaze and Kushina that Xia Yan had likely used a life-sacrificing method to undo the Reaper Death Seal and saved Minato through extraordinary Yang Release.
• Minato Namikaze and Kushina decided to focus on recovering together at Mount Myōboku, while Minato planned to improve his Senjutsu and learn to use the Nine-Tails’ power.
• Xia Yan received approval to expand the Anbu and considered using a visit to the Land of Fire Capital to deal with the Nine-Tails chakra collected by the Twelve Guardian Ninja.

Xia Yan negotiated with Hiruzen Sarutobi to accompany him to the Land of Fire's Capital, using his knowledge of Hiruzen's plans and Danzo's vulnerability to secure cooperation and funding for the Anbu. Meanwhile, Danzo prepared an ambush for Hiruzen and assigned A to test his Wood Release against the Third Hokage.

• Xia Yan reviewed intelligence about Hiruzen Sarutobi's planned meeting with the Daimyō and decided to seek cooperation over the trip and its funding.
• Xia Yan met Hiruzen Sarutobi, explained his Anbu expansion plans, and correctly guessed how Hiruzen intended to use money from the Daimyō.
• Xia Yan invoked Danzo's situation as leverage, and Hiruzen agreed to let him accompany the trip as a guard while keeping the arrangement confidential.
• Xia Yan left, pleased that his agreement could increase pressure on Hiruzen and eventually draw Shimura Danzō into expanding Root.
• Danzo received intelligence that Hiruzen would depart soon with only a few Anbu, then ordered his men to prepare an ambush and summon A.
• Danzo told A to carry out the mission against Hiruzen and urged him to demonstrate his Wood Release.

Xia Yan accompanied Hiruzen Sarutobi toward the Land of Fire Capital under the guise of Kakashi Hatake, while Root prepared an ambush. Root attacked the pair on the road, and Xia Yan intervened after recognizing Kinoe’s Wood Release, hinting that he had uncovered something Hiruzen would want to know.

• Xia Yan learned Hiruzen Sarutobi’s travel plans and told Senju Renka he would be away, while she inferred that he was accompanying the Third Hokage to meet the Daimyō.
• Xia Yan joined Hiruzen Sarutobi on the road wearing Kakashi’s mask, and a Root scout identified their route and reported that the apparent guard had mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Root operatives prepared an ambush, and Xia Yan and Hiruzen Sarutobi separately suspected that the other had arranged it.
• Root attacked with Earth Release, and Xia Yan and Hiruzen Sarutobi realized neither had ordered the assault when the attackers targeted Hiruzen.
• Xia Yan recognized Kinoe’s Wood Release and killed a Root ninja with Wooden Thorns, then told Hiruzen that he had discovered something interesting.

Xia Yan defeated Danzo’s Root squad with his Flying Thunder God and overwhelming Wood Release, then pressured Hiruzen Sarutobi over the Wood Release experiment and demanded that Hiruzen combine Fire Release with his power. Hiruzen fought back with shadow clones and a five-release combo, but Xia Yan appeared beside him afterward, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi realized he had to protect Danzo to keep their secrets and their faction safe, while Xia Yan recognized that Danzo’s actions had given him leverage.
• Xia Yan used the Flying Thunder God Technique and his sword to kill Root ninja as the squad identified him as Konoha Nightingale.
• A Root boy used Wood Release to shield Hiruzen, but Xia Yan entered Sage Mode and overwhelmed the Root ninja with Deep Forest Emergence, capturing most of them.
• Xia Yan challenged Hiruzen to use Fire Release alongside his Wood Release, and the two clashed as Hiruzen summoned Enma and launched a five-release combo technique.
• Hiruzen believed his attack had beaten Xia Yan, but Xia Yan appeared beside him and questioned why he thought he had won.

Xia Yan forced Hiruzen Sarutobi to accept his demands, then traveled with him to the Land of Fire Capital. After Little Nine-Tails sensed sealed Nine-Tails Chakra, Xia Yan found the stash and confronted its guardian, Kazuma, whom he defeated and identified himself to as Nightingale.

• Xia Yan withstood Hiruzen Sarutobi's attack with the Adamantine Barrier, revealed that he had marked Hiruzen with Flying Thunder God, and took Yamato from the Root members.
• Xia Yan pressed Hiruzen Sarutobi to deal with Danzo and made him demonstrate the power he had promised to show.
• Xia Yan and Hiruzen Sarutobi reached the Land of Fire Capital, while Xia Yan reflected on using Yamato to pressure Hiruzen and Danzo.
• Little Nine-Tails told Xia Yan that he sensed sealed Nine-Tails Chakra, and Xia Yan went into the forest to find it without informing Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Xia Yan unearthed a scroll containing the chakra and recognized the approaching guardian as Kazuma, the Daimyō's Guardian Ninja.
• Xia Yan countered Kazuma's Five Elements Seal, subdued him, and revealed that he was a Konoha Anbu ninja named Nightingale.

Hiruzen Sarutobi reflected on his defeat by Senju Natsuhiko and planned to counter his abilities, then joined him in using Kazuma’s theft of Nine-Tails chakra as leverage to secure more funding from the Daimyō. The two agreed to share responsibility for protecting the Daimyō and seek a sixty-percent increase in Konoha’s financial support, while Xia Yan kept the real chakra scroll for Little Nine-Tails to consume.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to study ways to counter Senju Natsuhiko’s Flying Thunder God and Wood Release after losing their confrontation.
• Senju Natsuhiko arrived using Flying Thunder God with the crippled Kazuma and told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Kazuma had collected Nine-Tails chakra.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Senju Natsuhiko agreed to disband the Twelve Guardian Ninja and share responsibility for protecting the Daimyō.
• Senju Natsuhiko and Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to seek a sixty-percent increase in the Daimyō’s financial support for Konoha, citing protection and war losses.
• Xia Yan revealed that the scroll given to Hiruzen Sarutobi was a forgery and kept Kazuma’s real Nine-Tails chakra for Little Nine-Tails to consume.

Xia Yan discovered that the Ryūmyaku’s chakra could serve as a source of special chakra, then rejected Hiruzen Sarutobi’s attempt to recruit him and carried out their mission against the Guardian Ninja. He defeated the eleven gathered at the Daimyō’s palace and confronted the Daimyō with evidence that Kazuma’s group had been collecting Nine-Tails Chakra.

• Little Nine-Tails reminded Xia Yan that the Ryūmyaku contained vast amounts of ownerless special chakra, giving him a new lead for strengthening himself.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi tried to win Xia Yan over, but Xia Yan affirmed that he followed the Hokage’s office and remained committed to his plan with Minato Namikaze.
• Xia Yan entered the Daimyō’s palace in disguise and incapacitated Chiriku and the other ten Guardian Ninja, identifying himself as Konoha Nightingale.
• Xia Yan told the injured Guardian Ninja that he had captured Kazuma because their group had been collecting Nine-Tails Chakra.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi informed the Daimyō of the Chakra collection, and Xia Yan dropped the defeated Guardian Ninja into the meeting before demanding an immediate investigation.

Xia Yan traveled to Rōran to release the Ryūmyaku and have Little Nine-Tails absorb its chakra, while Sara prepared to move Rōran’s people away. Little Nine-Tails devoured most of the released power, but then the remaining chakra suddenly rushed into Xia Yan.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Xia Yan finalized their terms with the Daimyō, and Xia Yan told Hiruzen he would investigate Uzumaki descendants in the Land of Grass before heading to the Land of Wind.
• Xia Yan reached Rōran and found its tower restored and the Ryūmyaku seal intact, then triggered the seal and prepared Little Nine-Tails to absorb the chakra.
• Sara led Rōran’s people back toward the city and sensed the seal react as the Ryūmyaku erupted; the chakra’s shock waves stopped, revealing a nine-tailed fox in Rōran.
• Xia Yan broke open the Ryūmyaku’s sealing jutsu, and Little Nine-Tails emerged from Xia Yan and began devouring the vast chakra.
• After Little Nine-Tails absorbed most of the Ryūmyaku chakra, he roared and released it, and the remaining chakra surged into Xia Yan’s body.

After the Ryūmyaku’s chakra strengthened Xia Yan and the Nine-Tails, Xia Yan left Rōran with Sara and its refugees. Sunagakure suspected him of tampering with the Ryūmyaku, and as the group neared a ferry crossing, Xia Yan spotted figures in red-cloud robes approaching.

• Xia Yan sealed some of the Ryūmyaku chakra inside himself and used the rest to mature his seeds, while the Nine-Tails grew dramatically and reached intermediate level.
• Xia Yan checked his improved status, then discussed attempting Nine-Tails Chakra Mode with the still-unstable Nine-Tails.
• Rasa learned of violent chakra fluctuations at the Ryūmyaku, and Chiyo suggested Xia Yan might have entered Rōran six months earlier; Rasa suspected Konoha and Xia Yan.
• Xia Yan killed Sunagakure ninja pursuing the refugees, burned their bodies, and continued escorting Sara’s people toward the Land of Tea.
• As the refugees approached a ferry crossing, Xia Yan noticed several figures in black robes with red clouds in the distance.

Xia Yan encountered Konan, Kakuzu, and Sasori near Rōran, and their suspicions about the Ryūmyaku led them to attack him. With Little Nine-Tails’ help, Xia Yan entered Nine-Tails Chakra Mode and fought back, but the battle continued as all three Akatsuki members regrouped against him.

• Xia Yan sent Sara and the other Rōran residents onward, then approached Konan, Kakuzu, and Sasori, who had come to investigate the chakra surge and destroyed Ryūmyaku seal.
• Kakuzu and Sasori recognized something familiar about Xia Yan and blocked him from leaving, so Xia Yan fought back with Water Release and faced their combined attacks.
• Little Nine-Tails offered Xia Yan its chakra, and Xia Yan merged it with his own to enter Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.
• Xia Yan used his enhanced speed to pierce Kakuzu’s fist, but Sasori and Konan struck him with iron sand and paper attacks, apparently pinning him beside Kakuzu.
• Xia Yan revealed that the impaled body had been a Shadow Clone, while Kakuzu recovered and Konan and Sasori prepared to continue the fight.

Rasa pursued the people fleeing Rōran to identify the person who had taken the Ryūmyaku, but he encountered a fierce battle between Xia Yan and three Akatsuki members. Xia Yan learned to form a Tailed Beast Bomb with Little Nine-Tails’s guidance and unleashed it against his opponents, leaving the desert engulfed in a massive explosion.

• Rasa inspected the destroyed Ryūmyaku seal, suspected Senju Natsuhiko had taken it, and followed the tracks of Rōran’s departing residents.
• Rasa sensed enormous chakra ahead and secretly watched Xia Yan fight Sasori, Kakuzu, and Konan.
• Xia Yan asked Little Nine-Tails to help him use a Tailed Beast Bomb and learned to combine Yin Release and Yang Release chakra in an eight-to-two ratio.
• Xia Yan gathered and compressed black chakra into a Tailed Beast Bomb while the three Akatsuki members prepared their defenses.
• Xia Yan fired the Tailed Beast Bomb, destroying the puppets and defenses and triggering a vast explosion across the desert.

Xia Yan used a Tailed Beast Bomb to drive off the Akatsuki and protect Sara’s Rōran refugees, while Rasa and Konan separately assessed the devastation. After Sasori revived himself and vowed revenge, Xia Yan continued toward the Land of Wind, considering how to use his new alternate identity and wondering whether he could create a Ten-Tails; he finally gave Sara the name Silver Stone, Sakata Gintoki.

• Xia Yan raised an Earth Flow Rampart to shield Sara and the Rōran refugees from the Tailed Beast Bomb’s shock wave, then urged them to leave and told Sara to keep their dealings secret.
• Rasa survived the blast, recognized Sasori and Kakuzu among the attackers, and abandoned his pursuit of the refugees.
• Konan recovered Sasori and Kakuzu’s bodies, but Sasori revived by transferring his puppet body’s scroll and promised to repay Xia Yan for the attack.
• At a port in the Land of Wind, Xia Yan tested a weakened Spiral Tailed Beast Bomb, reflected on Sunagakure’s lack of pursuit, and considered using his new identity to target other Jinchūriki and possibly create a Ten-Tails.
• Xia Yan gave Sara the promised money, and when she asked for his name, he introduced himself as Silver Stone, Sakata Gintoki.

Xia Yan traveled to Kusagakure to find a displaced Uzumaki Clan descendant, forcing Root operatives to reveal her location before attacking the Grass Ninja guarding her. After killing the guards, he confronted an unexpected figure who emerged from cover.

• Xia Yan reached Kusagakure and wondered whether the monster inside the Box of Ultimate Bliss could provide chakra for the Little Nine-Tails.
• Xia Yan beat Root operatives who refused to cooperate, killed two, and persuaded a survivor to reveal the location of an Uzumaki Clan descendant.
• Jiraiya recalled Gamamaru's altered prophecy that an ambitious boy, accompanied by nine beasts or one, might become his enemy.
• Jiraiya detected blood at a Root hideout and went to investigate.
• Xia Yan attacked the Kusagakure ninja guarding a woman and a baby, killed the group, and recognized the person who appeared from behind a tree.

Xia Yan fought Jiraiya after Jiraiya caught him leaving a Konoha outpost, then invaded the Underground Laboratory to find the Uzumaki Clan Descendant. Jiraiya entered Sage Mode and trapped Xia Yan in an explosive attack, but Xia Yan appeared behind him as Jiraiya’s senjutsu chakra began to fade.

• Jiraiya tracked Xia Yan to a forest and fought him after Xia Yan tried to kill the surviving Kusagakure ninja, Mui.
• Xia Yan overwhelmed Jiraiya with his chakra, then left him to gather Sage Mode while he entered the Underground Laboratory.
• Xia Yan killed many Grass Ninja in the laboratory and forced a researcher to reveal information about the Uzumaki Clan Descendant.
• Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta, entered Sage Mode, and attacked Xia Yan, who revealed that he could use Sage Mode as well.
• Jiraiya combined Yellow Spring Swamp, a shadow clone, toad oil, and fire to engulf Xia Yan in an explosion.
• Xia Yan appeared behind Jiraiya and explained his tactics as Jiraiya felt his senjutsu chakra dissipating.

Senju Natsuhiko rescued Kusai Uzumaki and her infant daughter Karin from the Land of Grass, while his encounter with Jiraiya exposed his identity and methods. Back in Konoha, Natsuhiko questioned Yamato about his Wood Release as Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to strip Danzo of every position, including Root.

• Jiraiya recognized Xia Yan as Senju Natsuhiko after Natsuhiko used Wood Release to capture him, and Natsuhiko challenged Jiraiya's right to interfere in Anbu matters.
• Jiraiya parted ways with Natsuhiko, who made clear that he respected Jiraiya's ideals but would not change his own methods.
• Natsuhiko brought Kusai Uzumaki and Karin Uzumaki to Konoha and arranged for them to stay under his protection with Shōma Senju's help.
• Natsuhiko visited Yamato in the Anbu prison and suggested that Orochimaru had conducted the experiments that gave him Wood Release while Danzo had taken him in.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura to strip Danzo of all his positions, including Root.

Danzo was stripped of his positions, while Hiruzen Sarutobi reacted to reports of Jiraiya attacking Xia Yan during a mission. Xia Yan planned changes to the Anbu and administrative department, and Uchiha Shin decided to cooperate with Senju Natsuhiko for the sake of peace; the chapter ended with Xia Yan taking Senju Renka out for dango.

• Danzo raged over his punishment but resolved to endure, while Hiruzen Sarutobi blamed his own past indulgence and confirmed Danzo would live in retirement.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi reviewed the daimyo payments and learned that Jiraiya had attacked Xia Yan during a mission, prompting him to suspect Xia Yan was making his move.
• Xia Yan planned better Anbu compensation, access to its ninjutsu archive, and an expanded Administrative Affairs Department, considering Senju Renka and others for staff roles.
• Uchiha Sora advised Uchiha Shin that his clan could resist its leader for peace as its predecessors had resisted Madara Uchiha, and Shin decided to accept Senju Natsuhiko's offer of cooperation.
• Xia Yan invited Senju Renka to eat dango, explaining that he had once used it to comfort a girl but had never tried it himself.

Xia Yan met with Senju Renka at the Dango Shop and revealed that he had become Anbu Director after killing the former Director, then asked her to help reform the Anbu. Their conversation was interrupted by Uchiha Sora and Uchiha Shin, and Xia Yan revealed his new title to them.

• Xia Yan brought Renka to the Dango Shop, where he explained that he was now Anbu Director and had killed the previous Director for refusing to deploy the Anbu during the Nine-Tails Incident.
• Xia Yan asked Renka to help him reform the Anbu, warning that her work could expose her to its deepest intelligence.
• Uchiha Shin recalled how Xia Yan had defended Sora from bullies in their childhood and first shared dango with her.
• Sora and Shin entered the crowded Dango Shop, where Sora greeted Xia Yan and met Renka.
• Shin addressed Xia Yan as Squad Leader, and Xia Yan told him that he should now call him Director.

Xia Yan revealed to Uchiha Shin and Sora that he had become Director of the Anbu, then negotiated deeper cooperation with Shin and offered Renka a chance to prove herself. As Xia Yan left the shop, Sora asked whether she could join the Anbu too.

• Xia Yan told Uchiha Shin and Sora that he was the Director of the Anbu, shocking them both.
• Xia Yan reassured Sora that they were still friends and offered her sweet dumplings, while Uchiha Shin recognized their closeness.
• Uchiha Shin declared that he would cooperate more deeply with Xia Yan and help the Uchiha integrate into Konoha.
• Renka agreed to prove herself in the Anbu and revealed that she was Xia Yan's fiancée, surprising Sora and Shin.
• Xia Yan proposed recruiting younger Uchiha with battlefield experience and reforming the Military Police Force by including civilian and other-clan shinobi.
• As Xia Yan and Renka left the shop, Sora stopped Xia Yan and asked whether she could join the Anbu.

Xia Yan arranged Anbu reforms, questioned Yamato about Orochimaru’s experiments, and brought him into the Anbu. Uchiha Sora began her assessment under Renka, while Xia Yan headed to a laboratory to search for evidence and materials.

• Xia Yan told Renka to assess Uchiha Sora and devised a Secretariat with separate secretarial systems and a squad to protect and monitor its staff.
• Xia Yan questioned Yamato, who blamed Orochimaru for the Wood Release experiments and said Danzo had saved him; Xia Yan had Senju Yo and the others watch Orochimaru.
• Xia Yan told Yamato he would serve in the Anbu under the name Yamato, and Kakashi took him away.
• Renka met Sora and began her assessment after Sora said she would do her best and would not disappoint Xia Yan.
• Xia Yan went to a laboratory associated with Orochimaru and Danzo, sent a lizard to search for flesh and other materials, then put on a disguise and vanished to join it.

Orochimaru encountered Xia Yan raiding his underground laboratory and fought him, learning that Xia Yan could wield Nine-Tails Chakra with extraordinary speed and perception. After gathering intelligence, Orochimaru destroyed the laboratory and escaped, while Xia Yan’s raid continued.

• Orochimaru reflected on Danzo’s failed attack on the teacher and recalled Xia Yan’s powerful Wood Release before sensing an intruder in the laboratory.
• Xia Yan used the little lizard’s chakra signal to enter the laboratory, steal Hashirama Senju’s cells, and search for documents, where Orochimaru attacked him.
• Xia Yan revealed that he wielded Nine-Tails Chakra, defeated Orochimaru’s defenses, and overwhelmed the Root guards as Orochimaru speculated that he belonged to a powerful organization.
• Orochimaru used clones, Earth Release, and the Kusanagi Sword to test Xia Yan, but Xia Yan perceived his moves and repeatedly struck him down.
• After assessing Xia Yan’s strength and sensory ability, Orochimaru used a new body, collapsed the laboratory with Earth Release, and escaped inside a giant snake.

Xia Yan forced Orochimaru to hand over his research reports, test-subject list, and pieces of Hashirama Senju’s corpse, then concealed his role in the attack while confronting Hiruzen Sarutobi at the ruined laboratory. After deciding to strengthen his Sage Mode, Xia Yan searched the Valley of the End and found a High-Level Senjutsu Chakra Seed.

• Orochimaru escaped the collapsing laboratory, but Xia Yan confronted him outside and demanded his research records, test-subject list, and pieces of Hashirama Senju’s corpse.
• Xia Yan left using the Flying Thunder God Technique, disguised his return as Senju Natsuhiko, and warned Orochimaru about the Nine-Tails attacker while pretending to know nothing about the fight.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived at the ruined laboratory, and Xia Yan challenged his authority to investigate before leaving the site.
• Sora told Uchiha Shin that she had joined the Administrative Affairs Office, and he celebrated her position in the Anbu.
• Xia Yan traveled to the Valley of the End and found a High-Level Senjutsu Chakra Seed.

Xia Yan strengthened the Anbu and set a plan in motion to expose Orochimaru’s experiments, hoping to force Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi into revealing their roles. The Anbu began spreading the information, while Xia Yan prepared to see how his former superior Antelope would respond to a dangerous test.

• Xia Yan reviewed the growth of the Anbu and its departments, noting that major clans had begun sending members as his policies took effect.
• Xia Yan ordered Kakashi and the other captains to reveal that the Anbu was investigating Orochimaru, then leak selected details to pressure those connected to him.
• Xia Yan told Renka that assigning Antelope to the operation would test his loyalty and asked her to identify suitable replacements if he failed.
• Xia Yan explained that the rumors were meant to push Danzo into sacrificing a pawn and draw scrutiny toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Xia Yan considered the trap he had laid for Orochimaru, Danzo, and Hiruzen Sarutobi, and asked whether they were ready.