Chapter Summaries

Xia Yan and Minato Namikaze sparred under the full moon, testing their speed and skills. Minato overwhelmed Xia Yan with his speed, but Xia Yan prepared to reveal a dangerous new power, marked by red eyeshadow.

• Xia Yan asked Minato Namikaze to spar, and Minato agreed to test his abilities.
• The two exchanged attacks, using techniques including Substitution, Shadow Clone, and Water Dragon Bullet, while Minato evaded Xia Yan’s strikes with ease.
• Minato increased his speed and battered Xia Yan until Xia Yan could no longer keep up.
• Xia Yan stood up and said he would use something interesting, then began gathering chakra as red eyeshadow appeared on his face.

Xia Yan revealed his Sage Mode to Minato Namikaze and sparred with him, using senjutsu-enhanced attacks to keep pace with the Hokage. The fight escalated when both used Flying Thunder God, leaving Minato facing a sudden attack from behind.

• Minato recognized Xia Yan’s Sage Mode, and Xia Yan explained that he had learned it from old records and later trained with Lizard Maru.
• Xia Yan asked Minato to keep his Sage Mode secret, and Minato agreed before preparing to fight seriously.
• Xia Yan used Sage Mode to match Minato’s speed and pressed him with weapon attacks and Substitution Technique feints.
• Xia Yan unleashed a senjutsu-enhanced Water Dragon Bullet, which Minato countered with a Rasengan.
• Minato used Flying Thunder God to attack Xia Yan from behind, but Xia Yan vanished, and Minato heard a blade slicing toward him from behind.

Xia Yan and Minato Namikaze ended their spar after Minato praised Xia Yan’s rapid mastery of Flying Thunder God and explained why he would not appoint an unqualified Anbu Captain. The next morning, Xia Yan brought reports to Anbu headquarters, where Director Murashima Takumi refused to forward one to Hiruzen Sarutobi without orders.

• Xia Yan used Flying Thunder God to mark Minato Namikaze during their spar, impressing Minato with his skill.
• Minato Namikaze stopped the fight and told Xia Yan he would not make him Captain unless he was qualified, because the Anbu served Konoha rather than any individual Hokage.
• Xia Yan decided to present his relationship with Minato Namikaze to Hiruzen Sarutobi as that of teacher and student, omitting their deeper conversations from his report.
• Xia Yan prepared his reports, including edited insights into Flying Thunder God, and went to Anbu headquarters the next morning.
• Xia Yan gave his report to Director Murashima Takumi and asked him to pass another document to Hiruzen Sarutobi, but Murashima refused without orders.

Xia Yan refused to trust Owl’s offer to deliver his documents to Hiruzen Sarutobi and attacked him to test his suspicions. After overpowering Owl in the cramped office, Xia Yan paused as reinforcements approached and asked to borrow Owl’s hand.

• Murashima Takumi refused to tell Xia Yan where Hiruzen Sarutobi was or deliver Xia Yan’s documents.
• An Anbu named Owl secretly led Xia Yan to an office and offered to pass the documents to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Xia Yan feigned agreement, then attacked Owl with a chakra-coated kunai, prompting Owl to use the Substitution Technique.
• Xia Yan pressed his attack, outmatched Owl in close combat, and disarmed him despite Owl’s efforts to resist.
• As reinforcements neared the office, Xia Yan stopped and gently asked Owl to lend him his hand.

Xia Yan fought Owl at Anbu headquarters, using taijutsu and the Flying Thunder God Technique while refusing to explain himself. As Murashima Takumi prepared to confront him, Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived and demanded to know whether they were trying to destroy the entire Anbu.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi learned that Xia Yan had started fighting Owl and suspected the clash was meant to draw him to headquarters.
• Xia Yan disarmed Owl, used his hand to complete hand seals, and broke Owl’s wrist before launching a Water Dragon Bullet Technique.
• Owl escaped the office as the Anbu reinforcements’ Great Fireball collided with Xia Yan’s water dragon, filling the area with steam.
• Xia Yan used the Flying Thunder God Technique to kick Owl and quickly knock down four Anbu members who tried to intervene.
• Murashima Takumi arrived and confronted Xia Yan, who stayed in a fighting stance and said he would explain himself in a report.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived and asked whether they were trying to destroy the entire Anbu.

Xia Yan explained his suspicions about Murashima Takumi and Owl to Hiruzen Sarutobi, then gave him detailed reports on his dealings with Minato Namikaze and the Flying Thunder God Technique. Hiruzen rewarded Xia Yan with a planned Captaincy and member-selection authority, while Danzo later read the materials without realizing they concealed a trap.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped Xia Yan and Murashima Takumi's confrontation, heard Xia Yan's account, and sent Murashima Takumi to check on Owl.
• After Murashima Takumi left, Xia Yan concluded that Hiruzen Sarutobi had arranged the strange behavior of Murashima Takumi and Owl, and handed over his prepared materials about Minato Namikaze and the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi praised Xia Yan's materials and promised him the Third Battalion Captaincy with authority to choose members, specifically mentioning Kakashi.
• Danzo visited Hiruzen Sarutobi, questioned his trust in Xia Yan, and read the materials, while neither man realized they were an enormous trap.

After his clash at Anbu Headquarters, Xia Yan returned to his unit and reflected on building power and allies as he pursued ambitions beyond becoming Anbu Director. He met with Shōma Senju, who questioned him about the incident and his Captain's Exam, and Xia Yan ended by promising to do what he could for the Senju Clan.

• Xia Yan found that Hiruzen Sarutobi had suppressed news of the confrontation at Anbu Headquarters and considered how he would build an interest group of his own.
• Uesugi Gen met Xia Yan on his way home and told him that Shōma Senju wanted to see him immediately.
• Shōma Senju first asked whether Xia Yan had been hurt, then asked about the fight; Xia Yan refused to explain the classified details.
• Shōma Senju questioned Xia Yan about learning the Flying Thunder God Technique and passing the Captain's Exam, and Xia Yan recounted the exam and his request to take the Theoretical Exam.
• Shōma Senju asked how many Senju Clan members Xia Yan would bring into his unit if selected as Captain, and Xia Yan promised to do everything he could because his surname was Senju too.

Xia Yan reported the Anbu incident and his clan’s request to Minato Namikaze, then brought the same matters to Hiruzen Sarutobi as he prepared to take command of his unit. Hiruzen said Xia Yan’s appointment would likely come through the next day and hinted that some of his support would remain unacknowledged.

• Xia Yan summoned Minato Namikaze and described how Murashima Takumi and Owl had interfered with his report, prompting Minato to warn him to keep his suspicions private.
• Xia Yan told Minato that his clan hoped he could bring some clan members into his unit, and Minato said they would first need to qualify.
• Minato advised Xia Yan to improve his use of Flying Thunder God, and Xia Yan agreed while keeping his mastery of marking kunai secret.
• Xia Yan visited Anbu headquarters and asked Owl to arrange a meeting with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Xia Yan told Hiruzen that he would report details of his spar with Minato and asked how to handle his clan’s request; Hiruzen approved and said Xia Yan’s appointment would likely arrive the next day.

Xia Yan considered whom to select for his new Anbu division and reassured Kakashi and the other Anbu with a speech about a captain’s responsibilities. He was officially promoted to captain, then visited Shōma Senju to report his success while planning how to build his division and pursue his own goals.

• Xia Yan discussed the difficulty of choosing Senju clan members for his division and told Kakashi he was confident about the promotion.
• Xia Yan described being an Anbu captain as both an honor and a responsibility, impressing the Anbu who overheard him.
• The First Division captain congratulated Xia Yan and confirmed his appointment as captain of the Third Battalion.
• Xia Yan celebrated with his colleagues, then considered how to consolidate his division, transfer Kakashi, and gain opportunities to investigate the Ryūmyaku and Hashirama Senju's flesh.
• Xia Yan visited Shōma Senju and told him, “I'm a captain now.”

On his first day as Third Battalion Captain, Xia Yan assessed his depleted forces and ordered Trout to recruit promising rookies and request Kakashi’s transfer. His status panel revealed that his promotion had advanced his unique mission and ripened an intermediate senjutsu fruit, which he prepared to use as he resolved to pursue greater power and ultimately become Hokage.

• Xia Yan reviewed the Third Battalion’s depleted squads and decided to rebuild his force with rookies while carefully screening Senju Clan members proposed for the Anbu.
• Xia Yan ordered Trout to recruit promising candidates from Logistics and request Kakashi’s transfer from the First Division, hinting that his clash with the Anbu Director had boosted his authority.
• Xia Yan considered how his new Captain role increased his need for strength and reflected on the opportunities Kakashi had brought him.
• Xia Yan checked his status panel and discovered that his unique mission progress had reached ten percent, his planted seeds had gained maturity, and an intermediate senjutsu fruit had ripened.
• Xia Yan resolved to become Hokage so he could advance his ambitions, then materialized the fruit and prepared to consume it despite concerns about his limited chakra.

Xia Yan reorganized the Third Battalion, promoted Kakashi to squad leader, and secured a mission to escort Yashamaru back to the Land of Wind. The order arrived, leaving Xia Yan free to choose his team and prepare to depart.

• Xia Yan welcomed Kakashi to the Third Battalion and appointed him a squad leader, telling him to choose a squad with Trout.
• Xia Yan searched mission reports for an assignment in the Land of Wind and found one involving Yashamaru.
• Xia Yan asked Murashima Takumi to assign him the mission, citing his capture of Yashamaru and Kusunoki's death.
• Murashima Takumi agreed to report Xia Yan's request, and Xia Yan returned to his office to wait.
• Anbu Headquarters officially ordered Xia Yan to escort Yashamaru back to the Land of Wind and let him choose the personnel.

Xia Yan prepared to leave Konoha with Kakashi and a captive, while warning four Senju recruits to obey him and strengthening his control over the Third Battalion. On the road to Sunagakure, he hinted to Kakashi that the mission could reveal intelligence and help address the Hokage’s weak influence in the Anbu.

• Xia Yan chose Kakashi as his sole companion, left Trout in charge of the Third Battalion, and told him to continue training the recruits.
• Xia Yan secretly told the four Senju recruits that he would leave Konoha and ordered them to obey only him, threatening consequences if they defied him.
• Xia Yan and Kakashi traveled toward Sunagakure with Yashamaru, whose senses were sealed after Konoha interrogated him for intelligence.
• Kakashi asked why Xia Yan had taken so few people, and Xia Yan said he planned to gather more intelligence during the mission.
• Xia Yan pointed out that the Hokage had little influence in the Anbu, and Kakashi realized the mission might help his teacher; Xia Yan denied saying so and told Kakashi to focus on caution and avenging Squad Leader Kusunoki.

Minato Namikaze’s proposal to restrain Root was rejected by Shimura Danzō and quietly discouraged by Hiruzen Sarutobi, leaving Minato to recognize their tacit support for Root. Meanwhile, Uchiha Sora discussed her clan’s unsuccessful Medical Department application with her grandfather, who asked whether she still knew her former classmate Kakashi.

• Minato Namikaze presented a report proposing that Root investigate thoroughly and explain its actions against Konoha residents.
• Shimura Danzō defended Root’s methods, and Hiruzen Sarutobi warned Minato that exposing hidden matters could implicate departments and undermine trust in the Hokage.
• After the meeting, Minato concluded that Hiruzen and Danzō tacitly supported Root and worried about Xia Yan and Kakashi’s mission to Sunagakure.
• Danzō told Hiruzen that Minato seemed to have given up for now, and Hiruzen said the Senju Clan youth had chosen his dangerous mission himself.
• Uchiha Sora told her grandfather that her application to the Medical Department was unlikely to be approved, and he asked whether she was still acquainted with her former classmate Kakashi.

Uchiha Sora told her grandfather, Uchiha Shin, that Kakashi served under her former desk mate Xia Yan, prompting Shin to consider Xia Yan a potential connection to Konoha’s inner circle. Meanwhile, Xia Yan and Kakashi crossed the Land of Wind, where Pakura spotted them escorting a bound Sunagakure ninja and prepared to intervene.

• Uchiha Sora told Uchiha Shin that Kakashi was Xia Yan’s subordinate and that Kakashi respected Xia Yan as his squad leader.
• Uchiha Shin decided to investigate Xia Yan and consider how he might help bring the Uchiha Clan closer to Konoha.
• Xia Yan complained about the harsh desert conditions as he and Kakashi traveled toward Sunagakure, then sensed someone approaching.
• Pakura traveled toward the Land of Rivers on a mission to negotiate with Kirigakure while Sunagakure faced pressure from several villages.
• Pakura saw two Konoha Anbu escorting a bound Sunagakure ninja and formed hand seals, preparing to confront them.

Xia Yan and Kakashi encountered Pakura while escorting the captive Yashamaru through the desert, and Pakura attacked them, believing they had captured a Sunagakure ninja. Xia Yan outmaneuvered Pakura and knocked her unconscious, leaving her in Konoha's custody.

• Xia Yan sensed an approaching chakra presence and warned Kakashi to prepare for a fight.
• Pakura attacked Xia Yan and Kakashi with Scorch Release, and Xia Yan knocked Yashamaru unconscious before confronting her.
• Xia Yan used a shadow clone to draw Pakura in, then struck back with Earth Release techniques and wounded her.
• Pakura tried to assess the fight and prepare to retreat, but Xia Yan appeared behind her and knocked her unconscious.

Xia Yan captured Pakura and sent Kakashi to take her secretly to Konoha, leaving himself free to pursue the Ryūmyaku. He devised a way to use summoned lizards as mobile Flying Thunder God marks, while Rasa prepared Sunagakure’s response to Konoha and Iwagakure.

• Xia Yan identified the unconscious Pakura as Sunagakure’s Scorch Release user and ordered Kakashi to take her secretly back to Konoha instead of killing her.
• Kakashi sealed Pakura’s chakra, bound her, and left while Xia Yan stayed behind to continue toward his own goals.
• Xia Yan summoned eleven lizards and planned to use them as concealed, mobile Flying Thunder God marks, with the communicative lizard directing them.
• Rasa learned that Iwagakure was expanding its activity in the Land of Bears and the Land of Birds and ordered troops to secure positions.
• Rasa instructed Baki to have Ebizo deliver a letter to Viper, monitor Konoha, and secretly lead a team to receive the person Konoha was bringing.

Xia Yan discovered he could speak with desert animals and learned from a snake that Sunagakure had an ambush waiting near an oasis. He continued toward the village with Yashamaru, preparing to face Ebizo and the Anbu forces.

• Xia Yan carried the unconscious Yashamaru through the desert and heard nearby animals talking through his new ability.
• Xia Yan spoke with a rattlesnake and traded raw eggs for information about ten people gathered at an oasis near Sunagakure.
• Ebizo waited at the oasis and ordered his Anbu to capture Xia Yan, learning that a Konoha Anbu captain was approaching alone.
• A Sunagakure Anbu member appeared and signaled Xia Yan to follow him.
• Xia Yan sent his lizards ahead and behind him, then walked toward the Anbu member, ready for the ambush.

Xia Yan delivered the unconscious Yashamaru to Ebizo, but Ebizo accused him of entering the Land of Wind without authorization and ordered his arrest. Xia Yan used the Flying Thunder God Technique to kill six Sunagakure Anbu, then faced Ebizo and the surviving guards as reinforcements closed in.

• Xia Yan met Ebizo at an oasis outside Sunagakure and set down the unconscious Yashamaru.
• Ebizo identified Xia Yan as Nightingale and demanded mission papers, then ordered his Anbu to arrest him when Xia Yan tried to leave.
• Xia Yan used the Flying Thunder God Technique to ambush the hidden Anbu, killing six of them.
• Ebizo gathered the three surviving Anbu around himself, including one using Magnet Release, while Xia Yan recovered from the repeated teleports.
• Xia Yan sensed more Sunagakure forces approaching, and Ebizo prepared to fight as Xia Yan hinted that he had made preparations of his own.

Xia Yan escaped Sunagakure’s encirclement and used a lizard spy to learn that Ebizo was mobilizing the village to hunt him. He planned to mislead the searchers before traveling to Rōran, then ambushed a Sunagakure Anbu squad.

• Ebizo ordered Sunagakure’s Anbu and garrison troops to search for Xia Yan, then returned to the village to consult Rasa and Chiyo.
• Xia Yan appeared at the edge of his Flying Thunder God range and decided to use his supposed flight toward other lands as cover for a trip to Rōran.
• A lizard spy relayed Ebizo’s plans to Xia Yan, who realized the troop movements could also help make his escape story more convincing.
• Xia Yan headed away from Rōran to leave misleading clues while Sunagakure squads searched the surrounding desert.
• Xia Yan ambushed a Sunagakure Anbu squad and killed its members before they could react.

Rasa ordered Sunagakure to tighten its search for Nightingale and approved sending a protected Sealing Squad after him. Chiyo learned Nightingale might know what happened to Sasori and set out to find him, while Xia Yan reached an oasis near Rōran and sensed the Ryūmyaku.

• Rasa ordered surveillance and inspections increased, and directed Sunagakure's forces to call for support rather than confront Nightingale alone.
• Chiyo persuaded Rasa to send a Sealing Squad, and Ebizo assigned Viper to protect it.
• Rasa told Chiyo he would investigate Sasori after dealing with Nightingale, though he privately had little interest in doing so.
• Ebizo told Chiyo that Nightingale might know the truth about Sasori, and Chiyo left to seek him.
• Xia Yan crossed the desert and reached an oasis near Rōran, where he sensed the Ryūmyaku's chakra coming from a towering structure.