Recaps

Obito backed a plan to make trouble for Hatake Xuanzhe while Uchiha Fugaku’s clan grew increasingly tense, prompting Xuanzhe to suspect Obito was pushing the Uchiha toward a coup. As Minato Namikaze’s inauguration approached, the Uchiha-led Military Police Force escalated its violent crackdowns, leaving Tsunade to confront the worsening crisis.

• Obito told White Zetsu and Black Zetsu that he only wanted to make life difficult for Hatake Xuanzhe, while they warned that his plan would fail without the Ten-Tails’ power.
• Shisui told Xuan Zhe that senior Uchiha clansmen were gathering at the Konoha Military Police Force, and Xuan Zhe suspected Obito was inciting Uchiha Fugaku.
• Xuan Zhe told Shisui to watch for Obito and indicated that Shisui would have to use Ryūjin Jakka if he could not track him down.
• Hinata Hyuga said she felt someone watching her, so Xuan Zhe asked her to stay with him while he tried to draw the watcher out.
• The Konoha Military Police Force beat a drunk who accused the Uchiha of causing the Nine-Tails attack, and the Anbu intervened before both sides were arrested.
• Tsunade reviewed reports of the Uchiha’s increasingly harsh enforcement as Minato Namikaze’s inauguration approached.

Itachi discovered that Fugaku planned an Uchiha uprising on the day Minato took office as Fifth Hokage, despite knowing the clan had little chance against Konoha. After Tsunade ordered the rebels killed and promised not to punish uninvolved Uchiha, Itachi stepped forward to object.

• Shisui realized Fugaku had been using a Shadow Clone to evade surveillance, and Itachi suggested questioning Uchiha Tekka to learn where Fugaku had gone.
• Itachi found Fugaku beneath Naka Shrine and urged him to abandon the uprising, revealing that Obito Uchiha had caused the Nine-Tails incident and that the Uchiha had taken the blame.
• Fugaku admitted the clan had almost no chance of winning but said it would act in five days, on the day Minato took office, and revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Shisui and Itachi reported to Tsunade that Fugaku had gathered every Uchiha combatant ranked Chunin or above and awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Tsunade ordered the two hundred Uchiha rebels killed during the inauguration while sparing clan members who had not joined the rebellion.
• Itachi stepped forward to stop Tsunade, warning that the surviving Uchiha would never clear their name if Fugaku and the others were allowed to act.

Itachi proposed taking sole responsibility for the Uchiha rebellion to protect the surviving clan members. Meanwhile, Xuan Zhe fought Otsutsuki Masato and Toneri, but just as he was about to kill Toneri, he and Hinata were pulled into a strange space and confronted by an ancient guardian.

• Itachi told Minato Namikaze and Tsunade that he would bear all the blame for the planned Uchiha rebellion.
• Xuan Zhe fought Otsutsuki Masato while Hinata Hyuga and Otsutsuki Toneri watched nearby.
• Xuan Zhe overwhelmed Masato with Ryūjin Jakka and pinned Toneri beneath his foot.
• As Xuan Zhe prepared to kill Toneri, he and Hinata were transported into an empty space covered by shallow water.
• An aged voice introduced itself to Xuan Zhe and Hinata as a guardian from the age of Ninshu named [Pre-Hamura].

Xuan Zhe and Hinata met Hamura Otsutsuki’s lingering chakra, who explained how the Ōtsutsuki Kāma could preserve its caster and even enable resurrection. Hamura offered to awaken Hinata’s hidden eye potential, but warned that doing so would consume his remaining chakra as he revealed a threat tied to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

• Xuan Zhe recognized Hamura Otsutsuki in the mental space, and Hinata was surprised to learn who he was.
• Hamura explained that the Ōtsutsuki used Kāma to leave chakra in descendants, preserving it across reincarnations and potentially allowing the caster to take over a host and resurrect.
• Xuan Zhe asked Hamura to awaken Hinata’s eyes, and Hamura said his chakra could draw out her potential, though he could not predict how far it would develop.
• Hamura said awakening Hinata’s power would use up his last chakra and send him to the Pure Land of Bliss for good.
• Hamura revealed that the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had been summoned away and that someone carrying his mother’s will was making plans, which he hoped someone would stop.

Hamura Otsutsuki passed his power to Hinata, and Xuan Zhe took her north to train instead of returning to Konoha. Meanwhile, Itachi asked Minato and the other Konoha leaders to help him prevent the Uchiha coup, while Xuan Zhe captured a Kumogakure squad and questioned Samui about its plans.

• Hamura Otsutsuki told Hinata she would need time to absorb his power before awakening its full potential, then vanished from the mental space.
• Xuan Zhe summoned a puppy that ran off with Otsutsuki Toneri, then took Hinata north to train rather than returning for Minato's inauguration.
• Itachi told Minato and the assembled Konoha leaders that he planned to stop the Uchiha coup alone, and Minato promised to protect the clan.
• Xuan Zhe and Hinata entered a tavern near the Land of Hot Water's border, where Xuan Zhe recognized the supposed bounty hunters as Kumogakure ninja.
• Hinata attempted Hamura's Yin-Yang Rotation but failed to master it, while Xuan Zhe defeated the Cloud Ninja and captured Samui.
• Xuan Zhe demanded that Samui reveal Kumogakure's scheme, but she remained silent.

Samui revealed Kumogakure’s plan to attack Konoha during Minato’s inauguration, and Xuan Zhe decided to head for Kumogakure rather than return to the village. Meanwhile, Itachi prepared to eliminate the Uchiha threat, but arrived at Naka Shrine to find Fugaku had already subdued the assembled clan.

• Samui tried to kill herself, but Xuan Zhe threatened war against Kumogakure and pressured her to reveal its plans.
• Samui disclosed that the Raikage planned a coordinated attack on Konoha with the Uchiha, while Yugito Nii and B led separate forces toward the Land of Fire.
• Hinata worried that they would not reach Konoha before Minato’s inauguration, but Xuan Zhe said they were going to Kumogakure instead.
• Itachi told Shisui to protect Sasuke, Mikoto, and the Uchiha after he carried out his plan, then went to Naka Shrine as Fugaku gathered the clan.
• Minato and Shisui sealed the shrine’s perimeter, but Itachi found more than two hundred Uchiha unconscious under Fugaku’s genjutsu.
• Fugaku explained that his Mangekyō Sharingan had allowed him to subdue the clan, and Itachi warned that one person could not take on Konoha alone.

Itachi carried out the Uchiha massacre at Naka Shrine and made his family believe he killed Fugaku and the hardliners to awaken his Mangekyō Sharingan. He left Sasuke alive with a vow of revenge, while Jiraiya learned Minato would become the Fifth Hokage and chose not to return to Konoha.

• Fugaku told Itachi that he and the rebellious clansmen had no way back, asked him to protect Mikoto and Sasuke, and gave him a scroll for Minato.
• Itachi emerged from Naka Shrine and told Minato and Shisui that the rest of the plan was his to handle.
• Mikoto, Sasuke, and other Uchiha families arrived at the shrine, where Itachi used his Mangekyō Sharingan to show them an illusion of himself slaughtering Fugaku and two hundred clansmen.
• Itachi told Sasuke that killing the person he cared about most had awakened his Mangekyō, then kicked Sasuke away and urged him to live for revenge.
• Jiraiya read Minato’s letter announcing his inauguration as Fifth Hokage and decided not to return to Konoha.

Jiraiya found Kumogakure destroyed by fire and discovered Xuan Zhe standing over its wounded shinobi. In Konoha, Fugaku’s testament exposed a planned alliance between Kumogakure and the Uchiha to attack during Minato’s succession ceremony.

• Jiraiya saw the northern sky blazing and hurried into the Land of Lightning, paying the innkeeper before he left.
• Jiraiya reached Kumogakure and found the village reduced to wreckage, with shinobi, women, and children scattered among the ruins.
• Xuan Zhe appeared with Hinata and Samui, told Jiraiya that the Raikage and two jinchūriki were absent, and ordered the injured Dodai to send a message to the Raikage.
• Dodai revealed that he suspected an Uchiha betrayal, while Xuan Zhe threatened Darui to make him comply.
• Konoha’s leaders read Fugaku’s testament, which accused Madara Uchiha of arranging a Kumogakure attack during Minato’s succession ceremony, and Tsunade realized how devastating the plot could have been.

Tsunade postponed Minato’s inauguration after the Uchiha incident, but accepted Xuan Zhe’s message that Konoha need not search for Kumogakure’s forces. Obito recruited Itachi after their clash, while the Third Raikage returned to find Lightning Cloud Canyon engulfed in flames.

• Tsunade ordered compensation for the Uchiha victims, continued the search for Obito, and postponed the inauguration.
• Gerotora delivered Jiraiya’s letter saying that he and Xuan Zhe were in Kumogakure and that Konoha did not need to search for the hidden force.
• The Third Raikage prepared his Kumogakure ambushers to attack Konoha during Minato’s inauguration.
• Obito found Itachi at the Land of Rivers border, absorbed his Amaterasu, and clashed with him using Susanoo before offering him a place in his organization.
• The Third Raikage returned to Lightning Cloud Canyon with roughly five hundred Kumogakure ninja and found it engulfed in flames.

The Third Raikage recalled Kumogakure’s forces after learning Hatake Xuanzhe had threatened the village, then led them into an ambush arranged by Xuanzhe and Mei Terumi. Xuanzhe declared his intention to replace Kumogakure’s leadership, and the battle began with Hatake Sakumo facing the Third Raikage.

• The Third Raikage recalled Killer B, Yugito Nii, and Kumogakure’s troops after receiving Dodai’s warning that Hatake Xuanzhe had attacked the village.
• Yugito Nii suggested kidnapping Rin Nohara to use as leverage, and the Third Raikage considered sending her into Konoha.
• Killer B spotted an ambush as Konoha and Kirigakure shinobi appeared on the surrounding cliffs with Xuanzhe and Mei Terumi.
• Xuanzhe told the Third Raikage he would spare Kumogakure but kill its leaders and install Hatake Sakumo as the Fourth Raikage.
• Hatake Sakumo clashed with the Third Raikage, while Xuanzhe ordered the allied forces to leave no Kumogakure shinobi alive.
• Mei Terumi embraced Xuanzhe as the battle erupted, and he noticed Haku and the eight-year-old Linglong among the fighters.

Konoha and Kirigakure fought Kumogakure in the canyon as Minato Namikaze arrived and helped turn the battle against the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails. After Xuan Zhe decided to capture the jinchūriki, Hozuki Mangetsu began manifesting the Three-Tails’ power.

• Killer B transformed into the Eight-Tails and blasted a path through the mountainside with a Tailed Beast Bomb, but Minato Namikaze teleported it away.
• Minato attacked the Eight-Tails alongside Jiraiya, who entered Sage Mode and struck Kumogakure ninja with an enormous Rasengan.
• Two-Tails ran out of chakra and returned to human form, while Shisui Uchiha declared that she had been dealt with.
• Xuan Zhe ordered Two-Tails captured and considered replacing the Eight-Tails jinchūriki because Killer B was unlikely to surrender.
• Hozuki Mangetsu began emitting red bubbles as three tails formed behind him, and his attacks with Hiramekarei grew stronger.

Hatake Xuanzhe’s allied forces defeated Kumogakure, and Hatake Sakumo became the Fourth Raikage while Killer B agreed to have the Eight-Tails transferred to Haku. As the Shinobi World reeled from the upheaval, Minato Namikaze replaced Tsunade as Hokage and Shisui became Uchiha Clan Head.

• Xuan Zhe left the canyon as Jiraiya and Hatake Sakumo moved to attack the Third Raikage, and the battle ended with Kumogakure’s defeat, Yugito Nii and Killer B captured, and the Third Raikage dead.
• Hatake Sakumo took office as Fourth Raikage, while Kumogakure’s wealth went to Kirigakure.
• Killer B agreed to cooperate with Minato Namikaze’s plan to transfer the Eight-Tails into Haku after Xuan Zhe promised not to harm the rest of Kumogakure.
• Xuan Zhe dismissed Shisui’s concern that he planned to take control of Iwagakure and left the Raikage’s Office.
• Tsunade stepped down as Hokage, Minato Namikaze became Fifth Hokage, and Shisui became Uchiha Clan Head as news of Itachi’s massacre and Kumogakure’s defeat spread.

Shisui Uchiha decided to move the Uchiha Clan from Konoha to Kumogakure, where Hatake Xuanzhe’s influence and the village’s need for people made a new start possible. As the clan departed, Naruto confronted Sasuke, and Mikoto chose to stay in Konoha with him.

• Nawaki suggested that Shisui move the Uchiha Clan to Kumogakure, and Shisui returned to discuss the idea with his clan.
• At the end of Konoha Year 56, Shisui decided that the entire Uchiha Clan would relocate to Kumogakure.
• Mikoto told Sasuke about the move, and Sasuke said he would go wherever she went while vowing to protect her and kill the person he believed had murdered his father and elder brother.
• A week later, Naruto rushed to the village gate and challenged Sasuke for leaving without settling who was better, while Kushina dragged Naruto away.
• Mikoto told Shisui that she and Sasuke would stay in Konoha, and Shisui led the rest of the Uchiha Clan toward Kumogakure.

After years of peace, Hatake Xuanzhe married Rin Nohara and Kurenai Yuhi with only a civil registration, while White Zetsu and Black Zetsu chose not to alert Obito. By Year 60, Naruto and Sasuke were twelve-year-old rivals, and Naruto’s graduation remained uncertain because the Nine-Tails’ Chakra disrupted his ninjutsu.

• Uchiha Mikoto praised Shisui as a future Clan Head, while Sasuke vowed to kill the man he hated and Shisui left without answering.
• Orochimaru suggested using Rin Nohara’s wedding to lure out Obito, but Xuanzhe rejected the plan and chose a simple marriage registration for Rin and Kurenai Yuhi.
• White Zetsu spotted Xuanzhe and the two women at the Civil Affairs Bureau, but Black Zetsu decided not to tell Obito and insisted they focus on the Tailed Beast plan.
• In Year 60, Kushina Uzumaki scolded Naruto over his poor report card, and Naruto escaped through a window as Minato Namikaze tried to calm her.
• Naruto encountered Sasuke in the street, argued with him, and soon grappled with him as villagers watched; Naruto’s graduation prospects were uncertain, while Sasuke remained one of the top students.

Xuan Zhe watched the graduating class receive their team assignments and joked about the students’ antics in the Hokage’s Office. Team 7, Team 8, and Team 10 met their leaders, while Naruto learned that his own team’s Jonin would be late.

• Naruto passed the Genin exam, and Xuan Zhe visited Minato Namikaze to watch the class through the surveillance feed.
• Naruto and Sasuke argued in class, and Sakura Haruno accidentally stumbled into Sasuke and kissed him as Naruto and Sasuke reenacted the same scene.
• Iruka announced the assignments: Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Sasuke Uchiha formed Team 7; Hinata, Shino, and Kiba formed Team 8; and Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji formed Team 10.
• Kurenai Yuhi arrived to lead Team 8, and Rin Nohara arrived to lead Team 10.
• Xuan Zhe told the students that their leader would be his nephew, who was nearly always at least three hours late to gatherings.

As Konoha prepared to host the Chunin Ninja Exams, Team 7 and the other rookie teams agreed to enter, while genin from Kumogakure, Kirigakure, and Sunagakure arrived. Xuan Zhe learned Orochimaru planned to use the exams to confront Hiruzen Sarutobi, and dismissed Orochimaru’s request to get involved.

• Kakashi asked Team 7 whether they wanted to enter the Chunin Ninja Exams, and Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura unanimously agreed.
• Team 7 encountered Suigetsu provoking Karui, and Haku stopped the confrontation by freezing the ground; Naruto mistook Haku for a girl, while Sasuke was struck by Haku’s speed.
• Temari watched the incident from an inn with Kankuro and Gaara, noting that the major villages had sent powerful genin to the exams.
• A green snake delivered Orochimaru’s request to Xuan Zhe, who told it to let Orochimaru handle the matter himself and remarked that Hiruzen Sarutobi could not avoid what was coming.
• Orochimaru resolved to use the exams to settle accounts with his teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Xuan Zhe considered the Akatsuki’s hidden leaders and learned that Nagato had stopped attending its meetings, while the Chunin Ninja Exams proceeded in Konoha. After the Fourth Kazekage arrived seeking an audience, Xuan Zhe suspected Orochimaru had infiltrated the village after killing Rasa.

• Xuan Zhe recalled that Itachi had spent years trying to locate Nagato and the Akatsuki’s headquarters, but had uncovered little useful intelligence.
• Naruto struggled with the Chunin exam’s written test as Kakashi, Kurenai Yuhi, Rin Nohara, and Might Guy discussed the candidates, including Haku as a potential next Mizukage.
• Shisui delivered Itachi’s report to Xuan Zhe, revealing that Nagato had missed the Akatsuki’s last few meetings.
• Xuan Zhe speculated that Nagato and Obito might eventually turn against each other, and Shisui wondered if Obito had already acted against the Akatsuki’s leader.
• An Anbu told Xuan Zhe that the Fourth Kazekage had arrived to see him, and Xuan Zhe suspected Orochimaru had killed Rasa and infiltrated Konoha.

Orochimaru told Xuan Zhe that Obito had stolen his research after destroying his base, while Momoshiki Otsutsuki and his companions discovered the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path was missing and headed for Earth. The Chunin Exams’ preliminary rounds selected eleven finalists, and Naruto began training with Minato during the month-long break.

• Orochimaru visited Xuan Zhe and revealed that Obito had stolen the research materials from his destroyed Land of Rice Fields base.
• Momoshiki Otsutsuki, Kinshiki Otsutsuki, and Urashiki Otsutsuki found Hamura’s lunar city empty and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path gone, so Momoshiki ordered them to Earth.
• Minato Namikaze announced a preliminary round because twenty-one examinees had passed, and Sasuke Uchiha faced Omoi in the first match.
• After several hours of preliminary matches, Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, Haku, Hozuki Suigetsu, Neji Hyuga, Shino Aburame, Karui, Gaara, Temari, Kankuro, and Hinata Hyuga advanced to the finals.
• During the month-long break, Minato Namikaze began teaching Naruto ninjutsu by the river outside the village.

The finals of Konoha's tournament began as four Kage gathered to watch, and Naruto Uzumaki faced Hinata Hyuga in the opening match. Naruto launched a swarm of shadow clones, but Hinata calmly struck them down with the Gentle Fist.

• Minato Namikaze tried to teach Naruto to mold chakra, but Naruto produced a tadpole instead and showed no discouragement.
• Wealthy patrons and leaders from across the shinobi world arrived in Konoha to watch the tournament finals.
• Mei Terumi reunited with Xuan Zhe and clashed with Kurenai Yuhi before joining Minato Namikaze, Rasa, and the Raikage at the arena.
• Genma Shiranui announced Naruto Uzumaki versus Hinata Hyuga as the first final match, and both contestants resolved not to lose.
• Naruto created more than twenty shadow clones, but Hinata used the Gentle Fist to dispel them with precise strikes.

Hinata defeated Naruto in the second exam with a black-and-white Rotation and a Shadow Clone. As the next match was called, a Four Violet Flames Formation appeared over the Sarutobi and Shimura clan grounds, and the chapter shifted to Orochi-hime confronting Hiruzen Sarutobi.

• Hinata struck Naruto's Wind Release Shadow Clone, then used a black-and-white Rotation to send him crashing into the arena wall.
• Hinata caught Naruto from behind with a Shadow Clone and won the match.
• A Four Violet Flames Formation appeared over the Sarutobi and Shimura clan grounds, but Xuan Zhe ordered the exam to continue.
• Orochi-hime confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi at the Sarutobi clan head's mansion and taunted him about her forbidden technique and his son.
• Hiruzen hurled two enlarged chakra-infused shuriken at Orochi-hime, and her body collapsed like sludge.

Orochimaru summoned Hiruzen Sarutobi’s dead sons to attack him while Haku defeated Temari in the arena. As Sasuke Uchiha and Gaara were called to fight, Momoshiki Otsutsuki and Urashiki Otsutsuki appeared and tried to capture Naruto, prompting Xuan Zhe and Hatake Sakumo to intervene.

• Orochimaru emerged from his discarded body, raised two coffins, and hinted that someone in Konoha had helped him obtain the forbidden technique.
• Sarutobi Shinnosuke and Asuma Sarutobi emerged from the coffins, and Orochimaru controlled them to attack Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• A Sarutobi Clan Chunin knocked Hiruzen aside and died in the flames, leaving Hiruzen furious with Orochimaru.
• Haku defeated Temari, and Genma Shiranui announced Sasuke Uchiha versus Gaara as the next match.
• Momoshiki Otsutsuki, Urashiki Otsutsuki, and another white figure appeared above the arena; Urashiki tried to hook Naruto, but Xuan Zhe whisked him away.
• Xuan Zhe told Kakashi to evacuate everyone, and Hatake Sakumo joined him on the arena floor.

Xuan Zhe trapped the three Ōtsutsuki in his Flame Formation: Fire-Forged Fortress and led Minato Namikaze and Hatake Sakumo inside to fight them. Minato subdued Urashiki Otsutsuki, but Urashiki unleashed a space-time technique and Shinra Tensei, blasting Minato away as he vowed revenge.

• Xuan Zhe raised a blazing barrier around the battlefield, sent Mei Terumi to evacuate the spectators, and entered the flames with Hatake Sakumo and Minato Namikaze.
• The fireball expanded and destroyed the stands, but Shisui pulled Sasuke to safety before the flames reached him.
• Xuan Zhe attacked Momoshiki Otsutsuki, whose Shinra Tensei stopped the blade, while Minato faced Urashiki and Hatake Sakumo fought Kinshiki.
• Hatake Sakumo fell behind Kinshiki in their clash but used a Lightning Release Clone to steady himself and charge back into the fight.
• Minato pinned Urashiki and questioned him about targeting Naruto, but Urashiki opened a space-time rift and blasted Minato away with Shinra Tensei.

Xuan Zhe and the shinobi fought the Ōtsutsuki invaders, killing Urashiki and bringing Kinshiki close to defeat. Momoshiki absorbed Kinshiki and completed his transformation, leaving Xuan Zhe preparing to face him alone.

• Xuan Zhe trapped Urashiki with Frenzied Flame, while Minato used a Flying Thunder God mark to strike him with a Rasenshuriken and Xuan Zhe pierced his abdomen with Demon Fire.
• Minato finished off Urashiki and joined Hatake Sakumo against Kinshiki after Xuan Zhe’s Shadow Clone intercepted him.
• Xuan Zhe joined Minato and Hatake Sakumo, and Hatake Sakumo pierced Kinshiki’s abdomen with a lightning spear.
• Momoshiki reached Kinshiki and absorbed him, transforming as the battle shifted back in his favor.
• Xuan Zhe decided to challenge the transformed Momoshiki with his own techniques while Minato and Hatake Sakumo held back.

Xuan Zhe opened all Six Gates and helped Minato Namikaze and Hatake Sakumo defeat the fused Momoshiki Otsutsuki. Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal against Orochimaru, and their struggle remained unresolved as the chapter ended.

• Momoshiki Otsutsuki fused with Kinshiki Otsutsuki and attacked Xuan Zhe, who opened all Six Gates to fight him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned King Enma, then used Shadow Clones and the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to try to extract Orochimaru's soul.
• Minato Namikaze and Hatake Sakumo joined Xuan Zhe, and the three battered Momoshiki Otsutsuki until he descended from the sky.
• Xuan Zhe reunited with Mei Terumi and postponed the remaining finals matches until the next day.
• Naruto Uzumaki waited with Minato Namikaze and Kushina, who promised him a forceful reward for losing his match.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru continued their battle of attrition as Orochimaru struggled to resist the sealing technique.

Hiruzen Sarutobi died after sealing Orochimaru’s hands, and Minato Namikaze became the Fifth Hokage. A week later, Gaara went berserk, and Xuan Zhe confronted him as Shukaku emerged.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi’s sealing jutsu weakened, but the Shinigami severed Orochimaru’s hands and sealed them away before Hiruzen died.
• Minato Namikaze became the Fifth Hokage, held Hiruzen Sarutobi’s funeral, and took responsibility for Konohamaru’s care.
• Minato Namikaze sent Chunin to escort the visiting patrons home, while Xuan Zhe endured Mei Terumi and Kurenai Yuhi’s attention.
• A Konoha patrol found three dried-out bodies in a desert-side wooden house, including one dressed in the Kazekage’s robes.
• Gaara went berserk before the postponed Chunin Ninja Exams finals, and Kakashi Hatake fetched Xuan Zhe to stop him.
• Xuan Zhe ordered Temari and Kankuro away, then fought Gaara as Shukaku’s enormous body emerged and the others retreated.