Chapter Summaries

Xuan Zhe gave Sasuke a lightning-conducting sword forged by Orochimaru and began teaching him swordsmanship. Tsunade fled her gambling creditors after stealing Xuan Zhe’s money, then returned to the Small Wooden House while Sasuke trained with the sword through his chores.

• Sasuke offered Xuan Zhe a bag of money, and Xuan Zhe gave him the Heavenly Cloth Flow Sword that Orochimaru had forged in exchange for healing his sealed hands.
• Tsunade rushed into the Small Wooden House with gambling-debt collectors close behind, and Sasuke drove them away by drawing his sword.
• Sasuke went outside to practice while Xuan Zhe and Tsunade talked on the bed; afterward, Xuan Zhe discovered that Tsunade had vanished with his money.
• Sasuke used the Heavenly Cloth Flow Sword to chop firewood, growing more attuned to it as he worked.
• Tsunade returned to the Small Wooden House before long.

Xuan Zhe let Tsunade supervise Sasuke’s training, but after Tsunade left again, he trained Sasuke himself and turned their sword practice into a paid sparring class. Sasuke gained combat experience and remained undefeated, while Xuan Zhe’s makeshift training business attracted growing crowds.

• Xuan Zhe assigned Tsunade to supervise Sasuke’s training, and she stayed with them while teaching him.
• Tsunade asked Xuan Zhe to have a child, but he asked her to wait because of the threats posed by Obito and Madara; she left and later beat the men who had been watching for her.
• Xuan Zhe took over Sasuke’s training and taught him to use Lightning Release with his sword, then sparred with him using a chakra-hardened wooden blade.
• Konoha villagers began gathering to watch Xuan Zhe and Sasuke, and Xuan Zhe started charging for spectators and arranging paid matches for other students.
• Kakashi visited the training area and saw that Xuan Zhe was making money from the matches, while Sasuke gained practical experience and never lost a bout.

Sasuke continued training at Xuan Zhe’s sparring ground, where iron weights made his fights more difficult as he improved. Tsunade returned to the Wooden House, watched Sasuke spar, and headed inside after hearing about the money Xuan Zhe had earned.

• Sasuke left troublemakers to Hayate while he kept up his farmwork, and he began trying to cook for Xuan Zhe after his matches.
• As Sasuke outgrew his opponents, Xuan Zhe strapped iron plates to his arms and legs to make his training harder.
• More village children came to spar with Sasuke, hoping to earn Xuan Zhe’s attention, while their parents paid for the training.
• Tsunade appeared at the Wooden House and watched Sasuke fight, noticing that his weighted limbs slowed his reactions.
• After Xuan Zhe explained Sasuke’s training and mentioned the fees, Tsunade headed inside, and Xuan Zhe hurried after her.

Xuan Zhe joined Tsunade to investigate a group of mysterious Sound Ninja, bringing Sasuke along after he insisted on coming. At the forest where the group had disappeared, Xuan Zhe uncovered evidence that they had escaped underground rather than vanished through genjutsu.

• Tsunade found Xuan Zhe’s hidden banknotes, then told him she had encountered Sound Ninja who disappeared in a forest.
• Xuan Zhe suspected the group had hidden a base near the forest and decided to investigate with Tsunade.
• Sasuke insisted on joining them, and the three set out the next day with summoned ninja dogs.
• At the forest, Xuan Zhe and Sasuke searched the area and found two mole holes in the dry ground.
• Xuan Zhe sent ninja dogs through the holes, and they returned with a scrap of cloth that revealed the Sound Ninja had escaped underground using Earth Release.

Xuan Zhe, Tsunade, and Sasuke searched for the Sound Ninja, then stopped at a hot spring before returning to Konoha. Back at the Senju Clan Compound, Nawaki welcomed Xuan Zhe and Tsunade with a feast.

• Xuan Zhe wondered who the Sound Ninja served and what they wanted, after judging their skills unusually sharp.
• Tsunade took Xuan Zhe and Sasuke to the Hot Spring Village, where Sasuke blushed at invitations to the mixed bath and overheard Xuan Zhe and Tsunade next door.
• Xuan Zhe and Tsunade left the hot spring refreshed while Sasuke emerged exhausted and avoided their eyes.
• Xuan Zhe told Sasuke to rest for a few days, then returned with Tsunade to the Senju Clan Compound.
• Nawaki greeted Xuan Zhe as his brother-in-law and prepared a feast with their favorite dishes and plenty of liquor.

At a welcome-home feast, Xuan Zhe reassured Nawaki that he had no intention of opening a school, and Konoha’s leaders helped dispel the rumors. Later, Sakura asked Tsunade to teach her medical ninjutsu, and Tsunade invited her to explain who she liked.

• Nawaki asked Xuan Zhe about rumors that he was teaching children swordsmanship and might draw students away from the Ninja Academy.
• Xuan Zhe denied wanting to teach and stopped the children from coming to spar at the Small Wooden House; Nawaki and Minato Namikaze helped clear up the rumors.
• Despite parents offering tuition, Xuan Zhe refused to take on students, while Tsunade stayed at his residence during the holiday.
• Sakura visited Xuan Zhe’s residence and asked Tsunade to teach her medical ninjutsu.
• After Xuan Zhe whispered that Sakura liked Sasuke, Tsunade recalled Sakura bringing him flowers in the hospital and asked Sakura to tell her about the person she liked.

Sakura impressed Tsunade by stopping a lead shot and breaking her Genjutsu, earning Tsunade’s agreement to train her as an apprentice. A week later, Sakura joined Sasuke’s training and happily worked beside him while Tsunade wondered whether the two would eventually get together.

• Sakura stopped a lead shot that crashed through Tsunade’s window, surprising Tsunade with her strength.
• Sakura broke Tsunade’s Genjutsu by finding its weak point, and Tsunade agreed to take her as an apprentice.
• Xuan Zhe set up a barrier around the residence, and Nawaki resolved to ask him for advice on winning girls over.
• A week later, Sasuke returned to training, and Xuan Zhe sent him to clear weeds from the field.
• Tsunade allowed Sakura to help Sasuke, and Sakura cheerfully followed his instructions as they worked together.
• Tsunade watched Sasuke and Sakura in the field and asked whether they would end up together.

Xuan Zhe trained Sasuke and practiced swordsmanship while waiting at the Small Wooden House, then he and Tsunade went after Sasuke and Sakura when they failed to return. They found Sasuke ambushed by strangers trying to recruit him, and Tsunade recognized the forehead protectors they wore.

• Tsunade punched Xuan Zhe through a wall after catching him staring at her, then denied him lunch and had Sasuke repair the damage.
• Xuan Zhe trained with Sasuke and practiced his swordsmanship while reflecting on the Akatsuki and the threat posed by Obito, Madara Uchiha, and Zetsu.
• Xuan Zhe sent Sasuke to buy supplies, and Sakura went with him, hoping to spend time alone with Sasuke.
• Xuan Zhe sensed unfamiliar presences approaching Konoha, and he and Tsunade left the Small Wooden House to investigate when Sasuke and Sakura did not return.
• A group ambushed Sasuke and offered him power if he joined their organization, but Sasuke rejected the offer.
• Tsunade recognized the forehead protectors worn by the strangers and quietly spoke to Xuan Zhe.

The Sound Four tried to abduct Sasuke, but he refused and fought back with Sakura's help. Sasuke broke out of Jirobo's chakra-draining earth prison, then attacked Sakon and Ukon, who remained unharmed.

• The Sound Four surrounded Sasuke and Sakura, but Sasuke refused to join them and would not let Sakura be taken.
• Jirobo trapped Sasuke and Sakura in an Earth Release prison dome and absorbed their chakra as Sasuke attacked the walls with Chidori.
• Sakura identified the wall's weak point and used healing ninjutsu to restore Sasuke's stamina and chakra, helping him escape.
• Sasuke rejected Sakon and Ukon's offer of power and broke through the prison wall with his sword.
• Sasuke struck Sakon and Ukon with Lion Combo, but they stood up unharmed and began a sound-based attack.

Sasuke fled with Sakura from the Sound Four, hoping to reach Xuan Zhe and Tsunade, but found the Small Wooden House empty and became trapped by the pursuers. The Sound Four surrounded him beside a river and taunted him about Uchiha Itachi.

• Sakon and Ukon struck Sasuke with sound-based attacks until Sakura identified the threat and Sasuke sealed his ears with chakra.
• Sasuke removed his weighted braces, grabbed Sakura, and raced toward the Small Wooden House while the Sound Four pursued them.
• Xuan Zhe moved himself and Tsunade out of sight as Sasuke and Sakura rushed past their hiding place.
• Sasuke reached the empty Small Wooden House and found the Sound Four closing in around him beside a broad river.
• Sakon and Ukon mocked Sasuke by asking whether he would run from Uchiha Itachi too.

The Sound Four ambushed Sasuke and captured Sakura, but Sasuke broke free, adapted to Kidomaru’s spider silk, and counterattacked with a lightning-wreathed sword. The Sound Four activated their Cursed Seals, shifting the battle in their favor as Xuan Zhe and Tsunade watched from hiding.

• Sakon and Ukon distracted Sasuke while Kidomaru bound Sakura in spider silk and carried her away from the fight.
• Kidomaru struck Sasuke and pinned him with spider silk after Sasuke’s Lion Combo failed and his Chidori was absorbed by Jirobo.
• Sasuke analyzed the chakra flowing through the web, escaped, and used his lightning-wreathed sword to cut Kidomaru’s silk apart.
• Sasuke pressed the Sound Four with rapid sword attacks, forcing them to activate their Cursed Seals.
• Xuan Zhe recognized the Cursed Seals and watched as the powered-up Sound Four reversed the battle’s momentum.

Xuan Zhe rescued Sasuke, drove off Sakon and Ukon, Tayuya, and Jirobo, and cornered Kidomaru after he tried to kill Sasuke. Xuan Zhe and his three summoned huskies overwhelmed Kidomaru and his giant spider, leaving the fight in Xuan Zhe’s control.

• Kidomaru knocked Sasuke’s sword away and prepared to finish him, but Xuan Zhe arrived and cut the arrow in two while Tsunade treated Sasuke.
• Xuan Zhe attacked the Sound Four, forcing Sakon and Ukon, Tayuya, and Jirobo to retreat after he singled out Kidomaru with a chakra fishing line.
• Kidomaru activated his Cursed Seal and summoned a giant spider, but neither its attacks nor the spider silk could slow Xuan Zhe.
• Xuan Zhe summoned three huskies, which charged Kidomaru and the giant spider and overwhelmed them.

Xuan Zhe defeated Kidomaru after rescuing his Huskies from the Sound ninja’s attacks, then had the dogs consume the unconscious enemy. Afterward, Xuan Zhe assigned Sasuke sword practice while Tsunade began teaching Sakura ninjutsu.

• Kidomaru activated the third stage of his Cursed Seal and fired World-Destroying Arrows at Xuan Zhe’s Huskies, but Xuan Zhe knocked the arrows away and recalled the dogs.
• Kidomaru attacked Xuan Zhe at close range, but Xuan Zhe dodged his arrow, cut another in half, and struck Kidomaru unconscious with the blade energy.
• Xuan Zhe told Tsunade he suspected someone other than Orochimaru was behind Otogakure, then fed Kidomaru to six Huskies.
• Xuan Zhe left Sasuke to clean up the battlefield as training, while Tsunade stayed to teach Sakura ninjutsu.
• Xuan Zhe decided Sasuke would practice swordsmanship and timing by striking flying mosquitoes and insects with a wooden sword, without using Chakra.

Xuan Zhe took on Kimimaro after he and the three Sound Ninja returned to seize Sasuke. As Xuan Zhe and Kimimaro fought, the Sound Ninja moved against Tsunade, who was confident she could handle them.

• Sasuke practiced striking moving insects with a wooden sword while Sakura trained her focus beside him, and Tsunade and Xuan Zhe relaxed in rocking chairs.
• Kimimaro arrived with the three Sound Ninja and demanded that Sasuke be handed over; Xuan Zhe stopped Tsunade from intervening and accepted the fight.
• Kimimaro attacked with Shikotsumyaku finger bones, which Xuan Zhe cut apart with his wooden blade.
• Kimimaro drew a bone blade and fought Xuan Zhe at close range, while the three Sound Ninja went after Tsunade and Sasuke.

Tsunade fought Tayuya, Jirobo, Sakon, and Ukon while Xuan Zhe battled Kimimaro. Tsunade became trapped in a stalemate against Tayuya’s chakra-draining spirits, and Xuan Zhe drew his Zanpakutō after Kimimaro broke his wooden sword.

• Tsunade tore through Jirobo’s earth techniques and fought Tayuya’s Three Demons with her bare hands.
• Sakon and Ukon tried to seize Sasuke, but Tsunade shifted the fight to block their approach and lined up the Three Demons with her punch.
• Tayuya changed her flute tune, releasing spirits that passed through Tsunade’s attacks and began draining her chakra.
• Kimimaro used Dance of the Camellia, Dance of the Willow, and Dance of the Larch against Xuan Zhe, eventually breaking his wooden sword.
• Xuan Zhe drew his Zanpakutō, and black flames surged from its blade as Kimimaro sensed their danger.

Xuan Zhe defeated Kimimaro, while Tsunade used a genjutsu to defeat Tayuya, Sakon, and Ukon. Xuan Zhe recruited Kimimaro, and the group moved to Xuan Zhe's Mansion after the battle damaged the Small Wooden House.

• Xuan Zhe used the Substitution Technique to evade Kimimaro's attack and held a blade to his neck.
• Tsunade released her Yin Seal and trapped Tayuya, Sakon, and Ukon in a large-scale genjutsu.
• Sakon and Ukon entered their second cursed seal state and fought Tayuya and the illusions, but Tayuya eventually killed them within the genjutsu.
• Tsunade's genjutsu overwhelmed Tayuya, and the Sound Ninja were defeated.
• Xuan Zhe persuaded Kimimaro to join him instead of killing him.
• Xuan Zhe and Tsunade decided to move the group to Xuan Zhe's Mansion in the Senju Clan Compound.

After Kimimaro told Xuan Zhe about Otogakure and its leaders, Xuan Zhe learned that Madara Uchiha and Kabuto Yakushi were behind the Sound Ninja and intended to target Sasuke. Xuan Zhe returned to his room and shared some of what he had learned with Tsunade, while Nawaki’s attempt to spy on Kimimaro ended in embarrassment.

• Xuan Zhe introduced Kimimaro to Nawaki, and Tsunade assigned rooms for the returning group.
• Xuan Zhe questioned Kimimaro, who explained how he had been recruited into a village where orphans fought for Cursed Seals and body modifications.
• Kimimaro identified Madara Uchiha and Kabuto Yakushi as the people behind Otogakure, leading Xuan Zhe to suspect they wanted Sasuke for his Sharingan.
• Nawaki tried to eavesdrop on Xuan Zhe and Kimimaro but stumbled when Xuan Zhe opened the door, then hurried away.
• Xuan Zhe told Tsunade some of the information he had learned from Kimimaro.

Xuan Zhe and Tsunade resumed training Sasuke and Sakura while Kimimaro and Nawaki went to the market, where Yinzi tried to claim Kimimaro and sent a guard to capture him. The guard pursued Kimimaro into Xuan Zhe’s territory, where someone caught his wrist just before his attack landed.

• Xuan Zhe planned Sasuke’s next training after the fight with Otogakure, while Tsunade supervised Sakura and the two resumed practice in Xuan Zhe’s garden.
• Nawaki took Kimimaro to the market to get him new clothes, where Yinzi introduced herself and demanded to know his name.
• Kimimaro refused Yinzi and defended himself with bone spikes when she grabbed his shoulder, prompting her guards to intervene.
• Yinzi sent a guard to attack Kimimaro, who retreated with Nawaki toward Xuan Zhe’s residence as the guard pursued them.
• The guard lunged at Kimimaro after entering Xuan Zhe’s territory, but an unseen person caught his wrist.

Xuan Zhe fought two expert bodyguards who could not overcome his defenses, then pursued the tall one after they fled. The tall bodyguard dropped to his knees and kowtowed when Xuan Zhe cornered him.

• Xuan Zhe restrained a bodyguard, dodged his knife attacks, and blocked and broke apart his Great Fireball Technique with Black Blade.
• The bodyguard summoned his brother, and the two bodyguards teamed up to fight Xuan Zhe to a standstill.
• The two bodyguards fled in different directions, and Xuan Zhe chased the tall one.
• Xuan Zhe pressed the tall bodyguard with relentless attacks until the man dropped to his knees and began kowtowing.

Xuan Zhe fought off Uchiha Qingche, who had ambushed him, then became caught in a dispute after Yinzi’s man was killed. Yinzi blamed the Uchiha Clan, and the clan’s person in charge hurried to find Xuan Zhe as the conflict escalated.

• A hidden attacker threw Shuriken at Xuan Zhe and the kneeling bodyguard, killing the bodyguard while Xuan Zhe defended himself.
• Uchiha Qingche attacked Xuan Zhe with blades, Fire Release, and Sharingan genjutsu, but Xuan Zhe revealed himself to be a clone and counterattacked.
• Uchiha Qingche drew the First Hokage's Sword and blocked Xuan Zhe’s assault, forcing Xuan Zhe to withdraw and leave the fight at a stalemate.
• Yinzi confronted Xuan Zhe about her missing man, and Xuan Zhe told her that the man was dead.
• Yinzi’s people surrounded Xuan Zhe, but she denied responsibility for the death and accused someone from the Uchiha Clan.
• Yinzi sent several people to the Uchiha Compound, causing chaos there, and the clan’s person in charge went to find Xuan Zhe.