Chapter Summaries

Liumu activated Kizaru’s template, gained Light Release abilities, and noticed his hair beginning to grow back. He met Minato, Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Yuhi Shinku at Biliang Bridge, where Tsunade told him the rescued girl had recovered and revealed that she knew he had saved her.

• Liumu used the Kizaru template and found that his attributes and available skills had changed.
• He reasoned that Kizaru’s abilities could serve as a kekkei genkai and named it Light Release.
• Kakashi noticed that hair was growing on Liumu’s head, and Liumu worried it might become curly like Kizaru’s.
• A shuriken carrying a note summoned Liumu to Biliang Bridge at midnight, signed by his senior fellow disciple.
• Liumu arrived and found Minato, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Yuhi Shinku waiting there.
• Tsunade told Liumu that the rescued girl had awakened and that she had told her he was her rescuer.

Liumu joined Orochimaru, Tsunade, Minato, and Shinku Yuhi on an S-rank mission to investigate the Three-Tails in Kirigakure. After learning that Isobu was being hunted by a black-robed ninja, the group reached Kirigakure and prepared to sneak inside.

• Orochimaru and Tsunade explained that Jiraiya had recommended Liumu for the mission, and Tsunade and Minato congratulated him on passing the Chunin examination.
• During the three-month sea journey, Liumu tested seawater on himself and found that it did not weaken him.
• Tsunade told the group that Isobu had appeared in Kirigakure and gone into hiding after a black-robed ninja pursued him; Liumu wondered if the ninja was Madara.
• Shinku Yuhi described Kirigakure's cruel treatment of children, while Liumu considered how Konoha's own leaders had contributed to the Uchiha's decline.
• After disguising themselves as Kirigakure ninja, the group reached the village in winter, and Orochimaru revealed a caterpillar that could breach its protective barrier.

Liumu and Orochimaru infiltrated Kirigakure to search for Isobu, while Tsunade, Minato, and Yuhi Shinku kept watch outside. Liumu discovered a Kirigakure ninja taking a baby from his mother and freezing her to death, leaving the child's fate unclear.

• Liumu recommended that scouts locate Isobu first, and Minato offered his marked kunai to provide support or an escape route.
• Liumu revealed his light-based kekkei genkai and joined Orochimaru in infiltrating Kirigakure.
• Tsunade, Minato, and Yuhi Shinku guarded the village perimeter while Liumu and Orochimaru searched inside.
• Liumu identified bodies of water as likely hiding places for Isobu and began investigating the northern part of the village.
• A Kirigakure ninja took a baby from its mother, trapped her in a Water Prison, and froze her to death.

Liumu secretly investigated Kirigakure’s lakes while Minato warned Tsunade that Kirigakure’s returning Chunin Exams team knew him. After Liumu and Orochimaru reported their findings, the group learned Kirigakure trained Kekkei Genkai children through deadly combat, leaving Tsunade furious and Liumu quietly offering her comfort.

• Liumu hid from Kushimaru Kuriarare while he searched a lake with an infant, then memorized the location and continued investigating Isobu’s possible hiding places.
• Minato saw Han and Kirigakure’s Chunin Exams team return, realized they could recognize Liumu, and told Tsunade about the risk.
• Tsunade and Minato discussed the failed prediction that the Land of Wind would ambush Konoha’s team and agreed to wait for Hatake’s information.
• Liumu and Orochimaru returned to the rendezvous point and shared three possible Isobu hiding places and evidence of Kirigakure’s Kekkei Genkai training ground.
• Orochimaru explained that Kirigakure made children with and without Kekkei Genkai kill one another to develop combat skills, enraging Tsunade.
• Liumu sat beside the grieving Tsunade beneath the moonlight and quietly offered her tissues.

Liumu comforted Tsunade as she mourned Nawaki, then encountered Kumogakure and learned Iwagakure ninja had gathered in Kirigakure to seek the Three-Tails. Konoha prepared to search and seize it, while Orochimaru planned to investigate the underground prison and Liumu settled in to sleep beside Tsunade.

• Liumu listened as Tsunade recalled Nawaki and comforted her by promising to hold up her patch of sky when he grew taller.
• Liumu met A, Killer B, Yugito Nii, and other Kumogakure ninja, and they recognized each other from their earlier encounter.
• A reported that Iwagakure ninja were nearby, and Liumu returned to Konoha's base to tell the group that both villages had arrived.
• Orochimaru said the other villages' searches could help locate the Three-Tails and declared that Konoha would take it if it was found.
• Orochimaru set out to inspect the underground prison, while Minato and the others took turns resting in the cave.
• Tsunade caught Liumu trying to crawl under her covers, but eventually let him sleep beside her.

While investigating Kirigakure, Liumu discovered a bloodstained chamber connected to the village’s training of Kekkei Genkai users and learned that Han had been raised as a test subject. He brought Han into the Time House and concluded that Kirigakure planned to eliminate her because she had lost to him in the Chunin Exams.

• After more than half a month of searching Kirigakure, Liumu found a bloodstained underground chamber and suspected the village was breeding Kekkei Genkai users.
• Liumu overheard a woman order Han to test a new batch of children and slap Han when she asked about her origins.
• Liumu followed the distraught Han to her home, then brought her into the Time House after she attacked his hiding place with an ice senbon.
• Liumu told Han that he had guessed she had been raised in darkness as a Kekkei Genkai test subject and forced to fight other children.
• Han said Kirigakure considered her defective because she had lost to Liumu, even though their match had ended in a draw.

Liumu offered Han a chance to escape Kirigakure and its threat to her family, while the Konoha team decided to end its fruitless search for the Three-Tails. After witnessing Liumu stand up for her, Han chose to leave with him, though she began to add a condition.

• Liumu told Han he could not explain why he had appeared, but offered to take her away if she wanted to live.
• Orochimaru, Minato, and Tsunade agreed to return to Konoha after nearly two months of searching Kirigakure for the Three-Tails without success.
• Liumu asked the team for three days to deal with Han, and Tsunade agreed to wait for him despite Orochimaru and Minato's objections.
• Liumu brought Han out of the Time House and offered her the choice of returning to Kirigakure or going with him to Konoha.
• Han turned away from Kirigakure and told Liumu she would go with him, but began to state a condition.

Liumu vowed to uncover Han’s origins and entered Kirigakure to confront the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. He drew six of them into a battle, where his light-based attacks left them struggling to harm him.

• Liumu accepted the challenge of investigating Han’s origins and received a hidden mission to find the Sealed Family Letter within three days.
• Liumu sent Han back through the Time House and learned that the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist handled bloodline investigations for Kirigakure’s leader.
• Liumu disguised himself, destroyed Kirigakure’s gates with Yasakani no Magatama, and demanded that Kushimaru Kuriarare provide information about Han.
• Kushimaru Kuriarare returned an hour later with five other swordsmen instead of information, while Juzo Biwa was absent.
• Kushimaru Kuriarare’s Nuibari severed Liumu’s ankles into light, but Liumu remained unharmed and blocked Jinin Akebino’s Kabutowari with Ame no Murakumo.
• Jinin Akebino found that Kabutowari could not break Liumu’s sword as Munashi Jinpachi attacked him from behind with the explosive-tag-covered Shibuki.

Liumu defeated the Six Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and learned that Juzo Biwa knew the most about Han. After hearing why Juzo was imprisoned, Liumu confronted the Third Mizukage, who agreed to take him to Juzo.

• Liumu survived Shibuki’s Explosive Tags, evaded the other swordsmen’s attacks, and knocked out Suikazan Fuguki and Kushimaru Kuriarare with his speed and Yata Mirror.
• Liumu questioned Kushimaru Kuriarare about Han, and Kushimaru said Juzo Biwa knew the most about her and was imprisoned beneath the Third’s office.
• Kushimaru explained that Juzo had secretly helped a child with a Kekkei Genkai escape Kirigakure, angering the Third Mizukage, while ANBU pursued the child.
• Liumu knocked Kushimaru unconscious and went to the Mizukage’s office, where he said he wanted to question Juzo about Han’s origins.
• The Third Mizukage agreed to take Liumu to Juzo and said he would go with him.

Liumu learned that Han came from an isolated Ice City and retrieved the stone box her parents had left behind. After Han mourned her ruined homeland, Liumu returned to the boat alone, carrying her with him inside his mind.

• Mist Shadow freed Juzo Biwa and let him keep Kubikiribōchō, while Juzo explained that he feared Han would lose her kind heart.
• Juzo told Liumu that Han was an orphan from a declining Ice City and that her parents had left her a stone box buried beneath an ancient tree.
• Liumu and Juzo dug up the stone box, which Liumu stored away without opening, then Liumu hinted that a bowl-cut man would turn against his clansmen.
• Liumu stayed with Han as she sobbed over the snow-covered remains of her homeland.
• Liumu returned to Minato and the others at the boat, selected a summoning beast reward, and revealed that Han was inside his mind.

After returning to Konoha, Liumu brought Han from the Time House and settled her into his home. Tsunade’s troubled expression left him wondering what had happened in the village, while Han struggled with her new surroundings and ended the night beside him.

• After three months on the road, Liumu and the others returned to the Land of Fire, and Orochimaru parted ways with them.
• Liumu went alone to bring Han from the Time House, then walked with her toward Konoha and comforted her when she admitted she was scared.
• Liumu settled Han into his home and went to the Hokage Office, where Tsunade gave him his mission payment and urged him to rest without explaining her troubled expression.
• Liumu returned home, found Han had cleaned the house, and cooked dinner for them.
• Han crawled under Liumu’s covers because she was scared, and he comforted her before she told him his arm was pinning down her hair.

Liumu used his Summoning Scroll in the Time House and received a Heavenly Fox template, but Taotie’s Devouring consumed it and turned its powers into two immortal skills. Still sleepless, Liumu spotted several figures moving across the rooftops outside and went to investigate.

• Liumu entered the Time House to draw the Summoning Scroll he had chosen for Han’s hidden quest.
• A human-form Heavenly Fox emerged, and Liumu read that the ancient beast could beguile people and see through confusion.
• Taotie’s Devouring activated without Liumu’s permission and consumed the Heavenly Fox template, upgrading itself with Heavenly Fox Eyes and Heavenly Fox Heart.
• Liumu lamented losing the template but realized the new skills covered his weakness in Genjutsu.
• Liumu noticed several dark figures crossing the rooftops and went to the window to look after them.

Liumu found Kakashi mourning Hatake Sakumo and tried to comfort him as he questioned his father’s choices. After Kakashi left, Liumu decided to force broader changes in Konoha, then returned home and promised Han they would fight a boss.

• Liumu arrived at the Hatake Clan residence, saw the gathering around Hatake Sakumo’s portrait, and asked where Kakashi was.
• Liumu found Kakashi at Hokage Rock with a broken sword and an ANBU mask, and sat with him through the night.
• Kakashi asked why his father had made his choices, and Liumu said he believed human lives came before missions and that people should not surrender their ability to choose.
• Kakashi left after saying Liumu would make a good teammate, while Liumu resolved to turn the world upside down and clear the way for change.
• Liumu returned home, reassured Han, and told her they would fight a boss after breakfast.

Liumu nearly confronted the people in the Hokage Office over the treatment of Kakashi and the Hatake Clan, but Jiraiya stopped him and promised that the mistake would be corrected. While Liumu waited for the Hokage Office’s decision, Jiraiya taught him the Rasengan and asked to travel with him again after the matter was settled.

• Jiraiya stopped Liumu and Han outside the Hokage Office and questioned what Liumu hoped to accomplish by going inside.
• Liumu challenged Jiraiya’s defense of Konoha’s rules, and Jiraiya said mistakes would be corrected and anything that could not be corrected would be removed.
• Liumu waited at home for the Hokage Office’s decision about Hatake Sakumo’s situation while Jiraiya offered to teach him a new ninjutsu.
• At the Valley of the End, Jiraiya demonstrated the A-rank Rasengan, and Liumu reminded him that he had awakened a Kekkei Genkai.
• Jiraiya said Tsunade had told him about Liumu’s experiences in Kirigakure, then asked Liumu to travel with him after the matter was over.

Danzo tried to recruit Liumu into Root, but Liumu rejected him and challenged his guards to fight outside the village. One guard trapped Liumu in genjutsu, only for Liumu to turn the illusion against him while the other guard tried to break it.

• Danzo approached Liumu and offered him a place in Root, praising his talent and abilities.
• Liumu refused Danzo’s offer, accused him of wanting Root to serve his own bidding, and challenged Danzo’s guards to an exchange outside the village.
• In the forest, one of Danzo’s guards used genjutsu to make Liumu appear trapped and struck him with a sword.
• Liumu turned the genjutsu back on the black-haired guard, who collapsed laughing as he was pinned and tickled by an illusion.
• The second guard recognized the genjutsu and called out, "Release!"

Liumu defeated Danzo’s two subordinates with illusions, then fought Danzo using Light Release and overcame his attacks. The chapter ended with Liumu walking home with Han, who asked why Danzo had behaved so strangely after being caught in Liumu’s final illusion.

• Liumu trapped the black-haired man in a tickling illusion and defeated the Short Man with his Heavenly Fox Eyes.
• Danzo challenged Liumu after watching him defeat his subordinates, and Liumu warned him about a seductive genjutsu.
• Danzo attacked Liumu with Wind Release: Vacuum Wave, but Liumu regenerated after being cut in half.
• Liumu turned into specks of light, passed through Danzo’s attacks, and hit him with a genjutsu-like Sexy Jutsu.
• Han asked why Danzo had acted strangely, and Liumu explained that the illusion had shown him alluring young women.

Liumu treated Han’s fever, then asked Jiraiya about learning the Multi Shadow Clone technique and secretly entered Konoha’s Scroll of Seals to copy its contents. After returning home, he planned to travel with Han and Jiraiya once the current matter was settled, while Han came to find him in the kitchen.

• Liumu noticed Han was feverish, gave her medicine, and told her to rest.
• Liumu asked Jiraiya to help him learn the Multi Shadow Clone from the Scroll of Seals, and Jiraiya realized he was being drawn into the plan.
• Liumu slipped into the building holding the Scroll of Seals and spent nearly half an hour copying techniques that interested him.
• Liumu returned home, checked on Han, and began making her porridge while thinking about taking her on his travels.
• Han called to Liumu and appeared in the kitchen doorway, and he told her to put on another layer and return to bed.

Liumu and Han shared a warm evening as a storm began, then returned to the Time House to train. Liumu quickly learned Multi Shadow Clone and created a convincing transformed clone, leaving him pleased with his new possibilities.

• Han hugged Liumu, then explained that she had come to bring in the laundry before the rain.
• Liumu hurried outside as the storm broke, retrieved the clothes, and folded them with Han’s small garment among them.
• Liumu and Han agreed to travel together, then went to the Time House to train; Han chose to study Medical Ninjutsu.
• Liumu learned Multi Shadow Clone with ease and realized the Kizaru template had greatly improved his talent for ninjutsu.
• Liumu experimented with a transformation, creating a clone that looked exactly like a woman he remembered from screens.

After waking from an eight-day sleep, Liumu learned that Danzo had been pressuring Jiraiya and sending Root agents to watch his home. Liumu lured twenty-four Root members into the Village Protection Forest and surrounded them with thousands of clones, preparing to fight.

• Liumu and Han emerged from the Time House, then collapsed into bed and slept for eight days.
• Danzo criticized Jiraiya at a village council meeting, and Jiraiya refused Hiruzen Sarutobi's offer of an elite Jonin post.
• Liumu woke, cheered Jiraiya up with Harem Jutsu, and learned that Root had been watching his house because he had refused Danzo's offer to join Root.
• Liumu left Konoha that evening and led twenty-four Root members into the Village Protection Forest.
• Liumu summoned thousands of clones around the Root members and announced that they would fight.

As Liumu worried over Kakashi’s isolation and agreed to assess a newly formed genin squad, Jiraiya arranged for him to test Yuhi Shinku’s team. Liumu began the assessment with a test based on cooperation and deception, leaving the three genin to figure out how to pass before sunset.

• Liumu visited the Hatake Clan several times but could not find Kakashi, who had withdrawn into ANBU after his father’s disgrace.
• Jiraiya told Liumu that the Third wanted him to lead a squad, but Liumu refused and agreed instead to help Yuhi Shinku assess a genin team.
• Three days later, Liumu watched the three genin at the Training Ground as they discussed the young chunin assigned to assess them.
• Liumu introduced himself and explained that the three would join Yuhi Shinku’s squad only if they passed his assessment.
• Liumu told the genin that one of them would learn the test’s correct answer and that they could use any means to deceive each other or obtain information before sunset.