Recaps

On the twelfth day, Shuo and Sai continued their daily routine of tending the Confectionery Shop and adding candies to its plates. They decided to buy three more matching plates and more candy the next day, while Shin left another packet of chestnut candies for them.

• Shuo gave the general store proprietress candy, and she remembered that he had brought her some every day.
• Shuo and Sai cleaned the Confectionery Shop and filled Shuo’s plate to twelve candies, then ate two candies to make room for more.
• Shuo and Sai estimated that each plate could hold twenty candies and agreed they would buy more plates when the first three filled up.
• Shuo found a packet of chestnut candies and a note from Shin in their room, then shared the candy with Sai.
• Shuo and Sai chose matching white plates with blue rims and planned to buy three more plates and two packets of candy together the next day.

On day thirteen, Shuo and Sai bought three more plates and filled all six plates with candy, making a plan to fill them over the next twenty days. They found that Shin had left them another bag of candy and a note, then agreed to buy six pieces every day.

• Shuo and Sai ate breakfast and went to the Shopping District to buy plates.
• The general store owner sold Shuo the last three plates, which matched the three already in their shop.
• Shuo and Sai arranged six plates in the display window and put two pieces of candy in each.
• By the river, Sai calculated that they could fill the six plates in twenty days, and suggested buying three more afterward.
• Back in room 405, Shuo found a bag of candy and a note from Shin saying he had heard about the new plates.
• Shuo and Sai ate Shin's candy and agreed to buy six pieces every day.

On the twentieth day, Shuo and Sai brought their six candy plates to one piece short of full and decided they would buy more plates so they could keep adding candy. After finding Shin’s note asking whether the plates would be full tomorrow, Shuo agreed to invite him to see them.

• Shuo and Sai cleaned the Confectionery Shop and added one Chestnut candy to each of their six plates, leaving every plate with nineteen pieces.
• Shuo gave the general store owner a candy, and she remembered that it was the twentieth day because he had given her one every day.
• By the river, Sai proposed buying more plates after the six were full, and Shuo agreed.
• Shuo and Sai found a packet of Chestnut candy and a note from Shin asking if the plates would be full tomorrow.
• Sai suggested Shin might be counting the days and candy because he wanted to see the filled plates, so Shuo decided to invite him to the shop the next day.

On the twenty-first day, Shuo placed the final candy on the display, filling all six plates, and Shin joined him and Sai to see them. After treating them to barbecue, Shin left a bag of candy and a note in their dorm, while Shuo and Sai remained committed to visiting the shop.

• Shuo placed the last candy on the plate, bringing all six plates to twenty candies each.
• Shin came to the shop, revealed he had counted the days for eleven days, and invited Shuo and Sai to dinner.
• The general store owner gave Shuo and Sai a bag of candy in return for the candies they had shared with her each day.
• Shuo and Sai went to the river, where Shuo said Shin might be thanking Sai for being alive and for staying with him to watch the plates.
• Shin treated Shuo and Sai to barbecue, then said the six plates were nice and left.
• Shuo and Sai found a bag of candy and a note from Shin in their dorm, then shared candy by the window as Shuo's Imitation Points rose to 55.5%.

Shuo and Sai bought three more plates for the confectionery shop, leaving them for Shin to fill with candy. Shin joined them that night and said he would put out candy with them the next day, leaving the three of them poised to share the shop routine.

• Shuo and Sai bought the last three matching plates from the general store and arranged them beside the six plates in the confectionery shop.
• Sai suggested the new plates on the right were for Shin, and Shuo left them mostly empty so Shin could fill them himself.
• Shin visited Shuo and Sai in room 405, accepted three candies, and asked to place them on the new plates that night.
• Shin arranged one candy on each of the three right-hand plates and told Shuo and Sai he would put out candy with them tomorrow.
• Shuo and Sai returned to their room and discussed the nine plates and the new days ahead.

Shuo, Sai, and Shin continued their daily candy ritual and learned that Danzo was dead and Root had been disbanded. Shin had resigned and settled nearby, while Shuo told Sai that he was free too, leaving the three ready to keep meeting.

• Shuo woke to breakfast left by Sai and Shin, then went with Sai to the Confectionery Shop, where Shin had arrived early and swept the floor.
• Shin and Sai added candy to the plates, and Shuo proposed that they eat one candy before adding another each day.
• By the river, Shin told Shuo and Sai that Danzo had died, Root had been disbanded, and he had resigned three days earlier.
• Shin said he would keep putting out candy with them for now and revealed that he had rented a nearby place.
• After Shin left, Shuo told Sai that he was free too, and Sai suggested the three of them put out candy together every day.

Shuo, Sai, and Shin discovered that Iwagakure forces had crossed the eastern border and clashed with Konoha ANBU, raising fears of another war. Shuo stayed committed to the confectionery shop and prepared to protect the village if needed.

• Shuo, Sai, and Shin refilled their nine candy plates at the confectionery shop before Shuo sensed a battle near the eastern border.
• Shuo used Light Perception to detect that Iwagakure scouts were fighting Konoha ANBU, and Shin went to investigate.
• Shin returned and reported that four ANBU and three Iwagakure shinobi had died before the survivors withdrew.
• Shuo sent Obito to the Jonin meeting to bring back important news, while Shin went to the old Root site to look for information on Iwagakure.
• Shuo told Sai that his Light Release could help defend the village and insisted they would keep looking after the shop the next day.

Shuo and Sai joined Minato’s team as Konoha sent them to intercept Iwagakure’s invasion at the eastern line. On the battlefield, Shuo revealed his golden light ability, disarming and humiliating Iwagakure ninja while leaving both sides stunned.

• Shuo woke to village-wide alarm and learned from Sai that Iwagakure had mobilized over two thousand ninja against the Land of Fire.
• Minato assigned Shuo and Sai to help hold the eastern line, and they followed him and Team Minato to the battlefield.
• At the battle, Shuo flicked an Iwagakure ninja’s blade into fragments and evaded three attackers without effort.
• Shuo fired fifty precise golden flashes that knocked weapons from the hands of fifty Iwagakure ninja threatening wounded Konoha ninja.
• Shuo and Sai continued across the battlefield as Konoha ninja watched Shuo’s power with awe.

Shuo single-handedly forced 203 Iwagakure ninja to surrender without killing them, then returned to Konoha with Sai and the others. The chapter ended with Shuo and Sai planning to watch the shop the next day as Shuo’s imitation points reached 58.3%.

• Shuo refused to retreat and walked alone toward the Iwagakure force, easily disarming three attackers with his light-powered abilities.
• Shuo threatened to blind the Iwagakure ninja, and all 203 threw down their weapons and surrendered.
• Shuo returned to Sai, and Minato ordered the Konoha troops to withdraw after seeing the surrendered force.
• Obito praised Shuo on the way back, while Shuo claimed the Iwagakure ninja had simply been too hungry to fight.
• Shuo and Sai returned to their dormitory, discussed watching the shop the next day, and shared candy by the window.
• Shuo’s imitation points increased by 0.6% to 58.3%.

Shuo and Sai spent a quiet day after Shuo subdued more than two hundred Iwagakure Ninja, tending to the candy shop and meeting Shin. As the war continued, Shuo believed it would soon end because some people no longer wanted to fight.

• Shuo learned from Obito that the two hundred Iwagakure Ninja had surrendered and that people were calling him “Konoha’s Flash.”
• Shuo and Sai reopened the Confectionery Shop, found all nine candy plates full, and ate some of the candy.
• At the river, Shuo told Sai that the war would end soon because some people did not want to fight anymore.
• Shin brought Shuo candy and a note to make up for not visiting the shop, and Shuo gave Shin the candy he had saved for him.
• Shin asked if they would leave candy again the next day, and Shuo agreed.

Shuo answered Minato's call to the Eastern Front, where eight hundred Iwagakure ninja had broken through Konoha's defenses. He stopped their advance by distorting the light around them, then left with Sai as the enemy troops remained too frightened to pursue.

• Obito and ANBU captain Saw told Shuo that Iwagakure's main force had broken through the Eastern Front and was nearing the village.
• Shuo agreed to go alone, and Sai accompanied him while Obito and Saw led them to the battlefield.
• Shuo assessed the Iwagakure forces and told Sai to wait as he walked toward the eight hundred enemy ninja.
• Shuo distorted the light across the battlefield, blinding and disorienting the Iwagakure troops until they fell into chaos.
• Shuo restored the light, warned the enemy troops not to attack, and returned with Sai while the Iwagakure ninja stayed down in fear.

Shuo arrived in Konoha during Nine-Tails’ attack and helped Minato seal the beast instead of using the Reaper Death Seal. The masked controller escaped, and Shuo returned to the damaged dormitory with Sai as the survivors began rebuilding.

• Shuo sensed the chaos and chakra in the village, then hurried to the center and saw Nine-Tails attacking while the Third Hokage fought to hold it back.
• Shuo found the masked man controlling Nine-Tails and restrained him with light, then signaled Minato that the controller had been found.
• Minato abandoned the Reaper Death Seal and used the Eight Trigrams Seal to seal Nine-Tails.
• The masked man broke free and escaped, while Shuo declined to pursue him and the Third Hokage thanked Shuo for helping stop the attack.
• Shuo returned to the dormitory, where Sai and Shin waited, and told them the masked man had escaped.

The day after the Nine-Tails Incident, Shuo and Sai visited their candy shop and watched the village begin rebuilding. Shuo learned that Minato and Kushina had survived and memorized the newborn Naruto Uzumaki’s name, then returned to the dormitory with Sai, believing the village would recover because its people remained.

• Shuo and Sai ate breakfast and saw villagers working to repair damage from the Nine-Tails Incident.
• They checked the general store, then opened their sweet shop and found its nine candy plates untouched.
• Shuo and Sai added candy to the plates before leaving the shop and sitting by the river.
• Sai told Shuo that Minato and Kushina were alive, and Shuo learned that Minato’s newborn was named Naruto Uzumaki.
• Shin gave Shuo a bag of candy and a note, then said he had helped repair seven houses.
• Shuo told Sai that the village would get better because its people were still there.

Shuo and Sai continued their quiet routine amid Konoha’s rebuilding, then met Kushina and newborn Naruto by the river. Shuo warned that many people would seek the power sealed inside Naruto, while he and Sai ended the day together in their dormitory.

• Shuo and Sai visited the sweet shop, added candy to the untouched plates, and ate a piece to steady a leaning pile.
• Shuo and Sai met Kushina by the river, where she introduced Naruto and thanked Shuo for protecting her and Minato.
• Shuo told Kushina that Naruto would face trouble because of the power inside him, and Kushina invited him to visit Minato.
• Shin gave Shuo a bag of candy and a note saying he had repaired eleven houses that day.
• Shuo told Sai that many people wanted what was inside Naruto, then said he had no interest in the Nine-Tails’ power.

Shuo visited Minato in the hospital, learned he had been promoted to B-Rank missions and above, and promised to keep looking after the sweets shop. He and Sai expected the masked man to return, and Shuo said he would make sure the man stayed next time.

• Shuo and Sai visited Minato in the hospital, where Shuo checked on Minato and Naruto and gave Minato candy.
• Minato told Shuo that the Third had promoted him from D-Rank missions to B-Rank missions and above, while agreeing he could keep time for the shop.
• Shuo told Kushina that Naruto would be fine and offered to help him if anything happened.
• Shuo and Sai restocked the sweets shop, then Shuo said the masked man could stay if he came back.
• Shin congratulated Shuo on his promotion with a bag of candy, and Shuo reaffirmed that he would look after the shop every day.

Shuo spotted Sharingan-wielding watchers and learned from Shin that they were likely members of the Akatsuki, a rogue organization hunting Tailed Beasts. After three returned to watch his window, Shuo deliberately revealed that he had seen them and planned to draw them back with reinforcements so he could capture one and learn more.

• Shuo detected a Sharingan user watching his room and told Sai the watcher had vanished.
• Shuo and Sai met Shin, who identified the likely watchers as Akatsuki members seeking the Nine-Tails.
• Shin offered to investigate the Akatsuki using Root's old files, while Shuo said they would capture the next watcher.
• Shuo found three watchers on the rooftop and warned them with a display of golden light, prompting them to vanish.
• Shuo told Sai he had deliberately provoked the watchers so they would return with more people, giving them a chance to capture one.

The Third sent Shuo and Sai to escort Temari and investigate Akatsuki after the group targeted Sunagakure and killed the Fourth Kazekage. On the way, Shuo confronted three Akatsuki members alone and drove them off, then the party continued toward Konoha.

• The Third told Shuo that Akatsuki had attacked Sunagakure, killed the Fourth Kazekage, and was targeting tailed beasts, including Naruto.
• The Third assigned Shuo to protect Temari, who was traveling to Konoha under the cover of taking part in the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Shuo and Sai joined Minato, Kakashi, Obito, Rin, Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara at the village gates and set out for Konoha.
• Shuo sensed three Akatsuki members waiting in the woods and went ahead alone to confront them.
• Shuo shattered Hidan's scythe and repelled Kakuzu and Kisame with a wall of golden light, forcing the three Akatsuki members to retreat.
• Shuo returned to the group, and they continued their journey.

As Konoha prepared for the Chunin Ninja Exams, Shuo and Sai watched suspicious visitors arrive and met Temari, Gaara, and Kankuro. Shuo told Sai that Hanzo was dead and Pain had taken over Amegakure, leaving Sai wary of the threats gathering before the exams.

• Shuo used Lightspeed Thinking to identify suspicious visitors from Kusagakure and Amegakure among the crowds in Konoha.
• Temari thanked Shuo for what happened in the woods and asked Sai about the Chunin Ninja Exams, which would begin in three days at the Forest of Death.
• Shuo warned Sai that the Amegakure visitors were more dangerous than Gaara, but said he did not know what they were doing in Konoha.
• Shuo and Sai visited their sweet shop, refilled its candy plates, and discussed the possibility that something might happen during the exams.
• Shuo told Sai that Hanzo of the Salamander was dead and Pain had become Amegakure's new master.

On the eve of the Chunin Ninja Exams, Shuo watched suspicious visitors in Konoha and learned that a gray-robed man from Amegakure was asking about him. He let the man go so he could report back, waiting for whoever was behind him to reveal themselves.

• Shuo and Sai watched the crowded streets and spotted a gray-robed man secretly recording patrol shift-change times.
• A shopkeeper told Shuo that a masked stranger in gray had asked where Konoha's Flash lived and went.
• Shuo and Sai restocked the candy shop, and Shuo refused to participate in the exams.
• When the gray-robed man appeared outside the shop, Shuo recognized him as being from Amegakure by his waterproof shoes and let him leave.
• Shuo told Sai he had deliberately allowed the man to report back to his handler.

On the first day of the Chunin Ninja Exams, Shuo waited outside the Forest of Death for the gray-robed man and followed him into the woods. The man revealed that Pain wanted to meet Shuo, but Shuo refused the invitation, leaving open whether Pain would come to him.

• The candidates entered the Forest of Death for the first round, while Shuo and Sai stayed outside waiting for the gray-robed man.
• Near sunset, the gray-robed man appeared, and Shuo followed him into the forest with Sai.
• The man identified Pain as the person who wanted to see Shuo, and Shuo told him Pain could come in person if he wanted a meeting.
• Shuo returned to the exam grounds and told Minato he had turned down an invitation because he did not know the person well.
• That night, Shuo told Sai he would not go to Pain, and Sai asked what Shuo would do if Pain came to him.

As Orochimaru’s attack plunged Konoha into chaos, Shuo stayed calm, tending to his candy shop before joining Temari after learning Gaara had been captured. He reached the Hokage Building in time to see the Third die, then set out with Temari to pursue her brother.

• Shuo ignored the reports of the attack and went with Sai to reopen his candy shop while the Third fought Orochimaru.
• Temari arrived wounded and told Shuo that Orochimaru’s people had taken Gaara; Shuo offered her candy and agreed to help after the Hokage fight.
• Shuo, Sai, and Temari rushed to the Hokage Building and found the Third dying and Orochimaru gravely injured but alive.
• Shuo placed a candy in the Third’s hand as he died, then left with Temari to pursue Gaara.
• Temari asked whether Shuo was sad, and he admitted he was before continuing toward the pursuit.

Shuo pursued the Sound Ninja who had taken Gaara and encountered Pain, who tried to seize Shuo’s light before withdrawing. Shuo calmed the rampaging Gaara and returned with Sai as Temari and Kankuro reunited with him.

• Shuo followed Temari and Sai east, tracked Gaara’s trail, and found Kankuro wounded while he held off two Sound Ninja.
• Shuo stopped Temari from going deeper and entered the woods alone after sensing Gaara, Orochimaru, and an unfamiliar chakra signature.
• Shuo confronted Pain, resisted his Banshō Ten’in, and learned that Pain wanted the light within him; Pain then vanished using Space-Time Ninjutsu.
• Orochimaru and the Sound Ninja escaped, while Shuo calmed Gaara with a slap and gave him a chestnut-patterned candy.
• Temari embraced Gaara and Kankuro thanked Shuo, who later told Sai that Gaara had not had it easy either.

Three days after Konoha’s destruction, Tsunade became the Fifth Hokage and assigned Shuo to protect Gaara in Sunagakure while Kakashi guarded Naruto. Shuo accepted the mission without concern and left with Sai as the village continued mourning its dead.

• Shuo and Sai watched funeral processions in Konoha when Obito summoned Shuo to the Hokage Building.
• Minato introduced Tsunade as the Fifth Hokage, and she asked Shuo what he knew about the Akatsuki.
• Tsunade assigned Shuo to protect Gaara in Sunagakure and Kakashi to protect Naruto, with Shizune joining Shuo’s team.
• Tsunade warned Shuo that Pain would come looking for him again, and Shuo said he understood.
• Kakashi told Shuo he would watch over Naruto, while Shuo and Sai left together for the mission.

Shuo arrived in Sunagakure with Sai and Shizune, met Gaara and Kankuro, and found the village badly damaged by Orochimaru and the Sound Ninja. After spending the night at an inn, Shuo detected two Akatsuki members watching from a rooftop and decided to confront them the next day.

• Shuo set off for Sunagakure with Sai and Shizune, telling the inexperienced Shizune to stay behind them if a fight broke out.
• Shuo confronted two Sand ninja at the village entrance, and one revealed that Gaara was in the central tower with Kankuro.
• Shuo told Gaara that Tsunade had sent him to protect him, gave him a candy, and learned that Temari was treating wounded people at the hospital.
• Shuo and Sai left the central tower and found an inn, where Shuo sensed two Akatsuki members waiting on a rooftop.
• Shuo told Sai to wait until morning before dealing with the Akatsuki members, and the pair went to sleep.

Shuo bought all one hundred candies left from a Konoha shop and gave them to Gaara, who tasted one and shared a quiet moment with him while Sunagakure recovered. Gaara asked why Shuo was kind to him, then smiled and promised to buy the candy next time.

• Shuo and Sai left the inn after Shizune gave them rice balls, while the two spies remained on the roof.
• Shuo found candies from a closed Konoha shop at a stall and bought all one hundred.
• Shuo gave Gaara the candies, and Gaara ate one while they looked out over the recovering village.
• Gaara asked why Shuo was so good to him, and Shuo joked that it was because Gaara's sister was annoying.
• Gaara smiled and said he would buy the candy next time, and Shuo agreed.