Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Saku awakened as an injured Konoha Genin during an Iwagakure ambush and gained a system that rewarded him for imitating Kizaru. After escaping with Kentaro, Saku wondered how far he would have to play the role as a signal rose over Konoha.

• Saku realized he had time-traveled into a battlefield during the Third Shinobi World War, where Iwagakure shinobi trapped him and Kentaro beneath falling rocks.
• A system bound Saku to the Kizaru template, and he completed its novice mission by taunting the attackers, earning imitation points and a prototype Flash Movement ability.
• Saku used the ability to evade a boulder, then distracted the Iwagakure shinobi while Kentaro threw shuriken and he flashed toward the valley exit.
• Saku used Flash Movement again to reach the valley mouth, and he and Kentaro escaped into the woods after the Iwagakure shinobi pursued them.
• Saku and Kentaro collapsed beneath a tree, where Saku checked the system and resolved to keep imitating Kizaru; a signal arrow rose over Konoha.

After surviving an ambush, Shuo recovered at Konoha’s camp and dodged questions about the strange flash that had saved him. He earned enough imitation points to reach 45 and planned how to gain the five more needed to unlock his first light-based technique.

• Medical ninjas treated Shuo’s injuries, ordered him to rest for two weeks, and an ANBU brought him to report to the camp’s leaders.
• Shuo gave a vague account of escaping in a flash of light, concealed what he remembered, and was dismissed to recover while the village watched his potential.
• Shuo overheard a Chunin mocking his and Kentaro’s survival and answered with a taunt that earned him 12 imitation points, bringing his total to 45.
• Shuo returned to the wounded soldiers’ tent with Kentaro and considered earning five more points to unlock Light-Speed Kick: Faint Spark.

While recovering at the Konoha camp, Shuo unlocked and used a light-speed attack to drive off an Iwagakure infiltration squad. He returned to camp exhausted with 90 imitation points, ten short of unlocking his next ability.

• Shuo earned imitation points by maintaining Kizaru’s lazy-stroll posture, then overheard Iwagakure ninja planning to scout the camp’s defenses.
• Shuo’s remark about the infiltrators earned enough points to unlock Light-Speed Kick, and he knocked one Iwagakure Chunin unconscious with it.
• Shuo used a crude light-form shift to evade explosive kunai and convinced the two remaining Iwagakure ninja to retreat with their unconscious companion.
• The system awarded Shuo 20 imitation points for deterring the enemies, bringing his total to 90, and he limped back toward camp seeking a quieter place to recover.

Shuo was ordered to join a western lookout squad despite his injuries, where he and Kentaro spotted a large Iwagakure infiltration force. After unlocking Ama no Murakumo Sword: Phantom, Shuo prepared to face the approaching enemy while Kentaro signaled the camp and fled.

• Akimichi Dōtō assigned the wounded Shuo to the third lookout squad with Kentaro, ordering them to watch the western woods and send a signal if enemies appeared.
• Shuo and Kentaro climbed a tree with Long and Aoki's squad and waited for signs of the enemy.
• Shuo spotted multiple Iwagakure infiltrators approaching and hesitated over how to protect himself and Kentaro.
• Shuo complained that war was a pain, earning enough Imitation Points to unlock Ama no Murakumo Sword: Phantom.
• Shuo told Kentaro to send up a signal flare and run, then summoned a golden phantom blade as the leading Iwagakure ninja reached their tree.

Shuo used the unstable Ama no Murakumo Sword: Phantom to hold off two Iwagakure ninja until Konoha reinforcements arrived. After exhausting his strength and light-based abilities, he passed out as the enemy retreated.

• Shuo dodged the Iwagakure ninja’s attacks, burned one with the light sword, and used its flickering blade to disarm the other before retreating with Light Particle Shift.
• Kentaro launched the signal flare, and sounds of fighting broke out near Long and Aoki as reinforcements responded.
• The Iwagakure ninja attacked Shuo with Earth Release techniques, so he threw his failing light sword toward one attacker’s stone-covered arm.
• The light sword burst into a cloud of golden light that blinded the attacker, letting Shuo shift behind a nearby tree and evade the Rock Fist.
• As reinforcements arrived, the Iwagakure ninja retreated with their blinded companion, and Shuo passed out from his injuries and exhaustion.

Uchiha Saku recovered in Konoha’s medical tent after helping repel Iwagakure infiltrators, while Minato questioned him about his strange light-based abilities. As a chaotic emergency unfolded nearby, Saku’s detached attitude earned enough Imitation Points to unlock Basic Languor, leaving him even more content to ignore the world and rest.

• The medical ninja told Shuo that the camp had repelled the Iwagakure infiltrators and credited his warning with preventing major losses, while Shuo pretended not to know how he had fought them.
• Minato visited Shuo, praised his actions, asked about his unusual movement and attacks, and offered to talk with him about speed after his recovery.
• Shuo found that maintaining a languid, indifferent attitude in bed slowly earned him Imitation Points.
• A severely wounded patrol ninja arrived, and Shuo’s weary detachment during the frantic treatment earned him 25 Imitation Points.
• Shuo unlocked Aura Enhancement: Basic Languor and settled back into bed, shutting out the commotion.

As his injuries healed, Shuo was promoted to Chunin and learned that the Konoha forces would soon withdraw from the front. Minato invited him to visit his team after they returned, while Shuo remained undecided and focused on getting a good night's sleep before the journey home.

• Shuo recovered quickly, received a Chunin promotion, and heard the medical ninja advise him to avoid intense combat for now.
• Shuo told Kentaro that the glowing object he had used was a single-use ninja tool inherited from his parents.
• Akimichi Dōtō announced that the unit would begin withdrawing to Konoha at dawn, as Iwagakure had shown interest in peace talks.
• Minato invited Shuo to visit his team after their return, and Shuo said he would consider it while warning that his ability was unstable.
• Shuo packed his belongings, considered his uncertain future in Konoha, and went to sleep as the system awarded him imitation points and warned of new opportunities.

Shuo traveled with the returning column toward Konoha, earning Imitation Points by resting and doing road-clearing work in his characteristically lazy manner. At the campsite, he considered his uncertain future and faint desire to grow stronger, then settled in for the night before returning to the village.

• Shuo rested during the column's march and earned Imitation Points by taking advantage of the midday break.
• Shuo listened as Genin admired Minato Namikaze, while he judged Minato's strength to come with too much responsibility and work.
• Shuo helped clear a landslide, earning points for his perfunctory labor and dislodging a large rock with a careful tap instead of brute force.
• Shuo gathered firewood at the evening campsite and briefly tried to summon the faint light energy in his palm, but it quickly vanished.
• Shuo checked that he had enough Imitation Points to unlock another ability, then went to sleep expecting to return to Konoha the next day.

Uchiha Saku returned to Konoha, collected his commendation and reward, and settled into his inherited home, where he considered how to earn more Imitation Points. That evening, Uchiha Inabi summoned him to a clan meeting the next morning, and Saku suspected the gathering could become an opportunity to imitate Kizaru’s irreverent manner.

• Uchiha Saku entered Konoha with his unit, received a modest bonus and contribution points, and left for the Uchiha Clan Compound after the dismissal.
• Uchiha Saku returned to his inherited house, rested, bought food, and checked his system, finding that he lacked enough Imitation Points to unlock any available upgrades.
• Uchiha Inabi delivered Fugaku’s order for recently returned clanspeople to attend a meeting at the compound’s Meeting Hall at nine the next morning.
• Uchiha Saku dismissed Inabi’s questions about his battlefield jutsu and guessed the meeting would address the clan’s sacrifices, future plans, and his own accomplishments.
• Uchiha Saku considered behaving inappropriately at the meeting to gain Imitation Points, while the system warned him to avoid crossing the line into danger.

Shuo attended the Uchiha clan meeting, where Fugaku offered him and two other battle-proven clanspeople resources and a Jonin assessment. After observing his clanmates train, Shuo unlocked the Yata Mirror Hypothesis and instinctively moved along a path between patches of light.

• Shuo arrived just before the meeting began and listened to Fugaku and the clan elders give speeches about the Uchiha’s strength, unity, and future.
• Shuo acted bored and picked his ear during the solemn gathering, earning Imitation Points for his out-of-place behavior.
• After the meeting, Fugaku offered Shuo and the other returning clanspeople a resource allowance and summoned Shuo and two others to the Clan Training Ground for a Jonin assessment the next morning.
• Shuo watched young Uchiha train, reflected on their pursuit of strength, and earned enough Imitation Points to unlock the Yata Mirror Hypothesis.
• As Shuo walked home, he instinctively curved his path through the shadows between patches of sunlight.

Shuo unlocked Light Shuriken and tested it at a Uchiha training assessment, where its unexpected flash drew Uchiha Tekka’s attention. He left the grounds unconcerned with the clan’s expectations and planned to keep researching light, while his imitation points rose to 214.

• Shuo collected his family cultivation subsidy, then unlocked Light Shuriken and struggled to coat a Shuriken with unstable light energy.
• At the training grounds, Uchiha Tekka assessed Shuo, Uchiha Yōta, and another clan member in taijutsu, Shurikenjutsu, and chakra control.
• Shuo dodged Yōta’s attacks with minimal movement, prompting Tekka to remark that his style was unusual.
• Shuo’s light-coated Shuriken hit the target inaccurately, but one produced a brief golden flash that Tekka questioned.
• Shuo blamed the effect on an accidental chakra nature transformation or a technique left by his parents, and Tekka warned him to master unfamiliar techniques before using them in combat.
• Tekka urged Shuo to strengthen his fundamentals and pursue the Sharingan, but Shuo left to buy juice and continue researching light; his imitation points increased by eight.

Shuo tested his Yata Mirror Hypothesis by subtly redirecting a falling kitten onto a soft landing, then unsettled three Chunin who mocked him. Minato Namikaze observed Shuo’s use of light and decided to strengthen an invitation for him.

• Shuo used a faint, conceptual light effect to shift a kitten’s fall onto a pile of soft garbage bags, saving it from injury and gaining imitation points.
• Three Chunin confronted Shuo and mocked his battlefield promotion, Uchiha heritage, and lack of an awakened Sharingan.
• Shuo unnerved the lead Chunin with an invisible pressure and left after warning the group not to pick fights with someone who was not half-asleep.
• Minato Namikaze watched Shuo from the Hokage Building and considered adding substance to his invitation, marking Uchiha Saku’s name on a Chunin assessment file.

After accepting Minato Namikaze’s invitation, Shuo joined Team Minato on a border mission to eliminate rogue ninja and out-of-control summoning beasts. The team reached a village where villagers were being held captive, and Shuo took up a lookout position as the others began their rescue and attack.

• Shuo received Minato’s invitation to join a low-risk mission and decided to visit Training Ground Three.
• Shuo met Kakashi Hatake, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara, then agreed to join their team temporarily.
• Minato briefed the team on rogue ninja and summoning beasts harassing two villages near the Land of Rivers border.
• The team traveled to the first village, where Kakashi scouted and found two Chunin-level guards, traps, and captive villagers.
• Minato assigned Obito and Rin to infiltrate from the west, Kakashi and himself to take on the guards, and Shuo to watch the perimeter.
• Shuo concealed himself in a tree as the sounds of battle began from the village.

Shuo intercepted four rogue ninja dogs approaching the settlement while the rest of his team rescued the villagers, using light-powered attacks and a subtle interference technique to drive them off. After the mission, he unlocked a basic light-energy affinity enhancement, and Minato privately questioned how Shuo had redirected the dogs’ movements.

• Shuo sensed four hostile ninja dogs approaching the settlement and used light-coated shuriken and the Yata Mirror Hypothesis to disrupt their charge.
• Shuo knocked the last ninja dog away with a Light-Speed Kick, then fed it a soldier pill and chased it into the forest.
• Minato, Kakashi, Obito, and Rin joined Shuo after defeating the rogue ninja and securing the villagers.
• Shuo gained enough Imitation Points to unlock Light Energy Affinity (Basic), strengthening his connection to light energy.
• Minato asked Shuo whether his unusual interference technique came from a Kekkei Genkai or a technique he had developed, and Shuo claimed it had simply felt easier.

After returning to Konoha, Shuo reported to Hiruzen Sarutobi with Minato and received a formal invitation to join Minato’s squad. Shuo accepted, then celebrated his new role with ramen while anticipating a more troublesome future.

• On the walk back, Shuo experimented with his improved light energy while Obito questioned him about spotting the Summoning Beasts and kicking one away.
• Minato brought Shuo to the Hokage Building, where he reported that Shuo had spotted and driven off the approaching Summoning Beasts.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi praised Shuo and told Minato that his application to temporarily expand the squad had been approved in principle.
• Minato formally invited Shuo to join his squad, and Shuo accepted, earning 30 Imitation Points for his ambiguous response.
• Minato welcomed Shuo to the squad and arranged coordination training for the next morning at Training Ground Three.
• Shuo stopped at Ichiraku Ramen on his way home and ordered miso chashu ramen with extra chashu.

Shuo joined Team Minato’s first coordination training and used his low-effort fighting style and light-based abilities to impress the others. Minato planned more challenging training for him, while Kakashi warned that he would use lightning release next time.

• Shuo arrived at Training Ground Three just in time and was paired with Kakashi for taijutsu sparring.
• Shuo dodged and redirected Kakashi’s attacks with minimal movement, leaving Kakashi tired and impressed by how difficult he was to handle.
• Shuo explained that he avoided attacks because it took less effort, and Minato praised his stamina and chakra efficiency while noting his weak offense.
• During shuriken coordination practice, Shuo used a faint flash of light to subtly alter the shuriken’s flight, allowing his and Kakashi’s weapons to cross and hit their targets.
• Minato praised Shuo and hinted at more challenging training, while Kakashi warned that he would use lightning release in their next session.

Minato gave Shuo demanding training exercises and a scroll of theories about light, leading Shuo to steadily improve his control and sense light energy. After demonstrating his ability to manipulate light for Kakashi, Obito, and Rin, Shuo learned that the team would escort medical supplies on a C-rank mission the next day.

• Minato had Shuo practice dodging random lightning and projectiles while conserving effort, then gave him a scroll about light and chakra nature transformation.
• Shuo studied the scroll, practiced controlling his light-based abilities, and began sensing and absorbing a small amount of energy from sunlight.
• Shuo used the Yata Mirror hypothesis to move a spot of sunlight onto Obito, and Rin sensed a faint layer of active energy on Shuo's shuriken.
• Kakashi told Shuo that their team would meet at the village gate at seven the next morning to escort medical supplies to a border outpost.

While escorting medical supplies to the Seventh Border Outpost, Shuo used his light-sensing ability to detect an ambush and intervened to protect the convoy. The attack was repelled, and Shuo’s mastery of light-energy interference advanced.

• Minato assigned Kakashi to scout ahead, Obito and Rin to guard the sides, and Shuo to watch the rear and scan for threats.
• Shuo sensed an unnatural reflection near a wooded hillside and warned Minato, who ordered the team to proceed cautiously.
• Masked attackers ambushed the convoy with explosives and a combined Wind and Fire technique aimed at the supplies.
• Shuo disrupted the weakened fireball’s energy with light-coated shuriken and struck a hidden attacker’s crossbow position with a concentrated golden ray.
• Minato and Kakashi subdued the attackers, and Shuo received 50 Imitation Points as his understanding of the Yata Mirror Hypothesis improved.

After Team Minato delivered supplies to the Seventh Border Outpost, Shuo experimented with subtle light control during dinner and explained his earlier actions to Minato. The mission expanded into a reconnaissance operation, and Shuo reluctantly agreed to stay while finding comfort in quietly playing with A-Ju.

• Team Minato delivered the supplies, and the outpost commander invited them to eat before they left.
• During dinner, Shuo gently altered the light in a shadowed corner as an experiment, earning Imitation Points and slightly improving his control precision.
• Minato asked Shuo about dispersing the fireball and striking the crossbow bolt; Shuo gave casual explanations, and Minato praised his instincts while advising him to study the scroll.
• Minato told Shuo that they would stay at the outpost for a day or two to scout and clear the surrounding area because of increased rogue ninja activity.
• Shuo reluctantly accepted the extended mission, then used a trace of light energy to brush A-Ju's fur before returning to the barracks.

Shuo practiced using light perception while conducting solo reconnaissance in the southeastern sector. He found signs of several foreign visitors and evaded a professional scout, then returned to the outpost with detailed findings that impressed Minato.

• Minato assigned Shuo to scout the southeastern sector alone and gave him a map and an emergency signal flare.
• Shuo used visual observation and light perception to find fresh footprints, a recent campsite, and a secret mark indicating that at least three likely ninja had headed southeast.
• A hidden scout approached the campsite, but Shuo distracted him with a pebble, concealed himself in deep shade, and escaped after the scout left.
• Shuo found two more concealed campsites and possible message marks while completing his route, recording his discoveries on the map.
• Shuo returned to the outpost and gave Minato his annotated map; Minato praised his work while Kakashi and Obito examined the findings.