Recaps

Shengu Xuan survived Itachi’s Amaterasu by grabbing and eating the flames, revealing the power of the Fire Demon Chi. He then badly wounded Itachi, but Kisame attacked with a massive water jutsu as the fight continued.

• Itachi used Amaterasu to engulf Shengu Xuan in undying black flames, while Naruto and the others feared he had been killed.
• Shengu Xuan emerged unharmed, grabbed the flames, and swallowed them, explaining that his Fire Demon Chi and Dog Talisman protected him.
• Itachi and Kisame were shocked by Shengu Xuan’s immunity, and Itachi ordered a retreat.
• Shengu Xuan used his speed to intercept Itachi and struck him through his kunai, sending him crashing into the water with a serious wound.
• Kisame roared in anger, unleashed the Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave, and prepared to attack Shengu Xuan with Samehada.

Shengu Xuan effortlessly withstood Samehada’s bite, shattered its teeth, and beat Kisame nearly unconscious. Itachi admitted defeat and fled with Kisame after Shengu Xuan warned Akatsuki to stop sending people to bother him.

• Kisame attacked Shengu Xuan with Samehada, but its fangs shattered against Shengu Xuan’s shoulder.
• Shengu Xuan mocked Kisame and slammed him into the water until Kisame was badly injured and unconscious.
• Itachi told Shengu Xuan that they admitted defeat and asked him to let Kisame go.
• Shengu Xuan released Kisame and warned Itachi to tell Akatsuki not to bother him again.
• Itachi carried Kisame away and escaped as a flock of crows.

Shengu Xuan’s defeat of Itachi and Kisame spread his reputation through Konoha, and Jiraiya recruited him and Naruto to search for Tsunade as a candidate for Fifth Hokage. As the trio left the village, Orochimaru secretly ordered Kabuto to track them so he could find Tsunade and have his arms healed.

• Shengu Xuan returned to shore after driving off Itachi and Kisame, then went with Naruto to get barbecue.
• Konoha’s leaders discussed choosing a Fifth Hokage, and Jiraiya volunteered to find Tsunade with Naruto and Shengu Xuan.
• Shengu Xuan, Naruto, and Jiraiya left Konoha to search for Tsunade.
• Orochimaru told Kabuto to track the trio and vowed to take revenge on Shengu Xuan after Tsunade healed his arms.
• Shengu Xuan suspected the journey would bring excitement, while Naruto asked Jiraiya where they would find Tsunade.

Jiraiya brought Naruto and Shengu Xuan to Tanzaku Town to find Tsunade, but went off to pursue women while Shengu Xuan took Naruto to a casino to earn money for barbecue. There they found Tsunade on a losing streak, and Shengu Xuan challenged her with a pile of gold bars.

• Jiraiya explained that Tsunade was a notorious gambler known as the legendary Big Fat Sheep and said she was likely in Tanzaku Town.
• After reaching Tanzaku Town, Jiraiya left Naruto and Shengu Xuan with a little spending money and ran to a tavern.
• Shengu Xuan persuaded Naruto to follow him into the Big Tycoon casino so they could win money for barbecue.
• Shengu Xuan and Naruto found Tsunade losing her final chips while Shizune and Tonton watched anxiously.
• Tsunade lost another bet, and Shengu Xuan mocked her before placing a bag of gold bars on the table and challenging her.

Shengu Xuan challenged Tsunade to a dice game, wagering his gold bars against a condition of his choosing. Tsunade confidently rolled high, but Shengu Xuan secretly used the Rat Talisman to change the dice to a low result as she prepared to reveal them.

• Tsunade argued with Shengu Xuan after he mocked her losses and age, while Shizune and Naruto tried to calm them down.
• Shengu Xuan offered his gold bars against one condition if he lost, and Tsunade accepted the wager.
• Shengu Xuan proposed a high-or-low dice game, and Tsunade boasted that she could identify the dice by listening.
• Tsunade rolled a total of fifteen and challenged Shengu Xuan to bet; he placed half his gold bars on low.
• Shengu Xuan used the Rat Talisman to make the dice change from four, five, and six to one, one, and two without Tsunade noticing.

Shengu Xuan used the Rat Talisman’s power to win every dice game against Tsunade, taking her gold, the First Hokage’s Necklace, and everything else she could wager. After losing more than thirty rounds, Tsunade challenged him to one last bet.

• Tsunade lost her first wager when the dice showed four, small, despite her confidence in her hearing.
• Tsunade accused Shengu Xuan of cheating, then staked the First Hokage’s Necklace on another round and lost.
• Tsunade kept demanding rematches, while Shengu Xuan’s Rat Talisman ensured he won every round.
• Tsunade lost her gold, medical scroll, and coat buttons, leaving Shengu Xuan to collect all her remaining possessions.
• Tsunade, desperate and furious, challenged Shengu Xuan to one last round and offered to stake everything she had.

Tsunade wagered her freedom on one final dice round against Shengu Xuan, who demanded that she return to Konoha and become Hokage if she lost. After she lost and attacked him, Shengu Xuan defeated her, and Jiraiya arrived to urge her to return.

• Tsunade wagered her name, freedom, and life against Shengu Xuan, who required her to return to Konoha as Hokage and pay his barbecue bills if she lost.
• Tsunade rolled four points and lost, but she refused to accept the result and attacked Shengu Xuan.
• Shengu Xuan blocked Tsunade's punch with an invisible barrier, then struck her into a casino wall and declared that she belonged to him.
• Shizune treated the injured Tsunade as Jiraiya arrived and urged her to return to the village.
• Tsunade glared at Jiraiya and challenged the idea that she should return to become Hokage.

Orochimaru arrived at the casino and tried to persuade Tsunade to heal his hands by promising to resurrect Dan Katō and Nawaki. When Kabuto attacked and Shengu Xuan intervened, Orochimaru summoned Manda, leaving Shengu Xuan poised to face the giant snake.

• Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi appeared at the casino, where Orochimaru offered Tsunade a deal in exchange for healing his crippled hands.
• Orochimaru promised to use Impure World Reincarnation to resurrect Dan Katō and Nawaki, leaving Tsunade shaken despite Jiraiya and Shizune's warnings.
• Kabuto summoned a giant purple snake, and Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta to block its attack.
• Kabuto knocked Shizune unconscious and reached for Tsunade, but Shengu Xuan kicked him through several houses.
• Orochimaru summoned Manda, and Shengu Xuan faced the giant snake with the Ox Talisman Totem glowing in his eyes.

Shengu Xuan faced Manda in Tanzaku Town and overwhelmed the giant serpent with his raw strength. After punching Manda flying and slamming him into the ground, Shengu ended the chapter by ordering Orochimaru to use his strongest poisonous mist on him.

• Shengu Xuan insulted Manda and stood his ground as Orochimaru ordered the serpent to swallow him.
• Manda lunged at Shengu, but Shengu punched his jaw, stopped his attack, and sent his massive body crashing into Tanzaku Town's commercial district.
• Jiraiya, Tsunade, Shizune, Naruto, and Gamabunta reacted in shock as Orochimaru crawled from the rubble and Manda struggled with a shattered jaw.
• Manda tried to flee to Ryūchi Cave, but Shengu used the Rabbit Talisman's speed to seize his tail and swing him into the ground.
• Shengu left Manda twitching in a crater and ordered Orochimaru to use his strongest poisonous mist to melt him.

Shengu Xuan unlocked Xiao Fung’s wind demonic chi and used it to overwhelm Orochimaru’s poison mist and sweep his enemies into a devastating hurricane. He watched Orochimaru, Manda, and Kabuto Yakushi struggle in the gale, then hinted that he would add fire.

• Manda urged Orochimaru to use his strongest poison mist against Shengu Xuan.
• Orochimaru unleashed a wind-driven cloud of lethal poison mist, while Jiraiya and Tsunade warned everyone to retreat.
• Shengu Xuan unlocked Xiao Fung’s wind chi and blew the poison mist away with a colossal hurricane.
• The hurricane swept Orochimaru, Kabuto Yakushi, and Manda into the air as Jiraiya and Tsunade clung to Gamabunta.
• Shengu Xuan remained calm at the center of the gale and said he might add fire.

Shengu Xuan fused wind and fire into a devastating tornado, defeating Orochimaru and forcing him to flee Tanzaku Town with Kabuto. Afterward, Tsunade honored her bet and agreed to return to Konoha with Shengu Xuan.

• Shengu Xuan turned the hurricane into a fire tornado that badly burned Manda, who canceled the Summoning Technique and escaped to Ryūchi Cave.
• Orochimaru summoned Triple Rashomon, but Shengu Xuan's fire tornado melted all three gates and scorched Orochimaru.
• Kabuto caught the falling Orochimaru and used Earth Release to help them escape underground.
• Shengu Xuan ended the storm and confronted Tsunade after Tanzaku Town's commercial district was reduced to scorched earth.
• Tsunade gave up resisting and agreed to return to Konoha with Shengu Xuan.

Shengu Xuan forced Tsunade to return to Konoha, where she became the Fifth Hokage. After he charged a five-million-ryo barbecue feast to the village, Tsunade decided to find a way to put his appetite and strength to use.

• Tsunade agreed to return to Konoha with Shengu Xuan after he defeated Orochimaru and Manda in Tanzaku Town.
• Jiraiya, Naruto, Shizune, and Tsunade traveled with Shengu Xuan back to Konoha.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu welcomed Tsunade, and the village held her formal inauguration as the Fifth Hokage.
• Shengu Xuan and Naruto ate at Yakiniku Q while Tsunade worked through paperwork at the Hokage's office.
• Shizune brought Tsunade a five-million-ryo bill for Shengu Xuan's meal, and Tsunade resolved to give him something to do.

Tsunade promoted Shengu Xuan to Special Jōnin by offering him freedom from routine duties and doubled mission bonuses, and he reluctantly accepted. In the hospital, Sasuke’s desire for power grew after the Sound Four taunted him, and he agreed to leave Konoha with them to seek Orochimaru’s power.

• Tsunade offered Shengu Xuan a Special Jōnin appointment with few obligations and doubled mission bonuses, and Shengu Xuan accepted without choosing squad members.
• Sasuke recalled Itachi’s contempt and the strength Naruto Uzumaki and Shengu Xuan had displayed, and he raged over his own weakness.
• Sakon, Jirobo, Tayuya, and Kidomaru entered Sasuke’s hospital ward and urged him to leave Konoha for Orochimaru.
• Kidomaru restrained Sasuke with Spider Sticky Gold, while Sakon and Tayuya taunted his weakness and promised Orochimaru could give him power.
• Sasuke accepted the Sound Four’s offer and agreed to go with them.

Sasuke Uchiha defected from Konoha with the Sound Four to seek power from Orochimaru, and Tsunade ordered Shengu Xuan to retrieve him. Shengu Xuan refused the mission, so Tsunade threatened to cut off his barbecue.

• Sasuke Uchiha left the hospital and followed the Sound Four out of Konoha.
• Sakura Haruno tried to stop Sasuke, but he knocked her unconscious and continued his defection.
• Shizune told Tsunade that Sasuke had left the village with Orochimaru's subordinates.
• Tsunade summoned Shengu Xuan and ordered him to lead his special squad to bring Sasuke back.
• Shengu Xuan refused the mission, and Tsunade threatened to deny him barbecue until he returned Sasuke.

Tsunade sent Shengu Xuan to retrieve Sasuke, and he assembled a squad of Genin before using his Shadow Ninjas to track the Sound Four through the forest. The pursuit led to Jirobo staying behind to confront them while the others carried Sasuke onward.

• Tsunade persuaded Shengu Xuan to lead the mission to bring Sasuke back by promising to cover his barbecue bills and triple the reward.
• Shengu Xuan chose Naruto Uzumaki, Shikamaru Nara, Kiba Inuzuka, Neji Hyuga, and Choji Akimichi to accompany him.
• After Kiba and Shikamaru questioned his tracking ability, Shengu Xuan summoned over a hundred Shadow Ninjas to sweep the forest and trigger the Sound Ninja's traps.
• The Sound Four heard the explosions as they carried Sasuke in a coffin, and Jirobo stayed behind while Sakon, Tayuya, and Kidomaru continued ahead.
• Shengu Xuan and the Genin emerged into a clearing where Jirobo prepared to stop them with an earthen prison.

Shengu Xuan used five Troll Corps soldiers to destroy Jirobo’s chakra-draining earth prison and kill him. The group continued through the forest, where Neji spotted an ambush and Kidomaru confronted them from the trees.

• Jirobo trapped Shengu Xuan, Naruto, Shikamaru, Neji, Kiba, and Akamaru inside an Earth Prison Dome that absorbed their chakra and repaired damage.
• Shengu Xuan summoned five Troll Corps soldiers, which smashed through the dome with physical force.
• Jirobo transformed with his Cursed Seal of Heaven, but a Troll Corps soldier broke his arm and the five monsters beat him to death.
• Shengu Xuan dismissed the Troll Corps, and the group continued pursuing their enemies deeper into the forest.
• Neji detected an ambush, and Kidomaru appeared above them and declared the forest his hunting ground.

Shengu Xuan summoned the Night Bat Squad to defeat Kidomaru’s aerial attack and free Naruto. The group continued onward and encountered Tayuya, who prepared to attack them with her flute.

• Neji used Rotation to deflect Kidomaru’s sticky gold kunai after Naruto was caught in spider threads.
• Shengu Xuan summoned the Night Bat Squad, which dodged Kidomaru’s arrow, tore through his web, and killed him.
• Shengu Xuan freed Naruto, dismissed the Night Bat Squad, and led the group onward.
• The group reached an open field, where Tayuya confronted them and threatened to attack with her Demonic Sound.

Shengu Xuan defeated Tayuya by using the Sheep Talisman's soul projection to overwhelm her mind, freeing Shikamaru and the others from her genjutsu. Sakon and Ukon then appeared with Sasuke's coffin and challenged him.

• Tayuya used her flute genjutsu and summoned three Oni, incapacitating Naruto, Kiba, Akamaru, Neji, and Shikamaru.
• Shengu Xuan resisted Tayuya's genjutsu because he had no chakra, then used the Sheep Talisman to project his soul.
• Shengu Xuan's soul passed through the Oni's physical attacks and entered Tayuya, devastating her mind until she collapsed.
• Tayuya's defeat dispelled the Oni and freed Shikamaru and the others from the genjutsu.
• Sakon and Ukon emerged from the woods carrying Sasuke's coffin and threatened to fight Shengu Xuan.

Shengu Xuan transformed Sakon and Ukon into frogs with the Monkey Talisman and killed them, but a new enemy emerged to protect Sasuke’s coffin. The chapter ended with the silver-haired boy confronting Shengu Xuan.

• Sakon and Ukon attacked Naruto and the others, displaying their Twin Demons Attack technique.
• Sakon insulted Shengu Xuan, who ignored his provocation until Sakon and Ukon separated and charged him.
• Shengu Xuan used the Monkey Talisman to transform Sakon and Ukon into frogs, then stomped them to death.
• Naruto moved to retrieve Sasuke’s coffin, but bone spikes burst from the ground and launched it into the air.
• A silver-haired boy caught the coffin and warned Shengu Xuan not to touch Orochimaru’s vessel.

Kimimaro arrived to reclaim Sasuke and fought Naruto and Neji, overwhelming them with his bone-manipulating kekkei genkai. Shengu Xuan withstood Kimimaro’s strongest attack without injury, and Kimimaro began preparing a final technique to kill him.

• Kimimaro introduced himself as Orochimaru’s loyal weapon and the last survivor of the Kaguya Clan, then drew a bone sword from his shoulder.
• Naruto attacked with shadow clones, but Kimimaro defeated them with his Dance of the Willow.
• Neji used the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, but Kimimaro’s bones resisted his Gentle Fist, and a finger bone pierced Neji’s shoulder.
• Kimimaro challenged Shengu Xuan, then struck him with the Dance of the Larch, but the bone spikes failed to pierce him.
• Shengu Xuan shattered Kimimaro’s bone spikes with his physical strength and sent him flying.
• Kimimaro rose, vowed to die for Orochimaru, and began the Dance of the Seedling Fern.

Kimimaro unleashed his strongest bone techniques, but Shengu Xuan used the Horse Talisman to regenerate from every injury and outlasted him until he died. Sasuke emerged from the shattered coffin with Orochimaru’s cursed power and fled toward the Valley of the End, prompting Shengu Xuan to set off after him.

• Kimimaro transformed into cursed seal state two and used Dance of the Seedling Fern to impale Shengu Xuan with a forest of bone spikes.
• Shengu Xuan regenerated with the Horse Talisman and mocked Kimimaro’s attacks as they repeatedly failed to injure him.
• Kimimaro exhausted his chakra and life force attacking Shengu Xuan, then died in the bone spike forest.
• Naruto and the others found Shengu Xuan unharmed, while the wooden coffin exploded and Sasuke emerged with cursed seal markings.
• Sasuke sped toward the Land of Fire’s border, and Shengu Xuan stopped Naruto from pursuing him before leading the group toward the Valley of the End.

Shengu Xuan and the others pursued Sasuke to the Valley of the End, where Sasuke rejected Naruto’s plea to return to Konoha and overwhelmed him. Sasuke then challenged Shengu Xuan, whose ability to swallow Sasuke’s Great Fireball left Sasuke raging as he spread the Cursed Seal across his body.

• Shengu Xuan led Shikamaru and the others through a storm to the Valley of the End, where Sasuke waited atop Madara Uchiha’s statue.
• Naruto pleaded with Sasuke to return to Konoha, but Sasuke refused and attacked him, knocking him into the water.
• Sasuke mocked Naruto and challenged Shengu Xuan, boasting that his Sharingan and Cursed Seal made him stronger.
• Sasuke launched a Great Fireball Technique at Shengu Xuan, who swallowed it and mocked its flavor.
• Sasuke declared that he would use his strongest power and spread the Cursed Seal across his entire body.

Sasuke activated the Cursed Seal of Heaven’s level two form and attacked Shengu Xuan with Wailing Chidori, convinced that Konoha had treated him unjustly. Shengu Xuan remained unharmed, seized Sasuke’s wrist, and prepared to slap him on his brother’s behalf.

• Sasuke transformed into his cursed level two form and raged about Konoha’s injustice and his clan’s slaughter.
• Naruto grieved as Sasuke’s hatred consumed him, while Shengu Xuan mocked Sasuke for relying on Orochimaru’s power.
• Sasuke charged Shengu Xuan with Wailing Chidori, ignoring Naruto’s warning to dodge.
• Sasuke’s attack failed to hurt Shengu Xuan, who caught his wrist and called the Chidori a mere skin scraping.
• Shengu Xuan raised his hand and said the coming slap was on Sasuke’s brother’s behalf.

Shengu Xuan defeated Sasuke at the Valley of the End, overwhelmed his attacks with the Ox Talisman’s strength, and knocked him unconscious. As the group returned to Konoha with Sasuke, Naruto asked Shengu Xuan who Sasuke’s brother was.

• Shengu Xuan slapped Sasuke out of Cursed Seal State Two and sent him crashing into the pool.
• Sasuke rose from the water and attacked Shengu Xuan with Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique and Lightning Release: Chidori Sharp Spear.
• Shengu Xuan used the Ox Talisman’s power to destroy Sasuke’s attacks with a punch that forced the waterfall backward.
• Shengu Xuan pinned Sasuke in the mud, dismissed his genjutsu, and knocked him unconscious with a kick.
• Shengu Xuan and the others set off for Konoha with Naruto carrying Sasuke, and Naruto asked who Sasuke’s brother was.

After forcibly bringing Sasuke back, Shengu Xuan healed Neji and unlocked the Thunder Demon Zhong Su’s power. He tested it by vaporizing a rocky peak with heavenly lightning, then returned to find Shikamaru and the others alarmed and asking whether he had caused the blast.

• Naruto asked Shengu Xuan who Sasuke’s brother was, and Shengu Xuan dismissed his earlier remark as a joke.
• Shengu Xuan used the Horse Talisman’s power to heal Neji’s shoulder while the group rested in the forest.
• The system announced that Shengu Xuan had unlocked the dark chi of the Thunder Demon Zhong Su after absorbing Sasuke’s Chidori chakra.
• Shengu Xuan summoned thunderclouds and vaporized a rocky peak with a bolt of heavenly lightning.
• Shikamaru and the others woke in alarm, and Shikamaru asked whether Shengu Xuan had caused the lightning strike.