Chapter Summaries

Shengu Xuan used the Snake and Ox Talismans to evade and destroy Danzo’s Root assassination squad, then watched Orochimaru’s attack on Hiruzen Sarutobi from afar. A huge, bloodlust-filled chakra surge erupted outside Konoha, and Shengu Xuan suspected Sasuke was in danger.

• Danzo’s Root squad attacked Shengu Xuan with poison mist, explosive tags, and the Shadow Imitation Technique, intending to capture him alive.
• Shengu Xuan vanished with the Snake Talisman and killed the fox-masked captain with the Ox Talisman.
• Shengu Xuan used the Dragon Talisman’s demon fire to burn the remaining Root ninja to ash and vowed to visit Danzo after the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Shengu Xuan watched Orochimaru’s reanimated First and Second Hokage wear down Hiruzen Sarutobi, but decided not to intervene.
• A monstrous chakra surge swept across Konoha from a nearby forest, and Shengu Xuan suspected Sasuke was about to be beaten.

Shengu Xuan rushed into the Forest of Death and saved Sasuke from Gaara’s partial tailed-beast transformation. Gaara lost control and became the fully manifested Shukaku, who vowed to kill everyone.

• Shengu Xuan sensed Gaara’s chakra and raced to the forest to confront him.
• Sasuke struck Gaara with Chidori, but Gaara’s transformed body endured it and sent Sasuke crashing through trees.
• Shengu Xuan arrived and kicked Gaara away, saving Sasuke from Gaara’s attack.
• Gaara’s rage released Shukaku’s chakra, and he transformed into the enormous One-Tail.
• Shukaku emerged in the forest and declared that he would kill everyone.

Shengu Xuan protected Sasuke from Shukaku’s attack and brutally beat the One-Tail with his talisman powers. After unlocking the Monkey Talisman, he prepared to transform Shukaku into a husky.

• Shukaku emerged in his full form and fired a Drilling Air Bullet at Shengu Xuan and Sasuke.
• Shengu Xuan used the Dog Talisman’s absolute defense to block the attack and shield Sasuke.
• Shengu Xuan combined the Ox and Rabbit Talismans to strike Shukaku and overwhelm him with a rapid assault.
• The system rewarded Shengu Xuan with the Monkey Talisman after his actions changed the course of the Shinobi World.
• Shengu Xuan aimed the Monkey Talisman at Shukaku and prepared to turn him into a husky.

Shengu Xuan used the Monkey Talisman's transformation divine authority to turn Shukaku into a Husky, then knocked him unconscious and returned him to Gaara. He picked up Gaara and invited Sasuke to come watch the old man get beaten up.

• Shengu Xuan transformed Shukaku into a Husky, stripping away his chakra and power as Sasuke watched in disbelief.
• Husky Shukaku failed to use his powers, and Shengu Xuan grabbed him and mocked him before knocking him unconscious.
• The transformation ended, revealing an unconscious, naked Gaara with his Cursed Seal faded and his breathing faint.
• Shengu Xuan picked up Gaara and told Sasuke he would take him to see the old man get beaten up.

Shengu Xuan brought the unconscious Gaara and Sasuke to Konoha’s arena, where he revealed Gaara’s defeat and annihilated a Sound Ninja commander with a single punch. He then turned toward the Hokage Building to intervene in Orochimaru’s fight with Hiruzen, despite Kakashi warning him about the deadly barrier.

• Shengu Xuan used the Rabbit Talisman’s speed to carry Gaara and Sasuke from the Forest of Death to the arena.
• Kakashi and Might Guy fought the invading Sound and Sand Ninja as Konoha’s defenders struggled against overwhelming numbers and the threat of Shukaku.
• Shengu Xuan dropped the unconscious Gaara into the arena, shocking both sides and leaving them unable to believe the One-Tail Jinchuriki had been defeated.
• When a Sound Ninja commander charged him, Shengu Xuan used the Ox Talisman’s strength to kill him with an air cannon that also devastated the arena.
• Shengu Xuan prepared to head to the Hokage Building, and Kakashi warned him that the Four Violet Flames Formation would kill anyone who touched it.

Shengu Xuan broke the Four Violet Flames Formation and entered the Hokage Building’s rooftop battle, where he shrugged off the First and Second Hokage’s attacks and destroyed their reanimated bodies. Orochimaru remained confident that Impure World Reincarnation would restore them, leaving Shengu Xuan facing the revived Hokage again.

• Shengu Xuan used the Ox and Dragon Talismans to smash the Four Violet Flames Formation, leaving the Sound Four badly injured by the backlash.
• Shengu Xuan entered the fight and ignored Hiruzen Sarutobi’s warning to leave.
• Orochimaru ordered the reanimated Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju to attack Shengu Xuan with Wood Release and Water Release.
• Shengu Xuan used the Dog Talisman to withstand their techniques, then destroyed Hashirama and Tobirama with a punch and a kick.
• Orochimaru said Impure World Reincarnation would restore the two Hokage as their paper scraps began gathering together.

Shengu Xuan summoned Shadowkhan Devourers that consumed the chakra and soul energy sustaining the reanimated First and Second Hokage, freeing them from Orochimaru’s control. After the two Hokage departed and the Devourers returned to Shengu Xuan’s shadow, a terrified Orochimaru demanded to know what kind of monster he was.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi prepared to use the Reaper Death Seal, but Shengu Xuan stopped him and dismissed Orochimaru’s claims that Impure World Reincarnation was indestructible.
• Shengu Xuan summoned the Shadowkhan Devourers, which swarmed the First and Second Hokage and devoured the energy sustaining their reanimated bodies.
• The Devourers severed Orochimaru’s control, and Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju briefly regained consciousness before their souls dissipated.
• The Shadowkhan Devourers returned to Shengu Xuan’s shadow, leaving Orochimaru frightened and asking what kind of monster Shengu Xuan was.

Shengu Xuan defeated Orochimaru during the invasion of Konoha, leaving him armless before he escaped. After the attackers routed, Danzo secretly ordered Root to uncover Shengu Xuan’s secrets.

• Orochimaru summoned Manda to attack Shengu Xuan, but Shengu Xuan transformed the giant snake into an earthworm and crushed it.
• Orochimaru struck Shengu Xuan with the Kusanagi Sword, but the Dog Talisman’s defense stopped the blade.
• Shengu Xuan ripped off both of Orochimaru’s arms, and Orochimaru escaped by shedding his body and scattering into white snakes.
• With Orochimaru gone, the leaderless Sound and Sand Ninja forces routed, ending the crisis as Hiruzen watched Shengu Xuan in shock.
• Danzo watched from the rubble and ordered Root to uncover the secrets behind Shengu Xuan’s power.

Shengu Xuan ended the Konoha Crush by forcing the Sound and Sand ninja to surrender, then left for Yakiniku Q. Danzo plotted with Konoha's advisers to bring him under their control.

• Danzo ordered Root to investigate Shengu Xuan, while Shengu Xuan sensed the watchers and dismissed them as vermin.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi thanked Shengu Xuan for saving Konoha, but Shengu Xuan rejected the praise and leaped down to the Arena.
• Shengu Xuan's arrival stunned Kakashi and Might Guy, and he lifted the unconscious Gaara to threaten the Sand and Sound ninja into surrendering.
• The Sand and Sound ninja dropped their weapons, ending the Konoha Crush in failure, and Shengu Xuan handed Gaara to an ANBU operative before leaving for Yakiniku Q.
• Danzo told Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu to convene a senior leadership meeting and bring Shengu Xuan under control.

Danzo and the advisers moved to seize control of Konoha after Hiruzen Sarutobi was gravely injured, and they decided to capture Shengu Xuan. Hiruzen warned them against provoking him, but Danzo ordered Root to move in and break Shengu Xuan’s arms and legs.

• Danzo urged Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu to convene an emergency high command meeting and bring Shengu Xuan under Konoha’s control.
• The Medical Corps saved Hiruzen Sarutobi’s life but determined that his injuries and Orochimaru’s poison would prevent him from fighting, forcing him to step down as Hokage.
• Danzo entered Hiruzen’s hospital room with the advisers, ordered the ANBU out, and announced that Root would take over the village’s defenses.
• Hiruzen warned Danzo to leave Shengu Xuan alone, but Danzo insisted he could trap him with genjutsu and Sealing Jutsu, and the advisers agreed to coercive measures.
• Danzo ordered the Root squad captain to move in and break Shengu Xuan’s arms and legs.

Danzo sent Root ninja to capture Shengu Xuan, but their poison, barrier, and illusions failed against him. Shengu Xuan killed nearly the entire squad and left one captive alive to carry a threat back to Danzo.

• Captain Hannya ordered Root to trap Shengu Xuan inside Yakiniku Q with the Four Black Mist Formation, poison gas, and illusion techniques.
• Shengu Xuan walked through the poison mist unharmed, while the illusion users suffered a devastating mental backlash.
• Shengu Xuan killed Captain Hannya with a single blow that smashed through the barrier and several houses.
• Shengu Xuan slaughtered the other Root ninja in seconds, leaving only the tanuki-masked ninja alive.
• Shengu Xuan ordered the captive to tell Danzo that he would personally kill him.

Shengu Xuan stormed into Konoha’s underground command room and confronted Danzo over the attempted abduction and attack on his shop. After shrugging off Danzo’s wind blades, he unlocked the Tiger Talisman and asked where the Nine-Tails brat was.

• Shengu Xuan burst into the command room, threw the defeated Tanuki-Masked Ninja onto the table, and accused Danzo of attacking him.
• Shengu Xuan denounced Danzo’s motives and failures during Orochimaru’s invasion, provoking Danzo to reveal the Sharingan embedded in his arm.
• Danzo attacked Shengu Xuan with Wind Release: Vacuum Wave, but the blades shattered against Shengu Xuan’s defense.
• Shengu Xuan unlocked the Tiger Talisman and asked whether the Nine-Tails brat was inside Konoha.

Shengu Xuan used the Tiger Talisman to separate Danzo’s evil side, then spared him and left the command room after silencing Konoha’s leaders. The chapter ended as an alarm announced that two Akatsuki intruders had attacked the village outskirts and were heading toward its center.

• Itachi and Kisame approached Konoha to capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, with Kisame warning he might fight any ninja who interfered.
• Shengu Xuan tested the Tiger Talisman’s power and used Yin-Yang Separation to draw Danzo’s dark side partway out of him.
• Danzo begged Shengu Xuan to stop, and Shengu Xuan returned the apparition to Danzo and warned him not to provoke him again.
• Shengu Xuan silenced Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, then walked out of the command room.
• An injured Anbu ninja reported that two red-cloud-cloaked intruders had killed the guard squad and were advancing toward Konoha’s center.

After the Konoha Crush, Akatsuki members Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki entered the damaged village, ostensibly seeking Naruto Uzumaki, while Itachi also intended to warn Danzo against acting against Sasuke. Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai confronted them, and the chapter ended as Itachi used Tsukuyomi against Kakashi’s Lightning Blade charge.

• An Anbu messenger reported that two red-cloud-cloaked intruders had defeated the village guards, and Mitokado Homura ordered the defenders to alert Jiraiya and retreat.
• Shengu Xuan recognized the intruders as Itachi and Kisame, then met Naruto and took him toward a barbecue restaurant.
• Itachi and Kisame encountered Asuma and Kurenai beside a waterway; Kisame fought Asuma while Itachi reversed Kurenai’s genjutsu and trapped her.
• Kakashi arrived and blocked Itachi from stabbing Kurenai with a Water Formation Wall.
• Kakashi attacked Itachi with Lightning Blade, but Itachi revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan and cast Tsukuyomi.

Itachi defeated Kakashi with Tsukuyomi, but Shengu Xuan arrived with Naruto and overwhelmed Kisame using strength granted by the Ox Talisman. The chapter ended as Itachi turned his Mangekyō Sharingan on Shengu Xuan and unleashed Amaterasu.

• Itachi trapped Kakashi in Tsukuyomi and left him unconscious after subjecting him to seventy-two hours of torment in the genjutsu.
• Kisame prepared to kill Asuma and Kurenai, but Shengu Xuan and Naruto appeared on the stone bridge.
• Naruto tried to attack the rogue ninja with shadow clones, but Shengu Xuan dispersed them and told him to stay back.
• Shengu Xuan caught Kisame's Samehada barehanded, crushed its blade, and sent Kisame crashing into the flood embankment with one kick.
• Itachi recognized Shengu Xuan's extraordinary chakra-free strength, activated his Mangekyō Sharingan, and used Amaterasu.

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.