Chapter Summaries

Ye Chuan withdrew from his match against Kankuro, leaving the Chunin Exam finals to proceed without him. Shikamaru conceded after trapping Temari, and the chapter ended as Sasuke faced Gaara in the arena.

• Ye Chuan told Hinata he would not compete and warned her to protect herself from unexpected danger.
• Kankuro received the default victory when Ye Chuan failed to appear for their match.
• Shikamaru caught Temari with the Shadow Imitation Technique, then conceded because he had run out of chakra.
• Kakashi brought Sasuke to the arena just before the deadline, and Sasuke prepared to fight Gaara after a month of training.

Orochimaru launched the Konoha Crush Plan during Sasuke and Gaara’s match, while Ye Chuan confronted the Sand and Sound forces attacking Konoha’s defenses. The chapter left the giant summoned serpent decapitated by Ye Chuan’s sword as Jiraiya and Gamabunta joined the battle.

• Gaara told Sasuke that Ye Chuan was stronger, provoking Sasuke’s anger, before Kabuto’s feather Genjutsu put most spectators to sleep and began the attack.
• Orochimaru, disguised as the Kazekage, took the Third Hokage hostage as Sound and Sand ninja revealed themselves, and Temari and Kankuro led Gaara away.
• Hinata broke free of the Genjutsu and searched the arena for her sister, Hanabi.
• Ye Chuan ambushed the Sand and Sound forces outside Konoha, swiftly killing the leading ninja with Wado Ichimonji.
• A Sand Jonin summoned a giant three-headed serpent, but Gamabunta arrived with Jiraiya and pinned it down.
• Ye Chuan infused Wado Ichimonji with Armament Haki and sliced off all three of the serpent’s heads.

Ye Chuan used his sword and Haki to slaughter the invading Sand and Sound ninja, leaving Konoha’s defenders and Jiraiya stunned by his strength. As the attackers broke and fled, Ye Chuan pursued them across the battlefield, and Jiraiya reflected that Konoha was fortunate to have him.

• Ye Chuan killed a giant snake with one slash, impressing Jiraiya and terrifying the invaders.
• Hinata brought Hanabi home, and the sisters saw Ye Chuan’s slash from the Hyuga Clan Compound; Hanabi teased Hinata about him being her boyfriend.
• Ye Chuan cut down Sand and Sound ninja across the battlefield, using Observation Haki to evade attacks and Armament Haki to coat Wado Ichimonji.
• Sand ninja tried to blind Ye Chuan with a sandstorm, but he sensed them and unleashed a black slash that tore through the storm and killed several of them.
• The remaining invaders fled in terror, and Ye Chuan pursued and killed them as Ibiki Morino and Jiraiya watched in alarm and admiration.

After the Third Hokage’s death, Ye Chuan sought a chance to test his strength against Uchiha Itachi, who had returned to Konoha with Kisame Hoshigaki. He intervened when Itachi and Kisame confronted Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi, and the chapter ended with Ye Chuan facing Itachi.

• Ye Chuan sensed Konoha’s counterattack, watched the Sand and Sound ninja retreat after the Third Hokage’s sacrifice, and gained 1,420 inheritance experience, reaching 61.1% progress.
• A few days later, Ye Chuan attended Hiruzen Sarutobi’s funeral and reflected on the Hokage’s sacrifice and failings.
• Ye Chuan went to the village’s edge to test himself against Uchiha Itachi, whom he expected to return with Kisame Hoshigaki.
• Itachi reversed Kurenai Yuhi’s illusion and moved to attack her while Kisame fought Asuma Sarutobi.
• Ye Chuan emerged from the fog and slashed through Itachi’s shadow clone, then told Kurenai he would not stand by while rogue ninja threatened Konoha.

Ye Chuan fought Uchiha Itachi and realized how far he still was from a true Kage-level opponent. After Tsunade became the Fifth Hokage, she summoned Ye Chuan and questioned him about his strength and unusual power.

• Ye Chuan exchanged blows with Uchiha Itachi, cutting through his Great Fireball Technique with Armament Haki and forcing him to use the Substitution Technique.
• Kakashi arrived and attacked Uchiha Itachi with Lightning Blade, but Itachi stopped him and knocked him away before leaving with Kisame Hoshigaki.
• Ye Chuan reflected on the gap between his abilities and Itachi's, recognizing the limits of relying mainly on swordsmanship.
• Tsunade was inaugurated as Konoha's Fifth Hokage before a crowd of ninja.
• Tsunade summoned Ye Chuan, praised his performance, and questioned him about his strength and strange power; Ye Chuan attributed them to luck and fortunate encounters.

After Tsunade warned Ye Chuan to use his strength responsibly, she sent Team 8 to help retrieve Sasuke Uchiha. Ye Chuan’s team found the injured Konoha squad members and divided up to pursue the remaining battles, leaving Ye Chuan to face Kimimaro.

• Tsunade told Ye Chuan she would watch over him while Kurenai Yuhi continued handling most of his affairs.
• Tsunade urgently summoned Team 8 to pursue Sasuke, and the team raced through the forest with Kiba tracking Shikamaru’s squad.
• Team 8 joined Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro, who had come to help Konoha repay Sunagakure’s debt.
• Ye Chuan found Choji gravely wounded and left Kiba to stay with him, then found Neji injured and told Hinata to care for him.
• Ye Chuan assigned Temari to support Shikamaru and sent Kankuro and Gaara after Sakon and Ukon before racing toward the final battlefield.
• Ye Chuan arrived as Kimimaro fought Naruto, and Kimimaro turned his attention to Ye Chuan after sensing his formidable presence.

Ye Chuan fought Kimimaro while Naruto continued after Sasuke, then killed Kimimaro with a lightning-infused sword strike. Afterward, Ye Chuan reflected on the weight of killing and gained inheritance experience, bringing his progress to 62.6%.

• Naruto thanked Ye Chuan for intervening, then ran after Sasuke and left Kimimaro to him.
• Kimimaro attacked Ye Chuan with Shikotsumyaku, but Ye Chuan used Soru, the Body Flicker Technique, Observation Haki, and Armament Haki to evade and counter his bone strikes.
• Kimimaro intensified his attacks with the Dance of the Willow and Dance of the Camellia, prompting Ye Chuan to coat Wado Ichimonji with Lightning Release Chakra.
• Ye Chuan paralyzed Kimimaro through his bone blade and struck his heart with a precise sword slash, killing him.
• Ye Chuan reflected on the reality of death, and the system awarded him 1,673 Inheritance Experience points, raising his Inheritance Progress to 62.6%.

After Sasuke defected and Naruto failed to bring him back, Ye Chuan decided to stay in Konoha and use the next two and a half years to grow stronger. He approached Tsunade to ask to become her apprentice, and the chapter ended with him making the request.

• Ye Chuan returned to Konoha and confirmed that Naruto had failed to bring Sasuke back, while the young shinobi who pursued Sasuke had survived.
• Ye Chuan considered the dangers ahead and decided to lie low in Konoha until Naruto returned, training to strengthen himself.
• Ye Chuan chose Tsunade as the best person to train under, hoping to learn Medical Ninjutsu and improve his combat abilities.
• Ye Chuan arrived at the Hokage Building, where he saw Sakura Haruno leaving after apparently becoming Tsunade's apprentice.
• Tsunade agreed to receive Ye Chuan, and he told her he wanted to become her apprentice.

Ye Chuan became Tsunade’s student while remaining on Team 8, then spent two and a half years growing stronger and rising to Jonin. His peaceful training ended when Naruto Uzumaki returned to Konoha, ushering in a more dangerous era.

• Ye Chuan asked Tsunade to teach him Medical Ninjutsu, and she accepted him as her student, assigning Shizune to teach him the fundamentals.
• Ye Chuan reassured Hinata that he would stay on Team 8, and they ate ramen together.
• Over the next two and a half years, Ye Chuan completed missions with Team 8, studied under Tsunade, and trained daily with his sword.
• Ye Chuan passed the Chunin Exams and later received an exceptional promotion to Jonin alongside Neji Hyuga.
• At sixteen, Ye Chuan reached 88.8% progress in his Hawkeye inheritance and sensed a powerful presence approaching Konoha.
• Ye Chuan saw Naruto Uzumaki return to Konoha with the white-haired ninja, realizing his peaceful stretch had ended.

Tsunade sent Ye Chuan to help rescue Gaara, and he joined Team 7 and Granny Chiyo at the Akatsuki hideout. After breaking the entrance barrier, Ye Chuan saw that Shukaku had already been extracted and chose to confront Sasori while Naruto and Kakashi pursued Deidara with Gaara's body.

• Tsunade told Ye Chuan that the Akatsuki had captured Gaara and ordered him to support Team 7 and Sunagakure.
• Ye Chuan defeated Shapeshifting Clones of Itachi and Kisame on his way to the Akatsuki hideout.
• Ye Chuan met Team 7 and Granny Chiyo, then shattered the hideout's Five-Seal Barrier with a sword strike.
• Ye Chuan saw Deidara beside Gaara's lifeless body after Shukaku had been extracted, and Naruto and Kakashi chased Deidara as he fled.
• Ye Chuan stayed behind to face Sasori of the Red Sands.

Ye Chuan defeated Sasori, destroying Hiruko and the Third Kazekage puppet before killing Sasori himself. Granny Chiyo mourned her grandson as Ye Chuan stood quietly nearby.

• Granny Chiyo and Sakura warned Ye Chuan that Sasori’s puppets were coated in deadly poison.
• Ye Chuan dodged Hiruko’s poisoned attacks and shattered its shell with a strike combining Armament Haki and Chakra Enhanced Strength.
• Sasori summoned the Third Kazekage puppet, but Ye Chuan evaded its Iron Sand and destroyed its core with Wado Ichimonji.
• Ye Chuan pierced Sasori’s regenerative core and killed him, gaining 2,000 Inheritance Experience points and reaching 90.6% Inheritance Progress.
• Granny Chiyo mourned Sasori while Ye Chuan stood quietly beside her.

After Gaara was revived, Ye Chuan reported the rescue mission to Tsunade and learned that Hidan and Kakuzu were nearing the Land of Fire. He found the Akatsuki pair attacking the Two-Tails' Jinchūriki and challenged them to test his strength.

• Granny Chiyo used One's Own Life Reincarnation to revive Gaara, sacrificing her own life.
• Ye Chuan reported the mission to Tsunade, who praised him for rescuing Gaara, killing Sasori, and bringing back intelligence on Akatsuki.
• Tsunade warned Ye Chuan that Hidan and Kakuzu might enter the Land of Fire, and Ye Chuan resolved to watch their movements.
• Hidan and Kakuzu pinned the Two-Tails' Jinchūriki in a cave and prepared to kill her.
• Ye Chuan cut through the cave wall, confronted Hidan and Kakuzu, and announced he would test his training against them.

Ye Chuan fought Hidan and Kakuzu, then rescued the unconscious Yugito from the cave and fled toward Konoha. The Akatsuki recognized him as a dangerous new obstacle and planned to report his abilities to Pain.

• Hidan attacked Ye Chuan, but Ye Chuan dodged his scythe and struck him with Chakra Enhanced Strength.
• Kakuzu attacked Ye Chuan with Wind Release and black tendrils, but Ye Chuan blocked the blast with Armament Haki and evaded the tendrils with Geppo.
• White Zetsu appeared and tried to take Yugito away, but Ye Chuan forced him to burrow underground before the Akatsuki renewed their assault.
• Ye Chuan cut through the rods restraining Yugito, carried her from the cave, and escaped toward Konoha.
• Kakuzu stopped Hidan from pursuing Ye Chuan, and the Akatsuki decided to report Ye Chuan's abilities to Pain.

Ye Chuan returned Yugito Nii to Konoha, but news that Hidan and Kakuzu had killed Chiriku prompted Tsunade to launch a hunt across the Land of Fire. Ye Chuan joined Asuma Sarutobi’s pursuit squad, which set out to intercept the Akatsuki pair at an underground bounty exchange.

• Ye Chuan brought the unconscious Yugito Nii to Konoha, where Tsunade placed her inside a barrier for treatment.
• Tsunade learned that the Akatsuki had attacked the Fire Temple and killed Chiriku, a close friend of Asuma Sarutobi.
• Asuma asked to lead a mission to avenge Chiriku, and Tsunade approved his request while ordering a full-scale search for the attackers.
• Ye Chuan joined Asuma’s squad with Shikamaru Nara, Kotetsu Hagane, and Izumo Kamizuki.
• Ye Chuan reasoned that Hidan and Kakuzu would take Chiriku’s bounty to the nearest underground exchange, so the squad headed there to intercept them.

Ye Chuan intercepted Kakuzu’s attack on Shikamaru and took on the Immortal Duo. He dismembered Hidan, then pierced Kakuzu’s Earth Spear defense and destroyed his first heart.

• Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki caught Hidan with Shadow Possession and stabbed him, but discovered he was immortal.
• Kakuzu emerged from the underground bounty exchange and attacked Shikamaru, but Ye Chuan blocked the strike with his katana.
• Ye Chuan cut Hidan in half with an Armament Haki-coated slash, and Asuma and the others restrained his remains separately.
• Kakuzu hardened his body with Earth Spear, but Ye Chuan used Soru and a Lightning Release-coated blade to pierce his chest and destroy his first heart.

Ye Chuan defeated Kakuzu and helped Asuma’s team render Hidan unable to fight. At the Akatsuki hideout, Pain learned of Kakuzu’s death and decided to go to Konoha to capture the Nine-Tails and Two-Tails and eliminate Ye Chuan if he interfered.

• Ye Chuan destroyed Kakuzu’s four masked monsters and killed him, earning 2,000 Inheritance Experience points and reaching 92.6% progress.
• Ye Chuan dismembered Hidan, and Shikamaru proposed sealing his body parts in separate pits so he could not escape.
• Asuma agreed to Shikamaru’s plan and was shocked by Ye Chuan’s strength.
• Pain told the Akatsuki that Kakuzu had died and Hidan could no longer fight after Konoha ninja dismembered and sealed him.
• Black Zetsu identified Ye Chuan as the one who had destroyed most of Kakuzu’s hearts, and Pain announced he would go to Konoha for the Nine-Tails and Two-Tails and kill Ye Chuan if he stood in his way.

After Ye Chuan revealed that Pain was connected to Jiraiya’s former disciples, Jiraiya insisted on going to Amegakure, so Ye Chuan challenged him to a match to keep him in Konoha. The battle began at a training ground, with Jiraiya launching a fire technique and Ye Chuan dodging before striking from above.

• Ye Chuan reported the mission’s success to Tsunade, who praised him for defeating two Akatsuki members.
• Jiraiya returned to Konoha and announced that he planned to investigate Pain in Amegakure.
• Ye Chuan revealed that Akatsuki’s leadership was connected to Jiraiya’s former students, Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko.
• Jiraiya remained determined to go, so Ye Chuan challenged him: if Jiraiya lost, he would stay in Konoha.
• Tsunade agreed to referee as Ye Chuan and Jiraiya faced off at a secluded training ground.
• Jiraiya attacked with Toad Oil Flame Bullet, but Ye Chuan dodged the flames and launched a sword strike from above.

Ye Chuan and Jiraiya fought, with Jiraiya escalating to Sage Mode after Ye Chuan countered his ordinary techniques. Ye Chuan defeated him in the ensuing clash and left a blade at Jiraiya’s neck.

• Ye Chuan blocked Jiraiya’s hair attacks and countered his Frog Kata and Rasengan with Haki, speed, and Wado Ichimonji.
• Jiraiya summoned Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima, who helped him enter Sage Mode.
• Jiraiya attacked with Sage Arts, but Ye Chuan endured the enhanced hair needles and evaded the Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan.
• Ye Chuan’s lightning-wreathed slash destroyed the Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan and overwhelmed Jiraiya’s Water Formation Wall.
• Ye Chuan appeared behind Jiraiya and held a blade to his neck, ending the fight as Tsunade watched from a distance.

After defeating Jiraiya, Ye Chuan decided to hunt Akatsuki members to complete his Hawkeye inheritance and chose Deidara as his target. He caught up with Deidara and Tobi and overwhelmed Deidara’s first attacks, leaving him terrified and enraged.

• Ye Chuan defeated Jiraiya, who agreed to stay in Konoha and train Naruto, and Tsunade congratulated Ye Chuan.
• Ye Chuan checked that his Hawkeye inheritance had reached 92.6% and decided to hunt powerful opponents to complete it.
• Ye Chuan ruled out Pain, Obito, and Itachi for now, chose Deidara as his target, and set off before Sasuke could reach him.
• Several days later, Ye Chuan confronted Deidara and Tobi in rocky terrain near the Land of Fire’s border.
• Ye Chuan dodged Deidara’s clay bombs, cut through his clay arm, and destroyed his C3 attack with a sword strike.
• Ye Chuan appeared behind Deidara, who reacted with fear and rage.

Ye Chuan killed Deidara and forced Obito to use Izanagi before Obito escaped, prompting the Akatsuki to move against the Nine-Tails and seek Yugito Nii. Ye Chuan later visited the recovering Yugito Nii at Konoha Hospital, where she thanked him and teased him about Hinata and Sakura.

• Deidara began his C0 self-destruction, but Ye Chuan killed him before he could detonate, earning 2,300 Inheritance Experience and reaching 94.6% progress.
• Ye Chuan cut Obito in half, but Obito used Izanagi to survive and escaped with Kamui after recognizing Ye Chuan as a grave threat.
• Sasuke Uchiha and his teammates reached the devastated battlefield and found Deidara's mangled corpse.
• At the Akatsuki base in Amegakure, Obito ordered Pain to begin capturing the Nine-Tails and bring back Yugito Nii, warning that Ye Chuan was a major threat.
• Ye Chuan and Hinata visited the recovering Yugito Nii at Konoha Hospital, where she thanked him for saving her and asked whether Hinata or Sakura was his girlfriend; Ye Chuan denied that either was.