Recaps

Lin Ze raided and destroyed all five of Orochimaru’s bases, taking Wood Release Cells, research records, and other valuable materials. After reuniting with his shadow clones and collecting their spoils, he headed toward Ascension Island in the Land of Whirlpools.

• Lin Ze broke into the northeastern base’s sealed chamber, found Wood Release Cells, and stored them in a scroll.
• Lin Ze collected the base’s research materials and a Jōnin’s corpse, then destroyed the base with Bolo Breath.
• Lin Ze received memories from his shadow clones as they destroyed and looted the other four bases, including the one beneath the Land of Rice Fields.
• Four shadow clones returned with scrolls of spoils, then dispelled and transferred their memories to Lin Ze.
• Lin Ze glanced toward Konoha and the front lines against Iwagakure before speeding toward Ascension Island.

Lin Ze examined the spoils from Orochimaru’s destroyed bases, secured valuable research materials, and taught Qingtian the Reverse Summoning Technique. Orochimaru suspected Lin Ze was involved in the attacks and ordered an investigation while postponing retaliation.

• Lin Ze recovered Wood Release Cells, Yamato cell research, and detailed cloning records from Orochimaru’s base, but found no information on Living Corpse Reincarnation.
• Lin Ze summoned Qingtian and taught him the Reverse Summoning Technique.
• Orochimaru learned that all five of his Land of Rice Fields bases had been destroyed and their core materials stolen.
• Orochimaru suspected Lin Ze was involved but held back from retaliating because of the front-line situation and Hiruzen Sarutobi’s scrutiny.
• Orochimaru sent instructions to investigate the destroyed bases for traces that could confirm whether Lin Ze had attacked them.

Lin Ze successfully tested the Reverse Summoning Technique, then returned to Konoha and blamed Sasori of the Red Sands for the Ryūmyaku’s disappearance. Hiruzen Sarutobi accepted the theory and planned to investigate Sasori, who remained unaware that suspicion had fallen on him.

• Lin Ze used Qingtian to verify that the Reverse Summoning Technique could take him from his laboratory to Peach Paradise and back.
• Lin Ze traveled through the sea and the Land of Wind, leaving false signs that he had investigated the Ryūmyaku’s disappearance.
• Lin Ze told Hiruzen Sarutobi that the Ryūmyaku had been forcibly extracted and blamed Sasori of the Red Sands, presenting a damaged puppet as evidence.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi accepted Lin Ze’s report, said he would track Sasori, and granted Lin Ze two days off from the ANBU.
• Sasori worried about his dwindling puppet materials and decided to go out to replenish his stock, unaware that Lin Ze had implicated him.

Lin Ze spread rumors about Orochimaru’s forbidden experiments through underground networks and arranged for ninja cats to carry the claims farther. After returning to Konoha, he saw Hiruzen Sarutobi begin to consider a secret investigation, then gave Kabuto introductory cell-cloning materials.

• Lin Ze visited underground Bounty Stations and planted convincing rumors that Orochimaru was conducting human experiments and stealing the First Hokage’s cells.
• Lin Ze summoned Chinchilla and Ink Maru and paid them to deliver scrolls spreading the rumors through designated locations.
• Lin Ze submitted a partly fabricated supply-investigation report to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who later considered secretly investigating the rumors and warning Orochimaru.
• Lin Ze returned to the Orphanage, found Kabuto reading about biology, and gave him introductory materials on cell cloning.

After the old director’s death, Lin Ze prepared to leave Konoha and helped Nonō begin her escape from Root. Nonō departed on a mission to the Land of Earth, while Lin Ze planned to follow after receiving a mission of his own and arrange for the others to leave.

• Lin Ze reflected on the old director’s peaceful death and on Miyamoto Ichirō and Kabuto having already left Konoha.
• Lin Ze sensed Nonō leaving the Orphanage and later learned Danzo had ordered her to infiltrate the Land of Earth with a three-person squad.
• Lin Ze told Nonō to follow the mission as normal, send him her squad’s route through Chinchilla and Ink Maru, and wait for him to stage an accident that would free her from Root.
• Lin Ze gave Nonō a scroll with supplies, antidotes, and a rough map of the Land of Earth.
• Nonō left Konoha for her mission, and Lin Ze waited for Hiruzen Sarutobi to assign him a mission so he could leave with the two girls.

Lin Ze rescued Nonō by killing the two Root ninja assigned to watch her and flew her to a hidden base on Ascension Island. He left Shadow Clones to protect the others and departed to visit the Land of Water and complete his cover mission.

• Lin Ze received Nonō's route from Chinchilla and flew to the abandoned mine in the Land of Earth.
• Lin Ze ambushed and killed the two Root Chunin watching Nonō, freeing her from Danzo's surveillance and Cursed Seal.
• Lin Ze sealed the bodies, erased the evidence, and flew with Nonō to Ascension Island.
• Lin Ze reunited Nonō with Kabuto and Miyamoto Ichirō at the underground laboratory, where they confirmed the island was secure.
• Lin Ze left two Shadow Clones to guard the group and set off to complete his cover mission in the Land of Water.

Hiruzen Sarutobi learned from Enma about Qingtian, a gifted six-eared member of the Enma Clan who had already signed a summoning contract with someone. He sent Asuma to Peach Paradise to try to earn Qingtian’s approval, while resolving to investigate the unknown summoner if Asuma failed.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi sparred with Enma, who told him that Qingtian had six ears, exceptional potential, and an unknown summoner.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to send Asuma to Peach Paradise to seek Qingtian’s approval and potentially strengthen both his son and the village.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Asuma and explained that he should try to form a bond with Qingtian without forcing a contract.
• Asuma agreed to visit Peach Paradise the next morning, intrigued by the prospect of a powerful summoning beast.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Asuma leave and decided he would investigate Qingtian’s summoner if Asuma did not succeed.

After returning to Ascension Island, Lin Ze found Nonō and the others settling into life there and continued teaching Kabuto. Qingtian summoned him to Peach Paradise, where he learned Asuma had come seeking a summoning contract, leaving Lin Ze more determined to separate from Konoha.

• Lin Ze returned to Ascension Island and found Nonō, Miyamoto Ichirō, and Kabuto adapting well and preparing supplies and experiments.
• Lin Ze began teaching Kabuto about cell cloning and genetics at the underground laboratory.
• Qingtian used their contract link to summon Lin Ze to Peach Paradise, where he found Asuma waiting to sign a Summoning Contract.
• Qingtian explained that he had already told Asuma he was Lin Ze's partner, and Lin Ze confirmed it to Asuma.
• Asuma accepted the misunderstanding, said he would report back to Hiruzen Sarutobi, and left Peach Paradise.
• Lin Ze praised Qingtian and resolved to break away from Konoha so he could develop without interference.

Lin Ze reported his unsuccessful search for the remaining Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and confirmed his contract with Qingtian to Hiruzen Sarutobi. Hiruzen then ordered him to leave that night and reinforce Torifu Akimichi against the Third Raikage’s forces.

• Asuma told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Qingtian was Lin Ze’s intelligent Summoning Beast and that they had a longstanding contract.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi considered Lin Ze’s strength and connection to the Enma Clan, then assigned Asuma’s squad a B-Rank escort mission.
• Lin Ze returned to Ascension Island, reassured Nonō and the others, and taught Kabuto the basics of centrifugation for cloning experiments.
• Lin Ze reported that he found no definite traces of the remaining three Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and he explained to Hiruzen Sarutobi how he had signed a contract with Qingtian.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Lin Ze to leave that night for the northeastern border camp and support Torifu Akimichi against Kumogakure’s forces.

Lin Ze reached Konoha’s northeastern front and received orders from Torifu Akimichi to provide mobile support against Kumogakure. He met Minato Namikaze in the command tent, while the Third Raikage’s continued presence left him wary of the war ahead.

• Lin Ze left the orphanage for the northeastern front, worried that the Third Raikage was still alive and that Kumogakure might have prepared countermeasures against him.
• Lin Ze arrived at Konoha’s main camp and reported to commander Torifu Akimichi.
• Torifu Akimichi told Lin Ze to reinforce whichever part of the defensive line faced the greatest pressure and use his Taijutsu and speed against Kumogakure’s forces.
• Minato Namikaze arrived using the Flying Thunder God Technique and sensed that the masked Lin Ze was more dangerous than his chakra level suggested.
• Lin Ze recognized Minato as the future Fourth Hokage and resolved to focus on surviving the war and pursuing his Kekkei Mōra plan.

Minato Namikaze and Lin Ze rushed to the First Main Defense Line after the Third Raikage led Kumogakure’s attack, and Minato confronted him on the battlefield. The chapter ended as Minato launched a Rasengan at the Raikage’s back.

• A messenger reported that the Third Raikage was leading Kumogakure’s main force toward Konoha’s First Main Defense Line.
• Torifu Akimichi ordered the defensive echelons to delay Kumogakure and sent a messenger to seek Orochimaru’s help.
• Torifu assigned Minato Namikaze and Lin Ze to hold back the Third Raikage, and they raced to the front.
• The Third Raikage smashed through Konoha’s defenses, killing defenders with his Hell Stab.
• Minato Namikaze intercepted the Third Raikage, displaced his kunai with a sweep of his arm, and appeared behind him with a Rasengan aimed at his back.

Lin Ze joined the battlefield, opened the Fifth Gate of Limit, and swiftly killed two Kumogakure jōnin while Minato Namikaze fought the Third Raikage. The Third Raikage recognized Lin Ze as the Konoha Azure Dragon and charged at him with a deadly Three-Finger Nukite, leaving Lin Ze facing an imminent threat.

• Minato Namikaze and the Third Raikage traded blows, reaching a temporary stalemate.
• Lin Ze opened the Fifth Gate of Limit and killed two Kumogakure jōnin, easing pressure on Konoha's defensive line.
• Minato Namikaze noticed Lin Ze's speed and taijutsu, and his assessment of him rose.
• The Third Raikage recognized Lin Ze as the Konoha Azure Dragon and charged at him with Three-Finger Nukite, despite Minato Namikaze's attack from behind.
• Lin Ze sensed the killing strike and realized he could not evade it with his current speed.

Lin Ze helped Minato Namikaze hold off the Third Raikage until news arrived that Killer B and Fourth Raikage A were attacking the Western No. 3 Highland. Minato left to reinforce it, and Lin Ze faced the Third Raikage alone, activating his Azure Dragon Form and Sixth Gate to buy time.

• Lin Ze used his Azure Dragon scales and speed to evade the Third Raikage’s lethal strike, then joined Minato Namikaze in fighting him.
• Minato Namikaze and Lin Ze held off the Third Raikage while their allies drove back the surrounding Kumogakure jōnin.
• A Konoha communications ninja reported that Killer B and Fourth Raikage A were attacking the Western No. 3 Highland, whose defenses were close to collapsing.
• Minato Namikaze asked Lin Ze to hold out until reinforcements arrived, then left to reinforce the western stronghold.
• Alone against the Third Raikage, Lin Ze let the Fifth Gate’s green steam fade before activating partial Azure Dragon beastification and the Sixth Gate.

Lin Ze combined Partial Beastification, the Sixth Gate, and Lightning Release Chakra Mode to fight the Third Raikage, who was enraged that a Konoha ANBU knew Kumogakure’s secret technique. After half an hour of fierce battle, Torifu Akimichi intervened, giving Lin Ze time to retreat and recover.

• Lin Ze met the Third Raikage’s punch with Chakra Enhanced Strength and forced him back half a step.
• Lin Ze traded blows with the Third Raikage but struggled to match his speed and feared the Strongest Spear.
• Lin Ze activated Lightning Release Chakra Mode, shocking the Kumogakure ninja and enraging the Third Raikage.
• Lin Ze combined his enhancements and resumed fighting the Third Raikage for half an hour, leaving both increasingly strained.
• Torifu Akimichi arrived and struck the Third Raikage, allowing Lin Ze to retreat and regulate his chakra and blood circulation.

Lin Ze and Torifu Akimichi held off the Third Raikage until Kumogakure withdrew after learning Orochimaru was approaching. At Konoha’s command tent, Orochimaru arrived, and Torifu warned him to put aside his rumored forbidden experiments during the war.

• Torifu Akimichi joined Lin Ze against the Third Raikage, and the two fought defensively as Konoha reinforcements gathered.
• A Kumogakure intelligence ninja reported that Orochimaru was approaching, so the Third Raikage ordered his forces to retreat.
• Torifu declined to pursue Kumogakure, then questioned Lin Ze about the Third Raikage calling him the “Azure Dragon”; Lin Ze denied knowing why.
• Torifu learned that Minato Namikaze had repelled the attack led by Killer B and Fourth Raikage A and stabilized the western defensive line.
• Orochimaru arrived at the command tent, where Torifu welcomed his help but warned him to set aside his rumored forbidden experiments.

After the battle with Kumogakure, Lin Ze received mobile combat assignments alongside Minato Namikaze while Orochimaru joined Konoha’s command. Kumogakure discovered that the Wandering Miko had stolen its Lightning Release Chakra Mode and planned an all-out assault on Konoha in half a month, targeting Lin Ze.

• Orochimaru dismissed concerns about his departure from the Iwagakure front and privately reconsidered his suspicions about Lin Ze’s role in destroying his secret base.
• Torifu Akimichi assigned Minato Namikaze to mobile support, gave Lin Ze the same mobile combat role, and placed Orochimaru’s troops in reserve.
• Lin Ze began responding to intelligence reports across the border, with Fujiwara Kenta serving as his liaison.
• Dodai informed the Third Raikage that the Wandering Miko had stolen Lightning Release Chakra Mode and likely passed it to Lin Ze.
• The Third Raikage and his commanders planned ways to prevent Lin Ze from escaping by flight and learned that Iwagakure was pressuring Kumogakure’s other front.
• The Third Raikage ordered Kumogakure to rest and resupply, then launch an all-out attack on Konoha’s northeastern defenses in half a month and capture or kill Lin Ze.

Lin Ze learned that Yumi and Ayumi would travel with Konoha’s medical company, then secretly left camp to reach them. Disguised as Suzaku, he launched a diversion at the medical camp, where Night Owl’s squad detected his approach as the attack began.

• Lin Ze ambushed and killed a four-man Kumogakure reconnaissance squad, then repeated similar missions and earned the name Konoha Azure Dragon.
• Chinchilla delivered intelligence that Yumi and Ayumi would join Konoha’s Third Medical Company in three days, and Lin Ze paid for the information.
• Lin Ze used a shadow clone to deceive Fujiwara Kenta and slipped away from Konoha’s main camp toward the medical company’s route.
• Chinchilla reassured Yumi and Ayumi that Lin Ze knew where they were, and they paid the cat for its message.
• Lin Ze found Night Owl leading the camp’s ANBU guards and decided to proceed with taking Yumi and Ayumi despite recognizing his former teammate.
• Lin Ze sent three disguised shadow clones to attack the camp from the front while he approached from the rear, and an Aburame ninja detected his infiltration.

Lin Ze infiltrated Konoha’s medical camp to take Yumi and Ayumi, but Night Owl and Aburame Quxin intercepted him. After White Tiger recognized Lin Ze, Night Owl secretly helped him escape, and he abducted more than ten medical ninja to disguise his real targets.

• Night Owl detected Lin Ze near the medical tents and attacked him with Quxin while her Shadow Clones battled Konoha’s guards at the camp’s front.
• Night Owl summoned White Tiger, which recognized Lin Ze and told her his identity through their contract.
• Night Owl and White Tiger pretended to fight Lin Ze, letting him knock them aside without seriously injuring them.
• Lin Ze destroyed Quxin’s kikaichū, knocked him unconscious, and summoned eight Shadow Clones.
• Lin Ze ordered the clones to abduct medical ninja, and they carried away more than ten people, including Yumi and Ayumi.

Lin Ze escaped the Konoha camp with Yumi, Ayumi, and more than a dozen medical ninja, then brought them to the Laboratory on Ascension Island. He arranged to keep the captives imprisoned and, with his loved ones gathered safely, felt free of his remaining worries.

• Night Owl ordered the Konoha ninja to pursue Lin Ze, while his shadow clones held them off and bought his group time to escape.
• Lin Ze carried the medical ninja toward the Land of Earth to plant false traces, then changed direction and flew toward the Land of Whirlpools.
• Lin Ze arrived at Ascension Island with Yumi, Ayumi, and the unconscious medical ninja, surprising Nonō, Kabuto, and Miyamoto Ichirō.
• Lin Ze explained that he had abducted the entire group to disguise his rescue of Yumi and Ayumi, and decided to keep the captives imprisoned until their release was safe.
• Nonō, Miyamoto Ichirō, and Lin Ze agreed to guard and care for the captives, while Nonō reassured Yumi and Ayumi that Ling had chosen to remain in Konoha.

Lin Ze returned to the Kumogakure Front after secretly visiting his allies in the Land of Whirlpools, then faced the start of Kumogakure’s full-scale assault. As the decisive battle erupted, the Third Raikage targeted Lin Ze, forcing him into a fight he had wanted to test himself against.

• Lin Ze left Nonō, Ichirō, and Kabuto in charge before flying back to the Konoha camp and resuming his ANBU identity as Aoda.
• Three days later, Kumogakure launched a massive attack, and Torifu Akimichi rallied Konoha’s forces before the Third Raikage ordered the charge.
• Torifu Akimichi clashed with Killer B while Minato Namikaze fought Fourth Raikage A.
• Orochimaru battled Dodai and several Kumogakure elite jōnin with snakes and the Kusanagi Sword.
• The Third Raikage singled out Lin Ze, who accepted that he would have to fight him.

Lin Ze fought the Third Raikage with Azure Dragon Form, the Sixth Gate, and Lightning Release Chakra Mode, but the Raikage wounded him and launched a deadly Two-Finger Nukite as Killer B targeted him with a Tailed Beast Bomb. Lin Ze summoned Qingtian and ordered him to use Sky-Supporting White Jade Pillar, leaving the outcome of the pincer attack unresolved.

• Lin Ze combined Partial Beastification, the Sixth Gate, and Lightning Release Chakra Mode, then blocked the Third Raikage's Three-Finger Nukite with a punch.
• The Third Raikage and Lin Ze traded attacks as Fourth Raikage A, Minato Namikaze, and Killer B noticed the battle's intensity.
• The Third Raikage broke through Lin Ze's defenses and slashed his shoulder before preparing a Two-Finger Nukite.
• Killer B released a Tailed Beast Bomb at Lin Ze from behind while the Third Raikage attacked from the front.
• Lin Ze summoned Qingtian and ordered him to use Sky-Supporting White Jade Pillar.

Lin Ze unleashed the Ryūmyaku chakra and used five shadow clones to stop the Third Raikage’s Tailed Beast Bomb. He then channeled his gathered power into the Sky-Supporting White Jade Pillar and struck the Third Raikage with Thunder-Bagua, sending him flying back.

• Lin Ze manifested the Sky-Supporting White Jade Pillar as the Ryūmyaku chakra sealed within him erupted, bringing him close to petrification.
• Lin Ze created five shadow clones, which combined Bolo Breath with the Great Fireball Technique to clash with and gradually cancel the Tailed Beast Bomb.
• Lin Ze poured his Azure Dragon Power, chakra, lightning, and physical strength into the pillar as the Third Raikage charged at him with Two-Finger Nukite.
• Lin Ze met the Third Raikage’s attack with Thunder-Bagua, creating a massive explosion that blasted a crater into the ground.
• The Third Raikage’s Two-Finger Nukite was overcome, and the impact hurled him backward before he managed to steady himself.

Lin Ze held off the Third Raikage while his Shadow Clones and Torifu Akimichi helped grievously wound Killer B. Kumogakure retreated, and Konoha hailed Lin Ze as the Azure Dragon.

• Lin Ze blocked the Third Raikage’s Two-Finger Nukite with the Qingtian Pillar, leaving the Raikage shocked by his strength.
• Lin Ze’s Shadow Clones weakened the Eight-Tails’ Tailed Beast Bomb, and their remaining beam struck Killer B after Torifu Akimichi hit him with Human Bullet Tank.
• Minato Namikaze kept the Fourth Raikage from reaching Killer B as the battlefield fell silent and the fighters recognized Lin Ze’s feat.
• The Third Raikage ordered Kumogakure to retreat, and its ninja withdrew with their wounded and dead.
• Konoha’s ninja celebrated their victory and shouted Lin Ze’s name as the Azure Dragon.

After using too much Ryūmyaku chakra, Lin Ze struggled to stop the petrification spreading through his body and hurried back to camp. Orochimaru ambushed him in his tent, but Lin Ze’s prepared shadow clones counterattacked and drove Orochimaru outside.

• Torifu Akimichi credited Lin Ze with turning the battle and recognized his new name, Azure Dragon, while Minato Namikaze praised him.
• Lin Ze felt the natural energy’s petrification backlash worsening and rushed back to the Konoha Camp to recover.
• Orochimaru watched Lin Ze leave and decided to attack while he was weakened, then followed him to camp.
• Lin Ze used the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon’s vitality to fight the petrification, but expected it would take most of a day to recover.
• Orochimaru attacked Lin Ze in his tent with snakes and a poisoned palm, but Lin Ze’s four prepared shadow clones blocked the strike and counterattacked.
• Three partially beastified clones struck Orochimaru with chakra-enhanced fists, sending him through the tent and forcing him to face Lin Ze outside.

Lin Ze repelled Orochimaru’s attempt to attack him, while the Konoha-Kumogakure front moved toward a ceasefire and Madara dismissed reports of Lin Ze’s strength. Madara ordered Tobi to focus on manipulating Obito as his plan neared its beginning.

• Lin Ze used his partially beastified Shadow Clones to deter Orochimaru, who withdrew after sensing Lin Ze’s preparedness and potential Adamantine Sealing Chains.
• Lin Ze continued reversing his petrification and decided to wait until Orochimaru completed his Living Corpse Reincarnation research before eliminating him.
• Five days later, reports indicated that the Third Raikage had left the Konoha front for the battle against Iwagakure, while Orochimaru received orders to return to that main battlefield.
• Tobi told Madara that Lin Ze had fought the Third Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki in the decisive battle, earning the name Konoha Azure Dragon.
• Madara dismissed Lin Ze as no threat and ordered Tobi to keep Obito on the path of his plan.