Recaps

After learning that Lin Ze had displayed dragon-like power and natural energy in battle, the White Snake Sage sent Tagitsuhime to seek his trust and connect him with Ryūchi Cave. In Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi read the battle report and celebrated Lin Ze’s Kage-level strength while growing uneasy about how rapidly he had become so powerful.

• Tagorihime reported Lin Ze’s battlefield feats and unusual natural energy to the White Snake Sage, who concluded it came from his awakened true dragon bloodline.
• The White Snake Sage ordered Tagitsuhime to approach Lin Ze humbly, offer Ryūchi Cave’s knowledge of senjutsu, and seek his trust.
• Tagitsuhime eagerly accepted the mission, confident she could win Lin Ze over and earn the White Snake Sage’s favor.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi read Torifu Akimichi’s report crediting Azure Dragon with turning the battle and forcing Kumogakure to retreat.
• Hiruzen recognized Lin Ze as a Kage-level fighter but felt unsettled by his extraordinary growth and the mysterious powers he had revealed.

Hiruzen Sarutobi reviewed reports linking Lin Ze to both the abduction of Yumi and Ayumi and an attack on Root, while Danzo urged him to treat Lin Ze as a threat. Hiruzen refused to accept the evidence as conclusive and challenged Danzo’s call for decisive action.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi connected Lin Ze’s hidden Kage-level strength and ties to Yumi and Ayumi to their abduction by Iwagakure, and decided the Hokage’s office should notify him.
• Danzo brought Hiruzen a report about an unidentified attacker who had killed three Root members and abducted one of their comrades.
• Danzo argued that the attacker was Lin Ze, pointing to blue-green scales and claw marks resembling the features of Lin Ze’s Half-Dragon Transformation Form.
• Hiruzen examined the evidence and wondered what Lin Ze had done and what secrets he might be hiding.
• Danzo warned that Lin Ze could become a grave threat and urged Hiruzen to control him, but Hiruzen said the evidence could have been imitated and challenged Danzo’s proposal to take decisive measures against a celebrated war hero.

Hiruzen overruled Danzo’s demand to act against Lin Ze, prompting Danzo to assemble Root operatives and head for the Kumogakure Front. Lin Ze received news that Yumi and Ayumi had been abducted, dismissed the report without concern, and decided to return to Konoha while maintaining a show of loyalty.

• Hiruzen refused to let Danzo act against Lin Ze without hard evidence, and Danzo left the Hokage’s office furious.
• Danzo ordered Root members to bring Miyamoto Ichirō and Kabuto from the orphanage, but they reported that both boys had disappeared over a month earlier.
• Danzo concluded that Lin Ze had engineered the disappearances and led more than twenty Root operatives toward the Kumogakure Front to capture him.
• Lin Ze read Hiruzen’s letter reporting that Yumi and Ayumi had been abducted by Iwagakure, then destroyed it without showing anger or grief.
• Lin Ze decided to return to Konoha and went to Torifu Akimichi’s tent.

Lin Ze intercepted Danzo and more than twenty Root ninja, who had come to bring him back to Root, and unleashed his full power against them. He rapidly overwhelmed the squad, while Danzo and the surviving Root ninja remained caught in the battle.

• Lin Ze sensed Danzo and over twenty Root ninja heading toward the Konoha Camp, then deliberately drew them toward him.
• Danzo accused Lin Ze of attacking a Root squad and ordered his men to capture him after Lin Ze refused to answer.
• Lin Ze activated partial Azure Dragon beastification, the Sixth Gate, and Lightning Release Chakra Mode, then killed a Root ninja with a single punch.
• Lin Ze resisted a Yamanaka ninja’s mental attack, killed him, and burned an Aburame ninja’s kikaichū swarm with Bolo Breath.
• Lin Ze tore through the Root squad with his speed and strength, breaking their seals and leaving Root ninja falling across the battlefield.

Lin Ze fought off Danzo and the Root ninjas, then faced Danzo’s summoned Baku with Qingtian’s help. The chapter left Lin Ze pressing his attack against the huge summon while Danzo watched from atop its head.

• Danzo attacked Lin Ze from behind with Wind Release: Vacuum Blade, but Lin Ze struck his wrist with his tail and broke it.
• Danzo summoned Baku and ordered it to swallow Lin Ze while the remaining Root ninjas attacked from the flanks.
• Lin Ze summoned Qingtian, who transformed into the Sky-Supporting White Jade Pillar for him to wield.
• Lin Ze charged through Baku’s suction and the Root attacks, then struck Baku’s raised foot with the pillar.
• Lin Ze used the recoil to circle Baku and attack its joints and softer abdomen.

Lin Ze unleashed Thunder-Bagua at Danzo and the Root ninja after Baku abandoned them and fled. Danzo survived the blast with two Root jōnin and retreated toward Konoha, while Lin Ze let him go to avoid disrupting his plans.

• Danzo recognized Lin Ze's gathering attack as Thunder-Bagua and hid behind Baku with the Root ninja.
• Baku sensed the danger, canceled the Summoning Technique, and vanished, leaving Danzo and his men exposed.
• Lin Ze struck with Thunder-Bagua, creating a massive explosion that killed three Root ninja and injured Danzo and the two surviving Root jōnin.
• Danzo realized how far he fell short of the Third Raikage and fled toward Konoha with the two survivors.
• Lin Ze chose not to pursue Danzo because killing him could destabilize Konoha and interfere with Lin Ze's plans.

Lin Ze reported Danzo’s ambush to Hiruzen Sarutobi and secured permission to search the Land of Earth for Yumi and Ayumi. He left Konoha planning to pursue a future beyond the village and seek the legendary Kekkei Mōra.

• Lin Ze collected several Root corpses after Danzo fled, then returned to Konoha.
• Lin Ze showed Hiruzen Sarutobi three Root bodies and reported that Danzo had ambushed him with more than twenty Root ninja before fleeing wounded.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi promised to handle Danzo but chose not to question Lin Ze about the earlier attack on a Root squad.
• Lin Ze demanded permission to search the Land of Earth for Yumi and Ayumi, and Hiruzen Sarutobi granted him two months.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to have Root informants monitor Lin Ze in the Land of Earth.
• Lin Ze left the Hokage Building, dismissing Konoha as his home and setting his sights on attaining Kekkei Mōra.

After Lin Ze devastated Root, Danzo suppressed his desire for revenge and focused on rebuilding his depleted forces. His attempt to recruit Shimura Clan children met with resistance, so he turned toward the Yamanaka and Aburame clans for new recruits.

• Danzo remembered Lin Ze's overwhelming power and decided to avoid a direct confrontation for now.
• Danzo ordered Kinoe to recall every Root elite deployed on a mission.
• Danzo visited the Shimura Clan and ordered all children aged eight or older with C-Rank chakra aptitude to report to Root.
• The Shimura elders protested that Root's training had already cost the clan most of its promising children, but Danzo ignored them.
• Danzo left to approach the Yamanaka and Aburame clans to replenish Root's ranks.

Lin Ze used his supposed grief over Yumi and Ayumi to secure a transfer to the Iwagakure Front Line, while Hiruzen Sarutobi knowingly accepted the pretext. After receiving intelligence about Kitsuchi, Lin Ze tracked him across the border and discovered the group was moving deep into the Land of Fire.

• Lin Ze spent two months investigating Yumi and Ayumi’s disappearance, while Kabuto and Nonō made early progress growing living tissues on Ascension Island.
• Lin Ze told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Yumi and Ayumi were likely dead and requested a transfer to the Iwagakure Front Line.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi approved Lin Ze’s request and ordered him to follow Jiraiya’s command, while privately recognizing their unspoken understanding.
• An intelligence ninja reported that Kitsuchi had been spotted near the Land of Grass and Land of Fire border, and Lin Ze departed to investigate.
• Lin Ze sensed a complex web of chakra trails and identified Kitsuchi’s group heading deep into the Land of Fire, then silently pursued them.

Lin Ze confronted Kitsuchi and four Iwagakure elite jōnin in a valley in the Land of Fire, seeking revenge for Yumi and Ayumi. Kitsuchi tried to hold Lin Ze back while his subordinates escaped, but Lin Ze shattered his Earth Release attack with one punch.

• Lin Ze found Kitsuchi and four elite Iwagakure jōnin resting in a valley and realized Kitsuchi’s strength had reached the threshold of Kage level.
• Kitsuchi sensed Lin Ze, and Lin Ze revealed himself; Kitsuchi recognized him as the Konoha Azure Dragon who had once protected Tsunade.
• Lin Ze accused Iwagakure of capturing Yumi and Ayumi and declared that none of Kitsuchi’s squad would leave alive.
• Kitsuchi signaled his subordinates to flee, then used Earth Release: Mountain Earth Technique to trap Lin Ze and buy them time.
• Lin Ze broke the closing rock masses with a single Chakra Enhanced Strength punch, shocking Kitsuchi.

Lin Ze killed four fleeing Iwagakure Jōnin and defeated Kitsuchi in the valley. He spared the unconscious Tsuchikage's son and carried him toward Konoha's frontline camp.

• Lin Ze used Lightning Release Chakra Mode, his Shadow Clones, and Bolo Breath to kill the four fleeing Iwagakure Jōnin.
• Kitsuchi attacked Lin Ze with Earth Release techniques, but Lin Ze evaded or shattered each assault.
• Kitsuchi used Earth Release: Mountain Earth Technique: Twin Stars to trap Lin Ze between two massive rocks.
• Lin Ze opened the Third Gate, rushed through the closing rocks, and struck Kitsuchi into a wall.
• Lin Ze knocked Kitsuchi unconscious, chose not to kill him, and carried him toward Konoha's frontline camp.

Lin Ze returned to Konoha’s frontline camp with Kitsuchi captured alive, giving Konoha a powerful bargaining chip against Iwagakure. Three days later, Jiraiya discussed negotiations with Lin Ze and hoped they could end the fighting, while Lin Ze remained cautious about that prospect.

• Jiraiya suspected Iwagakure had planted false traces of Kitsuchi and wondered whether Lin Ze might be the Child of Prophecy.
• Lin Ze returned to camp carrying an unconscious Kitsuchi, astonishing Jiraiya and the gathered Konoha ninja.
• Jiraiya ordered Kitsuchi placed under strict guard and praised Lin Ze for capturing the Tsuchikage’s son alive.
• Jiraiya told Lin Ze he would report the capture and hoped to use Kitsuchi and other prisoners to force Iwagakure out of the war.
• Three days later, Jiraiya visited Lin Ze and said he hoped negotiations would ease the pressure on Konoha and save lives.

Lin Ze learned that Hiruzen favored cautious peace negotiations while fighting continued along the border. He witnessed Night Owl and White Tiger rout an Iwagakure squad and decided the giant tiger was ready to receive the name Mountain Lord.

• Jiraiya told Lin Ze that Hiruzen wanted to exchange Kitsuchi and prisoners for compensation and a temporary non-aggression promise, despite ongoing clashes.
• A Konoha squad struggled against a larger, better-coordinated Iwagakure squad in the border hills.
• Night Owl arrived riding the enormous White Tiger, whose growth and roar overwhelmed the battlefield.
• Night Owl and White Tiger defeated the Iwagakure squad, rescuing the Konoha ninja and sending the survivors fleeing.
• Lin Ze admired Night Owl and White Tiger's growth and decided to name the tiger Mountain Lord.

Lin Ze learned that Kumogakure’s assault on Iwagakure had helped Konoha secure favorable peace terms, while Madara Uchiha realized Lin Ze’s actions had disrupted his plans and decided to stop Kitsuchi’s return. Madara awakened his Sharingan and prepared to act against the threat to his scheme.

• Jiraiya told Lin Ze that Iwagakure had agreed to end the war, respect the border for five years, and pay most of Konoha’s requested reparations.
• Jiraiya explained that Lin Ze’s actions against Kumogakure had forced it to commit most of its forces against Iwagakure, leaving Iwagakure under heavy pressure.
• Madara Uchiha learned that Iwagakure had signed a ceasefire and condemned Ōnoki and Kitsuchi for allowing the conflict to end.
• Madara Uchiha identified Lin Ze, known as Azure Dragon, as the person disrupting his plans and decided Kitsuchi must not be returned through negotiations.
• Madara Uchiha rose from his seat, directed his killing intent toward Lin Ze, and activated his Sharingan.

Madara Uchiha infiltrated Konoha’s prison stronghold, destroyed it with his Perfect Susanoo, and abducted Kitsuchi. Lin Ze later reviewed Chinchilla’s recordings, gauged Madara’s strength and condition, and paid the cat for the footage.

• Madara Uchiha used White Zetsu’s Mayfly Technique to enter the valley stronghold and overwhelmed the Konoha guards with his Perfect Susanoo.
• Madara’s Susanoo cut through the defenders and laid waste to the stronghold, killing more than thirty Konoha ninja in a single strike.
• Madara removed Kitsuchi from his cell and flew away, leaving the surviving Konoha ninja amid the ruins.
• Chinchilla collected the miniature recording devices scattered around the devastated valley and delivered them to Lin Ze.
• Lin Ze watched the footage, assessed Madara’s power and declining condition, and paid Chinchilla one thousand ryō.

After Madara Uchiha rescued Kitsuchi, Iwagakure abandoned its planned ceasefire with Konoha and prepared to resume hostilities. Jiraiya told Lin Ze that Konoha’s leaders suspected the Uchiha Clan, then asked him to remain on the front line as Iwagakure’s counterattack loomed.

• Lin Ze reflected on the deaths caused by Madara Uchiha’s attack and on how his own actions had changed the battlefield.
• News that a mysterious attacker had rescued Kitsuchi spread, and Iwagakure withdrew its concessions and shelved the ceasefire agreement.
• Jiraiya told Lin Ze that a lone attacker wielding Susanoo had breached the outpost, and that Konoha’s leaders suspected the Uchiha Clan.
• Lin Ze asked about Danzo and learned that Danzo had stayed quiet while recovering from losses among Root’s operatives.
• Jiraiya warned that Iwagakure might retaliate and asked Lin Ze to remain on the front line; Lin Ze agreed.

Ōnoki led Iwagakure’s renewed assault on Konoha, clashing with Jiraiya as the battle erupted. Lin Ze avoided confronting Ōnoki and instead attacked Kitsuchi, leaving him struggling to defend himself.

• Kitsuchi’s return rallied Iwagakure, and Ōnoki arrived at the front after Iwagakure was left barely holding on against Kumogakure.
• Jiraiya warned the Konoha captains about Ōnoki’s Dust Release and ordered them to hold their positions.
• Ōnoki taunted Jiraiya over Hiruzen Sarutobi’s absence, then ordered Iwagakure to attack and used Mountain Earth Technique against Konoha’s position.
• Jiraiya slowed one rock hemisphere with Wild Lion’s Mane Technique and destroyed the other with Great Flame Bullet as the battle began in earnest.
• Lin Ze spotted Kitsuchi and chose to engage him rather than Ōnoki, while noting Orochimaru’s hidden presence in the Konoha camp.
• Kitsuchi attacked Lin Ze with Rock Fist Technique, but Lin Ze shattered the rock fist and pressed him with a relentless close-range assault.

Ōnoki used Dust Release to threaten Jiraiya and erase Konoha ninja, forcing Orochimaru to join the battle. The two Sannin narrowly saved the troops from another attack, while Ōnoki remained a lethal threat.

• Ōnoki attacked Jiraiya with Dust Release, which erased a massive rock and the ground behind it as Jiraiya narrowly dodged.
• Ōnoki fired again and erased several Konoha ninja; Jiraiya mourned his subordinates and judged Lin Ze’s fight with Kitsuchi unlikely to end soon.
• Jiraiya called Orochimaru out of hiding, and Orochimaru joined the battlefield despite his reluctance.
• Ōnoki aimed Dust Release at the Konoha troops behind Jiraiya, whose Earth-Style Wall failed to stop the beam.
• Orochimaru used a powerful gale to disrupt the beam’s path, causing it to miss the troops and erase a nearby hilltop instead.

Jiraiya and Orochimaru forced Ōnoki to withdraw, while Lin Ze concealed his true strength against Kitsuchi. At the command meeting, Lin Ze requested a return to Konoha, but Night Owl arrived with reinforcements, giving Jiraiya a new Kage-level fighter for the front line.

• Jiraiya and Orochimaru coordinated attacks that kept Ōnoki from using Dust Release effectively until he ordered Iwagakure to withdraw.
• Lin Ze deliberately let Kitsuchi drive him back, allowing Kitsuchi to retreat while Orochimaru noticed Lin Ze had held back.
• Jiraiya convened a meeting and Lin Ze requested permission to return to Konoha to study in the ANBU Ninjutsu Library.
• Night Owl arrived with her squad as reinforcements, and Jiraiya welcomed the added strength of her giant summoning beast.

Lin Ze left the front for Konoha but encountered Tagitsuhime, who tracked him down to renew Ryūchi Cave’s offer of knowledge and assistance in exchange for a closer connection to his True Dragon power. He declined to change his summoning beast and learned that Ryūchi Cave had severed Orochimaru’s contract.

• Jiraiya approved Lin Ze’s request to return to Konoha, and Orochimaru watched him leave, relieved that he could pursue his experiments more freely.
• While traveling through the Land of Fire, Lin Ze sensed a presence approaching and recognized it as connected to Tagitsuhime.
• Tagitsuhime found Lin Ze and explained that Ryūchi Cave wanted a close relationship with him, offering its senjutsu knowledge and secret techniques to help him control natural energy.
• Lin Ze declined Ryūchi Cave’s offer to change his summoning beast, keeping control of any future dealings.
• Tagitsuhime told Lin Ze that the White Snake Sage had terminated Orochimaru’s summoning contract and that Orochimaru no longer had ties to Ryūchi Cave.

Lin Ze agreed to let Tagitsuhime accompany him to Konoha, where Hiruzen Sarutobi permitted her to stay and granted Lin Ze access to the ANBU Ninjutsu Library. On his way there, Lin Ze reunited with Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma, and Rei Uesugi, whose greeting remained hesitant.

• Lin Ze agreed to let Tagitsuhime travel beside him so he could observe Ryūchi Cave and its representative more closely.
• At Konoha's gate, Lin Ze identified Tagitsuhime to the guards and continued with her to the Hokage Building.
• Lin Ze asked to study at the ANBU Ninjutsu Library to improve his limited ninjutsu, and Hiruzen Sarutobi approved his request.
• Tagitsuhime told Hiruzen Sarutobi she had come to discuss power with Lin Ze, and Hiruzen allowed her to stay as long as she followed Konoha's rules.
• Lin Ze met Asuma, Kurenai Yuhi, and Rei Uesugi on his way to the ANBU base, and Rei Uesugi lowered her head without managing to greet him.

Asuma asked Lin Ze about Qingtian and resolved to return to the Enma Clan to seek a Summoning Beast of his own. After dinner, Kurenai asked Lin Ze to go somewhere with her, leaving their conversation to begin.

• Asuma and Kurenai were surprised to learn Tagitsuhime came from Ryūchi Cave.
• At Ichiraku, Asuma confirmed Qingtian had transformed into the weapon Lin Ze used against the Third Raikage, then vowed to seek a Summoning Beast from the Enma Clan.
• Rei silently wrestled with guilt over staying in Konoha instead of leaving with Nonō and the others.
• After dinner, Asuma walked Rei toward the Orphanage while Tagitsuhime left with Lin Ze's Shadow Clone.
• Kurenai asked Lin Ze to go somewhere with her.

Lin Ze and Kurenai Yuhi reunited beneath the stars, where they shared memories and discussed the dangers of the war and Lin Ze’s future beyond the Shinobi World. Kurenai promised to go with him someday, and they sealed the promise with a pinky swear.

• Kurenai Yuhi met Lin Ze at the tree where they first met and asked whether he was safe on the front lines.
• Lin Ze and Kurenai Yuhi reminisced about their childhood meeting and grew closer as they talked beneath the stars.
• Kurenai Yuhi asked Lin Ze to protect himself, and he reassured her while joking about being strong enough to fight five Lord Hokages.
• Lin Ze asked whether Kurenai Yuhi would leave Konoha with him someday, and she admitted she did not know because her family and friends were there.
• Lin Ze told Kurenai Yuhi that he intended to travel beyond the Shinobi World to a greater world among the stars.
• Kurenai Yuhi asked Lin Ze to take her with him someday, and they sealed their promise with a pinky swear.

Lin Ze reflected on the vast world and powerful beings beyond the Shinobi World, then took the sleeping Kurenai Yuhi home before redeeming a large number of ninjutsu scrolls. He returned to the orphanage in the morning, where Tagitsuhime was waiting and insisted on serving him.

• Lin Ze carried the sleeping Kurenai Yuhi to her home, where Yuhi Aoi teased him about watching the stars with her daughter.
• Lin Ze visited Konoha's underground Ninjutsu Library and redeemed a large stack of scrolls using his ANBU Merit Points.
• Lin Ze returned to the orphanage in the morning and found Tagitsuhime waiting to act as his maid.
• Lin Ze let Tagitsuhime call him master despite his objections and decided to ignore her behavior as long as it did not interfere with his plans.

Lin Ze visited Might Duy and Might Guy at the frontline camp and discussed techniques tied to the Eight Gates Released Formation. He proposed ideas for the Seventh and Eighth Gates, leaving the father and son inspired to pursue them.

• Lin Ze told Tagitsuhime to keep her distance before approaching Might Duy and Might Guy as they finished sparring.
• Lin Ze asked Might Duy about techniques that accompanied the Eight Gates, and Duy described the Sixth Gate's Morning Peacock and his unfinished concept for the Seventh Gate's Daytime Tiger.
• Might Duy explained that the Eighth Gate burned away the user's life and that its techniques remained only vague legends.
• Lin Ze suggested shaping the Seventh Gate's compressed-air attack like a tiger and proposed the Eighth Gate techniques Evening Elephant and Night Guy.
• Might Duy and Might Guy praised Lin Ze's ideas and vowed to work toward realizing them.