Recaps

The White Snake Sage led Ryūchi Cave in an assault on Ascension Island to capture Lin Ze, but Tagitsuhime, Mountain Lord, and Qingtian fought back. The battle intensified as the Snake Princesses joined in, and Qingtian struck at Tagorihime, forcing her to evade.

• The White Snake Sage arrived at Ascension Island with a vast tide of snakes and demanded that Tagitsuhime surrender Lin Ze and return to Ryūchi Cave.
• Nonō summoned Mountain Lord and Qingtian to defend the underground laboratory while Lin Ze remained in his preservation apparatus, and she paid Chinchilla to alert him if they could not hold the island.
• Tagitsuhime refused the White Snake Sage's demands, so the Sage ordered Ryūchi Cave to attack in exchange for the Dragon Transformation Secret Technique.
• Tagitsuhime transformed into a dragon, Mountain Lord enlarged into a giant beast, and Qingtian charged into the snakes, inflicting heavy losses.
• The Snake Princesses joined the battle, with Tagorihime confronting Qingtian, Ichikishimahime attacking Tagitsuhime, and the new Snake Princess helping Elite Snakes restrain Mountain Lord.
• Qingtian ignored Tagorihime's Senjutsu and Genjutsu and punched at her, forcing her to evade with the Substitution Technique.

The White Snake Sage overwhelmed Ascension Island’s guardians and set her sights on the underground laboratory, while Lin Ze planned to use Yami Uchiha to provoke Enta Uchiha’s Sharingan awakening. Lin Ze learned that Yami’s squad would return from the Land of Waves by boat the next day, identifying an opportunity for an accident.

• The White Snake Sage unleashed Manda Poison Prison, then struck Qingtian with her tail and hit Mountain Lord with an Yin Devouring Bullet.
• The White Snake Sage used Soul-Seizing Screech to grievously wound Tagitsuhime, leaving all three guardians unable to rise.
• The White Snake Sage turned toward the underground laboratory, and Nonō called out to Chinchilla.
• Enta Uchiha, recovering from his wound, lamented that his hardship had not been enough to awaken his eyes, while Lin Ze considered Yami Uchiha the key.
• Lin Ze asked Ink Maru about the girl he was watching and learned that Yami’s squad would return from the Land of Waves by boat the next day.

After Ryūchi Cave attacked Ascension Island, Lin Ze returned to his main body and transformed into a thousand-meter Azure Dragon to confront the White Snake Sage. He struck her and shrugged off her Sage Art before announcing that his counterattack was beginning.

• Chinchilla warned Lin Ze that the White Snake Sage and her snakes were attacking Ascension Island and nearing the underground laboratory.
• Lin Ze sent Ink Maru and Chinchilla to guard Enta Uchiha, then left his body in a cave and raced back to the island as a soul.
• The White Snake Sage struck at the laboratory’s final seal while Nonō, Kurenai Yuhi, and the others defended the entrance.
• Lin Ze awakened in his main body, emerged from the laboratory, and transformed into a thousand-meter Azure Dragon that silenced the invading snakes.
• Lin Ze struck the White Snake Sage with a lightning-wreathed claw; she answered with Sage Art: White Rage Technique, but it barely affected him.
• Lin Ze declared that his turn had come and unleashed Bolo Breath.

Lin Ze defeated the White Snake Sage and bound her to him with a Master-Servant Contract, gaining control of Ryūchi Cave in exchange for a chance to become a dragon. After the surviving snakes left, he healed Tagitsuhime, Qingtian, and Mountain Lord with his Essence Blood.

• Lin Ze’s Azure Dragon attack shattered the White Snake Sage’s defenses and left her severely wounded, prompting the snakes of Ryūchi Cave to flee in panic.
• The White Snake Sage offered Lin Ze Ryūchi Cave’s resources and power in exchange for her life and a chance to become a dragon.
• Lin Ze accepted her offer, and they sealed a Master-Servant Contract that gave him control over her life and thoughts.
• Lin Ze ordered the White Snake Sage to return to Ryūchi Cave with the surviving snakes and wait for his orders.
• Lin Ze gave Tagitsuhime, Qingtian, and Mountain Lord drops of his Essence Blood, healing their injuries and strengthening their power.

Lin Ze’s White Tiger Clone saved Yami Uchiha and her teammates from a Root ambush at the Land of Waves harbor. After witnessing his sister’s danger and rescue, Enta Uchiha grew more determined to protect her and began considering following Lin Ze to gain power.

• Lin Ze repaired the barrier, returned to his life-support apparatus, and sent his soul toward the Land of Water.
• Root members ambushed Yami Uchiha and her teammates as they prepared to board a ship, and the White Tiger Clone intervened.
• Lin Ze’s clone defeated the attackers and caught Yami when she lost her balance, leaving her flustered.
• Enta Uchiha arrived and learned that the White Tiger had saved Yami, deepening his resolve to protect her.
• Lin Ze warned Enta about the dangers of the world, and Enta began wondering whether following him could lead to power.

Lin Ze arranged for Night Owl to report Enta Uchiha’s contact with White Tiger and the Root attack on Yami Uchiha to Hiruzen Sarutobi. Hiruzen ordered Night Owl to bring Enta and Yami back to Konoha for questioning as they traveled toward Takigakure.

• Enta Uchiha escorted Yami Uchiha back to Konoha while Lin Ze left to meet him outside Takigakure in five days.
• Lin Ze visited Night Owl in Konoha and asked her to report Enta’s meeting with White Tiger and the attack on Yami to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Enta returned Yami safely to the Uchiha clan grounds, then headed to the training ground to strengthen himself.
• Enta and Yami left Konoha together on separate missions, unaware that their shared route was part of Lin Ze’s plan.
• After hearing Night Owl’s report, Hiruzen ordered her to lead ANBU in bringing Enta and Yami back to Konoha for questioning.

Night Owl confronted Enta Uchiha and Yami Uchiha under the Hokage’s orders, and a staged clash left Yami injured while Enta’s Mangekyō failed to awaken. Enta fled toward Takigakure carrying Yami, as Night Owl prepared to report him as a defector who had taken his sister hostage.

• Night Owl presented the Hokage’s secret order and demanded that Enta Uchiha and Yami Uchiha return to Konoha for questioning.
• Enta Uchiha accused the Konoha High Command of targeting his family and attacked Night Owl’s ANBU after she threatened to use force.
• The ANBU fought Enta Uchiha while Night Owl secretly directed them to restrain him, and Yami Uchiha rushed in after seeing her brother wounded.
• An ANBU palm strike knocked Yami Uchiha down and made her spit blood, but Enta Uchiha’s Sharingan still failed to awaken into a new pattern.
• After Lin Ze signaled Night Owl to make mistakes, Enta Uchiha seized an opening, carried Yami away toward Takigakure, and Night Owl ordered her team to report him as a fugitive who had taken his sister hostage.

After fleeing Konoha with Yami, Enta Uchiha reached Lin Ze and asked Akatsuki for sanctuary. Lin Ze approved their admission on the condition that they attack a Konoha outpost, but postponed the mission when Obito Uchiha arrived at Ascension Island.

• Enta Uchiha carried the injured Yami Uchiha away from Konoha while her teammate and a chunin lamented that they could not intervene against ANBU.
• After fleeing for a day, Enta Uchiha found Lin Ze near Takigakure, and Yami Uchiha pleaded with him to help them.
• Lin Ze returned after contacting Akatsuki and offered sanctuary, requiring the siblings to prove their loyalty by attacking a Konoha outpost near the Land of Whirlpools.
• Enta Uchiha and Yami Uchiha agreed to the attack, but Lin Ze delayed their departure by a day after Chinchilla reported that a spiral-masked visitor had come looking for him.
• Lin Ze returned to his original body and went to meet Obito Uchiha, who waited outside Ascension Island's barrier.

Obito, calling himself Madara Uchiha, tried to recruit Lin Ze by promising that the Eye of the Moon Plan could reunite him with Rei Uesugi, but Lin Ze rejected the illusion and said he would pursue true resurrection himself. Lin Ze recommended his clone White Tiger to Akatsuki, and Obito left after warning him not to interfere with his plans or covet certain things.

• Obito claimed to be Madara Uchiha and urged Lin Ze to join his plan to create a peaceful world where Rei Uesugi would return.
• Lin Ze rejected Obito’s promised dream, saying he wanted Rei to truly live again and would bring her back through his own methods.
• Lin Ze expressed interest in Akatsuki as a platform for achieving his goals and recommended the missing-nin White Tiger, a near-Kage-level Wind and Magnet Release user.
• Obito accepted the recommendation and memorized Lin Ze’s vague directions to find White Tiger near the border of the Land of Waterfalls and the Land of Fire.
• Obito warned Lin Ze not to interfere with his plan or covet certain things, then departed through a space-time vortex.
• Lin Ze suspected Obito’s warning referred to the Rinnegan.

Lin Ze rejected the idea of taking Nagato’s Rinnegan and chose to focus on strengthening himself while using White Tiger to monitor the Akatsuki. He led Enta Uchiha and Yami Uchiha to a hidden Konoha outpost near the Land of Whirlpools, where they sensed a powerful presence inside.

• Lin Ze decided the risks and incompatibility of taking Nagato’s Rinnegan outweighed the chance of using it to revive Rei Uesugi, and resolved to awaken his own Rinnegan instead.
• Lin Ze set out from near Takigakure with Enta Uchiha and Yami Uchiha, while Obito Uchiha arrived shortly afterward and ordered Black Zetsu to watch for White Tiger.
• Lin Ze and the Uchiha siblings crossed the Land of Fire and traveled by boat to a small island near the Land of Whirlpools.
• Lin Ze led Enta Uchiha and Yami Uchiha to a concealed cave containing an abandoned Konoha outpost.
• Enta Uchiha detected several chakra signatures inside the outpost, including one powerful enough to be at least an elite jōnin.

Lin Ze and the Uchiha siblings infiltrated a Konoha base, where Yami’s apparent death pushed Enta to awaken his Mangekyō Sharingan. Lin Ze prepared to intervene and bring the siblings, especially Enta, under his control.

• Lin Ze, Yami Uchiha, and Enta Uchiha entered the former Uzushiogakure facility and fought their way past its guards.
• Lin Ze confronted Tagitsuhime while the siblings cleared the archives and supply warehouse; Enta noticed a white-haired boy in a life-support device.
• Disguised operatives ambushed the siblings, and Yami took a kunai strike meant for Enta.
• Tashihime taunted Enta as Yami appeared to die, driving him to the brink of awakening his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Yami faintly told Enta to run, and his Three-Tomoe Sharingan transformed into the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Lin Ze watched the awakening with satisfaction and prepared to step in and take control of the siblings.

Enta Uchiha awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan and drove Tashihime back to Ryūchi Cave, but Lin Ze then revealed that he had orchestrated the siblings’ ordeal and killed Enta. Yami Uchiha awakened her own Mangekyō Sharingan and used Divine Healing: Rewind to try to save her brother.

• Enta Uchiha awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan, struck Tashihime with God Pursuit, and burned Lin Ze’s clones with Amaterasu.
• Enta Uchiha cradled the gravely wounded Yami Uchiha, but Lin Ze appeared behind him and pierced his chest, tearing out his heart.
• Lin Ze told Yami Uchiha that he had arranged the attacks and mission to provoke Enta Uchiha into awakening his eyes, and had used him as a cultivation target.
• Overcome by grief and a fierce desire to protect her brother, Yami Uchiha awakened her Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Yami Uchiha activated Divine Healing: Rewind while pressing her hands over Enta Uchiha’s chest wound.

Lin Ze revealed that he had orchestrated the siblings’ ordeal and fought Enta and Yami after sealing the island with the Four Violet Flames Formation. The Uchiha siblings joined forces against him amid the collapsing underground base.

• Yami healed Enta’s fatal wound, and the siblings confronted Lin Ze with their newly awakened Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Lin Ze raised the Four Violet Flames Formation around the island, while his White Tiger Clone collapsed and the white-haired youth emerged from the life-support apparatus.
• Enta and Yami recognized the youth as Lin Ze, the missing Konoha ANBU known as Azure Dragon, and learned that White Tiger had been his clone.
• Enta attacked with Amaterasu, but Lin Ze dodged and struck with a lightning-covered fist; Enta’s Divine Expulsion barely redirected the blow, and the impact sent both siblings flying.
• Yami protected them with her Mangekyō ability as Lin Ze urged the siblings to unleash their eyes’ power.
• Enta and Yami coordinated their attacks against Lin Ze as the three clashed through the ruined underground base.

Lin Ze regenerated from Amaterasu and used his overwhelming power to counter the Uchiha siblings’ Susanoo. The chapter ended with him battering both initial-stage Susanoo with the Sky-Supporting White Jade Pillar as cracks spread across them.

• Enta Uchiha ignited Lin Ze’s arm with Amaterasu, but Lin Ze cut it off and quickly regenerated a new one.
• Enta Uchiha surrounded Lin Ze with more Amaterasu, but Lin Ze’s Bolo Breath scattered the black flames.
• Enta Uchiha and Yami Uchiha summoned their dark-red and pale-green Susanoo and attacked Lin Ze.
• Lin Ze summoned Qingtian, who transformed into the Sky-Supporting White Jade Pillar.
• Lin Ze struck Enta Uchiha’s Susanoo with Thunder-Bagua, shattering its fist and cracking its right arm.
• Lin Ze unleashed a rapid storm of blows against both Susanoo, leaving their forms increasingly covered in cracks.

Lin Ze defeated Enta Uchiha and Yami Uchiha with a devastating strike from his Azure Dragon form and the Sky-Supporting White Jade Pillar. He ordered Qingtian and Tagitsuhime to take the unconscious siblings away, leaving him to consider how to use their Mangekyō Sharingan.

• As the underground base collapsed, Lin Ze and the Uchiha siblings escaped to the woodland outside, where the siblings' Susanoo were badly damaged.
• Lin Ze enlarged the Sky-Supporting White Jade Pillar and transformed into a colossal Azure Dragon, while Enta Uchiha and Yami Uchiha summoned their Perfect Susanoo.
• Lin Ze opened the Seventh Gate and struck both Perfect Susanoo with Super Thunder-Ba Gua, shattering them and knocking the siblings unconscious.
• Lin Ze returned to human form and told Qingtian and Tagitsuhime to take the siblings away carefully, especially their eyes.
• Lin Ze reflected that the Illusion Plan had succeeded and considered how to use the siblings and their Mangekyō Sharingan.

After defeating Enta Uchiha and Yami Uchiha, Lin Ze had Nonō remove and preserve their Mangekyō Sharingan while considering how to use them and whether to establish his own organization. Kabuto outlined the risks of fusing the eyes into Lin Ze or a clone, then reported his progress with Impure World Reincarnation and advised delaying Sister Ling’s revival until he had mastered the technique.

• Lin Ze told Qingtian to train harder so they could improve their power and coordination.
• Lin Ze asked Nonō to remove Enta Uchiha and Yami Uchiha’s Mangekyō Sharingan, clone replacement eyes from their cells, and keep the siblings under his control.
• Lin Ze considered forming an organization or Ninja Village to handle missions and gather resources for him.
• Lin Ze examined the siblings’ different Mangekyō abilities and weighed fusing their eyes into his main body or a cloned Yin Release body.
• Kabuto compared the risks and advantages of both fusion methods, and Lin Ze said he needed more time to decide.
• Kabuto reported that he had begun learning Impure World Reincarnation and recommended waiting until he had mastered it before using it on Sister Ling.

Lin Ze targeted Shisui Uchiha to obtain cells for a Yin Release clone, while also worrying about the damage repeated Living Corpse Reincarnation was causing to his soul. He ambushed Shisui on the road to Konoha, and their battle began with both attacks being countered.

• Lin Ze approved Kabuto's cautious plan, then discovered his soul had grown more insubstantial and resolved to address the side effects of Living Corpse Reincarnation.
• Lin Ze decided to pursue an Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan fusion and prepare a Yin Release clone using strong Uchiha cells, with Shisui Uchiha as his target.
• Lin Ze sent five Ryūchi Cave snakes to scout Konoha's frontline camp and identify Shisui Uchiha.
• After waiting three days in a valley, Lin Ze spotted Shisui rushing toward Konoha and blocked his path while wearing a White Tiger Mask.
• Shisui dodged Lin Ze's Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere and counterattacked with Great Dragon Fire Technique, which Lin Ze met with Magnet Release: Iron Sand Shower.

Lin Ze used a trap to collect Shisui’s cells before escaping and sending them to Nonō. He then met Obito outside Takigakure, where Obito began testing him with a sudden attack.

• Lin Ze lured Shisui into a narrow valley and trapped him with buried iron sand, wind pressure, and an explosive senbon attack.
• Shisui escaped the binding after Lin Ze vanished, then hurried back toward Konoha without discovering the ambush’s purpose.
• Lin Ze revealed that several senbon had collected Shisui’s cells and sent them to Nonō through Chinchilla.
• Lin Ze traveled to the Land of Waterfalls and met White Zetsu and Obito outside Takigakure.
• Obito said he wanted to test Lin Ze and thrust a black rod at his chest.

Lin Ze joined Akatsuki as White Tiger after Obito tested his combat abilities and brought him to Amegakure. The chapter ended with Obito hinting at a coming mission against Konoha, which Lin Ze connected to the imminent Nine-Tails' Rampage.

• Lin Ze fought Obito with Wind Release and Magnet Release, and Obito judged his strength to be around average Kage level.
• Obito invited Lin Ze to join Akatsuki, and Lin Ze accepted after hearing its stated goal.
• Obito brought Lin Ze to Amegakure, where Nagato introduced him to Konan and Kisame Hoshigaki and gave him an Akatsuki cloak and the ring engraved with "void."
• Konan gave Lin Ze a scroll describing Suzaku, not realizing that Suzaku was Lin Ze's other identity.
• Obito told Lin Ze that Akatsuki would soon need his help with an important mission targeting Konoha, and Lin Ze suspected the Nine-Tails' Rampage was near.

In Amegakure, Lin Ze learned from Kisame that Kirigakure was unstable and began considering a trip there to recruit shinobi. In Konoha, Shisui visited Uchiha Fugaku and entered a secret room with him to discuss an unspecified matter.

• Lin Ze met Kisame in Amegakure and heard that Kirigakure was in turmoil after the Fourth Mizukage vanished, leaving Elder Genshi unable to control the feuding clans.
• Kisame explained that he had joined Akatsuki to follow Madara and was searching for Samehada, then exchanged contact scrolls with Lin Ze.
• Lin Ze resolved to travel to the Land of Water and gather promising, loyal shinobi from Kirigakure.
• Shisui returned to the Uchiha Clan Compound and greeted five-year-old Uchiha Itachi, who told him he had begun practicing shuriken.
• Uchiha Fugaku sent Itachi away and led Shisui into a secret room to discuss a private matter.

Uchiha Fugaku asked Shisui to join the Fourth Hokage’s guards to help Minato Namikaze regain authority and strengthen the Uchiha clan’s position. Elsewhere, Lin Ze sent the White Snake Sage to find and protect Haku in the Land of Water.

• Uchiha Fugaku told Shisui that Hiruzen Sarutobi still controlled key departments and that some Uchiha were again considering a coup.
• Uchiha Fugaku decided to support the Fourth Hokage by sending elite Uchiha to serve as guards, and asked Shisui to join them after Uchiha Onibi refused.
• Shisui realized Uchiha Fugaku suspected he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, then accepted the assignment for the future of the Uchiha.
• Lin Ze summoned the White Snake Sage to a remote island in the Land of Water and ordered her to locate Haku, keep him safe, and report back without alerting him.
• The White Snake Sage agreed to mobilize Ryūchi Cave’s snakes throughout the Land of Water to search for Haku.

Lin Ze tracked down the imprisoned Kimimaro Kaguya and freed him from the Kaguya Clan’s cave. Kimimaro accepted Lin Ze’s offer to guide him, and the two left together.

• Lin Ze used snakes to monitor the Kaguya Clan and locate the cave where Kimimaro was held.
• Lin Ze knocked out the two guards, dispelled the cave’s warning barrier, and broke the boulder sealing its entrance.
• Lin Ze found Kimimaro shackled in the cave and freed him.
• Lin Ze told Kimimaro that he could find his own purpose, and Kimimaro accepted his outstretched hand.
• Lin Ze led Kimimaro out of the cave, and Kimimaro left his imprisonment behind.

Lin Ze trained Kimimaro on an uninhabited island, then learned that Haku had been found in the northern Land of Water. He rescued Haku from bullies and took both children with him as companions.

• Lin Ze brought Kimimaro to an uninhabited island, tested his abilities, and began teaching him basic Taijutsu and chakra control.
• The White Snake Sage reported that a child with Ice Release had been found in a town in the northern Land of Water, and Lin Ze ordered it to keep searching for people and monitoring Kirigakure.
• Lin Ze and Kimimaro arrived as Haku was being bullied, and Lin Ze frightened the bullies into fleeing.
• Lin Ze told Haku that his Ice Release was a gift and offered him a place to learn to control it, and Haku agreed to go with them.
• Lin Ze introduced Haku as Kimimaro’s companion and carried both children away in Lightning Release Chakra Mode.

Lin Ze decided to establish Dragon Release Village at the former site of Uzushiogakure and brought Nonō, Miyamoto Ichirō, and the others into the plan. After the snakes of Ryūchi Cave built its basic structures, Lin Ze named the village and ordered the White Snake Sage to recruit suitable wanderers and orphans.

• Lin Ze welcomed Kimimaro Kaguya and Haku into his family, and Nonō took them to bathe, change clothes, and eat.
• Lin Ze announced that he would establish a ninja village in the Land of Whirlpools, and assigned Miyamoto Ichirō and Nonō to manage its construction, daily affairs, and children.
• Lin Ze summoned the White Snake Sage, the Snake Princesses, Manda, and Aoda to build the village's basic structures at Uzushiogakure's former site.
• After three days of work, Lin Ze carved the name Dragon Release Village into a stone monument and declared the village established.
• Lin Ze ordered the White Snake Sage to spread news of the village and recruit wandering ninja and orphans, prioritizing character and potential.

After learning that Lin Ze had founded Dragon Release Village, the Third Raikage assembled a force to attack it and settle Kumogakure’s old score with him. The unit departed for the Land of Whirlpools, leaving the village facing an imminent assault.

• Takigakure leaders heard of Dragon Release Village and decided to watch it as long as it did not threaten their interests.
• The Third Raikage confirmed that Lin Ze had founded Dragon Release Village and decided to attack him.
• Dodai warned the Third Raikage that Lin Ze might have prepared a trap, so the Raikage added Yugito to the force.
• The Third Raikage ordered Killer B, Yugito, three elite ANBU squads, and himself to march on Dragon Release Village.
• Thirty-nine Kumogakure shinobi left for the Land of Whirlpools as the Third Raikage vowed to kill Lin Ze.