Recaps

Lin Ze hid the power of the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon while building bonds in Konoha and learning the Eight Gates Released Formation. The arc ended with Nonō leaving on a mission ordered by Danzo, and Lin Ze resolved to protect the orphanage in her absence.

• Lin Ze was reborn in Konoha, discovered the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon, and began training to conceal and control its power.
• Lin Ze enrolled in the Ninja Academy, befriended Kurenai Yuhi, and defeated Ryota Uchiha in a practical assessment without revealing his full strength.
• After Lin Ze bested Uchiha Onibi, Hiruzen Sarutobi investigated his unusual abilities and planned to cultivate him as a future Chunin and ANBU member.
• Might Duy taught Lin Ze the Eight Gates Released Formation, and Lin Ze opened the first three gates through hard training.
• Lin Ze watched Kakashi Hatake pass his early graduation assessment and later met Obito Uchiha on the way back to the orphanage.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi identified Lin Ze as having a suspected Uzumaki constitution and offered him a path into ANBU after graduation.
• Danzo ordered Nonō to gather intelligence in the Land of Lightning and threatened to send Lin Ze in her place, so Nonō accepted the mission.
• Nonō slipped away before dawn, and Lin Ze promised to care for the orphanage children and wished her safety.

Lin Ze won the Combat Ranking Assessment, earning Hiruzen Sarutobi’s protection and a place in ANBU instead of Root. After graduating early, he entered ANBU headquarters as candidate 567 and began preparing for its difficult evaluations while hiding his Azure Dragon abilities.

• Lin Ze won his early assessment matches, defeated Ryota Uchiha, and advanced to the finals as Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō watched.
• Lin Ze opened the first two Gates to overcome Hikaru Hyūga’s Gentle Fist and became champion, keeping his Azure Dragon powers secret.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi awarded Lin Ze a ninja tool set and a B-Rank Ninjutsu scroll, then promised that Danzo would not control his future.
• Hiruzen refused Danzo’s demand to place Lin Ze in Root and ordered Lin Ze to finish the Academy term before joining ANBU.
• Lin Ze trained with Might Duy and Might Guy, then defeated Uchiha Onibi in a serious spar and earned the promised Phoenix Flower Jutsu scroll.
• Ryota Uchiha awakened the One-Tomoe Sharingan after learning of Lin Ze’s victory over Onibi, while Lin Ze wrestled with dark thoughts about power.
• Lin Ze graduated early, said goodbye to Kurenai Yuhi and his classmates, and received orders to report to ANBU headquarters as candidate 567.
• Lin Ze passed the stealth test and performed well in ANBU training, then resolved to open the Fourth Gate within three months without using his Azure Dragon powers.

Lin Ze passed the ANBU assessment, joined Squad B-5 as Aoda, and survived a mission ambush involving Root and Iwagakure. After returning to Konoha with a cover story, he watched Hiruzen address the fallout and resolved to grow strong enough to determine his own place in the village.

• Lin Ze opened the Fourth Gate during his ANBU assessment, defeated Uchiha En, and became one of ten successful candidates.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi dismissed calls to investigate Lin Ze, while Lin Ze trained his Azure Dragon powers and joined Squad B-5 as Aoda under Captain Fox.
• Lin Ze received a solo mission to escort the spy Dandelion, but Dandelion and three Root members ambushed him in the Land of Grass.
• Lin Ze fought the Root members, then became caught between them and Iwagakure ninja pursuing the real Dandelion, and he killed Boar and escaped Baku’s suction.
• The Iwagakure ninja killed Baku and Tanuki, but Lin Ze recovered from his feigned capture, killed a chunin and defeated the jōnin with his dragon form and the Fourth Gate.
• Lin Ze killed the last Iwagakure witness, destroyed the Root evidence, staged the scene, and returned to Konoha claiming he had escaped the clash.
• Hiruzen gave Lin Ze time to recover and investigated Tanuki, while Danzo ordered Root to erase evidence, and Hiruzen later said Tanuki had confessed and assured Lin Ze that Konoha would protect him.
• Lin Ze concealed his doubts about Hiruzen’s handling of the matter and left determined to master his Azure Dragon powers and advance the Eight Gates Released Formation.

Lin Ze used shadow clones to train and joined Squad B-5 on a mission that led to a deadly clash with Kumogakure ninja. Forced to reveal his Azure Dragon power, he spared Fox and his teammates, but a communication bug sent images of his masked form toward the Land of Lightning.

• Lin Ze chose the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique and used clones to practice his Azure Dragon abilities while training with Might Duy and Might Guy.
• Lin Ze returned to ANBU duty, and Squad B-5 infiltrated the Land of Wind to investigate Sunagakure’s search for a missing figure.
• Fox led the squad to an oasis exchange, where they captured a Sunagakure youth and were confronted by Toroi and his Kumogakure team.
• Lin Ze defeated You Muzi with the Eight Gates, then fought alongside Night Owl as Squad B-5 came under pressure from the Kumogakure ninja.
• After Raiga wounded him and Toroi severed Fox’s arm, Lin Ze unleashed his Azure Dragon power, killed Raiga and Rock Bear, and destroyed Toroi.
• Lin Ze used his full Azure Dragon form to kill Toroi, then spared Fox, Gray Wolf, and Night Owl despite Fox offering his life to protect Lin Ze’s secret.
• Lin Ze killed the captured Sunagakure youth when his beast instinct took control, then ended his transformation and resolved to retain his humanity and choose his own path.
• Lin Ze trusted Fox to keep his secret, helped the wounded squad escape, and learned that a Micro Communication Bug had sent images of his masked form toward the Land of Lightning.