Recaps

Lin Ze survived the Crow Unit’s pursuit, gained a monkey summoning contract, and secured safer medical training for Yumi and Ayumi. As Squad B-5 recovered, Lin Ze returned to duty and was assigned to guard Tsunade and the medical logistics base.

• Lin Ze escaped Black Crow’s pursuit by transforming into an Azure Dragon and killed the six Kumogakure pursuers before returning to Konoha.
• Lin Ze rescued the Six-Eared Monkey and a dying white tiger, signed a Summoning Contract with the monkey, named it Qingtian, and later entrusted the tiger to its care.
• Lin Ze reported the ambush to Hiruzen Sarutobi, while Dodai informed the Third Raikage that Black Crow’s final message had been “Azure Dragon.”
• Lin Ze asked Hiruzen Sarutobi to protect Yumi and Ayumi from frontline deployment, and Hiruzen agreed to place them in medical training after graduation.
• Lin Ze told the Orphanage residents about the girls’ future medical training and gave them Nonō’s textbooks and notes to study.
• Lin Ze joined Kurenai, Asuma, and Rei Uesugi for lunch at the Yuhi home, where he resolved to grow stronger to protect those close to him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned Squad B-5 to guard Tsunade and the medical logistics base, and the squad traveled there and met commander Sugimoto and Tsunade.

Lin Ze helped defend Konoha’s medical base, survived the Sunagakure ambush, and earned promotion to jōnin while taking Kabuto to the Orphanage. Sent to investigate Sunagakure, he found the sealed Ryūmyaku in Rōran and traveled to the Land of Demons seeking a way to unlock it.

• Tsunade kept the medical base in place despite Iwagakure’s threat, and Lin Ze used the Fifth Gate to shatter Kitsuchi’s attack and protect her during the assault.
• Lin Ze saved Ryota Uchiha’s squad from Iwagakure pursuers, then escorted Tsunade and Shizune back to Konoha while learning Chakra Enhanced Strength from Tsunade.
• Lin Ze trained in sealing and chakra control before Squad B-5 was trapped by Sunagakure forces, and he held off Pakura and escaped after his teammates fled.
• After Konoha’s costly victory at Kikyo Pass, Lin Ze found Kabuto Yakushi, brought him to Konoha, and was promoted to jōnin by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Lin Ze chose independent work in the ANBU Special Operations Unit and accepted Hiruzen Sarutobi’s order to investigate Sunagakure.
• Lin Ze traveled to Rōran and discovered that the Ryūmyaku was protected by a complex seal he could not safely break.
• Lin Ze gathered intelligence on Sunagakure, then traveled to the Land of Demons and infiltrated the priestess’s bedchamber.

Lin Ze pursued sealing knowledge, gathered resources and intelligence, and struck a dangerous bargain with Orochimaru for artificial tailed beast research. After Hiruzen tasked him with an S-Rank mission in the Land of Earth, Lin Ze infiltrated the region to scout Iwagakure and seek laboratory materials.

• Lin Ze earned three days to study the priestess’s permitted Contract Seal records, learned that Sara was the Ryūmyaku’s rightful inheritor, and returned to Konoha after completing the bandit mission.
• Lin Ze tested his blood on ordinary beasts and abandoned plans to raise an army of them, then reported on Sunagakure and began tracking Yamato while maintaining ties with Fox, Gray Wolf, and Night Owl.
• Lin Ze completed his intelligence mission in the Land of Water, killed Hōzuki Zangetsu during his clash with Kirigakure ANBU, and collected bounty rewards under the name Suzaku.
• Lin Ze ambushed Yamato’s Root squad, killed three members, wounded Yamato, and secretly took a sample of Yamato’s cells before escaping.
• Lin Ze recruited Kabuto’s interest in medical research and planned an underground laboratory and experiments toward the Kekkei Mōra Project.
• Lin Ze traded Yamato’s Wood Release cells to Orochimaru for artificial tailed beast research, proving his strength by overwhelming Orochimaru’s summon Manda with his dragon might.
• Lin Ze studied Orochimaru’s research, planned to seek sea dragon jade and sealing knowledge at the Land of Whirlpools, and set out to complete Hiruzen’s S-Rank mission in the Land of Earth.
• Lin Ze infiltrated the Land of Earth to record Iwagakure’s defenses and search for laboratory materials, then spotted toddler Deidara handling chakra-infused clay and followed secret information into an alley.

Lin Ze uncovered Orochimaru’s betrayal, escaped Kumogakure’s trap, and helped Might Duy defeat the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist without revealing his full power. After returning to Konoha, he began learning sealing techniques and sought Sara, while testing Qingtian’s new weapon form.

• Lin Ze earned money through bounty missions, built hidden laboratories for Kabuto and his experiments, and prepared for a mission in the Land of Lightning.
• Lin Ze learned from Dodai that Orochimaru had provided Kumogakure with his blood and mission information, then escaped the trap set by Killer B, Dodai, and the Third Raikage A.
• Lin Ze raced to the battlefield where Might Duy was about to open the Gate of Death, stopped him, and killed several of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
• Lin Ze and Uchiha Onibi helped kill Jinin Akebino, concealed the extent of the battle and Onibi’s new abilities, and returned to Konoha with the wounded.
• Lin Ze reported Orochimaru’s leak to Hiruzen Sarutobi, received leave and access to three ANBU ninjutsu, and resolved to kill Orochimaru himself.
• Uchiha Onibi used his Mangekyō Sharingan to restore Ryota Uchiha, while Lin Ze practiced forming Adamantine Sealing Chains.
• Lin Ze searched for Sara, the rightful heir to the Ryūmyaku contract, and discovered that Qingtian could transform into a powerful staff-like weapon called the Sky-Supporting Pillar.