Chapter Summaries

Lin Ze was summoned by Hiruzen Sarutobi, who identified him as having a suspected Uzumaki bloodline and praised his training and potential. Hiruzen placed him on the ANBU's observation list and offered him a path to Chunin rank and ANBU training after graduation.

• Lin Ze met Obito Uchiha, introduced himself as a Class 1-B student, and walked with Obito back to the Orphanage.
• Two weeks later, Gray Bear summoned Lin Ze to meet Hiruzen Sarutobi at the Hokage Building.
• Hiruzen reviewed Lin Ze's training record and praised his determination to protect the people important to him.
• Hiruzen showed Lin Ze a file identifying his suspected Uzumaki bloodline and said his vitality and potential made him worth cultivating.
• Hiruzen told Lin Ze he would be observed by the ANBU and could become a Chunin and join ANBU training after graduating from the Ninja Academy.

Lin Ze accepted Hiruzen Sarutobi’s plan to promote him to Chunin and recruit him into ANBU, then considered how the position and his Uzumaki bloodline could help conceal the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon. He returned to the Orphanage and was relieved to see Nonō come back safely, though he noticed her fingers trembling.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Lin Ze that he had an Uzumaki constitution, could become a Chunin upon graduation, and would then join ANBU, and Lin Ze agreed to serve the village.
• Lin Ze weighed ANBU’s resources, dangerous missions, and access to information, and concluded his Uzumaki bloodline helped explain his physical strength while keeping his fruit’s power hidden.
• Lin Ze returned to the Orphanage for lunch and reflected that opening the Gate of Healing after two weeks of training was unusually fast.
• Lin Ze trained in the courtyard that evening until Yumi told him Nonō had returned.
• Nonō reunited with Yumi and Ayumi, thanked Lin Ze for looking after the children, and said she had brought presents.
• Lin Ze noticed Nonō’s fingers trembling slightly and suspected her mission had not gone smoothly.

Lin Ze worried that Nonō’s Root mission had left her exhausted and resolved to grow strong enough to protect her and the people he had come to care about. After two months of training with Might Duy and Might Guy, Lin Ze opened the Third Gate, the Gate of Life.

• Nonō gave Lin Ze an engraved kunai and claimed her mission had gone well, while Lin Ze suspected she was hiding how difficult it had been.
• Lin Ze planned to develop his Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon and train the Eight Gates Released Formation so he could help Nonō against Root.
• Lin Ze reflected on his growing bonds with Nonō, Kurenai, Might Duy, and Might Guy, realizing he could no longer see them as strangers from a story.
• For two months, Might Duy trained Lin Ze to break through the Third Gate while Might Guy encouraged him.
• Lin Ze endured repeated bursts of pain, forced his chakra through the Gate of Life, and opened the Third Gate.

Lin Ze mastered the Third Gate of the Eight Gates Released Formation and learned that the Ninja Academy would hold a Combat Ranking Assessment the following week. He planned to place in the top ten and continue studying for another year before graduating.

• Lin Ze opened the Gate of Life, and Might Duy advised him to practice keeping it open for an hour each day before attempting the Gate of Pain.
• At the academy, Lin Ze asked Kurenai about the upcoming Combat Ranking Assessment and learned that the top three would receive Ninjutsu scrolls from Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Kenichi Yamada announced that the assessment would use one-on-one elimination matches, with fatal techniques forbidden and the referee deciding each match.
• Asuma doubted Lin Ze would last three rounds, while Kurenai predicted he would take first place; Lin Ze said he only aimed for the top ten.
• Lin Ze decided not to graduate early, and Might Duy planned to teach Might Guy the Eight Gates Released Formation once Guy met the physical requirements.

Lin Ze trained with the Gate of Life open while Danzo ordered Nonō to undertake a dangerous intelligence mission, using Lin Ze’s file to pressure her. Nonō left before dawn, and Lin Ze vowed to care for the orphans and hoped she would return safely.

• Lin Ze opened the first three gates of the Eight Gates Released Formation and completed 1,000 push-ups during training.
• Danzo showed Nonō a file on Lin Ze and ordered her to gather intelligence in the Land of Lightning, threatening to send Lin Ze instead; Nonō reluctantly accepted the mission.
• Lin Ze sensed a Root pursuer near the orphanage and later asked Nonō about her departure, but she said only that she might be gone for years.
• Nonō told Lin Ze to look after the children, and he suspected Danzo had sent her because of him.
• Before dawn, Nonō slipped away from the orphanage, and Lin Ze watched her leave, promising to care for everyone and wishing her safety.

Lin Ze planned to win the Ninja Academy's Combat Ranking Assessment without revealing his Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon, so he could attract Hiruzen Sarutobi's attention and protect himself from Danzo. After Hiruzen opened the assessment with a speech, the matches began, and Lin Ze was assigned to the first secondary arena alongside Kurenai Yuhi.

• Lin Ze decided to aim for first place using Taijutsu, Bolo Breath, and, if necessary, the Eight Gates Released Formation while keeping his Dragon Transformation secret.
• The students gathered at the Ninja Academy training ground, where Hiruzen Sarutobi opened the Combat Ranking Assessment and urged them to carry on the Will of Fire.
• Lin Ze watched Hiruzen's speech and resolved to focus on overcoming Danzo's threat and pursuing his ambitions one step at a time.
• The assessment began, and Lin Ze was assigned to the first secondary arena, where Kurenai Yuhi cheered him on.

Lin Ze won his opening assessment match against Tsume Inuzuka while concealing most of his strength, then watched Kurenai Yuhi defeat Obito Uchiha. As the preliminary matches continued, he planned to conserve his energy and make a strong impression on Hiruzen Sarutobi in the finals.

• Lin Ze defeated Tsume Inuzuka by catching her puppy Kuro Maru and persuading her to surrender.
• Kurenai Yuhi checked that Lin Ze was unharmed before winning her match against Obito Uchiha.
• Lin Ze noticed masked ANBU observers in the stands and decided to keep his performance controlled.
• Ryota Uchiha began his match against Genma Shiranui after reacting nervously to Lin Ze's stare.
• Lin Ze considered the other promising students and resolved to save his strength for the finals, where Hiruzen Sarutobi would be watching.

Lin Ze dominated his matches and faced Ryota Uchiha in his final bout, determined to settle their old grievance while testing a new skill. After humiliating Ryota in close combat, Lin Ze answered Ryota’s Great Fireball with one of his own, leaving the two flames rushing toward each other.

• Lin Ze won three matches with ease, moving within one victory of qualifying for the finals.
• Lin Ze and Ryota Uchiha entered the ring, and Ryota opened with shuriken that Lin Ze dodged effortlessly.
• Lin Ze taunted Ryota, then overpowered him in their fist clash and repeatedly knocked him down during their exchanges.
• Ryota used Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique despite the assessment rules, prompting Lin Ze to reveal that he could use it too.
• Lin Ze unleashed a larger, hotter Great Fireball with blue-green flames toward Ryota’s attack.

Lin Ze overwhelmed Ryota Uchiha’s Great Fireball and beat him until the referee intervened, securing the first advancement from the arena. He qualified for the next day’s final round, while Kurenai Yuhi failed to advance.

• Lin Ze’s Great Fireball overwhelmed Ryota Uchiha’s, shocking the crowd and destroying Ryota’s confidence.
• Lin Ze gagged Ryota with torn jacket fabric and beat him while carefully avoiding serious injuries.
• The referee stopped the match and removed the gag, allowing Ryota to surrender; Lin Ze was declared the winner.
• Kurenai Yuhi gave Lin Ze water as he returned to the rest area, and Obito Uchiha privately called him a devil.
• Lin Ze won five consecutive matches and advanced to the final round, while Kurenai Yuhi did not qualify.

Lin Ze learned that Hikaru Hyūga was a ruthless finalist and prepared to hide his true strength in the competition. At the finals’ opening, the Sannin and Konoha’s leaders watched the contestants, while Orochimaru’s scrutiny made Lin Ze wary of being discovered.

• Kurenai Yuhi warned Lin Ze that Hikaru Hyūga had badly injured opponents by striking their chakra points with Gentle Fist.
• Lin Ze considered the consequences of beating Ryota Uchiha and expected to enter ANBU after the assessment ended.
• Lin Ze arrived at the Fifth Battle Ground, where Hiruzen Sarutobi, clan representatives, and the Sannin watched the sixteen finalists.
• Lin Ze recognized Orochimaru as a threat and resolved to avoid revealing his Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon abilities.
• Tsunade asked Hiruzen Sarutobi about Lin Ze, and Jiraiya predicted that Lin Ze could place in the top three.

Lin Ze faced Namiashi Raidō in the finals while Shimura Danzō showed interest in recruiting him into Root and Hiruzen Sarutobi resisted committing to either side. The match began with Raidō using smoke and concealed weapons to challenge Lin Ze, who realized he had underestimated the young fighter.

• Lin Ze drew Namiashi Raidō as his first opponent in the single-elimination finals and planned to end the fight quickly with taijutsu.
• Shimura Danzō arrived and told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Root should assess Lin Ze and ensure his loyalty.
• Hiruzen said Lin Ze’s future depended on his own choices, while Danzō warned that Root would monitor him and take necessary measures.
• Lin Ze noticed Danzō’s hostile attention and resolved to win first place to earn Hiruzen’s protection.
• Raidō opened with three shuriken, then used a Smoke Screen Technique to conceal an attack with senbon.
• Lin Ze dodged the senbon as the smoke cleared and saw Raidō take up a short blade in a family swordsmanship stance.

Lin Ze overcame Namiashi Raidō’s swordsmanship and Earth-Binding Technique by unleashing Fire Release when Raidō launched a finishing thrust. The referee declared Lin Ze the winner, while Danzo watched him with a colder gaze.

• Lin Ze and Namiashi Raidō exchanged rapid attacks, with Lin Ze’s taijutsu keeping Raidō from gaining an advantage.
• Namiashi Raidō baited Lin Ze into a kick, used its impact to retreat, and bound Lin Ze’s ankles with the Earth-Binding Technique.
• Namiashi Raidō launched his Raidō Style: Thrust at the restrained Lin Ze, who answered with the Great Fireball Technique.
• Lin Ze’s flames struck Raidō and sent him flying, after which Lin Ze broke free of the chakra ropes.
• The referee checked Raidō’s minor injuries and announced Lin Ze as the winner, drawing praise from the spectators and scrutiny from Danzo.

After narrowly surviving Namiashi Raidō’s tactics, Lin Ze reflected on the danger of underestimating his opponents. He watched Hikaru Hyūga brutally defeat Fujiwara Yū and remained in the tournament as the remaining matches advanced.

• Lin Ze recognized that Namiashi Raidō had nearly caught him with a clever, self-sacrificing tactic and resolved to fight more carefully.
• Kurenai Yuhi praised Lin Ze, while Asuma warned him that Hikaru Hyūga fought dirty.
• Hikaru Hyūga disabled Fujiwara Yū with Gentle Fist strikes and continued attacking until he broke Fujiwara Yū’s wrist and knocked him unconscious.
• The referee declared Hikaru Hyūga the winner, and Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned while Danzo took an interest in him.
• Genma Shiranui, Ibiki Morino, Asuma, and the other remaining competitors advanced, while Lin Ze noted Ryota Uchiha’s talent despite his earlier defeat.

Lin Ze defeated an Inuzuka girl in the second round, while Enta Uchiha eliminated Asuma, leaving both boys among the final four. Lin Ze then overwhelmed Enta in their semifinal match, leaving the Uchiha on the defensive.

• Lin Ze quickly knocked out his injured-dog-dependent opponent with a precise strike and won the second round.
• Enta Uchiha defeated Asuma with shurikenjutsu, fire release, and taijutsu, and Hiruzen said the setback would help his son grow.
• Lin Ze, Hikaru Hyūga, Ibiki Morino, and Enta Uchiha advanced to the semifinals, where the draw paired Lin Ze against Enta.
• Enta opened with Phoenix Flower Claw Crimson and concealed shuriken, but Lin Ze dodged and rushed him before he could use another technique.
• Lin Ze battered Enta with relentless taijutsu, forcing him to block and dodge as he lost control of the match.

Lin Ze decisively defeated Enta Uchiha and advanced to the finals, then watched Hikaru Hyūga defeat Ibiki Morino after Ibiki deliberately fell out of bounds to avoid a serious injury. Hikaru left the ring irritated, while Lin Ze recognized Ibiki’s sharp judgment.

• Lin Ze overwhelmed Enta Uchiha with taijutsu and knocked him unconscious, winning the match and advancing to the finals.
• Kurenai Yuhi celebrated Lin Ze’s victory, while Asuma admitted Lin Ze was stronger than their classmates.
• Hikaru Hyūga dominated Ibiki Morino with Gentle Fist strikes, leaving Ibiki slowed and injured.
• Ibiki used Hikaru’s attack to propel himself out of the ring, forfeiting the match to avoid a disabling blow.
• The referee declared Hikaru the winner, and Lin Ze admired Ibiki’s decisive judgment as Hikaru left in irritation.

Lin Ze faced Hikaru Hyūga in the final, where Hikaru’s Byakugan and Gentle Fist began to hinder Lin Ze with chakra-point strikes. Lin Ze opened the Gate of Opening to regain the advantage, drawing the attention of the powerful spectators and making Shimura Danzō take a personal interest in him.

• Lin Ze assessed Hikaru Hyūga’s Gentle Fist and decided he might need to open the first of the Eight Gates.
• Lin Ze and Hikaru Hyūga began their final match with a close-range clash between Strong Fist Style and Gentle Fist.
• Hikaru used his Byakugan to evade Lin Ze’s attacks and repeatedly strike his chakra points, slowing both of Lin Ze’s arms.
• Lin Ze opened the Gate of Opening, accelerating his chakra flow and evading Hikaru’s next attacks.
• Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Hiruzen Sarutobi noticed Lin Ze’s sudden change, while Shimura Danzō decided he wanted Lin Ze recruited into Root.

Lin Ze opened the Gate of Healing to overcome Hikaru Hyūga’s Byakugan and Gentle Fist, then defeated him after countering his Eight Trigrams Sixteen Palms. Hikaru lay unable to rise at the edge of the arena.

• Hikaru Hyūga used his Byakugan and Gentle Fist to keep landing blows on Lin Ze despite Lin Ze’s increased speed.
• Lin Ze opened the Second Gate, the Gate of Healing, boosting his strength, speed, and reflexes and startling Hikaru.
• Lin Ze’s punch sent Hikaru flying, but Hikaru rose and unleashed Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixteen Palms.
• Lin Ze met Hikaru’s palm strikes head-on, found an opening, and struck him hard in the chest.
• Hikaru spat blood and crashed at the arena’s edge, unable to get back up.

Lin Ze won the Ninja Academy combat assessment after defeating Hikaru Hyūga, then received his prizes and an invitation to meet Hiruzen Sarutobi. The chapter left Lin Ze heading toward a private audience with the Hokage, which he hoped would bring him the attention he wanted.

• The referee declared Lin Ze the champion after confirming Hikaru Hyūga could no longer fight, and the arena erupted in applause.
• Lin Ze reflected that he had revealed the Eight Gates Released Formation but kept the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon hidden.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi awarded Hikaru Hyūga second place, then praised Lin Ze and gave him a ninja tool set and a B-Rank Ninjutsu scroll.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi quietly told Lin Ze to come to the Hokage office after the ceremony, and Lin Ze agreed.
• After the ceremony, Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma, Genma Shiranui, and Ibiki congratulated Lin Ze as the crowd dispersed.

Hiruzen Sarutobi told Lin Ze he would remain at the Ninja Academy until the term ended, then enter ANBU training, shielding him from Danzo’s attempts to claim him for Root. After Lin Ze left, Danzo confronted Hiruzen, who stood firm on his decision and asserted his authority as Hokage.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi praised Lin Ze’s abilities and assured him that Danzo’s underground schemes would not interfere with his growth.
• Hiruzen told Lin Ze to finish the term at the Ninja Academy before entering ANBU training, and Lin Ze accepted the plan gratefully.
• Lin Ze left the Hokage Building and planned to develop his Azure Dragon powers, train the Eight Gates, and study his Academy courses while preparing to settle his score with Danzo.
• Danzo demanded that Hiruzen place Lin Ze in Root so it could make him absolutely loyal to Konoha.
• Hiruzen refused Danzo’s demand, declared that Lin Ze would join ANBU, and reminded Danzo, “I am the Hokage!”

After Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped Danzo from taking Lin Ze, Lin Ze and Kurenai Yuhi celebrated Lin Ze’s assessment victory with ramen at Ichiraku. The chapter ended with Lin Ze walking Kurenai home after the rain, while reflecting on his outsider status and the future Hokage’s qualifications.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi asserted his authority as Hokage, forcing Danzo to leave without Lin Ze and warning that Hiruzen would regret his decision.
• Lin Ze and Kurenai Yuhi chose Ichiraku Ramen for their celebratory dinner when rain began falling.
• Kurenai paid for their ramen while Lin Ze ate ten bowls and thought about Naruto, the Hokage, and how his children might qualify to hold the position.
• Lin Ze called Kurenai pretty, making her blush, then thanked her for the meal.
• After the rain eased, Lin Ze offered to walk Kurenai home, and she chatted about the assessment along the way.