Chapter Summaries

Two and a half years after joining ANBU, Lin Ze had become a powerful member of Squad B-5 and completed a mission to eliminate Amegakure rogue ninja. The squad retrieved an intelligence scroll and destroyed the evidence before withdrawing.

• Fox led Squad B-5 into a cave at the border of the Land of Rain to capture a group of rogue ninja.
• Lin Ze used disguised Azure Dragon Breath to overpower the leader's Water Dragon Bullet Technique, then killed him with a kunai.
• Night Owl and Gray Wolf found the intelligence scroll hidden in the cave.
• Lin Ze burned the bodies and traces of the fight with his disguised Dragon Breath.
• Fox ordered the squad to withdraw from the cave.

Lin Ze returned from an ANBU mission and spent a peaceful evening eating ramen with Kurenai Yuhi, while reflecting on the approaching war and Hatake Sakumo’s death. He recalled how Konoha’s rumors and condemnation had driven Sakumo to take his own life.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi praised Lin Ze and his ANBU teammates for bringing back important intelligence, then granted them four days off.
• Lin Ze returned to the orphanage, where Miyamoto Ichirō and Rei Uesugi teased him and Kurenai Yuhi about her visits.
• Lin Ze took Kurenai Yuhi to Ichiraku Ramen, where he considered the coming war and the violence of his ANBU work.
• Lin Ze remembered that Hatake Sakumo had abandoned a mission to save his comrades, after which rumors and public condemnation spread through Konoha.
• Hatake Sakumo took his own life at home with a short blade, leaving no letter or explanation.

Lin Ze reflected on Hatake Sakumo and Hikaru Hyūga’s deaths before leaving with Squad B-5 on a covert mission to investigate Sunagakure’s unusual activity in the Land of Wind. He suspected the mission was connected to the Third Kazekage’s disappearance and worried they might encounter Sasori.

• Lin Ze felt Hatake Sakumo’s death had eased ANBU’s scrutiny of him, while he suspected Hikaru Hyūga had been killed by the Hyuga Main Family using the Caged Bird Seal.
• Lin Ze shared a peaceful ramen meal with Kurenai Yuhi and silently resolved to gain enough power to protect himself and the warmth in his life.
• After his four-day break, Lin Ze joined Fox, Gray Wolf, and Night Owl at ANBU headquarters, where Fox briefed Squad B-5 on Sunagakure’s unusual activity.
• Fox ordered the squad to infiltrate the Land of Wind, investigate Sunagakure’s activity, and avoid exposing their identities.
• Lin Ze prepared his supplies and disguise dye, wary of encountering Sasori, then departed Konoha with his squad.

Lin Ze’s ANBU squad infiltrated the Land of Wind and found Sunagakure on high alert while searching for the missing Third Kazekage. After entering a nearby town in disguise, the squad split up to gather intelligence from the mercenary guild and black market.

• Fox halted the squad near the border after spotting a heavily guarded Sunagakure outpost, and the four hid until nightfall.
• Lin Ze and the others crossed into the Land of Wind, evaded patrols, and encountered multiple Sunagakure search teams.
• Lin Ze proposed disguising the squad as wandering shinobi and blending into a nearby town to gather information.
• The squad reached the town, obtained disguises, and learned that Sunagakure was recruiting people to search for an important person or object.
• Fox sent Gray Wolf and Night Owl to investigate the mercenary guild while he and Aoda went to the black market.

Lin Ze and Fox investigated Sunagakure’s missing-person crisis and suspected that the missing figure was the Kazekage. Their team learned of a secret transaction that could lead them to the truth and prepared to leave for its location.

• Fox took Lin Ze to a black market, where an informant reported that a highly ranked figure in Sunagakure had gone missing.
• Gray Wolf and Night Owl reported that Sunagakure had issued vague search missions and was conducting a large-scale search.
• Lin Ze suggested that the missing figure might be the Kazekage, and Fox agreed that the possibility could not be dismissed.
• Fox returned with intelligence that the Kazekage had been absent from public appearances and meetings, and that a higher-up’s son would conduct a secret transaction at an oasis in three days.
• Fox ordered the team to rest and prepare to leave for the oasis the next morning.

Lin Ze and Squad B-5 scouted an oasis and ambushed a senior official's son after he exchanged a scroll for money with cloaked ninja. Lin Ze reached the frightened young man as the squad's attack overwhelmed his guards.

• Lin Ze and his companions reached the oasis, scouted it, and chose the northern rocks as their ambush position for the exchange.
• Fox assigned the squad their positions, and the four prepared traps and rested through the night.
• Night Owl spotted the senior official's son arriving with four guards and meeting five cloaked figures at the lakeside.
• Lin Ze and his companions followed the young man and his guards into the desert after the exchange.
• Fox ordered the squad to attack, and Gray Wolf and Night Owl quickly defeated the four guards.
• Lin Ze confronted the frightened young man as he failed to form a hand seal.

Lin Ze and Squad B-5 captured a Sunagakure elder’s son to question him about the Kazekage’s disappearance, but he refused to reveal what he knew. While the squad carried him toward the Land of Rivers, Toroi and three Kumogakure ninja intercepted them and demanded the prisoner.

• Lin Ze knocked out the young man, and Squad B-5 captured him after finding him poorly guarded in the desert.
• In a secluded cave, Fox questioned the young man about Sunagakure’s search, but he denied knowing anything despite showing fear that suggested he knew the truth.
• Fox ordered the squad to take the prisoner to Konoha for interrogation, and Gray Wolf carried him as they headed toward the Land of Rivers.
• Lin Ze warned Fox of an incoming attack, and Fox dodged Toroi’s electrified square shuriken.
• Toroi and his three Kumogakure companions confronted Squad B-5 and demanded that they hand over the prisoner, leaving both groups poised to fight.

Lin Ze and his Konoha squad were ambushed by Toroi and three Kumogakure ninja, who trapped them with a wide-area barrier and forced them into separate fights. Lin Ze faced You Muzi and realized he needed to defeat her quickly before Gray Wolf and Night Owl were overwhelmed.

• Toroi demanded that Fox surrender the unconscious Sunagakure youth, while Fox signaled his squad to scatter and escape.
• Gray Wolf threw the youth aside, and the four Konoha ninja tried to break through in different directions.
• You Muzi used the Four-Sided Lock Formation to slow the squad, and Toroi ordered his team to attack and capture Lin Ze alive.
• Toroi fought Fox, the tall Kumogakure ninja pressured Gray Wolf, and the bald ninja attacked Night Owl.
• Lin Ze assessed the battles and prepared to fight You Muzi, who cast the Fox's Heart Technique on him.

Lin Ze reflected You Muzi’s genjutsu and defeated her with a swift attack, then assessed his teammates’ worsening battles. He chose to help Night Owl against the bald Kumogakure ninja first, hoping to turn the fight around and later support Fox.

• You Muzi used the Fox in the Heart Technique on Lin Ze, but his dragon might reflected the genjutsu and caused her a painful backlash.
• Lin Ze opened the Third Gate and struck You Muzi twice, leaving her unconscious with severe injuries.
• Lin Ze saw Gray Wolf motionless in the sand, Night Owl struggling against a bald Kumogakure ninja, and Fox falling behind in his fight with Toroi.
• Lin Ze decided to assist Night Owl first and charged toward the bald Kumogakure ninja.

Lin Ze joined Night Owl after defeating You Muzi, but Raiga returned to the fight and turned it into a two-on-two battle. Lin Ze opened the Fourth Gate and began overwhelming Rock Bear, while Night Owl was left to keep Raiga occupied.

• Lin Ze arrived in time to interrupt Rock Bear's attack on Night Owl and struck him with a powerful kick, forcing him to retreat.
• Night Owl and Lin Ze prepared to attack Rock Bear together, but Raiga ambushed them with lightning-wreathed senbon.
• Lin Ze realized Gray Wolf was still alive and learned Raiga had left him behind to target Lin Ze instead.
• Raiga and Rock Bear coordinated their attacks against Lin Ze and Night Owl, prompting Lin Ze to tell Night Owl to occupy Raiga while he attacked Rock Bear.
• Lin Ze opened the Fourth Gate, then exchanged blows with Rock Bear and cracked the stone covering his fist.
• Lin Ze unleashed a rapid barrage that pushed Rock Bear onto the defensive and left him under heavy pressure.

Lin Ze used his Scorching Dragon Breath to break Rock Bear and Raiga’s formation, then opened the Fifth Gate and struck Rock Bear. Rock Bear’s armor shattered, but he survived the blow and remained able to fight.

• Raiga trapped Night Owl with lightning attacks, but Lin Ze used a smoke bomb and wind to save her.
• Lin Ze saw that Fox was nearing defeat against Toroi and realized his team could not hold out much longer.
• Lin Ze called on Night Owl to cover him while he formed hand seals, and she deflected Raiga’s senbon.
• Lin Ze unleashed his Azure Dragon’s Scorching Dragon Breath at the ground, splitting Rock Bear and Raiga apart with the blast.
• Lin Ze opened the Fifth Gate and punched Rock Bear through his reinforced stone armor, but Rock Bear withstood the strike.

Lin Ze was badly wounded and outnumbered as Raiga and Rock Bear closed in, while Toroi defeated Fox and severed his arm. Raiga offered to take Lin Ze to Kumogakure, but Lin Ze rejected the offer and remained determined to resist.

• Raiga stabbed Lin Ze in the back with a lightning-charged blade, and Lin Ze crashed onto the sand.
• Night Owl charged Raiga but was knocked unconscious by a kick.
• Raiga and Rock Bear cornered Lin Ze as Toroi broke Fox's chakra blade and severed his left arm.
• Raiga offered to spare Fox if Lin Ze surrendered and joined Kumogakure.
• Lin Ze considered the danger of capture and silently refused, his gaze fixed with resolve.

Lin Ze abandoned the Eight Gates Released Formation and unleashed a terrifying half-dragon transformation, leaving Raiga, Rock Bear, and Toroi stunned by his overwhelming power. He targeted the nearly immobilized Raiga and struck at his neck, with the fight still unresolved.

• Lin Ze deactivated the Eight Gates Released Formation and released a more ancient, overpowering power within him.
• Toroi sensed Lin Ze's growing threat and warned Raiga and Rock Bear to be careful.
• Lin Ze roared, unleashing a wave of pressure that froze Raiga and weighed down Rock Bear.
• Lin Ze transformed as azure scales, claws, and a dragon tail emerged, leaving the Kumogakure ninjas horrified.
• Lin Ze's wounds healed and his senses sharpened as he locked onto Raiga as the fastest threat.
• Lin Ze vanished in a burst of speed and slashed at Raiga's neck with his claw.

Lin Ze’s partial beastification let him kill Raiga instantly, badly injure Rock Bear, and melt Toroi’s iron sand attack. Toroi and Rock Bear fought back together, and Lin Ze launched a concentrated blast of dragon breath at Toroi as he charged behind his shield.

• Toroi warned Raiga, but Lin Ze seized Raiga by the throat and crushed his neck.
• Rock Bear charged Lin Ze, but Lin Ze shattered his armored fist with his tail and sent him flying.
• Toroi attacked Lin Ze with Magnet Release: Iron Sand Shower, and Lin Ze melted the iron sand with dragon breath.
• Toroi threw magnetized shuriken to interrupt Lin Ze’s attack on the injured Rock Bear, while the magnetic field slowed Lin Ze.
• Rock Bear raised stone spears as Toroi charged Lin Ze with his lightning-wreathed shield.
• Lin Ze fired a concentrated blast of dragon breath at Toroi, who braced his shield against it.

Lin Ze fought Toroi’s Magnet Release techniques while evading attacks from Toroi and Rock Bear. After killing Rock Bear, Lin Ze was suppressed by Toroi’s Iron Sand World Method and decided his half-dragon form was not enough to end the fight quickly, so he prepared to reveal his true form.

• Toroi and Rock Bear restrained Lin Ze with a stronger magnetic field and a mire, but Lin Ze broke free and dodged Toroi’s sixteen Lightning Blade Fangs.
• Rock Bear attacked Lin Ze with a stone staff, but Lin Ze shattered it, rushed in, and killed Rock Bear with a dragon claw through the heart.
• Toroi flew into a rage over Rock Bear’s death and unleashed Iron Sand World Method, attacking Lin Ze with a vast storm of iron sand.
• Lin Ze dodged and blocked the iron sand while deciding he needed to end the fight before others arrived, then prepared to reveal his true form.

Lin Ze fully transformed into an Azure Dragon, shocking Toroi and Fox with his overwhelming presence. He fought to keep his mind clear and plunged toward Toroi, who answered with his strongest Magnet Release attack.

• Lin Ze unleashed the Fish-Fish Fruit's power and transformed into a massive Azure Dragon with five-clawed feet.
• Toroi stared in horror and disbelief at Lin Ze's transformation, while the wounded Fox wondered if the dragon was Aoda.
• Lin Ze felt the dragon's immense power and its cold, detached influence, then used pain to keep himself rational.
• Lin Ze dived at Toroi and brought a dragon claw down toward him.
• Toroi launched Magnet Release: Iron Sand World Method, sending a dense storm of iron sand spears and thorns at Lin Ze.

Lin Ze used his Azure Dragon form to overwhelm Toroi’s strongest Magnet Release attacks and kill him with Dragon Breath. He then turned his attention to Fox, the sole survivor who had witnessed the battle.

• Toroi’s Iron Sand World Method failed to seriously pierce Lin Ze’s scales.
• Lin Ze smashed through Toroi’s Absolute Defense with a dragon claw and hurled him into a dune.
• Lin Ze engulfed Toroi’s hiding place with Dragon Breath, vaporizing him and leaving a deep crater.
• Lin Ze assessed the power and cost of his full beastification, then faced Fox as their gazes met.

Lin Ze weighed whether to kill Fox to protect the secret of his Azure Dragon power, while Fox accepted that possibility and urged him to spare Gray Wolf and Night Owl. Fox’s plea and sacrifice shook Lin Ze’s certainty that the Shinobi World held only darkness, leaving him facing a choice about his captain and teammates.

• Lin Ze considered killing Fox after Fox witnessed his Azure Dragon Form, remembering both the danger of exposing his secret and Fox’s past kindness.
• Fox recognized Lin Ze’s power and calmly acknowledged that killing him could be a reasonable way to keep it secret.
• Fox warned Lin Ze that Konoha’s leadership and other villages might treat him as a prized asset or a threat if they learned the truth.
• Fox asked Lin Ze to spare Gray Wolf and Night Owl because they were unconscious and knew nothing, offering his own life in exchange.
• Lin Ze was shaken by Fox’s willingness to sacrifice himself and began questioning whether the Shinobi World contained more than darkness and schemes.

Lin Ze resisted his Beastification’s urge to kill Fox and redirected his Dragon Breath at a supposedly unconscious Sunagakure ninja, then regained his human form. He realized his growing strength gave him more freedom to choose, and resolved to follow his own heart rather than let power turn him into a tool.

• Lin Ze struggled over whether to kill Fox, Gray Wolf, and Night Owl, but decided he could not bring himself to kill the people he trusted.
• As his beast instinct took control, Lin Ze forcibly turned his Dragon Breath away from Fox and blasted the young Sunagakure ninja, who woke and cursed before being vaporized.
• Lin Ze ended his complete Beastification, swallowed Soldier Pills, and reflected on how his newfound strength made him less vulnerable than before.
• Lin Ze considered the protection and risks of remaining in Konoha, where Hiruzen Sarutobi might value his talents.
• Lin Ze concluded that true control over his destiny meant retaining his humanity and choosing his own path, which he named Follow One's Heart.

Lin Ze chose to spare Fox, who swore to keep Lin Ze’s power secret, and the two treated their wounded companions and erased evidence from the battlefield. As they fled toward the Land of Fire, a hidden Micro Communication Bug carried images of Lin Ze’s masked form toward the Land of Lightning, while Night Owl woke and heard their cover story.

• Lin Ze decided to trust Fox and spare his life, and Fox vowed in Hatake Sakumo’s name to conceal what he had seen.
• Lin Ze stabilized Fox, Gray Wolf, and Night Owl, then burned the enemy bodies and removed other traces of the battle.
• Lin Ze carried the wounded toward the Land of Rivers, but a Micro Communication Bug sent images of his masked form toward the Land of Lightning.
• Night Owl regained consciousness, and Fox and Lin Ze told her that Sunagakure reinforcements had fought the Kumogakure group, allowing Fox to escape at the cost of his arm.