Chapter Summaries

Yecheng gained Neji Hyuga’s loyalty after explaining that he had reclaimed Hizashi Hyuga’s remains to win the Hyuga Clan’s support against Root. When Shisui Uchiha’s fight with Root erupted into the open, Tsunade saw Konoha’s corruption confirmed, while Yecheng prepared to intervene as Shisui’s Susanoo collapsed.

• Shizune praised Yecheng for mastering the One-Finger Sealing Jutsu in one day, and Yecheng realized Tsunade was laying the groundwork for teaching him the Yin Seal.
• Neji Hyuga apologized to Yecheng, thanked him for reclaiming Hizashi Hyuga’s remains, and pledged his life to him; Yecheng accepted the Hyuga Clan’s opposition to Root as an opening for their alliance.
• Shisui Uchiha showed Itachi Uchiha his Mangekyō Sharingan and Kotoamatsukami, and Itachi agreed to support him as he approached the village’s higher-ups.
• After a massive chakra eruption revealed Shisui’s Susanoo fighting Root, Tsunade went to the Hokage Office and concluded that Hiruzen Sarutobi had known about the conflict.
• Yecheng arrived in disguise as Megumi Fushiguro and watched Shisui fight Aburame Ryoma’s Root forces until Shisui’s Susanoo faded; as Ryoma sent his kikaichū to attack, Yecheng summoned Max Elephant.

Yecheng intervened in Aburame Ryoma’s fight with Shisui Uchiha, letting Shisui escape before battling the Root jonin. After Ryoma damaged Nue and rushed in to attack at close range, Yecheng killed him with Playful Cloud.

• Yecheng used Max Elephant’s water to scatter Ryoma’s insects and told Shisui Uchiha to leave.
• Yecheng summoned Toad and Rabbit Escape to fight Ryoma’s kikaichū, while Ryoma used Earth Release and Water Release to attack him.
• Yecheng summoned Nue to evade Ryoma’s water attack, and Nue burned the flying kikaichū with Lightning Release.
• Ryoma disrupted Yecheng with swarming insects, shuriken, and an explosive Fire Style attack that scorched Nue and sent Yecheng falling.
• Ryoma charged at Yecheng with a kunai, but Yecheng strengthened himself with Yang Release Chakra Mode and killed Ryoma with Playful Cloud.

After killing Aburame Ryoma, Yecheng recruited Shisui Uchiha to consider joining [Shadow], while Shisui entrusted the village and clan to Uchiha Itachi and faked his death. Shisui then hid in a cave and called for [Shadow], leaving his next move uncertain.

• Yecheng stored Aburame Ryoma and the other bodies, then pursued Shisui Uchiha while disguised as Megumi Fushiguro.
• Yecheng and [Crow] revealed that they belonged to [Shadow] and invited Shisui Uchiha to join, and Shisui considered contacting them later.
• Shisui Uchiha told Uchiha Itachi that Danzo had taken his right eye and asked him to protect the village and the Uchiha Clan.
• Shisui Uchiha faked his death by falling into the Naka River, and Uchiha Itachi awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan as he watched.
• Shisui Uchiha treated his injuries in a nearby cave and called out to [Shadow].

Shisui Uchiha joined [Shadow] and received medical supplies, while Yecheng gained new abilities and fashioned a Kikaichū-breeding pagoda from Aburame Ryoma’s remains. After encouraging Tsunade to consider becoming Hokage, Yecheng offered to cure her hemophobia, leaving her stunned.

• Shisui Uchiha accepted [Crow]’s offer to join [Shadow], took the medical kit, and resolved to protect the village and his clan from the shadows.
• Yecheng received Fate Points for recruiting Shisui Uchiha, then used Aburame Ryoma’s Fate Cards to gain chakra, Code Decryption, Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld, and a Kikaichū Breeding Manual.
• Yecheng used Aburame Ryoma’s remains and the Ten Shadows Technique to create a ten-level pagoda that housed Kikaichū in connected shadow spaces.
• Yecheng welcomed Tsunade home and reminded her of Hashirama Senju’s resolve to change the world, lifting her spirits.
• Yecheng suggested Tsunade become Hokage, and after she explained that hemophobia prevented her from serving, he claimed he could cure it, leaving her frozen in surprise.

Yecheng invited Shino Aburame to a barbecue after realizing the class had overlooked him, earning Shino’s recognition and two explosive kikaichū larvae. The next day, the classmates gathered by the riverside for food, fishing, and friendship, leaving Naruto overwhelmed with happiness.

• Tsunade rejected Yecheng’s suggestion to treat her hemophobia through repeated exposure, so he put the idea aside.
• Ino, Kiba Inuzuka, Shikamaru, Naruto, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno discussed preparations for Yecheng’s barbecue, while Shino Aburame waited in vain for an invitation.
• Yecheng visited Shino, invited him to the barbecue, and bonded with him and Shibi Aburame over insects; Shibi gave Yecheng two explosive kikaichū larvae, and Shino’s recognition earned Yecheng 18 Fate Points.
• The next day, Yecheng and his classmates gathered by the riverside, where Naruto caught eighteen fish and Sasuke caught fifteen before everyone prepared a feast together.
• Naruto watched the classmates share food and enjoy the gathering, then exclaimed, “This is youth!!!”

Yecheng hosted a barbecue for his friends, discovered Naruto's milk was near expiry, and made milk tea that Choji took home with the recipe. The drink became an overnight hit, leading the Akimichi, Yamanaka, and Nara leaders to interpret Yecheng's gift as Tsunade's political overture and plan to offer her half the profits.

• Yecheng shared grilled food with the group, balanced Ino's and Hinata's attention, and gave Sasuke rice balls and Naruto a bowl of ramen.
• Yecheng noticed Naruto's milk was near expiry, explained the date to him, and made milk tea with the usable milk, sharing the recipe with Choji.
• Choji told Choza Akimichi about the recipe, and the Akimichi milk tea launch sold over twenty thousand cups in its first day.
• Choza Akimichi consulted Shikaku Nara and Inoichi Yamanaka about the profits and the risk of attracting other clans' attention.
• Shikaku concluded that Yecheng's gift was Tsunade's way of sounding out the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance and advised Choza to offer Tsunade half the profits and ask her to promote the drink.

Yecheng learned that Tsunade would teach him the Five Elements Seal and then went to subjugate Round Deer, a shikigami whose healing ability might help cure his kekkei genkai disease and extend his lifespan. He defeated Round Deer with a combined fire and lightning attack and summoned the newly subjugated shikigami to test its power.

• Tsunade told Yecheng she would teach him the Five Elements Seal after breakfast.
• Akimichi Choza visited and thanked Yecheng for inviting Choji to the gathering, while Yecheng left a shadow clone to listen in.
• Yecheng went to the training ground and summoned Round Deer, then overpowered him in a struggle.
• Yecheng used the Great Dragon Fire Technique and Nue's Thunderous Wrath to defeat Round Deer before he could heal.
• Round Deer turned into a shadow and was successfully subjugated, and Yecheng summoned him again.

Yecheng used Round Deer’s Reverse Cursed Technique to heal his injuries and Kekkei Genkai disease, raising his lifespan to sixty years. He then helped Tsunade accept a milk tea advertising deal and visited the Nara residence, confirming Shikaku’s prediction that he would come to discuss the business.

• Round Deer healed Yecheng with Reverse Cursed Technique, and Yecheng’s lifespan increased to sixty years as his Shikotsumyaku awakening seemed to accelerate.
• Yecheng encouraged Tsunade to accept Choza Akimichi’s offer to advertise the milk tea, and Shizune urged her to take the money to help pay her debts.
• Tsunade agreed to the advertising job and told Yecheng to focus on learning the Five Elements Seal, but Yecheng demonstrated that he had already mastered it.
• At the Nara Clan residence, Shikaku Nara convinced Choza Akimichi and Inoichi Yamanaka that Tsunade’s hesitation was deliberate and predicted Yecheng would visit.
• Yecheng arrived at the Nara residence, astonishing Choza Akimichi and Inoichi Yamanaka and confirming Shikaku’s prediction.

Yecheng arranged a photo shoot for Tsunade, then helped the Yamanaka Clan open a Konoha casino to keep her entertained and close to home. When Tsunade began losing her winnings at the tables, Yecheng secretly bet against her and collected the money himself.

• Yecheng directed Tsunade through a long photo shoot, and Tsunade admired the finished pictures despite complaining about the ordeal.
• Yecheng and Shikaku settled the milk tea business terms, while Shikaku probed whether Tsunade intended to become Hokage.
• Yecheng persuaded Inoichi Yamanaka to open a casino in Konoha, and Inoichi quickly secured the Third Hokage's approval.
• Tsunade rushed to the new casino, with Shizune anxiously following and Yecheng joining them in disguise.
• Tsunade repeatedly bet on small while Yecheng bet on big, winning her lost money and half the casino shares.

At the Ninja Academy, Yecheng discovered Sasuke had both lightning and fire chakra natures and advised him to train in Lightning Release. Sasuke returned home hoping to share the news with his family, but Itachi was summoned outside by three Uchiha clan members.

• Sasuke asked Yecheng to help him become stronger, hoping his progress would make his brother and father stop arguing.
• Yecheng used Chakra Paper to test Sasuke and found that he had both lightning and fire chakra natures.
• Yecheng showed Sasuke a lightning technique, and Sasuke quickly produced an electric arc after attempting the chakra transformation.
• Yecheng told Sasuke he would introduce him to Kakashi Hatake as a teacher, and Sasuke planned to ask his brother about it.
• Uchiha Yashiro, Uchiha Tekka, and Uchiha Inabi came to summon Itachi, who told Sasuke to wait at home and left with killing intent hidden beneath his calm expression.

After Uchiha Itachi defeated three clan members who suspected him of killing Shisui, he apologized to end the confrontation for Sasuke’s sake. Meanwhile, the recovering Shisui set out to learn from Kirigakure but captured Zabuza and Haku after discovering Zabuza’s plan to assassinate the Mizukage.

• Uchiha Itachi manifested his Sharingan and defeated Yashiro, Tekka, and Inabi after they accused him of killing Shisui.
• Sasuke called out to Itachi, who stopped arguing and bowed his head while denying that he had killed Shisui.
• Uchiha Fugaku offered the three men compensation and promised to supervise Itachi, allowing them to leave.
• Shisui, healed enough to travel, headed for the Land of Waves to seek a boat to the Land of Water and learn how Kirigakure handled its affairs.
• Shisui confronted Zabuza about his plan to assassinate the Mizukage, then used genjutsu to bind Zabuza and Haku.
• Zabuza recognized the Sharingan in Shisui’s eye and realized he had been captured by an Uchiha.

Shisui learned from Zabuza that Kirigakure’s Mizukage had driven the village into brutal clan warfare, and he let Zabuza and Haku go. At Konoha Hospital, Yecheng continued telling Katsuyu stories while finishing his study of the Four Symbols Seal and strengthening their bond.

• Shisui asked Zabuza what he meant by saying the Mizukage was no longer human.
• Zabuza described Kirigakure’s bloody policies and the persecution of clans with Kekkei Genkai, including Haku’s Ice Release lineage.
• Shisui released Zabuza and Haku, then wondered what Itachi would do about the Uchiha Clan and Konoha.
• Yecheng watched Shisui’s encounter through a Ninja Crow and resumed telling Katsuyu and Shizune a story.
• Katsuyu realized her Chakra had synchronized with Yecheng’s, and Yecheng chose to keep her listening to his stories.
• Yecheng put away the Four Symbols Seal scroll after mastering its Sealing Jutsu and planned to win Katsuyu’s favor for his Sage Mode.

Tsunade and Yecheng examined Kurama Yakumo, whose frail body was caused by her clan’s kekkei genkai, while Yecheng recognized that this was the point when the monster Ido would kill her parents. Tsunade found no complete cure, and the room suddenly changed as she delivered the news.

• Tsunade brought Yecheng along on a mission to treat Kurama Yakumo.
• Kurenai Yuhi explained that Yakumo was too frail to become a ninja, and her parents had asked Tsunade to improve her health.
• Yecheng recalled that Ido would kill Yakumo’s parents and considered changing her tragic fate.
• Tsunade examined Yakumo and told her parents that her condition could only be managed with gradual treatment.
• Kurama Yakumo and her parents turned pale, and the room suddenly changed dramatically.

Yecheng sealed Ido, the monster born from Kurama Yakumo’s resentment and mental power, after it trapped everyone in a genjutsu world. The group returned to reality, and Kurenai Yuhi thanked Yecheng in shock, while he kept Ido sealed in a ring to study.

• Ido took control of Yakumo’s genjutsu world, trapping Yecheng, Tsunade, and Kurenai Yuhi as the house caught fire in reality.
• Kurenai Yuhi explained that Ido had formed from Yakumo’s immense mental power and resentment, and that it had to be subdued or sealed.
• Tsunade attacked Ido but could not harm it in the genjutsu world, so Yecheng stepped in to use sealing jutsu.
• Yecheng seized control of the mental world and sealed Ido with the Four Symbols Seal inside a ring.
• The genjutsu world collapsed, and Kurenai Yuhi thanked Yecheng in shock after the group returned to the fire-damaged house.