Recaps

A starving Lin Chen was found on a battlefield by Tsunade, who used medical ninjutsu to save him. His newly awakened system stole Tsunade’s latent Wood Release bloodline, and its power calmed her chaotic chakra and grief as he remained unconscious.

• After days lost and starving in the forest, Lin Chen crawled toward a distant explosion and collapsed beside a battlefield.
• Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shizune found Lin Chen, and Tsunade began treating his faint pulse with the Mystical Palm Technique.
• Lin Chen’s God-Level Stealing System detected Tsunade and stole her latent Wood Release bloodline.
• As Tsunade’s chakra flowed into Lin Chen, he sensed her sorrow and used his new Wood Release chakra to soothe it.
• Tsunade felt her grief and chaotic chakra settle, then stared at the unconscious Lin Chen in shock.

Tsunade discovered that the unconscious Lin Chen carried a chakra resembling the First Hokage’s and decided to bring him to Konoha as a member of the Senju Clan. Meanwhile, Danzo pursued experiments with Hashirama Cells, unaware that Tsunade was returning with a potentially disruptive new variable.

• Jiraiya and Shizune sensed a vital chakra in Lin Chen that reminded Jiraiya of the First Hokage and made him suspect Wood Release.
• Tsunade touched Lin Chen, felt a connection to her Senju family and Nawaki, and tearfully resolved to protect him.
• Tsunade declared Lin Chen a member of the Senju Clan and carried him toward Konoha despite Jiraiya’s concerns.
• Danzo learned that most Hashirama Cell test subjects had died, rejected taking cells from Tsunade, and ordered the experiments to continue.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi worried about Tsunade’s condition and planned to speak with her when she returned, unaware she was bringing Lin Chen home.

Lin Chen pretended to be an orphaned Senju child so Tsunade would take him to Konoha, while Jiraiya went to search for his supposed parents. As the group approached the village, Lin Chen examined his God-Level Stealing System and learned he could earn more slots by changing other characters’ worldlines.

• Lin Chen woke in Tsunade’s arms and called her “big sister,” stirring her memories of Nawaki.
• Lin Chen told Tsunade that his parents had fled from attackers and asked her to help find them, and she promised to protect him.
• Jiraiya left to search for Lin Chen’s parents while Tsunade took Lin Chen and Shizune toward Konoha.
• Lin Chen examined the God-Level Stealing System, learned it had four ability slots and required intensely stirred emotions to steal, and heard that changing worldlines could earn more slots.
• The group neared Konoha’s gates as Lin Chen looked forward to entering the village.

Tsunade brought Lin Chen into Konoha, where Root agents tried to seize him for examination and protection. Lin Chen’s plea for help stopped Tsunade from attacking, but she refused to surrender him, leaving a confrontation with Danzo’s forces poised to escalate.

• Tsunade carried Lin Chen through Konoha toward the Hokage Building while he acted like a frightened child.
• Three Root ninja blocked their path and demanded that Tsunade hand Lin Chen over under Danzo’s orders.
• Tsunade threatened the Root agents and prepared to attack them.
• Lin Chen called Tsunade “Big Sister” and said he was scared, calming her rage.
• Tsunade comforted Lin Chen and declared that anyone who wanted to take him would have to step over her corpse.

Hiruzen Sarutobi intervened when Danzo's Root ninja confronted Tsunade and Lin Chen, and Tsunade identified Lin Chen as a Senju Clan member. After Hiruzen took charge and sent Root away, Danzo ordered Lin Chen placed under the highest-priority surveillance.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived with Anbu and challenged Root's authority to stop Tsunade in the street.
• Tsunade told Hiruzen that Lin Chen was a member of her Senju Clan, and Hiruzen sensed a vitality reminiscent of Hashirama Senju.
• Hiruzen ordered the Root ninja to withdraw and said he would handle the matter personally.
• Lin Chen realized Hiruzen's intervention would limit Danzo's ability to act openly, but worried that he still lacked the strength to protect himself.
• A Root ninja reported the confrontation to Shimura Danzō, who ordered the highest-priority surveillance of Lin Chen and forbade Root from contacting him.

Tsunade brought Lin Chen to the abandoned Senju Clan compound and began treating him as her family. Lin Chen secretly used his Wood Release chakra to soothe her trauma, while recognizing that he would need greater strength to protect their new peace.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Lin Chen temporary identification listing him as a war orphan adopted by Tsunade.
• Tsunade took Lin Chen to the former Senju Clan compound and told him it would be his home.
• Lin Chen comforted Tsunade as she struggled to clean the residence and grieved over her lost family.
• After waking from a nightmare, Tsunade felt Lin Chen's chakra soothe her and held his hand, believing he might be Nawaki reincarnated.
• Lin Chen secretly continued comforting Tsunade while planning to face greater trials and gain strength.

Tsunade brought Lin Chen to the Hokage's Office, where Danzō demanded that Root take the boy for testing because his identity was uncertain. Lin Chen agreed to a test in the office, blocking Danzō's attempt to seize him, and Hiruzen ordered a standard chakra-nature test.

• An Anbu summoned Tsunade and Lin Chen to the Hokage's Office to confirm Lin Chen's identity.
• Hiruzen, the elder advisers, and Danzō questioned Lin Chen's origins, and Danzō demanded that Root conduct a thorough examination.
• Tsunade defended Lin Chen and threatened Danzō when he called the boy a possible enemy weapon.
• Lin Chen stepped forward, asked the leaders not to argue, and agreed to take a test.
• Hiruzen refused to hand Lin Chen over to Root and ordered a standard chakra-nature test in the office.

Lin Chen used Wood Release to prove his Senju heritage before Konoha’s leaders and was officially registered as Senju Chen under the highest protection. Danzo secretly planned to seize control of him and ordered Oracle-level surveillance.

• Lin Chen secretly used his system to make Chakra Paper sprout a shoot, revealing a powerful Wood Release aura.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi recognized the aura as Hashirama Senju’s, while Tsunade embraced Lin Chen and challenged Danzo to deny his Senju bloodline.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi officially registered Lin Chen as Senju Chen and granted him the highest level of protection, a decision backed by the Council of Elders.
• At Root’s underground base, Danzo learned that only one of his latest Hashirama-cell test subjects had survived and resolved to take Lin Chen for himself.
• Danzo ordered Oracle-level surveillance of Senju Chen and vowed to find a way to control him.

After Tsunade brought Senju Chen home, he considered how to master his Wood Release and prepare for the dangers his identity would attract. News of his return and his ability spread through Konoha, prompting the Hyuga to watch cautiously and the Uchiha to investigate.

• Tsunade reassured Senju Chen that no one would question or bully him again, and he decided the day marked only the beginning of a wider conflict.
• Senju Chen resolved to learn chakra extraction and seek out the First and Second Hokage's techniques so he could grow strong enough to protect himself and Tsunade.
• News that Senju Chen belonged to the Senju Clan and had demonstrated Wood Release spread throughout Konoha, stirring excitement among villagers.
• Hyuga Hiashi ordered his clan to observe Senju Chen without approaching or antagonizing him and to monitor the Uchiha.
• Uchiha Fugaku accepted that Senju Chen was probably genuine and ordered an investigation into his Wood Release while forbidding extreme action.

Senju Chen learned chakra refinement from Tsunade and stole Jiraiya’s advanced chakra refinement talent after provoking an intense emotional reaction. Meanwhile, Shimura Danzō ordered Root to stage an accident and bring Chen to him, setting a dangerous opportunity in motion.

• Senju Chen persuaded Tsunade to teach him chakra refinement by saying he wanted to protect her, then pretended to struggle before producing a faint strand of chakra.
• Jiraiya reported that his search had found no trace of Chen’s parents or an adult at the forest, only a shelter and traps suggesting Chen had lived there alone.
• Jiraiya questioned Senju Chen, who described his mother’s red eyes with black tomoe, shocking Jiraiya and Tsunade before Tsunade comforted him.
• Senju Chen stole Jiraiya’s Advanced Chakra Refinement Technique talent when Jiraiya became intensely flustered, then worried about how to reveal his new ability safely.
• Shimura Danzō ordered Root to create a disturbance and arrange an accident so they could bring Senju Chen to him and test the First Hokage’s bloodline.

Senju Chen studied the First Hokage’s Wood Release notes and trained in the Cutting Technique while his chakra reserves grew. On a shopping trip with Shizune, he sensed hidden observers following them, and an explosion suddenly erupted nearby.

• Senju Chen read the First Hokage’s notes, learning about Wood Release techniques and their uses.
• Senju Chen practiced the Cutting Technique and recovered his chakra with Jiraiya’s Advanced Chakra Refinement Technique, gradually increasing his reserves and skill.
• Tsunade entrusted Shizune with looking after Senju Chen while she handled official business.
• Senju Chen sensed eight concealed gazes following him and Shizune through Konoha’s shopping street.
• An explosion erupted at the other end of the street as Senju Chen finished his dango.

Senju Chen was abducted from Konoha during a staged attack and taken to a secluded training forest by a Land of Earth spy posing as a Root ninja. As the spy lunged to kill him, Chen prepared to reveal his Wood Release.

• Rogue ninja attacked Konoha, and a masked ninja abducted Senju Chen while Shizune was distracted.
• Shizune and four Anbu members pursued the kidnapper to protect Senju Chen.
• Senju Chen memorized the route and sensed the forest through his affinity with nature.
• The kidnapper revealed his plan to kill Chen and frame Danzo, then attacked him with a kunai.
• Senju Chen stood his ground and called out "Wood Release: Cutting Sprigs!" as the attack closed in.

Senju Chen killed an Iwagakure spy disguised as a Root operative with Wood Release, then acted like a terrified child when Shizune and the Anbu found him. Tsunade blamed Danzo, while Jiraiya wondered whether Chen was the child of prophecy, and the incident stirred a storm among Konoha’s leaders.

• Senju Chen used Wood Release to kill the spy as he attacked, then cut his own arm and pretended to be frightened and exhausted.
• Shizune and several Konoha Anbu found Chen beside the corpse and realized the fatal wooden spikes had been made with Wood Release.
• Tsunade embraced Chen and, seeing his injury and the dead Root operative, erupted in fury and shouted Danzo’s name.
• Jiraiya examined the wounds, recognized the power and precision of Chen’s Wood Release, and connected him to the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy.
• Konoha’s higher-ups were shaken by the incident as a storm began to form within the village.

Senju Chen concealed his composure while recounting a staged account of his attacker’s death to the leaders of Konoha. Tsunade threatened Danzo and left with Chen, while Hiruzen promised an investigation and the elders insisted Chen’s Wood Release remain secret.

• Tsunade confronted Danzo over the masked attacker, while Danzo denied the ninja belonged to Root and blamed a foreign plot.
• Hiruzen asked Senju Chen to explain what happened, and Chen tearfully claimed he had accidentally killed his attacker with Wood Release.
• Danzo suspected Chen had manipulated events but insisted he would investigate and hold Root accountable if the attacker was one of his men.
• Tsunade smashed a hole through the Hokage's office wall and warned Danzo that she would destroy Root if Chen were harmed again.
• Hiruzen promised Tsunade an answer, and Tsunade left with Chen as Jiraiya followed.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura warned Hiruzen to protect Chen and keep his awakened Wood Release secret, leaving Hiruzen and Danzo alone.

Senju Chen’s scheme ended with Tsunade taking him under her protection and Hiruzen forcing Danzo to accept responsibility for the incident. The chapter left Chen free of surveillance and guarded by Tsunade and the Hokage’s Anbu, while Danzo secretly hated him.

• Senju Chen pretended to be frightened in Tsunade’s arms, strengthening her resolve to protect him.
• Hiruzen ordered Danzo to end the matter, blaming Root’s presence and actions for putting the Senju heir at risk.
• Hiruzen demanded that Danzo stop Root’s surveillance of Senju Chen and personally apologize to Tsunade and Chen.
• Danzo visited Tsunade with compensation and apologized for failing to discipline his subordinates.
• The Hokage ordered all investigations into Senju Chen to cease and assigned his protection to Tsunade and the Hokage’s Anbu.

Senju Chen reflected on the abilities he had stolen and planned how to grow stronger before the coming war. He set his sights on obtaining Kushina Uzumaki’s bloodline and considered saving someone whose fate could help him in the future.

• Senju Chen confirmed that his staged display of power had secured Tsunade’s protection and quieted the threat from Danzo and other observers.
• Senju Chen reviewed how killing an Anbu ninja had replenished his chakra and granted him combat experience and techniques through the system.
• Senju Chen decided he needed another ability to speed his growth, but rejected the Sharingan, Rinnegan, and Enma as unsuitable or inaccessible for now.
• Senju Chen chose Kushina Uzumaki’s bloodline as his next target because her vitality and chakra reserves could strengthen his Wood Release.
• Senju Chen resolved to wait for a discreet chance to approach Kushina and considered saving someone whose fate he could change for future help.

Senju Chen continued refining his chakra while pretending to struggle with Jiraiya’s chakra-control lessons, but Jiraiya’s scrutiny and talk of the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy brought Tsunade’s anger down on him. After Jiraiya fled, Senju Chen decided he needed a lasting way to make him lose interest.

• Senju Chen refined his chakra and noticed that his reserves and chakra flow had grown stronger since he stole Jiraiya's Advanced Chakra Refinement Technique.
• Jiraiya visited the Senju estate and coached Senju Chen in leaf-sticking, while privately watching his chakra for signs of unusual talent.
• Senju Chen feigned poor control, but Jiraiya grabbed his wrist after noticing the strength of his chakra fluctuations.
• Jiraiya mentioned the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy, and Tsunade angrily ordered him to stop talking about it.
• Senju Chen lost control of his chakra, then acted frightened and tearful, prompting Tsunade to blame Jiraiya and drive him away.
• Senju Chen resolved to find a lasting way to make Jiraiya lose interest in him.

Senju Chen used his innocent remarks to embarrass Jiraiya and drive him away from the Senju residence. A week later, Jiraiya returned with Minato Namikaze, giving Chen a possible way to approach Kushina Uzumaki.

• Senju Chen asked Jiraiya whether he liked Tsunade and repeated Jiraiya's own words about men who visited women, enraging Tsunade.
• Tsunade smashed a table and accused Jiraiya of corrupting her little brother, so Jiraiya fled the residence.
• Jiraiya stayed away for several days before returning to the Senju residence with Minato Namikaze.
• Minato explained that Jiraiya had brought him along to discuss a mission with Tsunade.
• Senju Chen recognized Minato as Kushina Uzumaki's lover and began planning to use him to approach her.

Senju Chen used his growing closeness with Minato Namikaze to learn about the Flying Thunder God Technique and Sealing Jutsu. After perfectly copying a sealing formula at four years old, he amazed Minato, Jiraiya, and Tsunade, and Minato offered to introduce him to a friend who was a sealing master.

• Senju Chen continued welcoming Minato Namikaze to the Senju estate, where his visits cheered Tsunade and gave Chen chances to learn from him.
• Minato explained the Flying Thunder God Technique to Senju Chen in simple terms, and Chen used the explanation to lead the conversation toward sealing formulas.
• Minato drew a basic binding formula for Senju Chen, who reproduced it flawlessly after a single look.
• Jiraiya wondered whether Senju Chen might be the Child of Prophecy, while Tsunade proudly praised him and hugged him.
• Minato called Senju Chen a Sealing Jutsu genius and promised to introduce him to a friend who was a master of Sealing Jutsu.

Hiruzen Sarutobi brought Shimura Danzō to the Senju estate to apologize for the attack on Senju Chen, but Tsunade rejected his explanation and clashed with Hiruzen. Senju Chen urged Tsunade not to argue with the Hokage on his behalf.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived at the Senju estate with Shimura Danzō, and Senju Chen hid behind Tsunade in apparent fear.
• Tsunade angrily demanded that Danzo leave, while Hiruzen said he had come to give her and Senju Chen an answer about the attack.
• Danzo blamed the attack on a Rock Shadow Village spy and offered a guarded apology, accepting responsibility only for failing to maintain discipline.
• Hiruzen asked Tsunade to let the matter end for Konoha's stability, then ordered her to stop arguing.
• Senju Chen told Tsunade he was fine and asked her not to argue with Hiruzen because of him.

Tsunade secured Hiruzen Sarutobi’s agreement to keep Anbu and Root away from the Senju residence, while Senju Chen secretly resolved to gain more power. Minato Namikaze then took Chen to meet his friend Kushina Uzumaki, who was skilled in Sealing Jutsu.

• Tsunade agreed to let the matter with Danzo go in exchange for keeping Anbu and Root at least a hundred meters from the Senju residence without her permission.
• Tsunade reassured Chen, while he secretly considered how to use the incident as leverage and reflected on his need for greater strength.
• Tsunade kept the Senju residence under heavy protection, and Minato continued visiting Chen.
• Minato invited Chen to meet his friend who was good at Sealing Jutsu and brought dango and red bean soup for her.
• Chen recognized Minato’s friend as Kushina Uzumaki and left with him to meet her.

Senju Chen visited Kushina Uzumaki with Minato Namikaze and used her feelings for Minato to trigger his ability-theft system. He secured a reason to keep meeting Kushina by asking her to teach him sealing jutsu, enabling prolonged contact for the system to analyze her bloodline.

• Minato introduced Senju Chen to Kushina, who welcomed the shy-looking child into her home and fed him snacks.
• Senju Chen asked Kushina whether she liked Minato, triggering the system to offer her abilities and warn that her Uzumaki bloodline required repeated contact to analyze safely.
• Kushina blushed and angrily punched Minato out of the living room after Senju Chen blamed Jiraiya for teaching him how to recognize a crush.
• Kushina learned that Senju Chen was interested in sealing jutsu and offered to teach him whenever he visited.
• Senju Chen accepted Kushina's offer while Minato watched from the yard, unaware that he had helped create a pretext for their continued contact.

Senju Chen used Kushina Uzumaki’s sealing lessons to increase his system’s progress, impressing her with his talent until the system completed its theft plan. It offered him a choice between Kushina’s Uzumaki bloodline and the Nine-Tails’ power, leaving him torn as he looked at her concern.

• Senju Chen studied Sealing Jutsu under Kushina Uzumaki while using their physical contact to advance his system’s infiltration progress.
• Senju Chen mastered several seals quickly and proposed an inventive adjustment that impressed Kushina.
• Over the following month, Senju Chen became known in Konoha as a Sealing Jutsu prodigy and continued training with Kushina and Minato Namikaze.
• Senju Chen successfully raised Kushina’s Four-Sided Barrier, prompting her to celebrate and lift him into the air.
• The system completed its theft plan and offered Senju Chen the choice of Kushina’s Uzumaki bloodline or the Nine-Tails’ power, and he hesitated.

Senju Chen chose the Uzumaki Bloodline, but its integration coincided with Kushina’s Nine-Tails going berserk. He calmed the beast with his Senju life energy, leaving Minato and the Anbu stunned by his power.

• Senju Chen rejected the dangerous Nine-Tails power and chose the Uzumaki Bloodline, which he absorbed while Kushina held him.
• Kushina suddenly suffered in pain as the Nine-Tails erupted from her seal, blasting Minato Namikaze into a courtyard wall.
• Anbu rushed to protect Senju Chen, but he pushed through the violent chakra and approached Kushina instead of retreating.
• Senju Chen pressed his hand to Kushina’s seal and sent his Senju life energy into it, making the Nine-Tails recognize Hashirama Senju’s presence.
• The Nine-Tails stopped its assault and withdrew into the seal, while Kushina lost consciousness and Minato and the Anbu stared at Senju Chen in shock.

After Senju Chen woke in the Hokage’s office, Konoha’s leaders debated how to handle his power to soothe Tailed Beasts. He persuaded them that his actions came from kindness, and Hiruzen declared him a hero and a vital asset to the village.

• Senju Chen woke beside Tsunade in Hiruzen Sarutobi’s office, where Konoha’s senior leaders had gathered after he soothed the Nine-Tails.
• Hiruzen classified the incident as an S-rank secret and warned that Chen’s Wood Release could shift the balance of the Shinobi World.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura proposed intense protection and supervision for Chen, while Tsunade opposed treating her brother like a weapon.
• Chen acted frightened that the elders would imprison him, and Minato Namikaze defended him as someone who had risked himself to protect Kushina.
• Chen claimed he had acted on instinct and wanted to ease Kushina’s pain, and Hiruzen praised him as Konoha’s hero.
• Chen privately celebrated gaining the Uzumaki Bloodline and a powerful standing in Konoha while presenting the leaders with an innocent smile.