Recaps

News that Senju Chen had soothed the Nine-Tails and displayed Wood Release unsettled Konoha’s clans and shifted its balance of power. As Tsunade examined Chen, she found his chakra and vitality had grown dramatically and concluded his Senju bloodline had awakened.

• Shimura Danzō stopped pursuing Senju Chen after Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tsunade protected him, while Shikaku Nara considered how Chen might affect Konoha’s internal balance.
• Inoichi Yamanaka urged Chōza Akimichi to reassess the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans’ relationship with the rising Senju faction.
• Uchiha Fugaku ordered his clan to use its contacts in the Anbu and Root to investigate what happened during the Nine-Tails rampage and determine Chen’s role.
• Tsunade examined Senju Chen and discovered his chakra and vitality had greatly increased since the incident.
• Tsunade embraced Chen and celebrated the Senju Clan’s resurgence while Chen struggled to breathe in her arms.

After his bloodlines fused, Senju Chen gained immense vitality, rapidly recovering chakra, and awakened the Uzumaki clan’s Adamantine Sealing Chains. As he prepared to start the Ninja Academy, Kushina taught him sealing techniques and shared her memories of school.

• Senju Chen tested his strengthened chakra and Wood Release, then looked forward to the Ninja Academy and its potential classmates.
• Over four months, Senju Chen learned sealing techniques from Kushina while secretly mastering the Adamantine Sealing Chains and advanced formulas.
• Kushina praised Senju Chen’s talent and thanked him for helping during the Nine-Tails’ rampage, while reminding him to keep the monster sealed inside her secret.
• Kushina gave Senju Chen advice about school, friends, and avoiding fights, then recalled meeting Minato at the Academy.

Senju Chen practiced his advanced Wood Release and reflected on the Senju Clan’s disappearance and the tragedies he knew awaited Konoha. He resolved to use his power to change the future and looked ahead to attending the Ninja Academy.

• Senju Chen created and controlled a wooden sparrow, reviewed his Wood Release abilities, and used Transformation Technique to imitate Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Senju Chen recalled Kushina’s advice about school and thought about her future and the fate she would face protecting Konoha and her child.
• Senju Chen remembered asking Tsunade why only the two of them remained in the Senju Clan, and how she evaded his question.
• Senju Chen wondered about the Senju Clan’s disappearance and whether Kushina’s future could be changed, then resolved to act on the power he had gained.
• Senju Chen anticipated attending the Ninja Academy and meeting students from familiar clans.

On his first day at the Ninja Academy, Senju Chen surveyed the future shinobi and drew Uchiha Inabi’s challenge by claiming he could use Wood Release. When Inabi attacked, Chen dodged and secretly tripped him with a wooden root, leaving the crowd stunned.

• Senju Chen arrived at the Ninja Academy and spotted Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, Obito Uchiha, Shisui Uchiha, Mitaraishi Anko, and Kurenai Yuhi among the students.
• Uchiha Inabi confronted Senju Chen and demanded that he demonstrate Wood Release, while his lackeys accused him of lying.
• Senju Chen embarrassed Inabi by pointing out that using Wood Release at the school could cause damage his clan might have to pay for.
• After Chen walked away, Inabi charged at him and reached for his collar despite a teacher’s warning.
• Senju Chen swiftly dodged and used a wooden root to trip Inabi, who fell face-first onto the ground.
• Senju Chen asked Inabi whether he was all right and why he had suddenly lain down.

Senju Chen used a hidden trick to make Uchiha Inabi fall, then maintained his innocent disguise as Shisui smoothed things over. At the Academy, Kakashi remained suspicious of Chen, who decided to make him his next target.

• Senju Chen made Inabi fall at the school gates and acted innocent while Inabi accused him without evidence.
• Shisui Uchiha made Inabi apologize, then befriended Chen and offered to help him at school.
• Senju Chen watched the Third deliver a speech about the Will of Fire and observed his future classmates during the Academy opening ceremony.
• Kakashi Hatake scrutinized Chen during class, and Chen smiled harmlessly before deciding to target him next.

Orochimaru learned that Senju Chen had awakened Wood Release and became intent on observing him. At the Ninja Academy, Chen defeated Uchiha Inabi by making him lose his balance, while Orochimaru watched and grew more interested in the boy.

• Danzo told Orochimaru that Senju Chen, a five-year-old Senju orphan, had used Wood Release, and Orochimaru became eager to find him.
• At the Ninja Academy, Senju Chen attracted attention from his classmates while Uchiha Inabi continued to resent him.
• Inabi challenged Chen to a taijutsu spar, and Chen evaded his attacks with precise, minimal movements.
• Chen pushed Inabi’s supporting ankle during a powerful kick, sending him crashing to the ground as the class laughed.
• Orochimaru watched the spar from outside the training ground and praised Chen’s control, declaring that he was becoming more interested in him.

Senju Chen defeated Uchiha Inabi with carefully controlled Taijutsu, impressing the class and revealing to Kakashi that the fight had been manipulated. Chen invited Kakashi to practice together, but Kakashi refused and said he preferred to walk alone.

• Senju Chen used a precisely timed push to topple Uchiha Inabi, and the instructor praised his Taijutsu while Inabi reluctantly thanked him for the lesson.
• Kakashi Hatake recognized that Chen had guided Inabi into an opening and concluded that Chen had been controlling the fight from the start.
• After class, Senju Chen approached Kakashi and told him he knew Kakashi had seen through his performance.
• Senju Chen spoke about the value of companions and asked Kakashi to practice with him.
• Kakashi rejected Chen's invitation, saying he was not used to Chen's wide path and that one person was enough for his own.

After Kakashi rejected Senju Chen’s offer of friendship, Chen kept appearing quietly wherever Kakashi trained, gradually drawing his attention. When Kakashi confronted Chen for copying Hatake Style Kenjutsu, Chen revealed an instinctive grasp of its principles, and Kakashi began to reconsider him.

• Kakashi firmly rejected Senju Chen, who left looking hurt, but Kakashi remained unsettled by his departure.
• Over the following days, Chen repeatedly appeared near Kakashi’s training without approaching him, wearing down Kakashi’s patience.
• Chen watched Kakashi practice Hatake Style Kenjutsu and tried the stance himself, prompting Kakashi to accuse him of stealing a family technique.
• Chen explained that he had noticed Kakashi’s power came from his arm and wrist, then demonstrated a stance that drove force from the waist.
• Kakashi recognized the principle his father, Hatake Sakumo, had taught him and realized Chen had an extraordinary instinct for understanding movement.
• Kakashi handed Chen his wooden sword and said he might let him take a look at his path.

Senju Chen became closer to Kakashi Hatake by learning Hatake Style Kenjutsu from him, then befriended Might Guy after defeating him in a spar. He resolved to prevent Hatake Sakumo’s future tragedy as he gathered Kakashi and Guy as companions.

• Kakashi invited Senju Chen to learn his swordsmanship, corrected Chen’s stance, and taught him about grounding his power through his feet.
• Orochimaru watched Kakashi and Senju Chen training together before slipping away into the darkness.
• Senju Chen told Tsunade he had befriended Kakashi Hatake, learned about Hatake Sakumo’s reputation, and resolved to save Sakumo from the tragedy he foresaw.
• At the Ninja Academy, Senju Chen followed Kakashi’s training and repeatedly asked him for instruction until Kakashi grew accustomed to teaching him.
• Might Guy challenged Senju Chen, who dodged Guy’s attacks and toppled him with a precise strike behind the knee.
• Senju Chen praised Guy’s potential and invited him to train with them, and Guy declared them lifelong rivals and companions.

Senju Chen visited Kakashi’s home and met his father, Hatake Sakumo, while carefully assessing the legendary ninja and the White Fang sword. Sakumo noticed Chen’s unusually calculating gaze but was pleased that Kakashi had made a friend.

• Senju Chen went to the Hatake residence, where Hatake Sakumo welcomed him and directed him to Kakashi.
• Senju Chen persuaded Kakashi to let him stay and train by explaining that they had agreed to meet.
• Senju Chen spotted the White Fang sword and concealed his interest when Kakashi warned him not to look around.
• Hatake Sakumo asked Chen to get along with Kakashi, and Chen praised Kakashi until Kakashi hurried them off to train.
• Hatake Sakumo reflected on Chen’s unsettling gaze and felt glad that Kakashi had finally made a friend.

Senju Chen brought Might Guy to Hatake Sakumo’s home, where Sakumo demonstrated his swordsmanship against Guy and Kakashi. Chen avoided Sakumo while studying his movements, then described Sakumo’s power as flowing like water, leaving Sakumo astonished by the child’s insight.

• Senju Chen persuaded Kakashi to bring him and Might Guy to Hatake Sakumo’s home for sword practice.
• Hatake Sakumo defeated Guy with a quick wrist tap and disarmed Kakashi after countering his precise attack.
• Senju Chen dodged Sakumo’s attempts to catch him, using the spar to observe Sakumo’s movements before falling from exhaustion.
• Sakumo asked Chen about his interest in the essence of power, and Chen compared Sakumo’s strength to water and Kakashi’s to a rock.
• Hatake Sakumo realized Chen had intuitively described the core of Hatake Style Kenjutsu and encouraged him to keep practicing.

Hatake Sakumo returned from a failed mission broken by exhaustion and self-doubt as rumors condemned his choice to save his subordinates. Senju Chen used those rumors to provoke Tsunade’s anger, leaving her ready to confront the ninja who had called loyalty to comrades disgraceful.

• Hatake Sakumo received an S-rank mission scroll and left after telling Kakashi to keep practicing and get along with Senju Chen and Might Guy.
• After Sakumo left, Kakashi became distracted and quiet, so Senju Chen and Might Guy visited often to keep him company.
• Half a month later, Sakumo returned looking deeply exhausted and shut himself inside his room.
• Senju Chen overheard ninja spreading rumors that Sakumo had failed his mission by abandoning crucial intelligence to save his subordinates.
• Senju Chen asked Tsunade whether comrades were family or a disgrace to the village, and Tsunade crushed her cup and erupted in fury.

Senju Chen used Tsunade’s anger to intensify the debate over Hatake Sakumo’s mission, but Orochimaru confronted him in his room and offered to help save Sakumo in exchange for Chen’s cooperation. The chapter ended as Orochimaru demanded Chen’s blood.

• Tsunade broke down over the rumors about her brother and lover, while Jiraiya tried to stop her from confronting the Third Hokage.
• Senju Chen comforted Tsunade, then privately judged that her fury could divert pressure from Hatake Sakumo but would not clear his name.
• Orochimaru appeared in Senju Chen’s room and revealed that he had been watching Chen’s actions around the Hatake Clan, Kakashi, Might Guy, and Tsunade.
• Orochimaru offered to help Senju Chen save Hatake Sakumo, then asked for Chen’s blood in return.

Senju Chen proposed that Orochimaru help him fake Hatake Sakumo’s death so they could hide him from Konoha and put Danzo’s ambitions to use. Orochimaru agreed to their cooperation, and he revealed that he knew where to find a suitable body for the deception.

• Senju Chen offered Orochimaru his blood in exchange for help saving and hiding Hatake Sakumo by making him appear dead.
• Senju Chen suggested that Danzo would welcome the chance to weaken the Third Hokage’s faction by arranging Hatake Sakumo’s supposed death.
• Orochimaru was impressed by Senju Chen’s plan and demanded that he become his disciple, but Senju Chen warned that Tsunade would object.
• Orochimaru said the discipleship could be a formality and agreed to cooperate with Senju Chen, who sealed their pact with a pinky promise.
• Orochimaru said their first step was finding a corpse that could pass for Hatake Sakumo and claimed he knew where to find suitable materials.

After rumors condemned Hatake Sakumo for abandoning a mission to save his comrades, Senju Chen defended him at the Ninja Academy and rallied others to question the village’s judgment. Chen’s public stand drew attention, giving him room to continue his secret plan to save Sakumo.

• Rumors spread through Konoha that Hatake Sakumo had sacrificed vital intelligence to rescue two subordinates, who then blamed themselves and deepened the criticism of him.
• Kakashi Hatake faced classmates’ contempt at the Ninja Academy, and Uchiha Inabi mocked him as the son of a disgrace.
• Senju Chen stepped in and declared that Sakumo was a hero for choosing his comrades over the mission.
• Might Guy arrived and passionately supported Chen, prompting onlookers to reconsider whether Sakumo was truly a sinner.
• Chen used the dispute to draw public attention and create room to carry out his plan to save Sakumo.

Senju Chen defended Hatake Sakumo at the Ninja Academy, prompting Tsunade to confront Konoha’s leaders over the village’s treatment of the disgraced hero. The Hokage delayed a decision, while Chen revealed that he was deliberately using the escalating public condemnation to prepare Sakumo’s disappearance and new life.

• Senju Chen stood up to Uchiha Inabi and defended Kakashi and Hatake Sakumo, silencing the academy students and giving Kakashi a sense of support.
• Tsunade learned of Chen’s argument, then dragged Jiraiya to the Hokage Building to challenge Hiruzen Sarutobi and the elders over Sakumo’s condemnation.
• Danzo argued that Sakumo had betrayed the village by abandoning his mission, while Orochimaru highlighted the conflict between shinobi rules and the Will of Fire.
• Hiruzen ordered the rumors quelled but postponed judging Sakumo’s actions, and Tsunade left disappointed.
• At the Senju residence, Chen reflected on how his plan was tightening public opinion around Sakumo and said he would offer him a new life when his execution seemed inevitable.

As public opinion in Konoha drove Hatake Sakumo toward despair, Orochimaru offered him a way to die as a tragic hero and protect Kakashi’s future. Sakumo vanished after leaving a suicide note and his White Fang Tanto, and the village learned the next morning that he had supposedly killed himself.

• Konoha’s people split between defending Hatake Sakumo and condemning him, while Sakumo stayed home and struggled with doubts about his actions and the pain he had caused Kakashi.
• Orochimaru visited Sakumo and persuaded him that his apparent suicide would spare Kakashi lasting shame and turn him into a respected tragic hero.
• Sakumo wrote a suicide note blaming himself, left his White Fang Tanto beside Kakashi, and left the house while Kakashi slept under the effects of Orochimaru’s drug.
• Senju Chen watched Sakumo disappear into the night with Orochimaru and planned to use his supposed death to influence Konoha and its younger generation.
• The next morning, Konoha learned that Sakumo had apparently killed himself, and the village fell silent in shock, grief, and regret.

At Hatake Sakumo’s funeral, Senju Chen comforted the devastated Kakashi while Tsunade and Jiraiya watched the village leaders with anger and doubt. In private, Chen received a powerful kenjutsu skill from the system and resolved to reunite Kakashi with his father one day.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi gave a brief eulogy at Hatake Sakumo’s funeral while Kakashi stood holding his father’s portrait, numb with grief.
• Senju Chen comforted Kakashi beneath an umbrella, while Tsunade glared at Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura.
• Senju Chen slipped into a grove and learned that he had changed Hatake Sakumo’s fate, earning an extra skill slot and a Fate’s Gift draw.
• Senju Chen drew Hatake Style Kenjutsu: Mastery and absorbed Hatake Sakumo’s sword skills, experiences, and muscle memory.
• Senju Chen returned to Kakashi and secretly vowed to reunite him with Hatake Sakumo and use his new blade to challenge the village’s corruption.

After Hatake Sakumo's funeral, Kakashi buried himself in training while Senju Chen's body adapted to Sakumo's kenjutsu memories. Chen demonstrated the Hatake Style technique Severing Fang during a spar with Might Guy, leaving Kakashi demanding to know how he knew his father's kenjutsu.

• Kakashi withdrew from most people and trained obsessively, while Senju Chen visited and watched him.
• Senju Chen continued adapting to Hatake Sakumo's kenjutsu memories as he mentally practiced the techniques.
• Might Guy challenged Senju Chen to a wooden-sword spar, and Chen used Sakumo's footwork to evade Guy's attacks.
• Senju Chen instinctively executed Severing Fang, disarmed Might Guy, and held his wooden sword at Guy's throat.
• Kakashi recognized his father's technique and asked Senju Chen how he knew Hatake Sakumo's kenjutsu.

Senju Chen crushed Kakashi and Might Guy with his swordsmanship, then met Orochimaru underground to exchange his blood for the plan to fake Hatake Sakumo’s death. The chapter ended with Chen proposing a new purpose for Sakumo in the Land of Rain.

• Senju Chen’s swordsmanship left Kakashi overwhelmed with self-doubt, and Kakashi retreated into the house.
• Might Guy accepted his defeat as a challenge and vowed to double his training to catch up with Senju Chen and Kakashi.
• Senju Chen met Orochimaru at an underground Root base, where Orochimaru confirmed Hatake Sakumo had been declared dead and given the identity of bounty hunter Fang.
• Senju Chen cut his arm so Orochimaru could collect his unusually vital blood, then healed the wound instantly.
• Senju Chen told Orochimaru that Sakumo needed a purpose and proposed sending him to the Land of Rain.

Senju Chen made a deal with Orochimaru to send Hatake Sakumo to monitor Hanzo and share research data in exchange for Chen’s blood. Back at home, Chen assessed his abilities and allies, then resolved to pursue more powers.

• Senju Chen told Orochimaru that Hatake Sakumo should watch Hanzo rather than fight him, and asked Orochimaru to share his research data in exchange for Chen’s blood.
• Orochimaru agreed to pass Chen’s instructions to Fang and provide some research data, while privately eyeing the sealed blood with greed and caution.
• Senju Chen considered Orochimaru’s ambitions and his own growing strength, then reviewed the abilities listed in his stealing system.
• Senju Chen assessed his connections to Tsunade, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Minato, Kushina, Kakashi, and Might Guy, and recognized how influential his allies could become.
• Senju Chen looked at the two empty skill slots and resolved to steal more abilities, including powerful bloodlines and secret techniques.

Senju Chen drew admiration at the Academy, where Uchiha Inabi challenged the teacher to choose between missions and comrades, invoking the controversy over Hatake Sakumo. After class, Chen visited Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze, intending to learn Minato’s view of the same question.

• Mitaraishi Anko gave Senju Chen dango, while Kurenai Yuhi left him candy at his desk.
• Uchiha Inabi asked whether a shinobi should prioritize the village’s mission or comrades’ lives, and the teacher evaded the question before dismissing class.
• Senju Chen ignored Uchiha Inabi’s smug reaction and considered that the strong made the rules and supplied the answers.
• Senju Chen visited Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze, who welcomed him and shared a meal with him.
• Senju Chen watched the couple and wondered what Minato Namikaze would think about the choice between missions and comrades.

Senju Chen asked Minato Namikaze whether a ninja should prioritize a mission or comrades, then privately pressed him about choosing between a mission and Kushina Uzumaki’s safety. Minato insisted he would protect everyone he cherished and revealed that he was developing a new Ninjutsu to help him do so.

• Senju Chen asked Minato Namikaze whether missions or comrades mattered more, and Minato said he would strive to complete missions without abandoning his comrades.
• Kushina Uzumaki praised Minato’s answer, and Senju Chen agreed that he could never abandon his comrades for a mission.
• After Kushina went to the kitchen, Senju Chen privately asked Minato what he would do if a mission conflicted with Kushina’s safety.
• Minato said he would never let Kushina face a situation where he had to choose between her and a mission.
• Minato revealed that he was researching a new Ninjutsu that needed no hand seals and pushed chakra shape and nature transformation to their limits.

Senju Chen began secretly learning the Rasengan by using Minato's explanation and his own knowledge of its training stages. He made progress while balancing his public life at the Academy and training with Might Guy and Kakashi, but he had not yet completed the technique.

• Senju Chen recalled the Rasengan's training method and resolved to learn the A-rank ninjutsu on his own.
• Senju Chen took a balloon from the Senju residence storeroom and burst it with chakra during his first attempt at practicing rotation.
• Senju Chen maintained his courteous student persona by day and trained with Might Guy and Kakashi after school, encouraging Guy and pushing Kakashi to train harder.
• Senju Chen focused on Rasengan practice at night, temporarily setting aside Wood Release as he worked on rotation and sustained chakra output.
• Senju Chen continued concentrating chakra inside a water balloon, feeling its structure tear under the force of his rotation.

Orochimaru justified sending Hatake Sakumo to the Land of Rain as a strategic move ahead of another war, then told Danzo that his Hashirama Cells research was nearing a breakthrough. Meanwhile, Senju Chen completed the first stage of Rasengan training and resolved to become strong enough to create a world where he could have everything.

• Orochimaru told Danzo he had sent Hatake Sakumo to the Land of Rain to assess Hanzo and other forces ahead of a future war.
• Orochimaru reported that his Hashirama Cells research was progressing smoothly, concealing that the material came from Senju Chen.
• Senju Chen finally pierced the water balloon after repeated Rasengan practice, completing the first stage of training.
• Senju Chen ate soldier pills to recover and decided he would create a world where he could have everything by becoming strong.