Recaps

Senju Chen struggled to complete the second stage of Rasengan training, and his fixation began to distract him at school and during sparring. After another failed practice session, he remembered a way to free up time for training: the Shadow Clone Technique.

• Senju Chen recited the answer about the five basic Chakra Nature Transformations while secretly practicing chakra compression inside a rubber ball.
• Senju Chen’s intense Rasengan practice distracted him during a sparring match, allowing Kakashi to nearly strike his throat.
• Senju Chen worried that his training was undermining his reputation as the Senju Clan’s genius young master.
• Senju Chen recalled that Uchiha Itachi had used a ninjutsu double to attend classes in his place and identified it as the Shadow Clone Technique.

Senju Chen learned the Shadow Clone Technique and spent days training a clone to convincingly act like a cheerful five-year-old. He succeeded in fooling Tsunade and prepared to send the clone to school while his real body trained.

• Senju Chen retrieved the Shadow Clone Technique scroll from the Senju Clan archive and learned the B-rank jutsu.
• Senju Chen created a shadow clone but realized its calm, adult-like eyes would make it seem unlike a five-year-old.
• Senju Chen repeatedly created and dispelled clones while practicing childlike expressions and behavior, refining his control through more than a hundred attempts.
• Senju Chen finally immersed himself in the clone's sunny, affectionate persona and brought Tsunade warmed milk in the morning.
• Tsunade embraced the convincing clone, while the real Senju Chen watched through its perspective and planned to send it to school.

Senju Chen trained his chakra control and swordsmanship at Training Ground Three before encountering Shisui Uchiha. Seeing a chance to influence Shisui’s future and acquire his Kotoamatsukami, Chen began forming a plan to guide him.

• Senju Chen repeatedly focused chakra into a rubber ball, but could not sustain enough power to pierce it.
• After resting, Senju Chen practiced swordsmanship using Hatake Sakumo’s insights and cut falling leaves with precise swings.
• Shisui Uchiha appeared at the training ground and greeted Senju Chen, recalling how he had helped Kakashi at the academy.
• Senju Chen concealed his cold focus behind a shy demeanor as he considered using the encounter to steer Shisui’s future.

Senju Chen challenged Shisui to a taijutsu spar to prove his training was effective, using the fight to study Shisui’s movements. He left Shisui astonished after exploiting a predictable dodge to touch him.

• Shisui warned Senju Chen that intense solo training could lead him astray or injure him.
• Senju Chen challenged Shisui to a taijutsu-only spar, wagering that Shisui would have to admit his training was right if he won.
• Shisui accepted and evaded Senju Chen’s fast, relentless wooden-sword attacks with ease.
• Senju Chen feigned exhaustion, rebounded off a tree, and predicted Shisui’s back bridge.
• Senju Chen threw his wooden sword to adjust his midair position and tapped Shisui’s abdomen before collapsing in triumph.

Senju Chen’s rapid growth shocked Shisui Uchiha during their sparring, and Chen defeated him despite Shisui activating his Sharingan. Shisui was left reeling from the loss as Chen considered the victory another step toward earning his recognition.

• Shisui Uchiha visited Senju Chen regularly and watched his Taijutsu improve at a startling pace.
• During a sparring match, Shisui activated his Sharingan and used the Body Flicker Technique to fight at full strength.
• Senju Chen read Shisui’s movements through his sword-fighting awareness and sense of Chakra, keeping him under pressure.
• Chen feinted a vertical slash, then used a hidden Kunai to cut Shisui’s right arm when Shisui counterattacked.
• Shisui stared in shock at his wound, understood how Kakashi must have felt after losing to Chen, and heard Chen ask whether this counted as his win.

After Senju Chen defeated Shisui Uchiha, the two became comrades and rivals, training together for two months. Chen completed the second stage of Rasengan training but struggled to shape and rotate chakra at once, leading him to seek help from a renowned researcher of ninjutsu.

• Senju Chen defeated Shisui Uchiha, who apologized for underestimating him and recognized him as an equal.
• Shisui and Senju Chen agreed to train together as comrades and rivals, and they sparred regularly for two months.
• Senju Chen completed the second stage of Rasengan training by making a rubber ball spin rapidly without damaging it.
• Senju Chen repeatedly failed to form a stable, rotating chakra sphere during the third stage of training.
• Senju Chen tried using a Shadow Clone to help, but their conflicting chakra control made the attempt fail.
• Senju Chen decided he needed deeper knowledge of chakra theory and thought of Orochimaru.

Senju Chen used questions about the Uchiha, the Will of Fire, and Hatake Sakumo’s death to unsettle Shisui’s beliefs. Shisui had no answers, while Chen resolved to keep influencing him in hopes of changing his tragic future.

• Senju Chen and Shisui Uchiha sparred in the woods, with Shisui’s Sharingan pushing Chen to refine his swordsmanship.
• During a break, Senju Chen asked Shisui why ninja fought and challenged the idea that Konoha was a home shared equally by the Senju and Uchiha.
• Shisui insisted that the Will of Fire meant protecting comrades and the village, and called Hatake Sakumo a hero for sacrificing himself to save his comrades.
• Senju Chen asked whether Sakumo’s suicide had helped anyone and whether he could have saved more people by staying alive, leaving Shisui unable to answer.
• Senju Chen decided to keep planting doubts in Shisui’s mind and encourage him to believe that people could change the world only while alive.

Senju Chen realized that mastering the Rasengan required understanding its theory and decided to seek Orochimaru’s research. He met Orochimaru at their secret Root contact point and proposed trading knowledge for knowledge.

• Senju Chen reflected on how he had planted a small doubt in Shisui Uchiha and then focused on his own Rasengan failures.
• Senju Chen concluded he needed theoretical knowledge and chose Orochimaru as the person most able and willing to help him.
• Senju Chen traveled through secluded alleys to a hidden entrance to a Root base.
• Senju Chen found Orochimaru examining a test subject and asked to access his research reports.
• Senju Chen refused Orochimaru’s suggestion that he trade blood and proposed an exchange of knowledge instead.

Senju Chen asked Orochimaru for detailed chakra transformation research and offered the idea of combining Uchiha eyes with Senju bodies as leverage. Orochimaru warned him against targeting the Uchiha, gave him his research scroll, and watched him leave.

• Orochimaru suppressed his irritation and asked Senju Chen what knowledge he would offer in exchange for research notes.
• Senju Chen requested Orochimaru's detailed findings on nature and shape transformation, then suggested combining Uchiha eyes with Senju bodies to approach Hashirama's power.
• Orochimaru became fascinated by the possibility of combining the Sharingan and Wood Release, but warned Senju Chen against turning on a Konoha clan.
• Orochimaru urged Senju Chen to put aside Senju-Uchiha grudges and focus on unity against Konoha's enemies.
• Orochimaru handed Senju Chen a scroll containing his research, and Senju Chen thanked him and left.

After four months of training, Senju Chen mastered the Rasengan while his shadow clone continued attending the Ninja Academy in his place. Obito Uchiha accidentally struck the clone with a shuriken, exposing Chen’s secret and prompting the teacher to report the discovery.

• Senju Chen used Orochimaru’s scroll and months of practice to master the Rasengan, then tested it by boring a deep hole into a tree.
• At the Ninja Academy, Obito Uchiha accidentally threw a shuriken into Senju Chen’s shadow clone.
• The clone dispersed into smoke, revealing to the students and teacher that Chen had been using a shadow clone to attend school.
• The teacher ordered the class to keep the incident secret and went to report it and notify Chen’s guardian.

Senju Chen was exposed for using a Shadow Clone to attend school, provoking Tsunade’s fear and anger before his knowledge convinced her he was a genius. The chapter ended when a Hokage guard summoned them both to the Hokage’s Office.

• Senju Chen sensed that his Shadow Clone had been exposed and hurried home, fearing Tsunade’s reaction.
• An Anbu told Tsunade that Senju Chen had disappeared, and she rushed to the Ninja Academy in panic.
• Tsunade learned that only Chen’s Shadow Clone had been exposed and confronted him at home for skipping school.
• Chen explained that he wanted to train so he could protect Tsunade, then demonstrated advanced knowledge when she tested him.
• Tsunade embraced Chen proudly after recognizing his talent, but a Hokage guard arrived with orders for them to report to the Hokage’s Office.

Senju Chen proved his exceptional knowledge by acing a graduating-class theory exam, but Hiruzen Sarutobi still demanded that he demonstrate his strength in a special combat assessment. Chen accepted the challenge to face an active-duty Jonin, despite Tsunade's objections.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi questioned Senju Chen about using a Shadow Clone to skip school, and Chen said the lessons were too easy for him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Chen to take a graduating-class theory exam, which Chen completed in under fifteen minutes with every answer correct and a flaw in a bonus question identified.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi rejected Chen's theory results as insufficient proof of combat ability and proposed a special assessment against an experienced, active-duty Jonin.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi offered to overlook Chen's truancy and grant him Genin rank if he lasted ten minutes without losing or earned the Jonin's recognition; otherwise, Chen would have to apologize and return to school.
• Tsunade protested the challenge, but Senju Chen accepted it and reassured her that he could succeed.

Senju Chen faced elite jonin Sarutobi Ryōnosuke in a public test, using the punishing taijutsu assault to sharpen his reactions and adapt. After breaking out of the attack, Chen drew his wooden sword and revealed a warrior’s presence, leaving Ryōnosuke wary as the fight continued.

• Konoha’s senior officials, clan leaders, Academy students, and teachers gathered to watch Senju Chen’s test against Sarutobi Ryōnosuke.
• Sarutobi Ryōnosuke attacked Chen with relentless taijutsu, while Chen narrowly dodged each blow and used the pressure to adapt.
• Chen spotted a brief pause in Ryōnosuke’s attack rhythm and used his momentum to break free, opening ten meters between them.
• Chen drew his wooden sword, transforming his demeanor and making Ryōnosuke sense danger in the five-year-old.

Senju Chen revealed his lethal swordsmanship while fighting Sarutobi Ryōnosuke, then unleashed Wood Release to bind the elite jonin and shock Konoha’s leaders. He calmly looked to the Third Hokage, awaiting approval to graduate.

• Senju Chen used Hatake-style kenjutsu to evade and counter Sarutobi Ryōnosuke, forcing the jonin to treat him as a serious opponent.
• Sarutobi Ryōnosuke intensified his nintaijutsu and broke Chen’s wooden sword with a powerful punch.
• Chen used Wood Release: Kakuan Entering Society with Bliss-Bringing Hands to grow trees that restrained Sarutobi Ryōnosuke and suppressed his chakra.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, Uchiha Fugaku, Hyuga Hiashi, and the crowd reacted with shock as Chen’s Wood Release became clear.
• Tsunade cried with pride as Chen turned toward the Third Hokage, silently asking whether he had earned the right to graduate.

Senju Chen defeated elite Jonin Sarutobi Ryōnosuke with Wood Release, passed his graduation assessment, and became Konoha’s youngest Genin. He considered the protection his public display had won him and began planning his next step: choosing a Jonin instructor.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi declared Senju Chen the winner and awarded him Genin rank after he bound Sarutobi Ryōnosuke with Wood Release.
• Obito Uchiha, Rin Nohara, and Kakashi Hatake watched Senju Chen’s victory, while Kakashi felt jealousy for the first time.
• Senju Chen accepted his Konoha Forehead Protector and saw it as a key to leaving the Academy, accessing records, and taking missions.
• Tsunade celebrated Senju Chen’s achievement and promised him a special present.
• Senju Chen reviewed how demonstrating Wood Release had secured political protection and decided to discuss his choice of Jonin instructor with Tsunade.

After Senju Chen demonstrated Wood Release and became a Genin at age five, news of his power spread through Konoha and drew the attention of the Uchiha clan, Shimura Danzō, and Jiraiya. The chapter ended with Jiraiya deciding to return to Konoha and ensure Chen became his disciple.

• News of Senju Chen's Wood Release spread through Konoha, where villagers celebrated his potential and powerful figures considered what his rise meant.
• Uchiha elders argued over whether Chen was a threat or someone the clan could recruit, and Uchiha Fugaku ordered Shisui to deepen his friendship with Chen and assess him.
• Shimura Danzō recalled Chen's precise Wood Release and ordered Root to launch the "New Sprout" plan, gather information on Chen, and find a chance for a personal meeting.
• Jiraiya received an intelligence report about Chen's age, Wood Release, and victory over Sarutobi Ryōnosuke, then reconsidered who might be the Child of Prophecy.
• Jiraiya decided to return to Konoha and make sure no one else gained Chen as a disciple.

Tsunade discussed Senju Chen’s potential mentors and warned that choosing one would also tie him to a faction. Senju Chen rejected the candidates and asked to be apprenticed to Orochimaru, leaving Tsunade stunned and asking whether he had met him.

• Tsunade brought Senju Chen a stack of mentor candidates’ files and explained that many wanted to use his Senju heritage and Wood Release for their own interests.
• Tsunade recommended Jiraiya and pointed out several other promising candidates, including Sarutobi Yamakuma, Iyama Kaju, and Minato.
• Senju Chen reviewed the files but told Tsunade he did not want any of those people as his mentor.
• Senju Chen asked to choose Orochimaru, surprising Tsunade.
• Tsunade questioned Senju Chen about whether he had met Orochimaru.

Senju Chen persuaded Tsunade to recommend Orochimaru as his mentor, hoping to gain freedom, access to research, and a useful connection. Hiruzen Sarutobi approved the appointment, and Orochimaru received the news with eager curiosity about his new disciple.

• Senju Chen told Tsunade he admired Orochimaru’s research and wanted him to help develop his Wood Release.
• Senju Chen privately chose Orochimaru for the freedom, laboratory resources, and strategic connections he expected to gain.
• Tsunade agreed to recommend Orochimaru, and Hiruzen Sarutobi approved the mentor request over Danzo’s unspoken interest in recruiting Senju Chen for Root.
• An Anbu ninja delivered the appointment scroll to Orochimaru, who reacted with excitement and warned that becoming his disciple would not be easy.

Senju Chen became Orochimaru’s disciple and received research notes and a private training ground, but Orochimaru’s first lesson left him alone to take D-rank missions. Senju Chen ended the chapter looking over the mission requests at the Mission Center.

• Orochimaru asked Senju Chen why he had chosen him, and Senju Chen said Orochimaru’s work on ninjutsu and life made him the right teacher.
• Orochimaru accepted Senju Chen as his disciple and gave him research notes and the key to Training Ground 7.
• Orochimaru took Senju Chen to the Mission Center and had him register as a Genin.
• Orochimaru told Senju Chen to complete ten D-rank missions, then vanished and left him at the Mission Center.
• Senju Chen suppressed his complaints and examined the D-rank mission requests.

Senju Chen took a mission to find the notorious cat Tora and used Wood Release to capture him quickly. He returned Tora to Shijimi, completed his first D-rank mission, and left eager to choose another.

• Senju Chen accepted the mission to find Tora despite the mission dispatcher’s warning that several Genin teams had failed.
• At Shijimi’s home, Senju Chen reassured her and learned that Tora often visited the fish market and liked secluded rooftops.
• Senju Chen used his plant-based chakra perception to locate Tora on a roof in Konoha’s eastern district.
• Senju Chen lured Tora toward a flower and trapped him in a cage of Wood Release vines.
• Senju Chen returned Tora to Shijimi, collected his payment, and counted the mission as his first D-rank assignment.

Tsunade gave Senju Chen the Second Hokage’s Thunder God Sword as a graduation present, and Chen vowed to protect her with it. After hearing about Chen’s mission and Wood Release, Danzo decided to meet him in person.

• Senju Chen returned home and reassured Tsunade that Orochimaru had treated him well and guided him through his first mission.
• Tsunade presented Chen with the Thunder God Sword, saying she had obtained it as his graduation gift.
• Chen accepted the sword and promised to use it well and protect Tsunade.
• A Root ninja reported Chen’s successful D-rank mission and use of Wood Release to Danzo.
• Danzo judged Chen to be a valuable weapon and ordered arrangements for a personal meeting.

Senju Chen resisted a Root ninja’s attempt to take him to Shimura Danzō and fought back with the Thunder God Sword until Danzō intervened. Danzō invited Chen to join Root by promising him leadership, while Chen concealed his distrust and considered how to respond.

• After finishing a D-rank mission, Senju Chen sensed a Root ninja following him through Konoha.
• The Root ninja told Chen that Shimura Danzō wanted to see him and tried to seize him, but Chen refused and attempted to leave.
• When the Root ninja blocked his path, Chen drew the Thunder God Sword and clashed with him in the street.
• Shimura Danzō appeared, stopped Chen’s sword with two fingers, and rebuked the confrontation.
• Danzō praised Chen’s talent and urged him to join Root, claiming Chen could inherit its leadership and his father’s legacy.
• Chen hid his revulsion and distrust behind an expression of conflict and longing.

Senju Chen persuaded Danzo to leave by suggesting he could join Root once Danzo became Hokage, while privately vowing to thwart his ambitions. Over the following month, Chen trained through D-rank missions and advanced study, then continued experimenting with adding wind nature to his Rasengan.

• Senju Chen praised Danzo and said he could not join Root without his sister's and teachers' approval, then suggested that Danzo becoming Hokage would resolve the problem.
• Danzo accepted Chen's apparent admiration and left with the Root ninja without recruiting him.
• Senju Chen privately rejected Danzo's ambitions and resolved to keep him from becoming Hokage.
• For a month, Chen completed D-rank missions around Konoha while secretly practicing chakra control, Wood Release, and swordsmanship.
• Chen studied Orochimaru's medical and ninjutsu materials and experimented with adding wind-attribute chakra to his Rasengan, healing and analyzing his injuries after each failure.

Uchiha Fugaku decided to launch the Rising Star plan by arranging Shisui Uchiha’s early graduation and assigning him to become Senju Chen’s close teammate. Hiruzen Sarutobi approved the plan, leaving Shisui poised to approach Senju Chen as a friend.

• Uchiha elders argued over Senju Chen’s growing popularity, and Fugaku decided the clan had to act.
• Fugaku asked Shisui to take responsibility for the Rising Star plan, and Shisui agreed.
• Fugaku arranged for Shisui’s early graduation and planned to have him placed under Orochimaru with Senju Chen as his teammate.
• Fugaku explained that Shisui should become Senju Chen’s trusted friend and help bridge the divide between the Uchiha and Senju clans.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi weighed the risks of the plan against the possibility of uniting the clans, then stamped his approval on Shisui’s early graduation application.

Orochimaru introduced Shisui Uchiha as Senju Chen’s new teammate and assigned them a week of nighttime patrols with the Konoha Military Police Force. Senju Chen reluctantly set off with Shisui, frustrated that their first team mission was another D-rank assignment.

• Orochimaru summoned Senju Chen to Training Ground 7 and introduced Shisui Uchiha as his new teammate.
• Senju Chen suspected the Uchiha had arranged for Shisui to join his team to monitor and recruit him, but welcomed the chance to work with Shisui.
• Orochimaru assigned the pair a D-rank mission assisting the Konoha Military Police Force with nighttime patrols for one week.
• Orochimaru told Senju Chen and Shisui to report to police headquarters that evening and cooperate as a team.
• After Orochimaru disappeared, Shisui asked whether they should report to the police force, and Senju Chen agreed while inwardly lamenting another D-rank mission.