Recaps

Orochimaru examined Hanzō’s poisoned son and traced the toxin to an ingredient cultivated in the Land of Wind, prompting Senju Chen to muddy the accusation by suggesting the clue could be a frame-up. Hanzō dismissed Orochimaru and Chen, leaving the culprit uncertain and the Land of Wind, Land of Earth, and Konoha caught in the widening suspicion.

• Orochimaru examined Hanzō’s son and determined that a fast-acting compound neurotoxin had killed him.
• Orochimaru identified a rare toxin ingredient associated with veteran puppeteers in the Land of Wind, enraging Hanzō’s Amegakure subordinates.
• Senju Chen questioned why the Land of Wind would use a poison that pointed directly to them and suggested someone might be framing them.
• Senju Chen added that the Land of Wind might still be responsible, leaving the hall uncertain about whom to suspect.
• Hanzō thanked Orochimaru and sent him and Senju Chen away, while recognizing that the choice of whom to blame could cause upheaval.
• Orochimaru left with Senju Chen, pleased that their remarks had cleared Konoha of suspicion while drawing attention toward the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth.

Senju Chen persuaded an Amegakure attendant to let him investigate the people questioned over Hanzō’s son’s murder. The attendant finally agreed to take him to them, despite his fear of the consequences.

• An Amegakure attendant showed Orochimaru and Senju Chen to their bare rooms, and Orochimaru went inside.
• Senju Chen asked the attendant to take him for a walk, claiming he wanted to see the village Hanzō protected.
• As they walked, Senju Chen learned that Hanzō had interrogated everyone who had contact with his son but had found no clues.
• Senju Chen asked to see the people who had been interrogated, but the attendant refused, calling the matter an internal Amegakure affair.
• Senju Chen warned that Hanzō might blame other villages and start a war if the murderer remained unknown, then threatened to report the attendant for obstructing the investigation.
• The frightened attendant agreed to take Senju Chen to the suspects.

Senju Chen interrogated the seven people suspected of poisoning Hanzo’s son, using details about Scorpion-Tail Orchid to provoke and assess their reactions. He reached the sixth suspect, a refined Amegakure Jonin, and confronted him with a theory that the poison had been applied to the young master’s book pages.

• Senju Chen questioned the cook about poisoning the young master’s soup, but the cook reacted with anger and denial.
• Senju Chen accused the young master’s personal guard of poisoning him, then judged the guard’s killing intent to be professional anger rather than fear of exposure.
• Senju Chen used different poison scenarios to question the maid, gardener, and other suspects, observing their fear, confusion, and resentment.
• Senju Chen entered the sixth room and learned that a refined Jonin suspect was sharing it with a maid.
• Senju Chen proposed that the culprit had applied Scorpion-Tail Orchid powder to the young master’s book pages and asked the Jonin why he had not fled after the murder.

Senju Chen noticed that the maid serving the suspected Jonin had a false identity and system rewards suggesting advanced disguise and herbal skills. He chose not to report her to Hanzō without evidence and returned to discuss the discovery with Orochimaru.

• Senju Chen accused the Jonin, whose angry reaction triggered a system notification identifying Tanaka Rina and offering a Top-Level Transformation Technique.
• Senju Chen left the room and learned from the attendant that the maid was officially known as Hime Misaki, a former servant transferred after a supposed mistake.
• Senju Chen concluded that Tanaka Rina was likely involved in a planned assassination and had hidden herself among the suspects under a false identity.
• Senju Chen decided not to alert Hanzō without proof and planned to discuss the matter with Orochimaru.
• Senju Chen told the attendant he was sleepy, and they hurried back.

Senju Chen and Orochimaru brought their lead about the murder of Hanzo of the Salamander’s son to Hanzo, exposing the maid attending Tenaka Kenichi as the real culprit. Tanaka Rina attacked Tenaka and tried to escape, but Hanzo intercepted her as Orochimaru led Senju Chen away.

• Senju Chen told Orochimaru he suspected the maid attending Tenaka Kenichi and was over eighty percent certain she was involved in the murder.
• Orochimaru and Senju Chen returned to Hanzo of the Salamander and asked him to bring Tenaka Kenichi and his maid to the hall.
• Tenaka Kenichi protested his innocence while Senju Chen revealed that the maid was actually named Tanaka Rina.
• Tanaka Rina stabbed Tenaka Kenichi and fled toward the hall’s entrance.
• Hanzo intercepted Tanaka Rina with his scythe as Orochimaru took Senju Chen out through a side door.

Senju Chen and Orochimaru met with Hanzō, who revealed that Tanaka Rina was a Kirigakure assassin, and Senju Chen gained permission to question her. By provoking Tanaka Rina in the prison, Senju Chen triggered his system and stole her Top-Level Transformation Technique.

• Hanzō thanked Orochimaru and Senju Chen for uncovering the truth about the murder, then learned Senju Chen was a descendant of the Senju Clan.
• Hanzō told Senju Chen that Tanaka Rina came from Kirigakure and had hidden in Amegakure for over five years.
• Senju Chen asked to see Tanaka Rina, and Hanzō allowed a trusted subordinate to take him to the prison.
• Tanaka Rina demanded to know who had exposed her, and Senju Chen claimed that someone in Kirigakure had betrayed her.
• Senju Chen provoked Tanaka Rina until his system offered her abilities, then chose and stole her Top-Level Transformation Technique.

Senju Chen mastered the Top-Level Transformation Technique and prepared to leave Amegakure with Orochimaru after their dealings with Hanzō. Before departing, he said goodbye to Hatake Sakumo, who asked him to look after Kakashi.

• Senju Chen absorbed the details of the Top-Level Transformation Technique and reviewed the abilities in his full system slots.
• Orochimaru returned from negotiating with Hanzō and praised Senju Chen for his contribution before they set out to leave.
• Senju Chen met Hatake Sakumo, learned he had found no sign of Jiraiya's disciples, and promised to look after Kakashi.
• Hanzō personally saw Orochimaru and Senju Chen out of Amegakure, vowing that Kirigakure would pay for its actions.
• Orochimaru and Senju Chen left Amegakure and began their journey home.

Senju Chen returned to Konoha with Orochimaru after their mission in Amegakure, practicing his new Top-Level Transformation Technique along the way. He reflected on the conflict he had helped set in motion and hurried toward the village, eager to see Tsunade.

• Orochimaru asked Senju Chen about visiting Tanaka Rina, then warned him that hatred could become either a weapon or a master.
• Senju Chen practiced wilderness survival and Top-Level Transformation Technique during the journey back from the Land of Rain.
• Senju Chen unconsciously copied Orochimaru's walk, alerting Orochimaru to something strange before he dismissed it as the sunlight.
• Senju Chen continued practicing disguises and chakra imitation while considering how the conflict between Amegakure and Kirigakure could affect the Third Shinobi World War.
• Senju Chen and Orochimaru reached Konoha, and Senju Chen ran toward the village, excited to see Tsunade.

Senju Chen returned to Konoha expecting to reunite with Tsunade and Shizune, but learned that Tsunade had left the village after discovering the village leadership had used him as bait. Chen vowed that Tsunade would return, though his calm concealed anger toward the people who had driven her away.

• Senju Chen arrived at the Senju residence and found it unusually quiet and spotless.
• Shizune told Senju Chen that Tsunade had left the village.
• Shizune explained that Tsunade had argued with Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other leaders after learning Senju Chen had been used as bait in the Kusagakure ambush.
• Shizune said Tsunade had left alone because she could not bear to stay in Konoha fearing for Senju Chen's safety, and had asked Shizune to care for him.
• Senju Chen recalled Tsunade's love and protection, blamed the village leadership for driving her away, and insisted that she would come back.

Orochimaru reported the Land of Rain mission, and Hiruzen Sarutobi offered Senju Chen a reward for his role in exposing a Kirigakure spy and securing cooperation with Amegakure. Senju Chen asked to learn Hiruzen’s Summoning Technique and sign a contract with the Enma Clan, leaving Konoha’s leaders stunned.

• Orochimaru recounted the mission in the Land of Rain, downplaying Senju Chen’s deductions while describing the discovery of the Kirigakure spy and the agreement with Amegakure.
• Utatane Koharu questioned how Senju Chen had identified the spy, and Orochimaru attributed it to a possible Senju bloodline ability.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi praised Senju Chen’s contribution and offered him one reward, partly driven by guilt over Tsunade’s departure.
• Senju Chen declined a ninja tool or ninjutsu scroll and asked to learn Hiruzen’s Summoning Technique and sign a contract with the Enma Clan.
• Senju Chen privately intended to use the contract to secure Hiruzen’s protection and deter the village’s higher-ups from exploiting him.

Senju Chen asked Hiruzen Sarutobi for the Enma Summoning Contract, using an innocent explanation to secure a political alliance and protection after Tsunade's departure. Despite objections from Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and Shimura Danzō, Hiruzen agreed to give him the contract.

• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu opposed Senju Chen's request, fearing it would tie their faction to Hiruzen Sarutobi and upset their plans.
• Shimura Danzō also argued that Chen was too young to sign a contract with the Enma Clan, while Chen silently stood beside Orochimaru.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi recognized Chen's request as a bid for protection and a public declaration of loyalty to the Hokage's faction.
• Chen told Hiruzen he wanted to learn the powerful summoning technique because he admired Monkey King Enma and the Hokage.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi overruled the objections and said he would give Chen Enma's Summoning Contract.

Senju Chen faced Hiruzen Sarutobi’s test to prove he was worthy of the Enma summoning contract. After enduring and adapting to Hiruzen’s overwhelming presence, Chen passed, and Hiruzen prepared the contract for him to sign.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi led Senju Chen to his private training ground and explained that a summoning contract required mutual trust and recognition from Monkey King Enma.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi tested Senju Chen’s resolve by releasing his Kage-level presence, and Chen struggled to remain standing under the pressure.
• Senju Chen recalled Grandpa Maruboshi Kosuke’s Konoha Style: Willow and used its principles to let Hiruzen’s presence slide off him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi withdrew his presence, declared that Senju Chen had passed, and presented the Enma contract, instructing him to sign in blood and summon Enma with his chakra.

Senju Chen signed the summoning contract and summoned Monkey King Enma, who tested him with a powerful strike. Chen redirected the blow with the Sword of the Thunder God, earning Enma’s acknowledgment and the ability to summon members of the Monkey Clan.

• Senju Chen signed his name on the contract scroll and performed the Summoning Technique, calling forth Enma.
• Enma challenged Senju Chen to take one blow from him and transformed into the Adamantine Staff to strike.
• Senju Chen drew the Sword of the Thunder God and redirected Enma’s blow into the training ground, badly straining his arms.
• Enma tapped Senju Chen to release the shock in his arms, and Chen recognized the help and thanked him.
• Enma acknowledged Senju Chen, allowing him to summon members of the Monkey Clan.

Senju Chen earned Monkey King Enma’s acknowledgment and became the Monkey Clan’s contract holder, drawing attention and concern from Konoha’s leaders and clans. Back at the empty Senju residence, he celebrated his gains but missed Tsunade and vowed to bring her back once he was strong enough.

• Enma recognized Senju Chen’s strength and will, accepted him as an equal partner, and made him the Monkey Clan’s new contract holder.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi escorted Senju Chen home, while news of his contract with Enma spread throughout Konoha.
• Shimura Danzō viewed Senju Chen’s growing power as a threat to his control.
• Uchiha Fugaku sent Shisui Uchiha to visit Senju Chen with gifts and offer companionship after Tsunade left the village.
• Senju Chen returned to his empty home, enjoyed a bath after his training, and vowed to bring Tsunade back when he was strong enough.

Senju Chen reviewed the skills, allies, and political advantages he had gained on his mission, but Tsunade’s departure left him feeling lonely and powerless. Determined to grow strong enough to bring her back, he decided to replace his mastered Chakra Refinement Technique with the Flying Thunder God Technique.

• Senju Chen assessed the wilderness and combat lessons Kosuke taught him and the Top-Level Transformation Technique he stole from Tanaka Rina.
• He considered how solving Hanzo of the Salamander’s offspring’s murder had aligned Amegakure with Konoha and turned attention toward Kirigakure, while Hatake Sakumo became a covert contact with the future Akatsuki.
• Senju Chen reflected on passing Monkey King Enma’s trial, signing a Summoning Contract with the Monkey Clan, and signaling his independence to the Senju faction.
• Missing Tsunade, Senju Chen resolved that he needed greater power to bring her back and escape Konoha’s constraints.
• Senju Chen reviewed his five occupied skill slots and chose to replace his mastered Advanced Chakra Refinement Technique with the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Senju Chen found Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze moving into the mansion at Tsunade’s request, easing his loneliness and exciting him at the prospect of seeing Minato often. The lively household welcomed Chen’s teammates Shisui Uchiha and Maruboshi Kosuke, who came to check on him after Tsunade left.

• Senju Chen woke to find Kushina Uzumaki directing Minato Namikaze as they moved belongings into the mansion, with Shizune nearby.
• Kushina explained that Tsunade had asked her to move in and look after Senju Chen, and Chen felt grateful while anticipating Minato’s frequent visits.
• Kushina, Minato, Shizune, and Chen shared a lively breakfast, restoring warmth to the quiet mansion.
• Shisui Uchiha and Maruboshi Kosuke arrived to visit Chen, and Shisui brought a box of three-colored dango.
• Minato invited the visitors to join breakfast, while Kosuke saw that Chen was doing well and felt reassured.

Senju Chen reassured Maruboshi Kosuke and Shisui about Tsunade’s departure, then recounted how he and Orochimaru uncovered a Kirigakure spy behind Hanzo’s son’s assassination. After his teammates left, Chen found comfort in seeing Kushina and Minato together at home.

• Shisui and Maruboshi Kosuke visited Senju Chen to express concern about Tsunade leaving, and Chen assured them he was not lonely.
• Chen told them that Orochimaru had taken him to the Land of Rain to offer condolences after Hanzo’s son was assassinated.
• Chen explained how he and Orochimaru identified a compound neurotoxin and persuaded Hanzo not to blame Konoha, then traced the murder to a Kirigakure spy.
• Maruboshi Kosuke praised Chen for helping prevent a war, and he and Shisui left after hearing his account.
• Chen saw Kushina talking animatedly with Minato Namikaze and felt his loneliness easing.

Senju Chen persuaded Minato Namikaze to show him his unfinished ninjutsu first, then practiced the Summoning Technique and summoned Enra, Enma’s son. Chen and Enra became partners and began chatting on the training ground.

• Kushina Uzumaki left Minato Namikaze to look after Senju Chen while she and Shizune went shopping.
• Senju Chen asked Minato Namikaze to let him see his new ninjutsu first, and Minato promised he would.
• Senju Chen tried the Summoning Technique with little chakra and summoned only a few monkey hairs.
• Senju Chen used more chakra and summoned Enra, who introduced himself as Enma’s son.
• Enra recognized Senju Chen as the boy who had embarrassed his father, then agreed to be Chen’s first human partner.

Senju Chen mastered the theory of the Flying Thunder God Technique but discovered that its speed overwhelmed his body and senses, so he began training through repeated failed attempts. Two years later, he and Shisui Uchiha had grown into skilled shinobi on missions under Orochimaru and Maruboshi Kosuke.

• Senju Chen found the Flying Thunder God scroll in the Senju Clan library, learned its theory, and inscribed the formula on a kunai.
• Senju Chen successfully teleported with the technique but suffered severe dizziness and nausea, then used his Sharingan to understand the mismatch between his perception and position.
• Senju Chen resolved to train until his body adapted and repeatedly teleported, fell, and got back up.
• Two years later, Senju Chen and Shisui Uchiha evaded three pursuing Sunagakure shinobi at the Land of Wind border, with Chen using Wood Release to block their path.
• Senju Chen credited his sensory skills to Maruboshi Kosuke's lessons, while Kosuke reflected on the boys' growth through their missions under Orochimaru.

Senju Chen returned to Konoha after two years away and was promoted to Chunin alongside Shisui Uchiha. He celebrated Kakashi Hatake’s early graduation with Kakashi and Might Guy, then revealed that he was already a Chunin.

• Kushina Uzumaki welcomed Senju Chen home, while Minato Namikaze and Shizune greeted him with tea.
• Senju Chen and Shisui Uchiha were promoted to Chunin after two years of missions and training.
• Senju Chen overheard villagers discussing Kakashi Hatake’s early graduation and Minato Namikaze taking him as a student.
• Senju Chen visited Kakashi and invited him and Might Guy to Ichiraku Ramen to celebrate Kakashi’s graduation.
• Senju Chen told Kakashi about his close relationship with Minato, surprising Kakashi.
• When Might Guy proposed a ramen contest after Senju Chen’s Chunin promotion, Senju Chen revealed that he had already been promoted.

After revealing that he had already become a Chunin, Senju Chen learned that the Third Kazekage had disappeared, a sign that war was approaching. He sought to grow stronger by asking Minato Namikaze to explain the principles behind the Rasengan.

• Senju Chen told Might Guy and Kakashi Hatake that he had been promoted to Chunin, and Kakashi left the ramen shop, stung by the news.
• Senju Chen visited Orochimaru's underground laboratory, where Orochimaru told him that the Third Kazekage had disappeared and warned him to avoid missions toward the Land of Wind.
• Senju Chen realized that Sasori had likely killed the Third Kazekage and feared that the Third Shinobi World War was near.
• Senju Chen found Minato Namikaze practicing a new chakra technique at Training Ground Forty-Four and watched it repeatedly fail.
• Minato explained the technique's stages to Senju Chen, who asked to learn its principles; Minato agreed to teach him.

Senju Chen astonished Minato Namikaze by mastering the Rasengan in three days and using it in both hands, then gained a major boost to his space-time ninjutsu talent through his system. The chapter left Minato desperate to learn Chen’s training method and Chen newly confident he could pursue the Flying Thunder God Technique.

• Senju Chen brought Minato Namikaze rice balls and revealed that he had learned the Rasengan.
• Senju Chen formed a perfect Rasengan in each hand, leaving Minato Namikaze stunned and triggering the system’s theft conditions.
• Senju Chen selected the space-time ninjutsu talent and top-tier reflexes, replacing his Advanced Chakra Refinement Technique.
• Minato Namikaze asked how Senju Chen had mastered the Rasengan, and Chen explained his water-balloon and rubber-ball training method.
• Minato Namikaze realized Chen had surpassed his own Rasengan progress and could no longer hold himself together.

After Minato Namikaze left, Senju Chen tested the Flying Thunder God Kunai and discovered that his enhanced reflexes let him use the Space-Time Ninjutsu with effortless precision. He recognized the technique as vital to surviving the coming war and protecting himself as a Senju Wood Release inheritor.

• Minato Namikaze hurried back to the village, shaken by Senju Chen’s lesson and newly fired up to complete the Rasengan.
• Senju Chen took out his Flying Thunder God Kunai and threw it toward a distant tree to test his reflexes.
• Senju Chen perceived the world moving almost imperceptibly and teleported to catch the kunai before it struck the tree.
• Senju Chen repeatedly teleported around Training Ground 44, mastering the technique’s speed and spatial coordinates.
• Senju Chen considered the coming Third Shinobi World War and resolved that mastering Flying Thunder God was essential to surviving it.

With war looming after Sunagakure accused Konoha of involvement in the Third Kazekage’s disappearance, Senju Chen pledged to support the village and join the front. Orochimaru then revealed that Hanzo of the Salamander had invited Konoha to the Land of Rain, but the real target of the operation was Kirigakure.

• Senju Chen returned from an escort mission and noticed rising military activity as Kakashi Hatake warned him to be careful.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Senju Chen that Sunagakure had accused Konoha of causing the Third Kazekage’s disappearance and that war seemed unavoidable.
• Senju Chen pledged the Senju name and Wood Release to Konoha and said he was ready to go to the front.
• Senju Chen met Orochimaru in his underground laboratory, where Orochimaru said he would keep Chen by his side during the war.
• Orochimaru shared intelligence that Hanzo of the Salamander had invited Konoha to establish a defensive line in the Land of Rain, while secretly targeting Kirigakure.

Orochimaru explained that Konoha and Hanzō planned to secretly eliminate Kirigakure’s influence in Amegakure while preparing a broader campaign against Iwagakure. Senju Chen accepted the mission and, thinking through the coming war and his need for greater strength, vanished from a rooftop after writing a message.

• Senju Chen questioned how Konoha and Amegakure could threaten Kirigakure, and Orochimaru revealed that Kirigakure was secretly supporting factions opposing Hanzō.
• Senju Chen realized Hanzō’s invitation would give Konoha a legitimate reason to enter the Land of Rain and help remove Kirigakure’s agents.
• Orochimaru said Jiraiya would handle the main battlefield while he and Senju Chen secretly hunted Kirigakure’s operatives, before joining Hanzō against Iwagakure.
• Senju Chen left Orochimaru’s laboratory and reviewed the dangers and opportunities of the approaching war, resolving to gain more power.
• Senju Chen wondered whether Hatake Sakumo had contacted Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan, wrote a message on a slip of paper, and disappeared from the rooftop.