Chapter Summaries

Neji defeated Sasuke after revealing that he had learned the Eight Gates, and Xia Mu faced Gaara in the next match. Xia Mu trapped Gaara inside a Mud Wall and flooded the enclosure, leaving Gaara submerged and unable to use his sand effectively.

• Neji opened the First Gate, outpaced Sasuke, and sealed his Chakra points to win their match.
• Neji explained that he had learned the Eight Gates to grow stronger despite the limits placed on him by the Hyuga Clan.
• Sasuke regained his fighting spirit after Neji praised his strength, and Xia Mu entered the arena to face Gaara.
• Gaara ignored the match announcement and confronted Xia Mu with bloodlust, while Xia Mu tested his sand defense with kunai.
• Xia Mu raised a Mud Wall around Gaara and flooded the enclosure with Water Release, soaking the sand and leaving Gaara in danger.

Xia Mu defeated Gaara in the Chunin Exam, but Gaara began transforming into a tailed beast as Orochimaru revealed his attack on Konoha. With Hiruzen trapped inside a barrier and the village under assault, the young ninja organized themselves to respond.

• Xia Mu overwhelmed Gaara with water and lightning, broke through his sand defenses, and won the match.
• Gaara began transforming into a beast, while Orochimaru revealed himself disguised as the Kazekage and captured Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• The Sound Four trapped Orochimaru and Hiruzen inside the Four Violet Flames Formation, and a genjutsu knocked out many spectators.
• Kakashi, Might Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, and other Jonin engaged the invading Otogakure ninja led by Kabuto Yakushi.
• Tenten, Neji, and others dispelled the genjutsu, then Neji sent Sasuke, Tenten, Shino, and himself to support Xia Mu against Gaara.
• Shikamaru assigned the remaining Genin to protect medical ninja, assist the Jonin, and carry wounded Konoha ninja to treatment.

Xia Mu fought the half-transformed Gaara while the others battled Sunagakure and Otogakure’s forces during the invasion. After Gaara passed out and Shukaku awakened, Xia Mu severed the tailed beast’s arms with his Giant Water Disc Slash, leaving the assembled fighters stunned.

• Tenten, Neji, Sasuke, and Shino rushed to Xia Mu’s location, and Tenten struck down Dosu Kinata as he tried to stop them.
• Xia Mu sent Neji and Sasuke to assist Genma Shiranui, while Tenten and Shino held off Tenten and Kankuro.
• Xia Mu battered half-transformed Gaara until he passed out, then trapped him with the Water Prison Technique.
• Shukaku awakened, broke free of the water prison, and attacked Xia Mu with a Wind Release: Air Bullet, which Xia Mu countered with a Water Release: Water Bullet.
• Xia Mu used Giant Water Disc Slash to sever Shukaku’s arms, shocking the Sand Ninja and everyone watching.

Xia Mu defeated Shukaku and helped Konoha repel the invading Sound and Sand Ninja across the village. Jiraiya arrived after the fighting had nearly ended, while the battle between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru remained unresolved.

• Xia Mu trapped Shukaku in a formation and used Water Style: Vortex Boiling Water to blast it apart, forcing it back into Gaara and leaving Gaara badly injured.
• Xia Mu helped Genma Shiranui’s group defeat Baki and the remaining Sand Ninja, then left to support Konoha’s defenders.
• Xia Mu severed all three heads of a rampaging giant snake and raced across the battlefield, defeating numerous enemy ninja.
• Genma Shiranui arrived with Tenten, Shino, Neji, and Sasuke, and they helped drive the invaders into disarray.
• Jiraiya arrived on a giant toad after most of the enemy ninja had been defeated, lifting the defenders’ spirits.

After the Konoha Crush ended with Hiruzen Sarutobi’s death, the village debated his successor while Xia Mu focused on training. Sasuke visited Xia Mu to ask how he could become stronger, and Xia Mu began advising him to assess his strengths and weaknesses.

• Jiraiya arrived after Xia Mu’s battle and was mocked by Xia Mu and Tenten for peeping into women’s bathhouses before taking command of the village’s response.
• Orochimaru escaped after the Four Violet Flames Formation vanished, and Hiruzen Sarutobi died; two days later, the villagers and ninja attended his funeral.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu rejected Danzo as Hokage and urged Jiraiya to take the position, but Jiraiya chose to find Tsunade and bring Naruto with him.
• Xia Mu trained at home, concentrating on the Flying Thunder God Technique so he could fight more freely without endangering bystanders.
• Sasuke visited Xia Mu for advice on becoming stronger, and Xia Mu told him to identify and develop his strengths while overcoming his weaknesses.

Xia Mu advised Sasuke on his unstable mental state, low Chakra reserves, and ways to build on his strengths, leading Sasuke to consider becoming a Jinchuriki. He then taught Sasuke to draw on powerful predecessors’ techniques and explained how to develop original jutsu, leaving Sasuke focused on Chakra Shape Transformation.

• Xia Mu identified Sasuke’s unstable mental state and limited Chakra as his main weaknesses, and Sasuke accepted the need to steady his mind.
• Xia Mu explained the Uzumaki Clan’s large Chakra reserves, and Sasuke proposed becoming a Jinchuriki after recalling Naruto and Gaara’s Tailed Beast power.
• Xia Mu outlined the challenges of finding and sealing a Tailed Beast, then advised Sasuke to develop his Sharingan, Fire Release, Lightning Release, Hatake Kenjutsu, and Chidori.
• Xia Mu shared his training principles and urged Sasuke to study powerful predecessors, describing Shisui Uchiha’s Body Flicker technique as an example.
• Xia Mu explained that original techniques came from combining Chakra Nature and Chakra Shape Transformation, then described how to shape and stabilize Chakra.

Sasuke sought Xia Mu’s advice on becoming stronger, then followed Kakashi to a clash with Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki. Xia Mu joined the fight, used Solar Flare to blind the enemies, and defeated Kisame, while Sasuke wounded Itachi and Kisame began to recover.

• Sasuke practiced infusing Chakra with Fire Nature, thanked Xia Mu for his advice, and carefully kept the training notes Xia Mu gave him.
• Sasuke followed Kakashi, Kurenai Yuhi, and Asuma Sarutobi to the river, where Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki were confronting them.
• Sasuke charged at Itachi Uchiha but was caught in genjutsu, then regained his composure by stabbing his hand and joined the others after Xia Mu arrived with sunglasses.
• Xia Mu used Solar Flare to blind Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki, opened the Sixth Gate, and struck Kisame down with Morning Peacock.
• Xia Mu broke through Itachi Uchiha’s skeletal Susanoo, allowing Sasuke to slash Itachi’s arm, but Itachi’s Susanoo forced them to dodge as Kisame began to recover.

After Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki escaped, Xia Mu and Might Guy went to support Naruto, while Sasuke chose to train rather than pursue Itachi. They found Naruto under attack, and Guy fought Kisame as Xia Mu faced Itachi.

• Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki escaped after flooding the area, and Kakashi sent Xia Mu to support Naruto alongside Might Guy.
• Sasuke stayed behind, decided to become stronger before confronting Itachi, and asked Kakashi to teach him how to combine Chakra Nature Transformation with Shape Transformation.
• Xia Mu and Guy tracked Naruto to a town, where Itachi and Kisame found Naruto training alone and tried to capture him.
• Guy kicked Kisame away and rescued Naruto, then fought Kisame with his Nunchaku while Xia Mu confronted Itachi.
• Kisame unleashed a massive Water Style technique after Guy disarmed him, while Xia Mu kept Itachi at bay and claimed sunglasses protected him from genjutsu.

Xia Mu helped Jiraiya and Might Guy drive Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki away, then secured several Sealing Jutsu scrolls from Jiraiya. He left Naruto under Might Guy’s watch with a Flying Thunder God Jutsu Formula on his shoulder and studied the scrolls after training, while Naruto stayed up to practice the Rasengan.

• Jiraiya arrived and trapped Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki with Toad Mouth Bind, but Itachi Uchiha used Amaterasu to burn an escape route and flee with Kisame Hoshigaki.
• Might Guy revealed that Itachi Uchiha was Sasuke’s older brother and the culprit behind the Uchiha clan massacre, leaving Naruto shocked.
• Xia Mu confronted Jiraiya about leaving Naruto unprotected and pressured him for Sealing Jutsu, then placed a Flying Thunder God Jutsu Formula on Naruto before heading into town.
• Jiraiya gave Xia Mu a scroll containing four advanced Sealing Jutsu after seeing the formula, and Might Guy chose to train Naruto while they waited two days before returning to the village.
• Naruto learned what the Flying Thunder God Jutsu Formula did and vowed to train through the night, while Xia Mu trained, studied the scroll, and sensed that Naruto was still outside town.

After returning to Konoha, Xia Mu warned Tenten about the Akatsuki and reassured her about Sasuke, then shared the news that Tsunade would become the Fifth Hokage. When Tenten worried that her limited Chakra would hinder her Flying Thunder God training, Xia Mu proposed developing a rechargeable Chakra battery using Sealing Jutsu.

• Xia Mu and Might Guy returned to Konoha after waiting two days for another Akatsuki attack that never came.
• Xia Mu visited Tenten at the Ninja Tool Shop and told her that Kisame Hoshigaki and Itachi Uchiha had attacked Konoha to capture Naruto.
• Tenten worried about Sasuke, and Xia Mu told her that Sasuke had learned to stay calm after confronting Itachi.
• Xia Mu told Tenten that Jiraiya had gone to bring Tsunade back to become the Fifth Hokage, exciting Tenten.
• Tenten told Xia Mu that her limited Chakra made using the Flying Thunder God Technique difficult, so Xia Mu proposed creating a rechargeable Chakra battery with Sealing Jutsu.

Xia Mu convinced Kakashi that a Chakra Battery could be made with Sealing Jutsu, and Kakashi gave him and Sasuke sealing scrolls to study. A month later, Tsunade returned to Konoha and became the Fifth Hokage, where she reviewed promotion candidates and learned that Shizune might be Megumi Kato’s aunt.

• Xia Mu explained his Chakra Battery idea to Kakashi and Sasuke, who both supported it and asked for batteries of their own.
• Kakashi took Xia Mu and Sasuke to his secret room, gave them sealing scrolls, and instructed them to study the techniques from the basics upward.
• A month later, Tsunade became Konoha’s Fifth Hokage, while Danzo privately lamented that his own Hokage ambition remained out of reach.
• Tsunade reviewed candidates for promotion, approved Xia Mu for jonin and several finalists for chunin, and asked Shizune about Megumi Kato.
• Shizune checked Megumi’s family details and said she might be related to her, with Megumi likely having to call her Aunt.

Xia Mu emerged from seclusion with working Chakra Batteries, gave prototypes to Tenten, Kakashi, and Sasuke, and decided to trade the technology to Tsunade for valuable ninja knowledge. The chapter left Sasuke anticipating more batteries while Xia Mu prepared to approach the new Hokage with his invention.

• Tsunade asked Shizune to meet Megumi Kato and report back before deciding whether to promote her to chunin.
• Xia Mu demonstrated his Chakra Batteries to Tenten, who eagerly tested one and celebrated having extra chakra available.
• Xia Mu and Tenten delivered a battery to Shino, then visited Kakashi and watched Sasuke defeat Naruto in a sparring match.
• Xia Mu gave batteries to Kakashi and Sasuke and explained how the devices stored and supplied chakra, while Naruto and Sakura learned about the invention.
• Sasuke and Sakura offered to buy batteries, but Xia Mu explained that he planned to trade the technology to Tsunade for techniques and knowledge.
• Sasuke reserved five batteries from Xia Mu, who promised to honor the agreement while Tsunade arranged for broader production.

Naruto recounted how he and Jiraiya helped Tsunade defeat Orochimaru, while Sasuke showed Xia Mu his new Chidori Sharp Spear. Shizune met with Megumi, and after Megumi asked to become her apprentice, the group encouraged her to seek Tsunade as her teacher instead.

• Naruto told Xia Mu, Sakura, Sasuke, and Tenten how he and Jiraiya found Tsunade, confronted Orochimaru, and helped drive him and Kabuto away.
• Sasuke demonstrated Chidori Sharp Spear by destroying a boulder and vowed to catch up to Xia Mu.
• Team 9 visited Shizune after she asked to meet Megumi, and Megumi solemnly asked Shizune to accept her as an apprentice.
• Shizune explained that she was not Tsunade's apprentice and felt too busy and inexperienced to teach Megumi.
• Xia Mu suggested that Megumi ask Tsunade to take her as an apprentice, and Shizune promised to teach her herself if Tsunade refused.
• Shizune led Megumi to the Hokage Building to ask Tsunade, while Tatsuya followed and Xia Mu and Aoba Yamashiro walked behind them.

Tsunade became the Fifth Hokage, promoted several young ninjas, and reorganized the genin teams temporarily. Xia Mu and Tenten later traded his Chakra Battery technology for the Mutual Multiplication Explosive Tag Technique, then went home to try on their new uniforms.

• Megumi Kato became Tsunade's disciple, and three days later Tsunade was inaugurated as Konoha's Fifth Hokage.
• Tsunade promoted Xia Mu to jonin and Shino Aburame, Shikamaru Nara, Neji Hyuga, Sasuke Uchiha, and Tenten to chunin, while accepting Megumi as her disciple.
• Tsunade temporarily reorganized the genin into new teams, including a team of Rock Lee, Tatsuya Yamanaka, and Megumi Kato led by Aoba Yamashiro.
• Xia Mu gave Tsunade a working Chakra Battery and offered its technology in exchange for the Mutual Multiplication Explosive Tag Technique, which she agreed to provide.
• Xia Mu and Tenten collected their uniforms, returned home, and changed into them.

After Tsunade assigned Xia Mu to investigate Orochimaru in the Land of Sound, he discovered and documented numerous experimental hideouts while avoiding detection. A month into the mission, he had surveyed most of the country but was still searching for Orochimaru himself.

• At a celebration for the Konoha 11's promotions, Tsunade sent Tenten a scroll containing the Mutual Multiplication Explosive Tag Technique, which she and Xia Mu read together.
• Tsunade dispatched teams to guard the borders and assist with Sunagakure negotiations, while she tasked Xia Mu with investigating Orochimaru and Otogakure in the Land of Sound.
• Xia Mu flew to the Land of Sound on a giant eagle, found a hidden experimental cave, and sent Tsunade photographs and intelligence about Orochimaru's human experiments.
• After reviewing Xia Mu's report, Tsunade decided to have him continue searching while Konoha finished negotiations with Sunagakure and prepared to strike Orochimaru.
• Over the following weeks, Xia Mu found and reported ten experimental bases, surveyed most of the Land of Sound, and continued looking for Orochimaru.

Xia Mu discovered Orochimaru’s main base and learned that the Sound Four were heading to capture Sasuke, so he sent intelligence to Konoha and Kakashi. Kakashi’s team set an ambush, and the battle began with Sasuke confronting Tayuya.

• Xia Mu spotted the Sound Four at Orochimaru’s base, then sent reports about them to Konoha and Kakashi.
• Kakashi, Sasuke, and Shino decided to use Sasuke as bait and prepare an ambush, while Tsunade arranged for Might Guy’s Team to provide support.
• Shino’s insects detected the Sound Four approaching, and Sasuke waited for them in an open area.
• The Sound Four attacked Sasuke, but Kakashi, Shino, and Sasuke countered with traps, ninjutsu, and ambushes.
• Tayuya summoned three Wrathful Demons and controlled them with her flute, but Sasuke rushed straight at her.

Sasuke, Shino, and Kakashi fought the Sound Four while Xia Mu discovered that Kimimaro had been sent as reinforcements and relayed his intelligence to Tenten. As the battles continued, Shino blinded Jirobo with Solar Flare, while Might Guy’s team hurried toward the fighting.

• Sasuke dodged Tayuya’s Wrathful Demons, resisted her sound-based genjutsu with his Sharingan, and realized the Sound Four were formidable opponents.
• Shino used his insects and Kami-e to counter Jirobo’s attacks, while Kakashi evaded Kidomaru’s webs and Sakon and Ukon’s attempts to parasitize him.
• Xia Mu watched Kimimaro leave, recognized that the Sound Four had gained a dangerous reinforcement, and sent Tenten intelligence about Kimimaro and Shikotsumyaku.
• Tenten, Might Guy, and Neji read Xia Mu’s message and urged Badora to fly faster toward the northeastern border.
• Shino lured Jirobo away from the other battles, and Jirobo activated Curse Mark Stage Two before charging him.
• Shino blinded Jirobo with Solar Flare, leaving him screaming and unable to see as he collided with Shino.

Shino killed Jirobo and joined Kakashi and Sasuke against the remaining Sound Four, while the enemies activated Curse Mark Stage Two. Kakashi killed Kidomaru, and Shino used the Aburame Clan’s insects to trap Ukon and disable Sakon, leaving their fight unresolved.

• Shino used an Insect Clone and a swarm to drain Jirobo’s Chakra and kill him.
• Shino and Kakashi chose Sakon and Ukon and Kidomaru as their opponents, then the remaining Sound Four activated Curse Mark Stage Two.
• Tayuya sent three spiritual-energy snakes after Sasuke, while Kidomaru fired a guided golden arrow at Kakashi.
• Kakashi dodged Kidomaru’s arrow and killed him with Chidori.
• Shino blocked Sakon and Ukon with the Six Styles, then let Ukon parasitize him so his insects could devour Ukon’s Chakra.
• Shino struck Sakon’s abdomen, causing him to collapse as his curse mark state vanished.

Shino killed Sakon and Ukon, and Sasuke defeated Tayuya before Kimimaro arrived to take him to Orochimaru. Konoha’s reinforcements joined the fight, but Sasuke insisted on facing Kimimaro himself, and Tenten received a message that made Kakashi twitch.

• Shino’s Parasitic Giant Insects killed Sakon, and Kakashi and Shino watched as Sasuke continued fighting Tayuya alone.
• Sasuke used a Shadow Clone to distract Tayuya’s snakes, then pierced her chest with Chidori Sharp Spear.
• Kimimaro arrived, told the dying Tayuya that Orochimaru had sent him, and declared that he would take Sasuke back.
• Might Guy, Tenten, and Neji arrived, and Kakashi read Xia Mu’s intelligence identifying Kimimaro’s Shikotsumyaku.
• Kimimaro blocked Neji’s Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms and fought Guy before Sasuke took him on himself.
• Kimimaro trapped Sasuke’s sword with growing bones, but Sasuke refused Shino and Tenten’s offers to take over; Tenten sent a note and received a reply that made Kakashi twitch.

Xia Mu watched Kabuto near Orochimaru’s base while Sasuke struggled against Kimimaro and nearly gave in to the Curse Mark’s allure. Sasuke suppressed the mark and joined Kakashi’s group in facing Kimimaro, who transformed and attacked with his spine as a whip.

• Tenten reported that she, Xia Mu, Might Guy, and Neji had arrived, and Xia Mu warned her that Kimimaro was strong.
• Xia Mu spotted Kabuto outside Orochimaru’s base, vanished when Kabuto sensed him, then returned after Kabuto left.
• Kimimaro overwhelmed Sasuke with his bone techniques and blocked Sasuke’s Chidori Sharp Spear with a bone shield.
• Sasuke briefly considered using the Curse Mark, but remembered Xia Mu’s advice, suppressed the mark with hand seals, and urged everyone to attack Kimimaro together.
• Kimimaro activated Curse Mark Stage Two, pulled out his spine, and whipped it at Kakashi before Might Guy charged in with Konoha Great Whirlwind.