Chapter Summaries

Kakashi, Might Guy, and the others fought Kimimaro as he tried to take Sasuke back to Orochimaru. Kimimaro died after unleashing his bone forest, and the two squads later returned to the village after receiving Tsunade’s message.

• Kimimaro bound Might Guy with his spinal whip and attacked with a skeletal flower, but Kakashi and the others fought back with the Eight Gates, Chidori, and their other techniques.
• Tenten teleported and detonated five hundred thousand Explosive Tags, leaving Kimimaro badly wounded but alive.
• Kimimaro declared his devotion to Orochimaru and used Early Fern Dance to turn the surrounding area into a vast forest of bones.
• Kimimaro attacked Kakashi and Might Guy with a bone spear, then died before he could strike; Sasuke honored him as a strong man.
• The group rested and Tenten discussed Kimimaro’s sacrifice with Xia Mu, who compared it to Haku’s devotion to Zabuza.
• A day later, the two squads received Tsunade’s message and rode Badora back to the village.

After returning from the border, the teams reported their victory over Orochimaru’s forces, and Tsunade delayed any attack on the Land of Sound until the village grew stronger. Xia Mu returned to Konoha, received an S-rank mission reward, and asked Tsunade for access to the Senju Clan’s Library, prompting Sasuke and Neji to ask as well.

• Kakashi, Might Guy, Tenten, Sasuke, and their teammates returned safely to Konoha on the Giant Mountain Eagle and reported their mission to Tsunade.
• Tsunade upgraded the border mission to A-rank and explained that Konoha could not yet attack Orochimaru because the village lacked manpower and needed to strengthen its defenses.
• Tenten used the Flying Thunder God Technique to summon Xia Mu back from the Land of Sound, and she caught him in a princess carry when he appeared horizontally.
• Tsunade upgraded Xia Mu’s investigation mission to S-rank because he had located Orochimaru’s headquarters and warned the team about their attackers.
• Xia Mu asked to study the Senju Clan’s Library, and Sasuke and Neji asked to visit it too.
• Tsunade offered each of them three days in the library after they completed three S-rank missions, excluding Xia Mu’s current mission.

Xia Mu asked Katsuyu about natural energy and learned how to sense it, while using a Shadow Clone to safely experience its dangers. After returning home, he reviewed Tenten’s performance against the Sound Five and began discussing ways to strengthen her techniques.

• Xia Mu agreed with Tsunade’s three-mission condition and asked to speak with Katsuyu about learning Sage Mode.
• Katsuyu confirmed that Shikkotsu Forest had a Sage Mode and that Hashirama had learned his there, then warned Xia Mu about the dangers of natural energy.
• Katsuyu injected natural energy into Xia Mu’s Shadow Clone, which turned to stone and exploded after transmitting the sensation to him.
• Xia Mu and Tenten returned home, rested, and spent the next day reviewing her battle against Kimimaro.
• Xia Mu identified limitations in Tenten’s ninja-tool attacks, and Tenten showed him scrolls containing sealed mountains, seawater, flames, and poisonous smoke.

Xia Mu helped Tenten learn to seal powerful ninjutsu into scrolls, then developed giant water constructs and planned a stone mech to prepare for future battles. Tenten returned from an escort mission exhausted after Sakura, Ino, and Choji repeatedly failed to work together, forcing her to protect the caravan.

• Xia Mu taught Tenten to seal ninjutsu into scrolls and gave her scrolls containing five Vortex Boiling Water attacks and other ultimate moves.
• Tenten proposed sealing enemy attacks, but Xia Mu advised her that dodging was usually safer and planned to ask Kakashi and Asuma for Fire and Wind Release techniques.
• Xia Mu resolved to grow stronger before Pain's invasion and the Fourth Shinobi World War, then trained himself to create giant water constructs without relying on hand seals.
• Xia Mu developed a sixty-meter Water Giant, a Water Dragon, a whale, and a Kraken, then began planning stone constructs for a future mech.
• Tenten returned from escorting Sakura, Ino, and Choji's squad and told Xia Mu that their poor coordination and carelessness had forced her to protect the caravan from bandits and wandering ninja.
• Xia Mu sympathized with Tenten and suggested that Neji's mission with Naruto, Kiba, and Hinata's squad might have gone even worse.

Xia Mu demonstrated his Water Giant, then received an S-rank mission to investigate two Akatsuki members at the Bounty Exchange. He identified Kakuzu and Hidan, sent their details to Konoha, and waited for Tsunade's orders as she assembled the village's leadership.

• Xia Mu and Tenten heard how Naruto's team had lost a noble's treasure after poor coordination, while Shino reported that Aoba's Team had completed its mission smoothly.
• Xia Mu showed Neji, Shino, and Tenten his ten-meter Water Giant, which withstood their attacks and demonstrated its strength.
• Tsunade assigned Xia Mu an S-rank mission after Anbu reported two cloaked men frequenting the Bounty Exchange, and he traveled there to investigate.
• Xia Mu watched Kakuzu and Hidan from a distance, recorded their appearances and abilities, and sent the information to Tsunade using Flying Thunder God.
• Tsunade summoned Shizune, the two advisers, Kakashi, and Tenten, then sent Xia Mu instructions to avoid a direct fight and prioritize escape.

Tsunade and her advisors studied Xia Mu’s intelligence on Akatsuki’s Immortal Duo and approved a cautious mission to eliminate them, with Kakashi leading a team to reinforce Xia Mu. As the team prepared to depart, Tenten stayed behind to maintain instant communication with Xia Mu, who continued following Kakuzu and Hidan.

• Tsunade shared Xia Mu’s intelligence about Kakuzu and Hidan, and Kakashi, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu recognized the danger they posed.
• Tsunade rejected the suggestion that Xia Mu confront the pair alone and decided that Kakashi would lead a supported mission after assessing Konoha’s limited forces.
• Naruto asked Tenten about Xia Mu, then Kakashi urged him to train with Kiba and Hinata for the Chunin Exams instead of worrying about a jonin-level mission.
• Kakashi told Tenten about the Immortal Duo and used her Flying Thunder God communication to learn that Xia Mu was tracking them toward another bounty target.
• Tenten asked to join Kakashi’s team, but Kakashi assigned her to stay with Tsunade and maintain contact with Xia Mu so the village could respond quickly.
• Kakashi selected a team of himself, Asuma, and four chunin, and Tsunade approved the mission despite concerns about its strength.

Kakashi, Asuma, Neji, Sasuke, Shino, and Shikamaru joined Xia Mu to plan an ambush against Kakuzu and Hidan. Shikamaru’s plan separated Hidan from Kakuzu, but the squad struggled to defeat Hidan, who gained the upper hand.

• Kakashi and Asuma briefed Neji, Sasuke, Shino, and Shikamaru on Kakuzu and Hidan and explained the mission’s danger.
• Xia Mu told the group that Kakuzu and Hidan were likely to return to the nearby Bounty Exchange, and Shikamaru devised a plan to lure Hidan away by insulting Jashin.
• The group prepared the ambush, and Xia Mu returned to his surveillance point to find Kakuzu and Hidan already heading back with another corpse.
• Hidan refused to enter the stinking Bounty Exchange and chased a child carrying an insulting message, allowing Xia Mu to teleport him to the squad’s ambush site.
• Shino’s insects failed to drain Hidan’s power, and Sasuke, Neji, and Shino attacked him directly.
• Hidan’s reach and strength overwhelmed the three shinobi, and Sasuke was nearly cut by Hidan’s Triple-Bladed Scythe.

Shikamaru’s team defeated and dismembered the immortal Hidan, while Xia Mu, Kakashi, and the others fought the far more powerful Kakuzu. The chapter ended as Kakuzu released the four masked heart creatures hidden inside his body.

• Shikamaru immobilized Hidan, and the team dismembered him before scattering and blasting his pieces with Explosive Tags.
• Xia Mu and Kakashi confronted Kakuzu, who revived after Xia Mu severed his head by sewing it back on with black threads.
• Sasuke, Neji, Shino, Shikamaru, and Asuma joined the fight, but Kakuzu’s strength and living threads repeatedly put them in danger.
• Xia Mu and Kakashi pierced Kakuzu from behind, but he had moved his hearts out of reach and flung them away.
• Xia Mu secretly placed a Flying Thunder God Jutsu Formula on Kakuzu before being thrown aside.
• Kakuzu removed his cloak and released four masked, black-threaded heart creatures from his body.

Xia Mu and the Konoha team killed Kakuzu and Hidan, recovered two Akatsuki rings, and divided Kakuzu’s one hundred million ryo. After the team headed home, Tenten received Xia Mu’s message confirming that everyone was safe.

• Kakuzu unleashed huge ninjutsu attacks, but Xia Mu used Flying Thunder God to strike his heart and remove his corpse before the other hearts could revive him.
• Kakashi, Asuma, Neji, Shino, and Sasuke destroyed Kakuzu’s remaining masked hearts, while the team confirmed his death and found a hundred million ryo among his belongings.
• The six-person team split the money, with each member receiving twelve million ryo and Xia Mu receiving the remaining twenty-eight million.
• Kakashi decided to leave Hidan’s head behind, while Shikamaru gave him Hidan’s ring and the team recovered Kakuzu’s ring before departing for Konoha.
• A Pitcher Plant Man learned that Kakuzu and Hidan had died and that their rings were taken, while Tenten received Xia Mu’s note confirming the mission was complete and everyone was safe.

After returning from the mission against the Immortal Duo, Xia Mu reunited with Tenten and reported Kakuzu’s defeat to Tsunade, who refused Danzo’s demand to take the corpses. Xia Mu later entered the Special Laboratory and successfully learned to control natural energy, leaving the chapter ready for him to refine Sage Mode further.

• Tsunade confronted Danzo after he demanded the Immortal Duo’s corpses, refused to hand them over, and warned him not to interfere.
• Xia Mu returned to Konoha, reunited with Tenten, and joined Kakashi’s group in reporting the mission to Tsunade.
• Tsunade accepted Kakuzu’s corpse and the Akatsuki rings, recorded the S-rank mission rewards, and promised Xia Mu access to the Senju Clan Library after one more S-rank mission.
• Xia Mu spent several days with Tenten before entering the Special Laboratory on the first and experimenting with natural energy.
• Xia Mu found that Chakra could control natural energy, achieved Sage Mode, and demonstrated its increased power with Sage Art: Water Release: Wild Water Wave.

Xia Mu completed his third S-rank mission by investigating Deidara and Sasori, then gained access to the Senju Clan’s hidden library. He began studying the clan’s chakra research in search of a way to create a Kekkei Genkai of his own.

• Tsunade sent Xia Mu to investigate the Akatsuki members Deidara and Sasori while she dealt with Danzo’s attempts to obtain Kakuzu and Hidan’s remains.
• Danzo ordered Fu Yamanaka and Yabusa to investigate the Jashin Cult and search Takigakure for a copy of Earth Grudge Fear, hoping to discover immortality and become Hokage forever.
• Xia Mu tracked Deidara and Sasori in the Sand Country, recorded their abilities, and spent a month training while sending Tsunade occasional updates.
• Xia Mu returned to Konoha, submitted his intelligence, and asked Tsunade to take him to the Senju Clan’s library after completing three S-rank missions.
• Tsunade sealed Xia Mu inside the library for three days, and he began studying the clan’s training notes and research on chakra natures and Kekkei Genkai.

After studying the Senju Clan’s notes, Xia Mu successfully fused Lightning and Water Chakra into Storm Release and began developing techniques with it. He told Tenten about his achievement, and she celebrated by urging them to have a child, while Xia Mu planned to pursue more nature fusions.

• Tsunade released Xia Mu from the secret chamber after three days, and he warned Neji and Sasuke to prepare food, water, and a lamp before reading in the library.
• Tsunade let Neji and Sasuke count six A-rank Missions as one S-rank Mission, while she insisted Xia Mu continue taking S-rank Missions.
• Xia Mu studied Chakra Nature and fusion theories for a month, then used the Special Laboratory to successfully combine Lightning and Water Chakra into Storm Release.
• Xia Mu tested Storm Release against a mountain and began developing techniques such as Fingertip Laser and Storm Body Flicker.
• Tenten worried when Xia Mu slept through the day, then learned he had synthesized Storm Release and proposed they have a child.
• Xia Mu explained his plans to pursue Wood Release and Magnet Release by fusing his other Chakra Natures.

Xia Mu encouraged Tenten to seek the Six Paths Tools, explaining that Orochimaru might know where the Gold and Silver Brothers’ tools were. He later sparred with Sasuke and Neji, who showed off new techniques, while Kakashi and Might Guy discussed Neji’s potential for promotion to jonin.

• Tenten worried that she was falling behind Xia Mu, so he suggested they look for the Six Paths Tools and investigate Orochimaru’s information when Tsunade moved against him.
• With missions scarce, Sasuke and Neji asked Xia Mu to spar with them while Tenten, Shino, and Sakura watched.
• Xia Mu attacked with Lightning Body Flicker, and Sasuke surprised him with one-handed seals as Neji pressed him with Eight Trigrams 128 Palms.
• Xia Mu used Lightning Release: False Darkness, and Sasuke revealed that he had learned Fire Release: Headhunter after watching Kakuzu.
• Neji and Sasuke continued attacking together, but Xia Mu kept pace with them using his short blade, Moon Walk, and Tempest Kick.
• Kakashi and Might Guy watched the fight, and Might Guy said he planned to recommend Neji for jonin after the next Chunin Exams.

Xia Mu defeated Sasuke and Neji, then joined Shino to find Naruto, Kiba, and Hinata arguing instead of training. Concerned that their team lacked the cooperation needed to pass the Chunin Exams, he proposed holding a mock exam.

• Sasuke used a technique inspired by Shisui's Body Flicker, but Xia Mu caught him with Chakra Threads and knocked him away.
• Neji attacked with his new Rotating Heavenly Spin, but Xia Mu interrupted it with a spinning top made from Earth Release and Chakra.
• Might Guy and Kakashi agreed to help Neji and Sasuke improve their new techniques, while Kakashi urged Sakura to train for the Chunin Exams.
• Xia Mu, Tenten, and Shino found Naruto and Kiba fighting while Hinata watched helplessly, and Shino stopped them with his insects.
• Shino scolded Naruto, Kiba, and Hinata for their poor teamwork and asked Xia Mu for a solution; Xia Mu proposed a mock exam.

Xia Mu organized a mock Chunin Exam to test three genin teams, and Aoba's Team won after Naruto and Kiba's poor coordination let them take the scrolls. The public results embarrassed the losing teams, and Tsunade announced a larger mock exam for the next month as Xia Mu and Tenten left on a mission to the capital of the Land of Fire.

• Xia Mu arranged a three-hour scroll-grabbing mock exam for Kurenai's Team, Aoba's Team, and Asuma's Team, with results to be posted publicly.
• Naruto and Kiba argued over their strategy while Sakura's team targeted them and Aoba's Team prepared an ambush.
• Aoba's Team defeated Hinata, took the Heaven and Earth scrolls, and reached Training Ground Eight before the other teams.
• Shino scolded Naruto, Kiba, and Hinata for failing to cooperate, and Tsunade announced that the mock exam results would be posted and another exam would take place next month.
• The public results brought the losing genin disapproval and punishment at home, while Naruto vowed to win the next exam.
• Xia Mu and Tenten left on a B-rank mission to the capital of the Land of Fire, where Tenten showed him her family's shops.

Xia Mu successfully fused Wood Release and Magnet Release, giving him three Kekkei Genkai, and showed his new abilities to Tenten. As the Chunin Exams approached, Konoha's mock exam prompted other villages to consider holding their own.

• Xia Mu and Tenten toured her family's businesses in the Land of Fire's capital, then shared a private hot spring visit and grew closer.
• Xia Mu fused Water Nature and Earth Nature Chakra to gain Wood Release, then fused Lightning Nature and Earth Nature Chakra to gain Magnet Release.
• Xia Mu tested his new abilities by creating a forest, controlling iron tools and flying on a greatsword, then showed Wood Release and Magnet Release to Tenten.
• Xia Mu and Tenten served as proctors for Tsunade's mock Chunin Exam, where Aoba's Team excelled and Asuma's Team and Kurenai's Team passed despite disappointing performances.
• Other villages noticed Konoha's mock exam, and Sunagakure began discussing plans to hold one of its own before the joint Chunin Exams.

Xia Mu helped Tenten earn promotion to Special Jonin, then celebrated with their friends before Tsunade sent him on an S-rank mission to locate Akatsuki's headquarters. While tracking Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sands in the Land of Earth, he discovered them at the scene of an explosion.

• Xia Mu recommended Tenten for Special Jonin, and Tsunade approved her promotion.
• Xia Mu and Tenten celebrated with the Konoha 11, where Xia Mu explained the requirements for becoming a Jonin.
• Tsunade assigned Xia Mu an S-rank mission to follow Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sands and determine Akatsuki's headquarters location.
• Xia Mu traveled to the Land of Earth, disguised himself as a local, and waited near the reported Bounty Exchange.
• Xia Mu heard an explosion, rushed toward it, and found Deidara throwing white spiders while Sasori of the Red Sands stood nearby in his puppet shell.

Xia Mu watched Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sands fight Roshi, then reported their encounter to Tsunade while continuing to track them. After two months, he followed them toward the Land of Rain, where Pain destroyed his Shadow Clone, and Xia Mu escaped after confirming the territory was guarded.

• Xia Mu watched Roshi use Lava Style and the Four-Tails' power against Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sands, who escaped the Tailed Beast Bomb with the Substitution Technique.
• Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi arrived, and Roshi told them he had attacked Deidara; Xia Mu sent Tsunade an intelligence report before resuming his pursuit.
• Tsunade gathered the village leaders to discuss the Akatsuki threat, then sent Xia Mu instructions to continue surveillance and find the Akatsuki headquarters.
• Xia Mu tracked Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sands for two months as they traveled and took bounty missions, while continuing his training.
• When Deidara and Sasori entered the Land of Rain, Xia Mu sent in a disguised Shadow Clone, which Pain detected and destroyed; Xia Mu escaped using the Flying Thunder God.

Xia Mu returned to Konoha after tracking Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sands, then warned Tsunade that a powerful Akatsuki member had destroyed his Shadow Clone in the Land of Rain. He reunited with Tenten at her family’s Ninja Tool Shop while Tsunade prepared a discreet discussion about the threat.

• Xia Mu tracked Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sands through the Land of Rain and sent a Shadow Clone to follow them, but an unseen attacker destroyed it instantly.
• Xia Mu returned to Konoha, reported the incident to Tsunade, and warned her not to send anyone into the Land of Rain; Tsunade decided to summon Kakashi and Shikaku for advice.
• Xia Mu helped his father-in-law at the Ninja Tool Shop, where he heard about several incidents that had occurred in the village during his absence.
• Tenten arrived at the shop and rushed into Xia Mu’s arms, then hurried back to her Chunin Exam duties after their reunion.

Xia Mu and Kakashi followed the Chunin Exam teams toward Sunagakure after Xia Mu revealed that Fū, the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, was among the examinees. They discovered that Shisui and two other Amegakure girls were Akatsuki agents tasked with gathering information on the Jinchuriki, and continued watching them without intervening.

• Xia Mu invited the Konoha 11 to dinner before the Chunin Exams, then spent the evening with Tenten.
• During the exams, Xia Mu recognized Fū of Takigakure as the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki and told Tsunade he feared Akatsuki might target her.
• Tsunade assigned Xia Mu and Kakashi to protect Fū, and they set out toward Sunagakure after informing Tenten’s father.
• Xia Mu and Kakashi caught up with the examinees and followed Fū’s team, Naruto’s team, and the Amegakure girls without revealing themselves.
• Kakashi and Xia Mu overheard Shisui and the other girls say they were sent to find information about the Jinchuriki, so they decided to monitor them and prevent them from approaching the targets.