Chapter Summaries

Mukai’s team defeated three Taki ninja, took their Heaven scroll, and let the captured kunoichi go. Mukai then sent Sasori and Shisō to find another scroll and went alone to meet Orochimaru, setting up a clearing and calling for him.

• Mukai used a burst of compressed Wind Release to knock Tobitake Yūma unconscious with an electric arc.
• Sasori turned Crow into a fan to blow Fire Fly’s pollen back at her, then captured her inside Black Ant.
• Shisō dodged Tetsuiwa Kohaku’s amber and knocked him unconscious with a rapid series of punches.
• Mukai found a Heaven scroll, returned it to Sasori, freed Fire Fly, and told Sasori and Shisō to split up and meet him near the tower.
• Sasori and Shisō worried about Mukai’s safety, but he assured them he had enough supercapacitors and promised he had a reason to contact Orochimaru.
• Mukai traveled alone to a clearing, prepared the area with needles and silver fragments, set down the Heaven scroll, and called for Orochimaru.

Mukai used a devastating electrical attack to destroy three Root ninja who had come to kill him, while Orochimaru barely escaped the blast. Impressed by Mukai’s power, Orochimaru asked what he wanted from him.

• Mukai confronted Orochimaru about the altered Heaven Scroll and proposed making a deal.
• Three Root ninja attacked Mukai, and he refused Orochimaru’s offer to deal with them.
• Mukai unleashed a massive lightning attack powered by supercapacitors and Chakra Metal, incinerating the Root ninja and devastating the forest.
• Mukai protected himself from the attack’s heat by donning the Hierarch Mecha.
• Orochimaru survived with his Orochimaru-Style Substitution Technique, praised Mukai’s Lightning Release, and asked what he wanted.

Mukai confronted Orochimaru about his fear of loneliness and argued that lasting immortality came from spreading ideas and building civilization rather than changing bodies. The chapter ended with Mukai declaring that he wanted to unite the Shinobi World and overturn its corrupt order.

• Orochimaru asked Mukai what he wanted, but Mukai put away the Hierarch Mecha and asked whether Orochimaru was lonely.
• Mukai argued that Orochimaru feared the loss of individual will and warned that Living Corpse Reincarnation could contaminate his soul.
• Mukai told Orochimaru that ideas and civilization could outlast individuals and proposed spreading Ninjutsu so more people could improve and benefit from it.
• Orochimaru questioned whether Mukai could unite the Shinobi World when even Hashirama Senju had failed.
• Mukai vowed to break the restraints imposed by rulers and vested interests and become a beacon for a new world.

Mukai traded a large quantity of Chakra Metal with Orochimaru for the Spirit Transformation Technique and a chance at the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags. He left with the technique, which he planned to use to help Komushi develop, and searched the scorched ground for scattered metal fragments.

• Mukai told Orochimaru that he believed people could overcome fate and offered to work with him toward a new era.
• Mukai offered Orochimaru successive bundles of Chakra Metal in exchange for the Spirit Transformation Technique and the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags.
• Orochimaru accepted the Chakra Metal and gave Mukai the Spirit Transformation Technique, while postponing the deal for the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags.
• After Orochimaru left, Mukai checked on Komushi, who had awakened as an evolving intelligent agent.
• Mukai gave Komushi the Spirit Transformation Technique to analyze, then collected tiny Chakra Metal fragments from the scorched ground.

Mukai discovered that a dozen Chakra Metal fragments had room-temperature superconducting properties and hurried toward the central tower in a new Hierarch Mecha. At the tower, Sasori and Shisō fought two Konoha teams, and a golden figure burst through Shiza Aburame’s insect barrier as the battle intensified.

• Mukai tested the Chakra Metal fragments with an electromagnet, confirmed their room-temperature superconducting properties, and sealed them away with nearby charred soil.
• Mukai put on a new Hierarch Mecha, maximized its kinetic assistance, and sprinted toward the central tower.
• Aoba Yamashiro’s two Konoha teams confronted Sasori and Shisō beside the tower, and Aoba ordered a coordinated attack.
• Sasori’s puppets disrupted the crows, and Black Ant captured Sumashi after his blade broke against its disguise.
• Shisō used an Iron Mountain Lean-style shoulder strike against Tsume Inuzuka’s spinning attack, while a golden figure smashed through Shiza Aburame’s insect barrier.

Mukai used the Hierarch Mecha to defeat the Konoha squads in the Forest of Death and led Sasori and Shisō into the tower with the required scrolls. Seven squads passed the second trial, and Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared with Danzo, Orochimaru, and Minato Namikaze as the next stage approached.

• Mukai charged through Shiza Aburame’s insect wall, knocked out Aoba Yamashiro, and captured Gekko Hayate, subduing the Konoha squads.
• Mukai and Sasori gave the injured Konoha ninja a spare Heaven Scroll and entered the tower with Shisō.
• The exam proctor checked the Sand Ninja squad’s scrolls and announced that they had passed the Forest of Death examination.
• Seven squads passed the second trial: two Sunagakure squads and five Konoha squads, including teams led by Rin and Ebisu.
• Orochimaru’s Shadow Clone vanished, and Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared with Danzo, Orochimaru, and Minato Namikaze.

Hiruzen Sarutobi delivered a speech about the Will of Fire before announcing the one-on-one preliminary round of the Chunin Exam. Danzo failed to recruit Orochimaru, and Minato Namikaze opened the matches.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi praised the young ninjas and urged them to protect their companions, families, and village through the Will of Fire.
• Mukai and Sasori privately mocked Hiruzen Sarutobi's speech, while Obito Uchiha led the crowd in applause.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi announced that the finalists would compete before the daimyos and nobles, then left Minato Namikaze in charge.
• Danzo tried to persuade Orochimaru to join him, but Orochimaru refused and taunted him about Hiruzen Sarutobi watching him.
• Minato Namikaze appeared in the arena and declared the one-on-one preliminary round officially open.

Shisō faced Might Guy in the Chunin Exam preliminaries, where Guy’s Taijutsu overwhelmed him while memories of past ridicule clouded his focus. Encouraged by Mukai and Sasori, Shisō regained his resolve and activated the Seven Heavens Breathing Method as Guy launched another attack.

• Mukai reassured nervous Shisō before his match against Might Guy and permitted him to enter Fourth Activation and open the Gate of Life.
• Guy and Shisō began a Taijutsu match, and Guy’s Dynamic Entry forced Shisō backward.
• Guy pressed his advantage with Konoha Whirlwind and Konoha Strong Whirlwind while Shisō defended instinctively and recalled being mocked for lacking Ninjutsu.
• Mukai reminded Shisō of his dream, and Shisō found the resolve to fight for the future he had worked toward.
• Guy’s kicks knocked Shisō into the air, and Shisō activated the Seven Heavens Breathing Method’s First Activation.

Shisō overwhelmed Might Guy in their Taijutsu match, even after Guy opened the Gate of Opening and launched Front Lotus. The chapter ended with Shisō countering Guy’s powerful kick with Fierce Tiger Climbs the Mountain.

• Shisō blocked Guy’s flying kick and struck him with a fast straight punch, turning the fight in his favor.
• After Shisō beat back several more attacks, Guy opened the Gate of Opening and dramatically increased his strength and speed.
• Guy charged at Shisō with Front Lotus, intending to finish the match with a series of kicks and a slam.
• Shisō activated the second stage of the Seven Heavens Breathing Method and opened the Gate of Opening himself.
• Shisō blocked Guy’s heavy kick with his elbow and countered with Fierce Tiger Climbs the Mountain.

Shisō defeated Might Guy with Fierce Tiger Climbs the Mountain, then Ibiki Morino unexpectedly defeated Gold Dust Binding with a damage-sharing technique. As the Chunin Ninja Exams continued, Mukai designed a vehicle and watched Obito Uchiha immediately forfeit to Rin Nohara.

• Shisō struck Might Guy into a crater, and Minato Namikaze declared Shisō the winner after Guy passed out.
• Shisō thanked Mukai for teaching him Taijutsu techniques, and Mukai promised to design him stronger moves with help from the one who had awakened.
• Gold Dust Binding trapped Ibiki Morino with gold dust ropes, but Ibiki used a damage-sharing technique to injure them both and win.
• Mukai told Sasori he was designing a vehicle for the Land of Wind while the Chunin Ninja Exams continued.
• Obito Uchiha forfeited as soon as his match against Rin Nohara began.

The preliminary matches ended with ten contestants advancing, while Danzo ordered Root to sabotage the Sand ninja and investigate their Jinchūriki. Mukai met Yakushi Nonō in disguise and learned she could offer Root intelligence about a plan targeting his squad.

• Obito Uchiha surrendered to Rin Nohara, who ran off angrily as he chased her, and the remaining preliminary matches produced ten finalists.
• Mukai led Sasori and Shira to collect Pakura, Kari, and the others before moving to Konoha's accommodations and training ground.
• Danzo condemned Hiruzen for allowing four Sand ninja and two Uchiha to advance, then ordered Root to monitor and harass the Sand delegation and seek the location of Sunagakure's Jinchūriki.
• Mukai met Yakushi Nonō, who said his investment had helped the orphanage take in more children and told him the village had cut off its funding.
• Yakushi Nonō offered to send older orphans to Mukai's base in exchange for Root intelligence about its plan concerning his squad.

Mukai warned Yakushi Nonō to be cautious of Danzo and promised to help the orphanage after the war, earning her trust in his vision for the future. He then turned away Might Guy’s request for Taijutsu lessons and discussed his plans for Shira and a new school with Shisō, before asking about Sasori.

• Mukai gave Yakushi Nonō a stun baton and told her to keep most of the orphanage in Konoha until he could establish a safe base after the war.
• Yakushi Nonō said she believed in Mukai’s promised future and agreed to work with him; Mukai said Konan would coordinate the orphanage’s move and asked Nonō to guide Kari in medical ninjutsu.
• Mukai noticed Shisō and Might Guy approaching, and Nonō left while carrying woven rush items.
• Mukai told Might Guy that village techniques were secrets and suggested he ask the Hokage and Kazekage about an exchange; Guy accepted the answer and left after praising Shisō’s Taijutsu.
• Mukai promised Shisō that Shira would receive proper training and said they would build a different kind of school at the oasis; Shisō reaffirmed his loyalty to Mukai.
• Mukai asked Shisō whether Sasori had mastered the Ten Fingers Technique and what he was doing with his new puppets.

Mukai saw Sasori demonstrate a control core that let him operate a complex puppet with one Chakra Thread, then took a Soul Crystal to develop his own circuit. After Komushi confirmed the circuit simulation passed, Mukai began embedding superconductive Chakra Metal wires into the crystal.

• Mukai returned to the house and found Pakura teaching Kari the Chakra Refinement Technique.
• Mukai visited Sasori, who showed him a control core that let him operate the Crow puppet using one Chakra Thread.
• Sasori gave Mukai a Soul Crystal, and Mukai returned to his room to analyze its Chakra pathway with Komushi.
• Kari brought Mukai food, and he asked her to tell Pakura to prepare more meat or eggs for everyone.
• Komushi reported that Mukai's circuit simulation had passed, and Mukai began embedding superconductive Chakra Metal wires into the Soul Crystal.

Mukai successfully transplanted a processing node into a Soul Stone using the Spirit Transformation Technique, creating a controllable intelligent agent. He planned to use the node to refine the technique, while Komushi asked whether the second Soul Stone was intended for Sasori.

• Mukai charged two Soul Crystals with electricity and confirmed that their superconducting circuits retained the charge.
• Mukai found a warm meal and a teasing note from Teacher Pakura, then ate before returning to his training.
• Mukai reviewed the Spirit Transformation Technique and used its first four Hand Seals to separate a processing node without separating his own soul.
• Mukai guided the processing node into the Soul Stone, which began pulsing with light.
• Komushi confirmed that it could sense and control the node, and asked whether the second Soul Stone was for Sasori rather than Shisō or Jonin Pakura.

Mukai installed an intelligent computing node in Sasori’s Crow puppet, enabling it to act independently and defend itself. Sasori became eager to test its abilities, but their late-night excitement drew a reprimand.

• Mukai finished modifying his Hierarch Mecha and went to Sasori’s room with an imbued soul stone.
• Mukai installed the intelligent computing node in Crow and upgraded its power system with supercapacitors and ducted fans.
• Mukai ordered Crow to hover and patrol, demonstrating that it could move and fight without Chakra Threads.
• Mukai showed Sasori Crow’s defense mode, and Sasori excitedly asked how Mukai had made it.
• Mukai explained that Crow’s intelligent agent could learn and evolve, and Sasori tried to take him to the training ground before someone scolded them for making noise.

Mukai accidentally performed the Spirit Transformation Technique in his sleep and drifted through Konoha in spirit form, where he encountered the lingering attachments of the dead. Overwhelmed by their memories and grief, he condemned the shinobi villages and the Will of Fire, while three unusual clusters of light began moving toward him.

• Pakura scolded Mukai and Sasori for staying up late, sent them to bed, and Mukai fell asleep exhausted.
• Mukai instinctively performed the Spirit Transformation Technique in his sleep and found himself floating above Konoha, unable to return to his body.
• Mukai learned to move toward things he sensed and approached the lights near Konoha's Memorial Stone, where their memories flooded his consciousness.
• Komushi processed the memories as Mukai's body twitched and his supercapacitors helped limit his Chakra loss.
• Mukai realized the lights were fragments of the dead's lingering attachments, felt their grief, and spoke to them about the tragedies caused by the shinobi villages and the Will of Fire.
• Three unusual clusters of light began drifting toward Mukai from the Hatake Clan, the abandoned Senju Clan Compound, Konoha Hospital, and other places.

Mukai condemned the Shinobi world's exploitation and vowed to build a fairer society, prompting countless soul fragments to enter his consciousness and nearly overwhelm him. Three powerful spirits stabilized his body and organized the fragments into a vast processing network, while Nine-Tails sensed an interesting soul and woke Kushina.

• Mukai denounced Konoha's leaders and the Shinobi world's wars, then promised to create a peaceful world through technology and merit.
• Countless soul fragments and three large orbs of light entered Mukai, overloading his consciousness and draining his body.
• The three orbs used techniques to stabilize Mukai, restore his vitality, and organize the new consciousness nodes around Komushi.
• Mukai's injuries healed as he fell into a deep sleep, while the three orbs also rested in his sea of consciousness.
• Nine-Tails told Kushina that an interesting soul had woken him, leaving her angry and unable to return to sleep.
• Kushina got up and decided to make Minato breakfast.

Mukai spent his days in Konoha buying small goods from bereaved families and sharing recipes, baffling Danzo and the people around him. Aokawa Delia later visited her father's memorial and realized Mukai's help had given her a way to support her family as the Chunin Exam finals approached.

• Danzo demanded information about Mukai, then ordered Root to arrest everyone Mukai had visited until he learned they were more than two hundred widows of fallen Konoha ninja.
• Mukai paid Aokawa Delia a thousand ryo for ten paper frogs, then continued wandering Konoha and spending money on people and their families.
• Mukai's strange generosity confused Root, Anbu, Pakura, Sasori, and the others, while his Chakra continued to grow.
• As the daimyos and nobles arrived, the Chunin Ninja Exams finals approached.
• Aokawa Delia told her father's name at the Memorial Stone that Mukai's payment and braised-meat recipe had helped her earn a living and care for her mother.
• A half-burned paper frog drifted into Delia's hand, and her tears soaked it.

Mukai’s unexplained gains remained secret as the joint Chunin Ninja Exams finals began with Sasori facing Shisō. Sasori unveiled his ability to control seven puppets, and Shisō met their assault with his Eight Gates-enhanced taijutsu.

• Mukai reflected on the star-like points in his mindscape and kept his recent gains from Sasori and the others.
• The joint Chunin Ninja Exams finals began in a stadium before village leaders, nobles, and merchants.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Third Kazekage traded remarks about their villages’ finalists while Danzo received a secret message from a Root ninja.
• Shisō opened the second stage of the Seven Heavens Breathing Method and the first gate of the Eight Gates Released Formation, then attacked Sasori’s Sand Clone and Black Ant.
• Sasori deployed Crow and five dual-blade puppets, bringing the number he controlled to seven and forcing Shisō onto the defensive.
• Shisō used Bajiquan and the Body Flicker Technique to counter the puppets, then advanced into their next coordinated attack.

Shisō lost to Sasori after Sasori revealed he had hidden aboard Crow, but a masked ninja then accused Sasori of entering the Chunin Ninja Exams as a Chunin disguised as a Genin. The Third Kazekage tried to blame Sasori, and Mukai publicly defended him and challenged the village’s decision to sacrifice his reputation.

• Shisō drove away four of Sasori’s dual-sword puppets, but fell into Black Ant after mistaking it for Sasori in disguise.
• Sasori revealed he had hidden on Crow, freed Shisō, and won the match after Shisō conceded.
• A masked ninja presented Minato Namikaze with a scroll claiming Sasori had been a Chunin for a year and had fraudulently entered the exams as a Genin.
• The Third Kazekage announced that Sasori had deceived the daimyo and tarnished Sunagakure’s image, while blaming Pakura for failing to prevent it.
• Mukai took Sasori’s hand and argued that the village had approved his participation, refusing to let the Third Kazekage make him the sole scapegoat.