Chapter Summaries

Kei, Mei Terumi, and Kisame returned to Kirigakure after escaping the ambush and reunited with their instructor Ao. Ao told them that almost all their comrades had been killed and that Konoha’s information confirmed the losses, leaving the three asking about what happened and whether Hozuki Shingetsu had returned.

• Takuma told Kei, Mei Terumi, and Kisame that Ao had already returned to the village, and the three hurried back to Kirigakure.
• Kei noticed a colder-than-usual atmosphere among the Mist Ninja guarding the village gate, though he dismissed his unease as oversensitivity.
• Ao welcomed the three youngsters and brought them to his home, where they recounted how they had escaped their pursuers.
• Ao revealed that only two other comrades had returned and that the rest were presumed dead, with information from Konoha corroborating the losses.
• Kei, Mei Terumi, and Kisame each asked about a different concern, including whether Hozuki Shingetsu was among the survivors.

Kei, Mei, and Kisame learned that Hozuki Shingetsu had survived but remained badly injured, while Konoha called the attack a misunderstanding and offered compensation. Ao suspended Team 7’s missions and hinted at hidden forces within Konoha, leaving Mei confused and upset that Kei had left before she could ask questions.

• Ao told Kei that Hozuki Shingetsu had returned with severe injuries and was receiving treatment in the hospital.
• Ao said the Third Hokage called the attack a misunderstanding and offered compensation to Kirigakure, subject to its leaders’ views.
• Kisame and Mei reacted angrily and incredulously to Konoha’s explanation, while Kei recognized Hiruzen Sarutobi’s approach.
• Ao suspended Team 7’s missions and hinted that the attack might involve a force in Konoha separate from the Hokage’s Anbu.
• Kei ended the meeting and led Mei and Kisame out of Ao’s house, prompting Mei to demand to know why he had left before she could ask questions.

After returning to Kirigakure, Kei sensed growing tension among the Mist Ninja and suspected the blood mist policy was intensifying under Karatachi Yagura. Before he could settle in, Shogo Minazuki arrived with an urgent summons from the Yuki Clan leader.

• Kei dismissed Mei Terumi’s questions and left Ao’s house, while Kisame and Mei Terumi went their separate ways.
• As Kei headed back to the Yuki Clan compound, he noticed older Mist Ninja had grown colder and harsher, suggesting that Kirigakure’s blood mist policy was taking hold.
• Kei reasoned that Karatachi Yagura was using the policy to consolidate power and suppress the kekkei genkai clans, though he believed the Yuki Clan was not yet in immediate danger.
• Soon after Kei returned home, Shogo Minazuki knocked on his door and told him the clan leader wanted to see him at once.

Kei met with Minazuki Shun and the Yuki Clan’s three elders shortly after returning home. The clan leaders praised his strength and began questioning him about a serious matter, leaving him wary of what they intended to ask.

• Shogo Minazuki escorted Kei to meet the clan head soon after Kei returned home.
• Kei entered Minazuki Shun’s reception hall and respectfully greeted Shun and the three elders.
• Minazuki Shun introduced the elders as Minazuki Eiichiro, Minazuki Kazuya, and Minazuki Sogen.
• Minazuki Kazuya praised Kei for defeating a Jonin, and Minazuki Eiichiro urged him to conduct himself openly and honorably.
• Kei responded modestly while wondering what serious matter the clan leaders wanted to discuss.

Kei reported on his time in Konoha to Minazuki Shun and the Yuki Clan elders, carefully withholding information he was not supposed to know. The elders sought Genji’s position on the growing dispute with Karatachi Yagura, but Kei said he had received no instructions, and Shun sent him home to rest.

• Minazuki Shun summoned Kei and asked him to recount what had happened during his trip to Konoha.
• Kei gave the elders an account of his experiences while omitting Hiruzen Sarutobi’s visit and the Root connection behind the ambush.
• The chapter revealed that Hozuki Rinzuki had confronted Karatachi Yagura, while the Hozuki and Kaguya clans considered pressuring the Mizukage and the Yuki Clan remained hesitant.
• Minazuki Sogen asked Kei for Genji’s position, and Kei replied that Ao-sensei had given him no instructions.
• Minazuki Shun thanked Kei for his work and told him to go home and rest.

After Kei left, Minazuki Shun and the Yuki Clan elders assessed Karatachi Yagura’s efforts to reduce the great clans’ influence and debated how to respond. Shun decided to consult Ritsu before choosing whether to align with the Hozuki Clan, while the Yuki Clan remained unwilling to oppose the Mizukage without Genji’s lead.

• Kei bowed to Minazuki Shun and the elders, then left the meeting.
• Minazuki Kazuya said Karatachi Yagura had been steadily removing the three great clans from key village positions, while Genji appeared to accept the situation.
• Minazuki Eiichiro observed that the Mizukage had control of the dispute, and Elder Sogen urged the Yuki Clan to coordinate with the Hozuki Clan without taking the lead.
• Minazuki Shun agreed to visit Ritsu that night and determine the Hozuki Clan’s intentions before deciding how the Yuki Clan should proceed.
• Shun resolved that the Yuki Clan would not join any attempt to replace the Mizukage unless Genji led it.

Minazuki Shun considered Kirigakure’s political balance and the Mizukage’s intentions as villages across the Shinobi World gathered intelligence about the tensions between Konoha and Kirigakure. In Kumogakure, the Third Raikage convened his leaders, and Dodai warned that Kirigakure might be targeting the Cloud rather than Konoha.

• Minazuki Shun judged that the Yuki Clan would not rebel against Karatachi Yagura and wondered what the Mizukage intended.
• Ninja villages across the Shinobi World received intelligence about the situation between Konoha and Kirigakure.
• Third Raikage A summoned Kumogakure’s senior leaders, including Blue B, Dodai, Yotsuki Burui, and Killer B, for a meeting.
• Dodai argued that war between Konoha and Kirigakure was unlikely and warned that Kirigakure might be setting its sights on Kumogakure.

Third Raikage A heard differing opinions on whether Kumogakure should exploit a possible rift between Konoha and Kirigakure. He weighed calls for caution against plans to seize the Land of Hot Water, then turned to decide what action the village would take.

• Zasai urged Third Raikage A to wait for more information before acting.
• Sekito argued that Kumogakure should contact Kirigakure and seize the Land of Hot Water while the opportunity lasted.
• Third Raikage A asked his son Yotsuki Burui for his opinion, and Burui supported strengthening ties with Kirigakure and striking first if possible.
• Killer B praised Burui, then Third Raikage A asked Blue B, who recommended a limited test of the waters until Kumogakure had better intelligence.
• The village leaders gave their views, leaving the final decision to Third Raikage A.

The Third Raikage ordered a 3,000-strong Cloud Ninja force led by Yotsuki Burui to seize the Land of Hot Water, while other nations reacted to the advance. As Yugakure appealed to Konohagakure and the great villages raised their readiness, the Shinobi World braced for war.

• The Third Raikage ordered Dodai, Burui, Killer B, and Blue B to lead 3,000 Cloud Ninja into the Land of Hot Water.
• Yotsuki Burui led the assembled Cloud Ninja force toward the Land of Hot Water.
• Yugakure sounded the alarm and sent representatives to contact Konohagakure.
• Ōnoki ordered Iwagakure's forces to their highest alert after hearing of the Cloud Ninja advance.
• The Third Kazekage reinforced Sunagakure's border defenses and adopted a wait-and-see approach.

Karatachi Yagura decided to use the Cloud Ninja’s advance to pressure Konoha and secure Kirigakure’s interests while avoiding a risky war. Meanwhile, Kei returned to training and taught Minazuki Takahiro the fundamentals of Ice Release, warning that Takahiro could miss his chance to enroll if he failed to improve.

• Karatachi Yagura realized Third Raikage A’s advance into the Land of Hot Water gave Kirigakure an opportunity to pressure Konoha and negotiate for a share of its interests.
• The Third Hokage sent reinforcements under Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Hatake Sakumo to strengthen Konoha’s borders and made further concessions in negotiations with Kirigakure and Kumogakure.
• After returning to the village, Kei visited Hozuki Shingetsu and then resumed training, deciding he needed more combat methods beyond Ice Release.
• Kei trained Minazuki Takahiro in the Ice Sealing Technique and explained that fine control had to come before expanding its range.
• Kei warned Takahiro that if he failed to meet his requirements in the coming months, he would have to wait until the year after next to enroll.

Kei trained Takahiro to prepare him for the increasingly brutal Mist graduation exams and the coming war. Meanwhile, Kirigakure and Kumogakure gained influence through negotiations with Konoha, which conceded ground while preserving limited defenses.

• Kei warned Takahiro about the Blood Mist Policy and required him to master basic Ice Release before entering the Ninja Academy early.
• Takahiro accepted Kei's standards and resumed training, while Kei hoped he would be able to survive a possible graduation exam alongside Zabuza.
• Kei spent the days after returning to the village training and monitoring the Shinobi World's growing tensions.
• Kirigakure deployed over three thousand Mist Ninja to the former Land of Whirlpools, led by a trusted subordinate of Karatachi Yagura and backed by Suikazan Fuguki, Raiga Kurosuki, and Munashi Jinpachi.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi rejected Danzo's calls for war and agreed to Kirigakure's demands, including Konoha withdrawing from the Land of Tea and leaving its missions to the Mist Ninja.
• Hiruzen also tacitly accepted Kumogakure's expansion in the Land of Hot Water, while keeping Konoha outposts near Fengzui Mountain.

The Five Great Shinobi Villages chose to avoid war, and the crisis subsided, though Kei felt unexpectedly disappointed by the peace. In Kirigakure, Ao gathered Team 7 to meet the Fourth Mizukage, who planned to promote them to Chunin in person.

• The Third Raikage stopped in the Land of Hot Water, while the other great villages also abandoned plans to escalate the conflict.
• The Third Kazekage welcomed the return of peace and resumed his gold-panning enterprise, and Ōnoki canceled his plans to exploit the turmoil.
• Kei received news that war had been averted and questioned why he felt disappointed before deciding it was time to act again.
• On July 13, Ao summoned Team 7 and told Kei, Mei Terumi, and Kisame Hoshigaki they would meet the Fourth Mizukage.
• Ao explained that the Fourth Mizukage intended to personally give the three Genin their Chunin promotion orders, while a subtle trace of worry crossed Ao's eyes.

Kei, Mei Terumi, and Kisame met Karatachi Yagura in the Mizukage Building after their performance in the Chunin Ninja Exams. Yagura promoted all three to Chunin and ordered them to continue serving together as Team 7.

• Ao led Kei, Mei Terumi, and Kisame into the Mizukage Building and brought them before Karatachi Yagura.
• Yagura praised the three for their exam performance, especially Kei, and reminded them to know their place.
• Kei accepted Yagura's praise respectfully while privately reflecting on the purpose and excesses of the Blood Mist Policy.
• Yagura personally handed each of them a promotion order, making them Chunin.
• Yagura told the three to keep carrying out missions as Team 7, and they agreed to follow his command.

Kei, Mei Terumi, and Kisame were promoted to chunin and learned that Ao would no longer lead Team 7 in person. The three set out to celebrate their promotion by taking a mission, despite Mei Terumi's protests.

• Kei reflected on becoming a chunin months after graduating from the academy, while Mei Terumi and Kisame shared their surprise at the promotion.
• Kei explained that their new rank did not mean they were ready to lead squads, given their limited age and experience.
• Ao told Team 7 that he would remain their captain but would usually stop leading them in person, leaving the three chunin to carry out missions themselves.
• Mei Terumi suggested celebrating their promotion, and Kei proposed taking a mission instead of going for a meal.
• Kisame followed Kei toward the mission center, and Mei Terumi reluctantly went after them.

After celebrating their promotion, Kei, Mei Terumi, and Kisame took on difficult missions for months, building experience and a reputation while recognizing the limits of their strength. The chapter ended with an unidentified attacker killing a fleeing middle-aged man on a beach in the Land of Rainbows.

• Kei celebrated his promotion to Chunin with Mei Terumi and Kisame, and Aunt Kiko prepared a lavish dinner for him.
• After a short break, Kei, Mei Terumi, and Kisame began taking A-rank and high-paying B-rank missions outside the Land of Water.
• The team completed around a dozen missions from mid-July through November and earned the nickname “Kirigakure's Little Sannin.”
• Kei, Mei Terumi, and Kisame encountered Suikazan Fuguki and recognized that they were still far below the strongest Elite Jonin.
• A fleeing middle-aged man reached the coast of the Land of Rainbows, where an unseen assailant struck his throat with a projectile and killed him.

Kei and Mei completed their mission in the Land of Rainbows, eliminating the final target and sinking the freighter before reporting to the daimyo. The daimyo thanked the team and promised future assistance, and Kei left focused on his own growth.

• Mei confirmed the final mission target was dead, recovered his token, and sealed his corpse in a scroll.
• Kei destroyed the freighter with his Ice Release technique, and Mei praised his growing strength.
• Kei and Mei returned to the capital after completing the A-rank mission to purge the officials threatening the daimyo.
• The daimyo thanked Kei and his teammates, paid them, and offered to help them in the future.
• Kei accepted the daimyo’s thanks politely and reflected that his priority was still improving himself.

After completing their mission in the Land of Rainbows, Kei, Mei Terumi, and Kisame returned to Kirigakure amid escalating clashes between the great nations. Kei remarked that peace depended on fighting, then turned in the squad’s mission and chose to rest rather than accept another assignment.

• At the Land of Rainbows' daimyo’s invitation, Kei and his companions stayed an extra day before departing for Kirigakure on December 1.
• On the journey home, Kei reflected on the growing violence between shinobi villages and the collapse of the Third Hokage’s efforts to preserve peace.
• At Kirigakure’s main gate, Mei Terumi and Kisame discussed a wounded Mist Ninja squad, and Kei said that peace was won through fighting and conflict ended only when one side fell.
• At the mission center, Jackdaw praised the squad’s record and offered another mission, but Kei collected the remaining payment and declined so the three could rest.

After recovering from a recent mission, Minazuki Kei received a sudden emergency summons from Kirigakure. He reported to the village gate and found a large, formidable force gathering, though its mission remained secret.

• A Yuki Clan Jonin delivered an emergency order for Kei to report to Kirigakure's main gate at five thirty the next morning.
• Kei considered asking his teacher Ao about the unexplained summons, but decided to obey without seeking answers.
• Kei learned that the summons covered hundreds of Kirigakure ninja, including large numbers from the Hozuki, Kaguya, and Minazuki clans.
• Kei arrived at the gate before dawn and saw more than a hundred experienced Mist Ninja assembling.
• Kei recognized Minazuki Fuuka and Suikazan Fuguki among the leaders gathered at the gate.

Suikazan Fuguki led more than three hundred Mist Ninja on a mission to eliminate forces outside Kirigakure between the Land of Rivers and the Land of Tea. As the force headed west, Karatachi Yagura revealed that the mobilization was part of his effort to reclaim power from the three great ninja clans, with Kei caught up because he was a Minazuki.

• More than three hundred Mist Ninja assembled, including Kei, and Suikazan Fuguki announced that their mission was to kill every enemy in the region from the Land of Rivers to the Land of Tea.
• Suikazan Fuguki led the Mist Ninja out of Kirigakure's main gate toward the western front.
• Karatachi Yagura watched the force depart and said he would act ruthlessly if the three great ninja clans continued to defy him.
• Karatachi Yagura intended to take back the influence and resources he had conceded to the clans, and Kei's participation came from his Minazuki surname.
• The mobilization was part of a contest between Karatachi Yagura and the three great ninja clans, with another Mist Ninja force sent to a different front.

Minazuki Shun accepted that the Yuki Clan had little choice but to join the Hozuki and Kaguya Clans’ risky deployment. Ao learned that Kei had been sent toward the Land of Rivers to face the Sand Ninja, but could do nothing to interfere with the order.

• Minazuki Shun reflected that the Yuki Clan’s choice to send part of its younger generation could bring either gains or losses it would have to accept.
• Ao discovered Kei’s name on the list of Mist Ninja sent to the front and hurried to learn why he had been assigned there.
• Ao learned that the deployment answered Sand Ninja activity near the Land of Rivers and the Land of Tea, which Kirigakure viewed as footholds on the continent.
• Ao suspected Kei’s selection was connected to a larger conflict between the Mizukage and the three great clans, but recognized he had no authority to intervene.
• Ao destroyed the order and hoped Kei would survive.