Recaps

Orochimaru tested Shin'un's reaction speed, then set Shin'un, Shiina Kō, and Uchiha Yūichi a three-hour challenge to learn C-rank ninjutsu scrolls. Shin'un drew Lightning Release: Lightning Wall and began practicing, confident that his lightning talent would let him master it quickly.

• Shin'un reassured Shiina Kō after Orochimaru's sudden attack and praised his own speed; Orochimaru said he had been testing Shin'un's reaction time.
• Orochimaru gave Shin'un, Shiina Kō, and Uchiha Yūichi each a C-rank ninjutsu scroll and set a three-hour deadline for them to demonstrate the techniques in combat.
• Orochimaru settled beneath a tree to read, while Shin'un examined his scroll and discovered it contained Lightning Release: Lightning Wall.
• Shin'un molded lightning chakra as he studied the technique, then began forming hand seals to practice it.

Shin'un experimented with modifying Lightning Wall into a defensive barrier that could burst outward and paralyze enemies, then worked to refine its uneven spread and lengthy hand seals. Meanwhile, Uchiha Yūichi finished mastering his assigned ninjutsu first, while Orochimaru watched Shin'un continue training.

• Shin'un let Lightning Wall collapse and realized its scattered currents could be turned into an outward attack using the barrier's existing electricity.
• Shin'un stabilized Lightning Wall, then used more than a hundred hand seals to make it burst outward, scorching an area more than ten meters around him.
• Shin'un identified the attack's uneven coverage and overly complicated hand seals as problems and began refining the technique.
• An hour and a half into the test, Uchiha Yūichi reported to Orochimaru that he had mastered the ninjutsu and asked if he was first.
• Orochimaru confirmed Yūichi was first, then looked toward the electrical buzzing and wondered whether Shin'un would meet his expectations.

Yūichi passed Orochimaru’s ninjutsu test first with his Fire Style, but became preoccupied with what Shin'un was doing in the woods. Shiina Kō then demonstrated a powerful Water Release technique, passed the test, and received Orochimaru’s promise of suitable training.

• Yūichi used Fire Style: Distant Fire Jutsu to attack a distant patch of ground, and Orochimaru judged it ready for combat and ranked him first.
• Yūichi suspected Shin'un was spending extra time on something in the woods, and Shiina Kō also wondered what he was doing.
• Shiina Kō demonstrated Water Release: Circular Cutting Slash, slicing through a tree trunk and several obstacles with a clean, powerful cut.
• Orochimaru passed Shiina Kō and promised to arrange suitable Water Release training after learning she had lacked access to appropriate techniques.
• Orochimaru tried to smile at Shiina Kō’s thanks, but his frightening expression startled her, so he withdrew it and returned to his book.

Shin'un returned late after modifying Lightning Release: Lightning Wall, explaining how he had redirected its dissipating currents into a powerful attack. He demonstrated the technique to Orochimaru, leaving his teacher and teammates astonished by the scorched area around him.

• Shiina Kō worried about Shin'un's long absence while Yūichi tried to reassure her.
• Shin'un returned, and Yūichi and Shiina Kō urged him to report to Orochimaru for his test.
• Shin'un explained that he had modified Lightning Release: Lightning Wall by putting its dissipating currents to use, prompting Orochimaru to take his claim seriously.
• Orochimaru asked Shin'un to demonstrate the modified ninjutsu, and Shin'un formed a lightning dome around himself.
• Shin'un transformed the dome into a lightning ring that swept across the surrounding area, scorching the nearby landscape black.

Shin'un demonstrated his modified Lightning Release technique, which formed a thick electric dome before sending out a wide, nonlethal ring that paralyzed enemies. Orochimaru examined how Shin'un had changed it and urged him to give the technique a new name, leaving Shin'un uncertain about the suggestion.

• Shin'un's modified lightning dome scorched the ground, and Orochimaru recognized that Shin'un had reshaped the original defensive barrier and increased its chakra cost.
• Shin'un explained that the outward lightning ring could paralyze targets across a dozen or so meters but was not lethal unless he spent more chakra.
• Orochimaru questioned Shin'un about his changes to the hand seals and chakra flow while Yūichi and Shiina Kō struggled to follow their technical discussion.
• Orochimaru told Shin'un to name the modified technique and suggested Lightning Release: Gousheng, prompting Shin'un to ask whether he meant replacing the original name.

Orochimaru judged Shin'un’s modified Lightning Release: Lightning Wall to be an A-rank ninjutsu, and Shin'un named it Lightning Release: Lightning Ring Wall. Orochimaru kept all three students on his team, appointed Shin'un captain, and sent them back to camp with instructions to collect their training plans the next day.

• Orochimaru explained that Shin'un’s modifications made the ninjutsu an A-rank technique combining offense and defense.
• Shin'un named the modified technique Lightning Release: Lightning Ring Wall after consulting Shiina Kō.
• Orochimaru announced that all three students would remain on his team and that he would provide training plans and guidance despite the war.
• Orochimaru appointed Hirakawa Shin'un captain before Uchiha Yūichi could volunteer, leaving Yūichi disappointed.
• Orochimaru taught the students to stay calm, think carefully, and observe their surroundings, then told Shin'un to collect the training schedules the next day.
• Shin'un, Shiina Kō, and Yūichi returned to the Konoha camp for a meal.

In the Land of Rain, Shin'un advised Minato Namikaze to adapt ninjutsu to suit his fast combat rhythm, prompting Minato to consider what techniques would fit him. The next day, Shin'un collected his squad's training plans from Orochimaru, who asked whether he would hand his modified ninjutsu over to Konoha for compensation.

• Minato Namikaze praised Shin'un for modifying a C-rank ninjutsu into an A-rank technique, while Shin'un downplayed the achievement.
• Minato explained that the ninjutsu he practiced felt too slow for his combat rhythm and asked Shin'un for advice on modifying techniques.
• Shin'un encouraged Minato to develop ninjutsu that suited his speed, and Minato began thinking about what techniques might fit him.
• The next day, Shin'un collected three squad members' training plans from Orochimaru at Konoha's central command tent.
• Orochimaru asked Shin'un whether he would hand his modified ninjutsu over to Konoha in exchange for compensation.

Shin'un accepted Orochimaru’s offer to turn his Lightning Release: Lightning Ring Wall into an S-rank mission credit and payment. Two days later, Orochimaru brought Shin'un, Yūichi, and Shiina Kō along to observe a mission against a Stone Ninja stronghold, warning Shin'un to protect his inexperienced teammates and learn from veteran ninja.

• Orochimaru explained Konoha’s policy of rewarding ninja who submit valuable techniques, and Shin'un agreed to hand over Lightning Release: Lightning Ring Wall for an S-rank mission credit and twenty million ryo.
• Orochimaru told Shin'un that he would take his team on a dangerous mission soon and instructed him to train beforehand.
• Two days later, Shin'un checked his equipment while Yūichi anxiously awaited their first mission and Shiina Kō practiced a new elemental ninjutsu.
• Orochimaru arrived, gathered Shin'un, Yūichi, and Shiina Kō, and led them to join five Jonin squads preparing to depart.
• Orochimaru revealed that the mission was to destroy a Stone Ninja stronghold and told Shin'un to keep his teammates from charging ahead and learn from experienced ninja.

Shin'un observed how his squadmates handled the exhausting march toward Iwagakure’s stronghold and worried that Yūichi’s excitement was keeping him from resting. Orochimaru sedated Yūichi so he could sleep before the coming battle.

• Shin'un noted that Shiina Kō adapted well to the mission, while Yūichi was too excited about fighting the Stone Ninja to rest properly.
• Orochimaru halted the group a few hours from their objective and ordered everyone to recover before departing the next morning.
• Shin'un told Orochimaru that Yūichi had barely slept and was too exhausted to fight effectively.
• Orochimaru gave Yūichi a sedative, and Yūichi quickly fell asleep.
• Orochimaru explained to Shin'un that the sedative would wear off if a major disturbance woke Yūichi.

Orochimaru led the Konoha ninja to a Stone Ninja outpost, where the Hyuga reconnaissance squad uncovered its defenses and a lone patrol. Konoha ambushed and killed the three Stone Ninja without letting them warn the outpost, and Shin'un approved of the ruthless group attack.

• The Hyuga reconnaissance squad used the Byakugan to map the Stone Ninja outpost and report that only one patrol guarded it.
• Orochimaru assigned the Konoha ninja their roles, kept the students outside the main fight, and had Shin'un watch Uchiha Yūichi.
• Orochimaru led the group to ambush the patrol before attacking the outpost.
• The Konoha ninja overwhelmed the three Stone Ninja before they could send a warning, while Orochimaru killed the Special Jōnin.
• Shin'un lowered his unused attack and decided he liked the Konoha ninja's brutal tactics.

Shin'un, Yūichi, and Shiina Kō watched the Stone Ninja outpost while Orochimaru's teams launched a covert attack. When Shiina Kō fired a white signal flare after spotting a Stone Ninja patrol, Shin'un left a Shadow Clone to guard their post and rushed to help him with Yūichi.

• Shin'un assigned Yūichi and Shiina Kō areas to watch while Orochimaru and the Jonin teams infiltrated the Stone Ninja outpost.
• Yūichi complained about being left out of the fighting, and Shin'un urged him to focus on lookout duty and earn others' trust.
• An Explosive Tag alerted the outpost, and fighting broke out as Orochimaru's teams abandoned stealth.
• Shiina Kō fired a white signal flare to warn the others that enemies had appeared near his position.
• Shin'un recognized the signal as indicating a Stone Ninja team of one Special Jōnin and two Chunin, created a Shadow Clone to continue watching, and hurried to help Shiina Kō with Yūichi.

Shiina Kō watched the forest while her teacher infiltrated a Stone Ninja outpost, then spotted an approaching enemy patrol and sent up a signal flare. Injured and unable to escape the three Stone Ninja, she lay helpless as one raised a kunai toward her eye socket.

• Shiina Kō took up a concealed observation post and watched the forest as an explosion and fighting began at the Stone Ninja outpost.
• Shiina Kō noticed an abnormal movement in the trees, identified an approaching Stone Ninja patrol, and launched a signal flare.
• Shiina Kō tried to flee through the canopy, but a kunai attack sent her crashing to the forest floor.
• A Stone Ninja struck Shiina Kō with Water Release, knocking her down and leaving a bone shard protruding from her thigh.
• One of the Stone Ninja found the immobilized Shiina Kō and thrust a kunai toward her eye socket.

Shiina Kō faced death at the hands of a Stone ninja and recalled how Shin'un had saved her from kidnappers years earlier. Shin'un and Yūichi rescued her, and Shin'un began fighting the two remaining Stone ninja while Shiina Kō lay injured.

• As a child, Shiina Kō was drugged and kidnapped, but Shin'un defeated her kidnappers and rescued her.
• In the Land of Rain, a Stone ninja prepared to kill Shiina Kō, but Shin'un stopped his kunai with his electrified hand.
• Yūichi joined Shin'un and checked on Shiina Kō, who said her thighbone was broken but her life was not in immediate danger.
• Shin'un revealed that the Stone ninja he had seized was already dead, then told Yūichi to take one opponent each.
• Shin'un leaped toward the Special Jōnin among the two remaining Stone ninja.

Shin'un fought an Iwagakure Special Jōnin, using his electric currents to paralyze him before stabbing his abdomen. The Stone Ninja recovered and struck Shin'un hard enough to send him crashing into a tree, and both prepared to resume their battle.

• Shin'un pressured the Special Jōnin with kunai strikes, and his electric currents made the Stone Ninja's hands sluggish.
• The Stone Ninja grabbed Shin'un's ankle and tried to hurl him down, but the currents paralyzed him.
• Shin'un could not reach the Stone Ninja's throat, so he stabbed and slashed his abdomen with a kunai.
• The Stone Ninja covered himself with rock to resist the currents, then punched Shin'un and sent him crashing into a tree.
• Both fighters recovered from their injuries, and the Stone Ninja charged Shin'un with rock armor and enormous fists.

Shin'un struggled against an Iwagakure jonin whose Earth Release: Rock Armor made him too powerful to face at close range, so Shin'un used the cramped terrain to make him shed the armor. The jonin outmaneuvered Shin'un with a decoy and a surprise attack, leaving Shin'un to raise a lightning barrier as the giant rock fist struck.

• Shin'un dodged the Stone Ninja's giant rock fists and led him down from the treetops into cramped vegetation.
• The Stone Ninja reduced his size by shedding his stone armor, and Shin'un prepared Lightning Release: False Darkness.
• The Stone Ninja revealed he was an Iwagakure jonin, then used a weak Earth-Style Wall and the resulting dust to conceal his movements.
• A Rock Clone distracted Shin'un while the real Stone Ninja emerged from the dust and charged with the Rock Fist Technique.
• Off balance and unable to dodge, Shin'un formed Lightning Release: Lightning Ring Wall as the giant rock fist hit.

Shin'un survived a powerful punch by an Iwagakure Jonin and crashed into the Stone Ninja outpost inside his Lightning Ring Wall. After emerging from the rubble, he spotted his attacker at the battlefield’s edge.

• The Iwagakure Jonin struck Shin'un’s Lightning Wall, sending him hurtling through the forest toward the Stone Ninja outpost.
• Shin'un’s Lightning Ring Wall crashed through a house and expanded, paralyzing nearby Stone Ninja while sparing the Konoha ninja.
• The Konoha ninja cautiously approached the ruined house, then recognized Shin'un when he emerged from the rubble.
• Shin'un reflected on his lack of combat experience and realized the forest and his Lightning Ring Wall had helped him survive the strike.
• Shin'un spotted the Iwagakure Jonin emerging from the undergrowth beside the forest.

Shin'un repeatedly used Shadow Clones and lightning attacks to outmaneuver an Iwagakure jonin, but the Stone Ninja revealed that he had survived through Rock Clones. The jonin trapped Shin'un underground, yet Shin'un escaped the killing blow with another clone and spread lightning through the rain-soaked ground, leaving the Stone Ninja paralyzed.

• Shin'un ambushed the Iwagakure jonin with Lightning Release: False Darkness, then used a Shadow Clone to bait the jonin into striking while Shin'un attacked from behind and pierced his chest with a lightning spear.
• After Shin'un killed the apparent jonin, the real Stone Ninja seized his ankles with Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu and buried him up to his head.
• The Stone Ninja revealed that the jonin Shin'un had electrocuted was a Rock Clone and prepared to stab Shin'un in the eye.
• Shin'un's buried head turned into a Shadow Clone, and the Stone Ninja escaped his crackling counterattack with the Body Flicker Technique.
• Shin'un sent current through the puddles beneath the Stone Ninja, paralyzing him as he stood more than thirty meters away.

Shin'un killed the Iwagakure Jonin after trapping him with electricity and confirmed his death with an Explosive Tag. Injured and low on chakra, Shin'un decided to return to the forest with several Konoha Ninja to check on Yūichi and Shiina Kō.

• Shin'un used electricity flowing through rainwater to paralyze the Iwagakure Jonin, then slashed his throat and stabbed his chest.
• The Jonin pretended to be dead, but Shin'un exposed the ruse with an Explosive Tag and confirmed that the blast had killed him.
• Shin'un's Shadow Clone dispersed, and the memories it carried reassured Shin'un that the Jonin was dead.
• Shin'un rested as most nearby battles ended in Konoha's favor, reflected on his injuries, and resolved to become stronger.
• Worried about Yūichi and the gravely injured Shiina Kō, Shin'un recruited several Konoha Ninja and returned to the dense forest.

Shin'un led Konoha ninja to Yūichi and realized that killing an Iwagakure Jonin would make him famous far sooner than he wanted. He reached Yūichi after an explosion, found him alive, and woke him, leaving Yūichi stunned that Shin'un had defeated a Jonin.

• Shin'un led several Konoha ninja through the forest, and they questioned him about killing a Stone Jonin when he was only ten.
• The Konoha ninja began treating Shin'un with respect, and he worried that news of his victory would make him famous across the Land of Rain.
• An explosion ahead alerted Shin'un that Yūichi was nearby, so he rushed toward the battle with the Konoha ninja following.
• A Konoha ninja used Wind Release to clear the smoke, revealing Yūichi unconscious and wounded beside another fallen figure.
• Shin'un confirmed Yūichi was still breathing, gave him a Military Rations Pill, and woke him.
• Yūichi saw Shin'un and incredulously asked whether he had defeated the Jonin.

After defeating the Stone Ninja, Shin'un brought the injured Shiina Kō to Orochimaru for treatment. Orochimaru warned that her shattered thigh and damaged chakra pathways required a professional medical-nin, so he ordered the group to return to Konoha at top speed.

• Yūichi recovered from his disappointment over Shin'un's strength and vowed to catch up to him.
• A Konoha Ninja reported that the Iwagakure Chunin had died from Fire Style, and Shin'un's group returned to find Shiina Kō unconscious.
• Shin'un learned that no medical-nin were with the mission and carried Shiina Kō back to the outpost to seek Orochimaru's help.
• Orochimaru treated Shiina Kō's bleeding, then explained that her broken thighbone and damaged chakra pathways needed a professional medical-nin.
• Orochimaru ordered the Konoha Ninja to return to Konoha at top speed.

Shin'un dealt with the attention he received after killing an Iwagakure Jonin and learned that Orochimaru had promoted him to Chunin. Orochimaru expected him to lead missions, gain combat experience, and focus on becoming stronger.

• Shin'un sat outside the medical tent, where ninja stared at him because news of his killing an Iwagakure Jonin had spread through the camp.
• Shiina Kō told Shin'un that the attention would fade and said her leg was healing well.
• Tsunade examined Shiina Kō and said she could resume normal training the next day.
• Orochimaru gave Shin'un his updated identification document, showing his promotion from Genin to Chunin.
• Orochimaru told Shin'un he could now lead Yūichi and the others on missions and should focus on gaining experience and strength.

Three years into the Second Shinobi World War, Hirakawa Shin'un and his teammates were summoned by Orochimaru for an urgent mission. Orochimaru assigned them to work with a masked, white-haired Anbu, promising an S-rank mission, but the chapter ended before they learned its details.

• Shin'un walked through the Konoha camp as ninja discussed his reputation and the Third Hokage's praise of his talent.
• Shiina Kō teased Shin'un about the praise, then wondered why Orochimaru had called them back so soon after their last mission.
• Shin'un estimated that the war still had at least two years to go because several key events had not yet occurred.
• Shin'un, Shiina Kō, and Yūichi met Orochimaru in the central tent and noticed a masked, white-haired Anbu beside him.
• Orochimaru told the team to carry out an urgent mission with the Anbu and offered them an S-rank mission record.

Shin'un's squad joined an Anbu mission led by Hatake Sakumo to extract a Konoha spy from Sunagakure. After Sakumo explained the operation's secrecy, Shin'un saw the photograph of the operative and found her strangely familiar.

• Shin'un recognized the white-haired Anbu as Hatake Sakumo, the Konoha White Fang, and prepared his squad for the mission.
• Shin'un and his squad met three veteran Anbu squads at the departure point, and another jonin squad arrived after Orochimaru summoned them.
• Hatake Sakumo arrived on time, and a jonin identified him as the Konoha White Fang and praised his strength.
• Hatake Sakumo told the assembled ninja that a Konoha spy in Sunagakure had requested extraction before her identity was exposed.
• Hatake Sakumo said the Anbu would handle contact with the spy, then showed Shin'un a photograph of the operative, whose face seemed familiar to him.

Shin'un and Hatake Sakumo’s team infiltrated Sand Ninja territory to rendezvous with a Konoha operative, but they encountered a defensive line of outposts and chose to attack one. Shin'un used his lightning-enhanced speed to reach his assigned Sand Ninja targets and began a jutsu against them.

• Shin'un recognized Yakushi Nonō in a photograph, and Hatake Sakumo set the team’s goal of reaching the rendezvous point within a week.
• Five days later, scouts found a Sand Ninja outpost in the Land of Rain containing twenty-one ninja, and Hatake Sakumo’s map revealed a broader line of outposts ahead.
• Hatake Sakumo decided to attack the nearby outpost rather than lose two days going around it, and the scouts reported the defenders’ positions and threats.
• Hatake Sakumo assigned targets and led the team toward the outpost as Shin'un prepared his lightning techniques.
• Shin'un raced past the Anbu with electricity around his body, reached his two assigned Sand Ninja targets, and completed Lightning Release: Electric Current.

Shin'un and the Konoha squads defeated the Sand Ninja ambush, and he impressed Hatake Sakumo with his Lightning Body Flicker. As Yūichi marveled at Shin'un’s speed, the Anbu erased every trace of the battle and buried the bodies and supplies.

• Shin'un used lightning to paralyze a Sand Genin, killed him and a Sand Chunin with his kunai, and watched the other Konoha fighters finish their opponents.
• Hatake Sakumo noticed Shin'un's speed and directed the Anbu to clear the battlefield while Shin'un and his teammates moved into a tree.
• Yūichi praised Shin'un's Lightning Body Flicker and asked how to strengthen his own abilities, so Shin'un praised Yūichi's Fire Style and assassination skills instead.
• The Anbu collected supplies, removed signs of combat, dismantled the Sand Ninja outpost, and buried the corpses and remaining equipment deep underground.