Chapter Summaries

After the team killed and burned the bandits, Shiina Kō recognized one of the bodies as her estranged uncle. Shin'un explained that wartime hardship may have driven him to banditry, and Shiina Kō said she felt no desire for revenge before recounting how debt collectors had harassed her family.

• Minato Namikaze checked how Shin'un and the others felt after their first kills, and the team showed no adverse reactions.
• Yūichi burned the bandits' bodies, and Minato led the team away once the fire had destroyed the evidence.
• Shiina Kō told Shin'un that one of the dead men was her uncle, whom she recognized by a pipe bearing a childhood scratch.
• Shin'un suggested that wartime violence and hardship had driven her uncle to become a bandit, and Shiina Kō accepted that she could not blame anyone for the outcome.
• Shiina Kō explained that her uncle had burdened her family with gambling and tobacco debts, and that Uchiha security members later expelled the debt collectors who followed them to Konoha.

Shin'un and his teammates entered the Land of Rain while escorting a convoy toward the Konoha camp, and he warned Shiina Kō and the others to stay alert. The journey continued through terrain suited to ambushes, with Shin'un keeping watch as they neared the battlefield.

• The convoy crossed from the clear Land of Fire into the rainy, muddy Land of Rain.
• Shin'un reminded Shiina Kō that hostile ninja could attack at any moment, while Yūichi noticed the pair had grown closer.
• Yūichi questioned Shin'un and Shiina Kō about their changed behavior, but Shin'un refused to explain and intimidated him into moving away.
• Shin'un estimated that the convoy would reach the Konoha camp before dinner and recognized that the surrounding terrain made ambushes likely.
• Shin'un focused on watching for danger for the remainder of the journey.

Shin'un and the others arrived at Konoha's camp in the Land of Rain with a supply convoy and enjoyed a hearty dinner provided for the ninja. Minato learned that he and his teammates should meet Jiraiya and Orochimaru at the command tent the next day.

• Shin'un observed the camp and identified its living quarters, medical tents, supply area, and central command tent as the convoy approached.
• The convoy passed a patrol inspection and unloaded its supplies at the camp's storehouses before nightfall.
• Shin'un, Minato Namikaze, Yūichi, and Shiina Kō followed a logistics ninja to a free dinner, where Yūichi eagerly joined the line for roast lamb.
• Shin'un and Minato asked when they would see their teachers, and the logistics ninja said Jiraiya had instructed them to visit the central tent the next day.

Shin'un and his teammates went to the camp’s central tent to meet their assigned teachers, where they found Orochimaru and Jiraiya. Minato Namikaze left with Jiraiya’s Team 6, while Orochimaru finally acknowledged Shin'un with a request for quiet.

• Yūichi complained of a stomachache after overeating, and Shiina Kō and Shin'un scolded him as the group headed to the central tent.
• Nara Shikahito directed Shin'un and the others to the back of the tent, where their team leaders were waiting.
• Shiina Kō and Minato Namikaze described the qualities they hoped to find in their teachers, leaving Shin'un doubtful that Orochimaru and Jiraiya would fit their expectations.
• Jiraiya called Minato Namikaze’s group Team 6 and led them out of the tent.
• Shin'un called to Orochimaru three times, and Orochimaru looked up and asked him to be quiet.

Orochimaru warned Shin'un, Yūichi, and Shiina Kō that they would have to pass his test to become his students. He secretly attacked Shin'un, who dodged the kunai with the Body Flicker Technique, leaving Orochimaru impressed by his combat instincts.

• Orochimaru told the three students that anyone who failed his test would be sent back to Konoha.
• Shiina Kō asked Shin'un whether Orochimaru would really send them back, and Shin'un confirmed that team leaders had that authority.
• Orochimaru caught Shin'un chatting and then secretly launched a kunai at his neck to test his abilities.
• Shin'un sensed the attack and used the Body Flicker Technique to escape the kunai, while Shiina Kō moved to defend him.
• Orochimaru put away his kunai and recognized Shin'un's reaction as evidence of innate combat talent.

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.