Recaps

During the festival, Jiraiya explained the Will of Fire to Hongshi before helping Naruto and Hinata after two Iwagakure men tried to extort them. Jiraiya began teaching Naruto a new jutsu and chakra-control exercise, but Hinata mastered the first training step before Naruto even started.

• Jiraiya joined Hongshi at the festival, and Hongshi asked whether ninja truly had to sacrifice their lives for intelligence; Jiraiya said they protected Konoha and its young through the Will of Fire.
• Two men demanded a hundred thousand ryo from Naruto and Hinata for dirtying their clothes, and Hongshi mocked them as the Iwagakure White Brick and Green Turtle.
• Jiraiya used Spicy Sage Root to knock the two men into a vendor's stall, then paid for the damage and bought the vendor's water balloons.
• Jiraiya began teaching Naruto the first stage of chakra-control training by spinning chakra inside a water balloon, while Hongshi trained Hinata nearby.
• Hinata burst her water balloon after a couple of tries, leaving Jiraiya and Naruto stunned as Hongshi moved her on to a rubber ball.

Hongshi taught Hinata a lightning-based Gentle Fist technique and demonstrated increasingly powerful stages of his Unrivaled nintaijutsu. He combined enlarged Twin Dragon Fists with Fire Rasengan, while Hinata resolved to learn the technique to help Naruto.

• Hinata and Naruto practiced popping water balloons, and Hongshi praised Hinata’s chakra control before moving on to teach her.
• Hongshi demonstrated Unrivaled: Gentle Fist, which used Lightning Release to stimulate chakra points and strengthen Hinata’s Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm.
• Hongshi showed Hinata and Jiraiya how he combined Lightning Release with Fire Rasengan to create a powerful blast that scorched the ground.
• Hongshi unveiled Gentle Step Twin Dragon Fists and combined them with Unrivaled and Fire Rasengan to form an enormous, unfinished technique.
• Hinata watched the demonstration with her Byakugan and decided she had to learn the technique to help Naruto, while Naruto called himself a lost cause.

Jiraiya and Hongshi watched Naruto and Hinata train, then discussed Konoha’s leadership and shared a meal with them. Meanwhile, Orochimaru learned why Hongshi’s attack had left him unable to heal and set out with Kabuto to find Tsunade.

• Naruto progressed to the third stage of Rasengan training while Hinata struggled with her limited chakra, prompting Hongshi to consider how to increase it.
• Jiraiya told Hongshi that Tobirama had stripped Danzo of his authority and was evaluating Konoha’s ninja as part of a village reorganization.
• Naruto ate Hinata’s Super Military Rations Pill after Hongshi glared at him, then choked on his roast meat and was saved by Hinata’s Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm.
• Kabuto explained that Hongshi’s Nuclear Release had damaged Orochimaru’s DNA, leaving him with the choices of using Living Corpse Reincarnation or removing the wound and receiving advanced medical treatment.
• Orochimaru learned that Tsunade was in Tanzaku Town and ordered Kabuto to prepare medicine for their journey, while noting that Kimimaro was too ill to accompany them.

After Tsunade hit a rare gambling jackpot in Tanzaku Town, Jiraiya received news that Orochimaru had invaded Konoha and that unidentified ninja were moving near the Grass Ninja border. Hongshi and Hinata set out to investigate while Jiraiya and Naruto went to find Tsunade, and Orochimaru questioned Kabuto about his identity and potential.

• Tsunade hit the slot-machine jackpot, but worried that winning meant disaster would follow.
• After a week of training, Hinata had learned the Fire Rasengan and neared an advanced Gentle Fist technique, while Naruto mastered the Rasengan and began adding Wind Release chakra.
• Jiraiya received a message reporting Orochimaru’s invasion, heavy jonin losses, suspicious movements near the Grass Ninja border, and a missing patrol squad.
• Jiraiya assigned Hongshi and Hinata to scout the border and find the missing squad, while he and Naruto went to seek Tsunade as a candidate for Fifth Hokage.
• Orochimaru told Kabuto that his confusion held back his talent, and Kabuto reflected on a butterfly trapped in a spiderweb before it escaped.

Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi confronted Tsunade in Tanzaku Town and asked her to heal Orochimaru in exchange for resurrecting Dan and Nawaki. Tsunade wavered but gave no answer, and Jiraiya and Naruto arrived after Orochimaru and Kabuto left.

• Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi arrived on a giant snake and asked Tsunade to heal Orochimaru’s injuries.
• Tsunade refused, but Orochimaru revealed that he had been injured while invading Konoha and invoked the deaths of Dan and Nawaki.
• Shizune attacked Kabuto with poisoned needles, which he caught, and Tsunade warned Orochimaru against provoking her.
• Orochimaru offered to resurrect Dan and Nawaki if Tsunade healed him, then admitted he planned to destroy Konoha after recovering.
• Kabuto said they would meet Tsunade again in a week and that the resurrection jutsu required two living sacrifices; Orochimaru exposed his wounds and triggered Tsunade’s fear of blood.
• Orochimaru and Kabuto left, and Jiraiya and Naruto arrived as Shizune tried to comfort the frightened Tsunade.

Jiraiya asked Tsunade to return to Konoha as the Fifth Hokage, but she refused and spoke bitterly about the sacrifices Hokage made. Naruto challenged her over her remarks, and their fight ended with Tsunade knocking him away after he attacked with a Rasengan.

• Jiraiya told Tsunade that Konoha wanted her to become the Fifth Hokage, but she rejected the offer.
• Naruto argued with Tsunade after she criticized the Hokage who had died serving the village, then challenged her to fight.
• Tsunade dodged Naruto’s attacks and struck his abdomen and forehead with one finger.
• Naruto declared his dream of becoming Hokage and formed a Rasengan with the help of shadow clones.
• Tsunade briefly mistook Naruto for Nawaki and Dan, then blocked his Rasengan with her bare hands.
• Tsunade flicked Naruto’s forehead and sent him flying more than ten meters.

Naruto left to train for his rematch with Tsunade, while Tsunade and Jiraiya spent the evening drinking at Saitama’s food stall. After Tsunade destroyed the stall trying to punch Saitama, he challenged her to a bet about her next three moves.

• Tsunade promised to fight Naruto again in a week and offered him her grandfather’s necklace if he could hurt her, so Naruto hurried off to train.
• Six days later, Jiraiya and Tsunade ate and drank at Saitama’s stall, where Saitama introduced himself as a hero for fun and told them he had trained under Master Roshi.
• Jiraiya confronted Tsunade about her plan to meet Orochimaru and warned her not to betray the village, angering her.
• Tsunade grabbed Saitama and punched him, blasting apart the stall, but Saitama emerged unharmed and wearing a changed outfit.
• Saitama challenged Tsunade to a bet that her next three moves would have no strength, and she accepted.

Saitama endured Tsunade’s strongest attacks without injury and made her honor her bet to accept Jiraiya’s request. As Tsunade and Jiraiya prepared to deal with Orochimaru, Saitama secretly returned to rebuild the food stall and demand payment.

• Saitama wagered that Tsunade would accept Jiraiya’s request if she lost, then stood still as she struck him with three increasingly powerful attacks.
• Tsunade’s punches and kicks broke her bones, but Creation Rebirth healed her while Saitama remained unharmed.
• Saitama revealed that he had come because of a promise to a friend, called Tsunade the Legendary Sucker, and left after insisting she honor the bet.
• Tsunade agreed to Jiraiya’s request and said she would confront Orochimaru to protect Konoha.
• Saitama secretly doubled back, rebuilt the food stall, and called Tsunade and Jiraiya back to pay and eat.

Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shizune revealed that they had tricked Orochimaru and attacked him, then fought him and Kabuto Yakushi. Orochimaru called in the Sound Ninja trio wearing Chakra Armor, leaving the battle poised to escalate.

• Tsunade presented the poisoned Jiraiya and Shizune as sacrifices, but they revealed the poison story was a lie and helped her ambush Orochimaru.
• Tsunade punched Orochimaru in the face, but he escaped and recovered quickly after Kabuto Yakushi gave him an improved Military Rations Pill.
• Tsunade declared that she would stop Orochimaru from abusing the souls of the dead, and Orochimaru launched an attack on her, Jiraiya, and Shizune.
• Jiraiya burned Orochimaru's snakes with a Flame Bullet while Shizune added poison mist, and Tsunade attacked Orochimaru but had to dodge his Kusanagi Sword.
• Orochimaru summoned Jirobo, Kidomaru, and Sakon and Ukon in Chakra Armor as the fight turned against Tsunade's group.

Hongshi assigned his powerful Nuclear Clones to help maintain peace, then traveled with Hinata to the Land of Grass border to investigate reports of ninja activity. When unseen enemies approached, Hongshi encouraged Hinata to face them, and she resolved to grow stronger than Naruto.

• Hongshi met with his four Nuclear Clones—Kakuhei Whitebeard, Saitama, Tatsumi, and Ainz—and said they each held one-twentieth of his power.
• Hongshi told the clones to take responsibility for maintaining peace in the Shinobi World and asked which one would test their abilities first.
• Hongshi and Hinata reached the Land of Grass border by carriage, where Hinata paid the driver and recovered chakra with a Military Rations Pill.
• Hongshi and Hinata headed toward reported ninja activity while Hinata used her Byakugan to watch for traps and learned about the Land of Grass and Kusagakure.
• Hinata spotted footprints moving through the grass, and Hongshi encouraged her to trust her training; she resolved to become stronger than Naruto.

Hinata and Hongshi fought three Grass Ninja who ambushed them near the border of the Land of Fire. Hinata defeated their leader by awakening Gentle Step Twin Dragon Fists, and Hongshi approached with the two unconscious Grass Ninja, promising to show her something good.

• Hinata used the Byakugan and Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm to reveal three concealed Grass Ninja, who attacked her and Hongshi.
• Hinata fought the Grass Ninja with Rotation, shadow clones, and Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists, while Hongshi slept through their attack and then subdued two of them.
• The Grass Ninja leader trapped Hinata with Earth Release: Green Grass Bind and tried to escape, but Hinata broke free and pursued him.
• Inspired by Naruto, Hinata awakened Gentle Step Twin Dragon Fists and struck the Grass Ninja leader unconscious, nearly exhausting her chakra.
• After Hinata recovered and reached for a Super Military Rations Pill, Hongshi walked over carrying the other two Grass Ninja and said he would show her something good.

Hongshi and Hinata questioned three Grass Ninja about the assassination of the Kusakage and Kusagakure's sudden hostility toward Konoha. Suspecting a conspiracy, they planned to report the information to Konoha, but Hongshi noticed fighting near Kusagakure.

• Hongshi treated the Grass Ninja leader while Hinata worried that she had injured him too badly, then the group rested together over a roasted boar.
• Hinata questioned the Grass Ninja, and Hongshi intimidated their leader into answering; he identified himself and his companions as Chunin from Kusagakure.
• Utsubokazura Onimaru said a Konoha squad had assassinated the Kusakage, and Hongshi and Hinata learned that the new Kusakage had armed over a hundred ninja and ordered ninja inside the Land of Fire captured.
• Hongshi suspected a conspiracy and told Hinata they should send their findings to Konoha rather than enter Kusagakure without orders.
• Hongshi noticed fighting forty kilometers away in the direction of Kusagakure.

Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shizune fought Orochimaru’s Sound Ninja, but after Jiraiya defeated them, Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation to summon Dan Katō and the Third Raikage. Tsunade was left stunned by Dan’s return, while the Third Raikage angrily confronted Orochimaru.

• Orochimaru ordered Jirobo, Kidomaru, and Sakon and Ukon to enter Curse Mark Stage Two and attack Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shizune.
• Shizune and Jiraiya combined poison mist and fire, and Jiraiya analyzed the Sound Ninja’s sage energy and Chakra Armor.
• Jiraiya restrained the three Sound Ninja with Wild Lion's Mane Technique and burned them with Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, while Orochimaru blocked the attack with Rashomon.
• Kabuto helped Orochimaru use Impure World Reincarnation on Jirobo and Sakon and Ukon, bringing back Dan Katō and the Third Raikage.
• Tsunade and Shizune recognized Dan, and the Third Raikage realized Orochimaru had summoned him again.

Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shizune fought Orochimaru’s resurrected Dan Katō and the Third Raikage. Jiraiya sealed Dan, but the Third Raikage continued attacking as Tsunade struck at Orochimaru.

• Dan Katō urged Tsunade to keep protecting Konoha, and she regained her resolve before Orochimaru placed control talismans in Dan and the Third Raikage.
• Dan used Spirit Transformation Technique to attack Shizune, while the Third Raikage injured Tsunade and Jiraiya struggled to defend against both enemies.
• Tsunade activated Creation Rebirth and fought the Third Raikage, while Jiraiya slowed him with toad oil.
• Tsunade pulled Dan’s body from the mire and threw him to Jiraiya, who used the Five Elements Seal to seal Dan despite being wounded by the Third Raikage.
• Tsunade attacked Orochimaru with Heavenly Foot of Pain as Jiraiya restrained the Third Raikage with Wild Lion’s Mane Technique, and the resulting blast sent stones into Orochimaru.

Kabuto Yakushi and Kidomaru ambushed Shizune, but Naruto arrived and fought them with shadow clones before using the Nine-Tails’ chakra to summon Gamaken. Hinata and Hongshi then joined the battle, Shizune recovered, and Kabuto tried to flee after recognizing Hongshi.

• Kidomaru trapped Shizune in a chakra web and wounded her with a golden arrow, while Tonton charged at him and Kabuto Yakushi.
• Naruto revealed himself, surrounded Kabuto and Kidomaru with shadow clones, and used the Nine-Tails’ chakra to summon Gamaken.
• Gamaken destroyed Kidomaru’s giant spider and battered Kabuto’s Rashomon, but Kidomaru fired nine golden arrows toward Naruto.
• Hinata deflected the arrows with her Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Rotation Palm, then Naruto asked where Hongshi was and whether Shizune could be helped.
• Hongshi healed Shizune, and Kabuto recognized him as the one who had injured Orochimaru and hurried to escape with Kidomaru.

Jiraiya used Sage Mode and Sage Art: Goemon to defeat and restrain the Third Raikage, forcing Orochimaru to retreat. After Orochimaru escaped, Hongshi and the others arrived, and Dan asked Shizune to take him to Tsunade.

• Tsunade revealed that Dan had cured her fear of blood, while Orochimaru trapped her in the Four Violet Flames Formation.
• Jiraiya lured the Third Raikage away, then revealed his real body had been hiding beneath rubble and entered Sage Mode with Shima and Fukasaku.
• Jiraiya and the two toad sages attacked the Third Raikage with senjutsu, and Jiraiya used Goemon to destroy most of his body before sealing him with the Five Elements Seal.
• Orochimaru tried to use his strongest technique, but Kabuto and Kidomaru warned him that Hongshi had returned, so they escaped underground.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade reunited with Hongshi and his companions, and Dan asked Shizune to take him to Tsunade.

Tobirama laid out a plan for Konoha to destroy Otogakure and send a force to retake Kusagakure, while using the campaign to strengthen the village and its new generation. He left Tsunade to choose the combatants and took Neji to train, as Jiraiya learned Hongshi was assigned to the Otogakure attack.

• Tobirama explained to Tsunade that Konoha was weakening and urged her to trust anyone who possessed the Will of Fire.
• Tobirama proposed publicly declaring war on Otogakure to rescue the captives held for experiments, train twelve Genin commanders, and heal the Hyuga Clan's division.
• Jiraiya brought word that Kusagakure had been attacked and refugees were seeking Konoha's protection, and Tobirama suspected Iwagakure had a role in the attack.
• Tobirama ordered Konoha to help retake Kusagakure with a swift offensive and told Tsunade to select disguised upper-tier combatants.
• Tobirama returned control of Neji's body and took Neji to train, while Jiraiya told Tsunade that Naruto wanted her to check on Sasuke and learned Hongshi would attack Otogakure.

Jiraiya brought Hongshi news of the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy and persuaded him to sign a summoning contract with Mount Myōboku. Hongshi summoned Gamatatsu, then used a Yin Seal to give Hinata more chakra so she could summon a toad too.

• The Great Toad Sage prophesied that twelve young people would help preserve peace and told Jiraiya to guide the yellow light; he also described Hongshi among the Tailed Beasts and warned Jiraiya to watch him.
• Jiraiya told Fukasaku and Shima that Hongshi was gentle and unlikely to threaten Konoha, while they urged him to be cautious and considered pairing Hongshi with a Mount Myōboku toad.
• Jiraiya found Hongshi training Naruto and Hinata in absorbing natural energy and persuaded Hongshi to sign a summoning contract despite his fear of the finger-biting ritual.
• Hongshi summoned Gamatatsu, and Jiraiya explained that the contract could not be reversed; Hinata and Jiraiya convinced Hongshi that Gamatatsu suited him.
• Hongshi agreed to let Hinata sign a summoning contract with Mount Myōboku and placed a chakra-restoring Yin Seal on her forehead.
• Jiraiya asked Hongshi for a Yin Seal of his own, and Hongshi demanded one hundred million ryō.

Hongshi accompanied Ino to Konoha Hospital, where the newly appointed Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, treated Sasuke and agreed to train Ino. The group then headed to treat Kakashi, while Jiraiya confronted Hongshi over sealing Dan’s soul inside Ino.

• Hongshi and Gamatatsu ran into Ino on the street, and Hongshi went with her to visit Sasuke at the hospital.
• Tsunade became the Fifth Hokage and left with Naruto to treat Sasuke and Kakashi.
• Tsunade healed Sasuke, and Sakura thanked her while Naruto explained that Sasuke was his comrade.
• Tsunade praised Sakura’s Wood Release, then learned that Hongshi had sealed Dan’s soul inside Ino.
• Tsunade accepted Ino as her student and hurried off with Ino and Shizune to treat Kakashi.
• Jiraiya grabbed Hongshi and demanded that he should have sealed Dan’s soul inside Jiraiya instead.

After waking in the hospital, Sasuke grew consumed by jealousy and challenged Naruto to a rooftop fight, where Sakura stopped their attacks with her Wood Release. Sasuke fled, and Orochimaru, reincarnated in Kidomaru's body, watched him from afar and planned to claim him within two years.

• Sasuke woke in the hospital, rejected Sakura and Naruto's concern, and challenged Naruto to a fight over his desire to surpass him and kill Itachi.
• Naruto and Sasuke fought on the hospital rooftop, using shadow clones, Fire Style, the Fire Rasengan, and Chidori.
• Sakura intervened with Wood Release, blocking both attacks with cherry trees and revealing how much stronger she had become.
• Sasuke left the rooftop in frustration, while Kakashi arrived and Sakura asked him to speak with Sasuke.
• Kidomaru and Kabuto watched Sasuke from afar, and Kabuto revealed that Orochimaru had reincarnated into Kidomaru after his chest wound became life-threatening.
• Orochimaru said Sasuke was already near the abyss and planned to make him his own within two years.

Sasuke chose to leave Konoha and join Orochimaru in pursuit of power, despite Kakashi’s warning and his companions’ efforts to keep him from going. Orochimaru’s group took Sasuke to Otogakure in a coffin to awaken the Cursed Seal’s second stage, leaving him in a perilous suspended state.

• Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi appeared before Sasuke and offered him power to defeat Itachi, and Sasuke wavered over whether to join them.
• Kakashi urged Sasuke to abandon revenge and protect his companions, but Sasuke later packed his bags and headed out of Konoha.
• Sasuke spotted Naruto and Sakura waiting by the road, but he grew jealous as he overheard them talking about Hongshi and went on toward Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru, Kabuto Yakushi, Jūgo, and Suigetsu welcomed Sasuke and explained that the Cursed Seal of Heaven could kill him if he entered its second stage for too long.
• Sasuke swallowed Kabuto Yakushi’s Mind Awakening Pill, and the group placed him in a coffin and used the Four Black Fogs Formation and Black Sealing Method to prepare his transformation before leaving for Otogakure.

Tsunade appointed Shikamaru to command Konoha’s planned assault on Otogakure and assigned Hongshi to medical support, while Hinata and Neji received a separate mission under Jiraiya. Hongshi then took custody of Tayuya, removed her Cursed Seal, and renamed her Gyokucha as his Konoha subordinate.

• Tsunade told Shikamaru that Konoha would attack Otogakure in one month and named him overall commander, giving him three days to prepare a plan.
• Tsunade listed the young ninja and fifty Hyuga clan members assigned to the operation, then ordered Hongshi to serve as medical support with Hanabi as his assistant.
• Hongshi asked Tsunade for Tayuya, and she authorized him to take the captured Sound Ninja and train her for Konoha.
• Hongshi entered Tayuya’s cell, used the Mental World to make her obey him, absorbed her Cursed Seal, and healed her injuries.
• Hongshi renamed Tayuya Gyokucha and brought her out of the cell, leaving Ibiki stunned by her transformation.

Hashirama and Tobirama argued over a planned war against Otogakure, then admitted their real motive was revenge because Orochimaru had bullied Tsunade. After Orochimaru abducted Sasuke, Tsunade dispatched Kakashi and Guy’s teams to pursue him while the main force prepared to follow.

• Tobirama insisted Konoha should destroy Otogakure, and Hashirama opposed starting a war until Tobirama revealed that Orochimaru had bullied Tsunade.
• Tobirama ordered Sakura and Neji back to training, while he and Hashirama agreed to lead an attack on Otogakure in three days.
• Naruto told Sakura and Neji that Orochimaru had abducted Sasuke, and they hurried to Konoha Hospital.
• Izumo and Kotetsu told Tsunade that Orochimaru had taken Sasuke as his perfect vessel and threatened to destroy Konoha after completing his technique.
• Tsunade ordered Kakashi and Guy to pursue Orochimaru and keep his group occupied, assigning Neji another mission and planning to send Hongshi as reinforcement.
• Kakashi and Guy set out with Sakura, Naruto, Lee, and Tenten after Homura urged them to hurry, while Naruto, Guy, and Lee raced ahead.

Hongshi led Kosuke, Hayate, and Hanabi on a mission that turned into a relaxed camping trip, while Kakashi’s team pursued Sasuke through the forest and fell behind after triggering Kabuto’s trap. The chapter left Kakashi’s exhausted team stopping to rest without proper food as Hongshi’s group ate a hearty meal nearby.

• Koharu and Homura questioned Hongshi’s mismatched team, but let them leave after learning Hanabi’s father had approved her participation.
• Hayate reassured Hanabi at their campsite, and she resolved to become an excellent ninja despite the dangers of missions.
• Kosuke cooked wild ingredients while Hongshi returned with a wild boar, and Hanabi asked Hongshi to train her.
• Hongshi agreed to guide Hanabi and told her to protect Hayate and Kosuke, while the group enjoyed their meal together.
• Kakashi’s team continued pursuing Sasuke, but Kabuto’s trap delayed them, and Kakashi ordered a two-hour rest.
• Naruto complained that the team had no cooking ninja and had to eat Military Rations Pills.

Konoha launched a punitive expedition against Otogakure while secretly sending elite Jonin to reclaim Kusagakure under disguise. Zetsu observed the departures and reported that the turmoil surrounding Hongshi was pushing the Shinobi World toward chaos.

• Tsunade and Shikamaru sent two hundred ninja, organized into reconnaissance, main, surprise-attack, and support forces, toward Otogakure.
• Tsunade told the departing troops to fight for Konoha and peace, while Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu watched from the gate.
• Tsunade explained that Shikamaru had planned the operation to protect Konoha's future fighters from unnecessary losses.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu stopped a visitor named Hōryūsai from the Nuclear Ninja Village and questioned him about his Chakra Desert Eagle Type 1.
• Jiraiya gathered Konoha's elite Jonin at the west gate and used Inoichi Yamanaka's telepathic technique to brief them on their secret mission to reclaim Kusagakure.
• Zetsu watched the disguised Jonin leave, discussed finding the bald, burly black man they had been ordered to recruit, and sank back underground.