Chapter Summaries

Kōki explained his two-level Superhuman Strength Technique to Yūhi Shinku and warned him about the skill and medical knowledge needed to master it. The two exchanged scrolls, and Kōki was pleased to find that Yūhi Shinku’s Genjutsu research included insights into Yin Release.

• Kōki described how his Superhuman Strength Technique used chakra to strike or pierce an opponent from within, and Yūhi Shinku recognized its lethal potential.
• Kōki warned Yūhi Shinku that the second level required precise chakra control and Medical Ninjutsu knowledge, while Kurenai Yuhi insisted her father could learn it quickly.
• Yūhi Shinku agreed to share all his Genjutsu knowledge and research notes, and Kōki gave him a scroll containing the technique’s training materials and precautions.
• Kurenai fetched Yūhi Shinku’s Genjutsu scroll, which he gave to Kōki along with an offer to explain its section on Yin Release.
• Kōki realized the scroll contained the Yin Release research he had hoped to find and recalled that he had visited Yūhi Shinku to test whether he had studied it.

Kōki explained to Yūhi Shinku that genjutsu could reach far beyond confusing an enemy, potentially controlling the senses and shaping reality through Yin Release. Shinku recognized the limits of his own talent and took comfort in the possibility that Kōki and Kurenai could continue exploring genjutsu.

• Kōki asked Yūhi Shinku to teach him genjutsu, and Shinku agreed, considering Kōki a potential successor to his legacy.
• Yūhi Shinku asked Kōki what genjutsu was and what it could achieve at its highest level.
• Kōki argued that genjutsu could control the senses, deceive consciousness, and, through Yin Release, blur the boundary between dreams and reality or create things from nothing.
• Yūhi Shinku acknowledged that some of Kōki's ideas were possible but believed such techniques would require extraordinary abilities, such as the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Yūhi Shinku admitted he had only scratched the surface of Yin Release and lacked the talent to go further, but felt comforted by Kōki and Kurenai's potential.

Kōki agreed to study Genjutsu seriously under Yūhi Shinku, who explained the field’s limitations and encouraged him to help advance it. Kōki promised to do so, then continued learning from Yūhi Shinku while sharing ideas of his own.

• Yūhi Shinku asked Kōki to become his Genjutsu student, and Kōki agreed.
• Yūhi Shinku explained that Genjutsu depended on Yin Release chakra, spiritual energy, and chakra control, and that few ninja had both the talent and the incentive to specialize in it.
• Yūhi Shinku described how the Uchiha Clan’s Sharingan could cast, perceive, and counter Genjutsu, discouraging ordinary ninja from pursuing the field.
• Yūhi Shinku told Kōki he believed he could take Genjutsu to a new level, and Kōki promised to advance it.
• Yūhi Shinku continued teaching Genjutsu fundamentals as Kōki absorbed his explanations and offered ideas for them to discuss.

Kōki and Yūhi Shinku spent the day discussing Genjutsu and Yin Release, inspiring each other and deepening Shinku’s respect for Kōki. Kōki declined dinner and left after giving Kurenai Yuhi Chakra Scalpel notes, while Shinku reflected on the guidance he had received.

• Kurenai Yuhi interrupted Kōki and Yūhi Shinku’s discussion when evening arrived, reminding them that they had not eaten since noon.
• Yūhi Shinku praised Kōki’s insights and admitted their lesson had become a mutual exchange that gave him new inspiration.
• Kōki declined Yūhi Shinku’s dinner invitation so he could return home and write down what he had learned.
• Before leaving, Kōki gave Kurenai Yuhi his Chakra Scalpel notes as compensation for the Superhuman Strength Technique he had already exchanged with Yūhi Shinku.
• After Kōki left, Yūhi Shinku reflected that Kōki’s advice had clarified his path in Genjutsu and Yin Release, and wondered whether Kōki was more experienced than he appeared.

After studying Yūhi Shinku’s notes on Yin Release, Kōki read Tobirama Senju’s research into the Shadow Clone Technique and compared their findings. His understanding of Yin Release deepened, and he realized he might be able to create a special Clone Technique of his own.

• Kōki returned home, checked that nobody had entered, and wrote down what Yūhi Shinku had taught him about Yin Release.
• Kōki remembered the Shadow Clone Technique scroll Hiruzen Sarutobi had given him and read Tobirama Senju’s research notes.
• Tobirama Senju’s records described how he combined Yin Release chakra, Yang Release chakra, and spiritual energy to create conscious physical clones, eventually refining the Shadow Clone Technique.
• Kōki compared Tobirama Senju’s research with Yūhi Shinku’s notes and strengthened his understanding and control of Yin Release.
• Kōki realized that he might use Yin Release chakra to create a special kind of Clone Technique.

Kōki created a strange Yin Release clone that could possess animals and corpses, then considered how to use it to improve his genjutsu. He decided to seek a corpse from Konoha’s Kurama Clan.

• Kōki formed hand seals and created an unidentified mass of black chakra that he could control.
• Kōki tested the mass on a white rabbit and discovered it could possess the animal and control its body as a clone.
• Kōki concluded that the clone could likely possess only small animals without chakra or dead bodies, and found he could create only one clone at a time before it dissipated.
• Kōki considered using a corpse to strengthen his genjutsu, but realized Uchiha corpses would likely have their Sharingan removed.
• Kōki chose to obtain a corpse from the Kurama Clan, whose members had strong genjutsu talent and a genjutsu kekkei genkai.

Kōki infiltrated the Kurama Clan compound and overheard its members lamenting the clan’s decline and their frail bodies. Their discussion turned to Kurama Some, a gifted youth whose Kekkei Genkai awakened a monster that killed many of the clan’s ninja.

• Kōki sent a Shadow Clone to explore the Kurama Clan compound and searched its rooms unnoticed.
• Kurama Masahiro listened as his clansmen complained about discrimination and the Kurama Clan’s fading strength.
• Kurama Masahiro explained that the clan’s spiritual energy suppressed its physical energy, and that even Tsunade could not solve the problem.
• A clansman suggested releasing Kurama Some, whose talent might restore the clan’s prestige.
• The clansmen recalled that Some’s awakening of Five Senses Manipulation also awakened Ido, which took control of him and killed several Jonin and more than a dozen Chunin before he was subdued and sealed.

Kurama Masahiro revealed that Kurama Some had died by suicide after losing control of his Kekkei Genkai and killing his family, and explained why he had kept the death secret. Kōki overheard the clan meeting and decided to wait for Some’s burial before stealing his corpse.

• Kurama Masahiro ended the clansmen’s argument over releasing Kurama Some by announcing that Some had died a month after the clan conflict.
• Kurama Masahiro explained that Some had lost control when his Kekkei Genkai awakened, killed his family, and later took his own life from remorse.
• Kurama Masahiro admitted that he had kept Some’s death secret to investigate the awakening and madness, and showed the clansmen that Some’s corpse remained intact.
• Kōki, listening outside the room, decided that Some’s corpse was the specimen he wanted and watched Kurama Masahiro seal it in a scroll and put it on a shelf.
• Kurama Masahiro told the clansmen he would speak to Lord Hokage and bury Some the next day; Kōki chose to wait until after the burial to steal the corpse.

Kōki stole Kurama Some's preserved corpse and used his special Shadow Clone to inhabit it, discovering that it inherited Some's memories, strength, and bloodline. He tested the Kurama Clan's Five Senses Manipulation and found its genjutsu so realistic that even he struggled to distinguish it from reality.

• Kōki followed Kurama Masahiro to Kurama Some's funeral, then waited until the clan members had left before stealing Some's body and sealing it in a scroll.
• Kōki brought Some's corpse home and used his special Shadow Clone to possess it, making the body move and speak.
• The clone confirmed that it could extract chakra and had inherited Some's Jonin strength, combat experience, and Kurama Clan bloodline, though it could remain active for only three days.
• The clone used Five Senses Manipulation on Kōki, creating a vivid illusion of Kōki's previous life that he found difficult to recognize as false.

Kōki tested his clone’s powerful five-senses genjutsu and sealed Kurama Some’s body away before preparing to seek leads from Hiruzen Sarutobi. Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki arrived to ask for his Wood Release, and Kushina gave him a sealing jutsu that could keep Yin Release chakra from dissipating.

• Kōki questioned his clone about its genjutsu, learning it could control up to twenty targets and was difficult to escape without exceptional mental strength or Yin Release chakra.
• Kōki dismissed the special Shadow Clone Technique and sealed Kurama Some’s body in a scroll.
• Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki came to Kōki’s home, and Kushina asked for his help using Wood Release.
• Kōki agreed to help Kushina without asking for payment, then asked whether a sealing jutsu could prevent Yin Release chakra from dissipating.
• Kushina gave Kōki a scroll containing a sealing jutsu for Yin Release and offered to answer his future questions about sealing jutsu.

After Minato and Kushina left, Kōki used an Uzumaki sealing jutsu to stabilize his Shadow Clone, who chose the name Aizen and set out to pursue their plan. Kōki then left to ask Hiruzen Sarutobi for Tobirama Senju’s research materials.

• Kōki examined the Yin Release Chakra Sealing Jutsu scroll Kushina had given him and found that it suited his Shadow Clone Technique.
• Kōki used the seal on a clone possessing Kurama Some’s corpse, and the clone reported that it could now remain active for months.
• Kōki and the clone agreed to seek ancient records and secret techniques while avoiding unnecessary fights with ninja from the Five Great Nations.
• The clone chose the name Aizen, planned to wear a mask, and departed after trading dramatic declarations with Kōki.
• Kōki left home to ask Hiruzen Sarutobi for Tobirama Senju’s research materials.

Aizen visited a black-market bounty exchange and effortlessly killed the men who tried to ambush him. He accepted a mission to infiltrate Kumogakure and assassinate the Jonin Mano Seiichiro, then left with the mission intelligence.

• Aizen entered a black-market bounty exchange hidden beneath a casino in the Land of Fire.
• Segawa pretended to be drunk before attacking Aizen, but his blade stopped at Aizen's neck.
• Aizen used Genjutsu: Senbonzakura to kill the people in the exchange who had mocked or targeted him.
• Aizen selected a mission to infiltrate Kumogakure and kill the Jonin Mano Seiichiro, using the dead men's valuables to pay for intelligence.
• Aizen gave his name to the man in charge and left the bounty exchange with the mission intelligence.

Aizen infiltrated Kumogakure to kill the Jonin Mano Seiichiro and tracked him to the Valley of Clouds and Lightning. He trapped Mano with his abilities and killed him, leaving Mano to die without understanding how Aizen had immobilized him.

• Aizen disguised himself as a traveling merchant and entered Kumogakure, where a ninja under his Genjutsu told him Mano Seiichiro was in the Valley of Clouds and Lightning.
• Aizen reached the training ground and revealed to Mano that he had come to complete a mission, prompting Mano to recognize him as an infiltrator.
• Mano tried to draw his Ninja Blade and retreat, but Aizen’s power left him unable to move or control his chakra.
• Aizen drew Mano’s Ninja Blade and cut his throat, killing him.

Aizen escaped Kumogakure after killing Mano Seiichiro with Five Senses Manipulation, while Kōki began his Anbu career in Konoha to earn Tobirama Senju’s research records. The chapter ended with Kōki meeting the members of Butterfly Squad, the team he would join.

• Aizen’s genjutsu left Mano Seiichiro seated and helpless, and Aizen killed him before leaving Kumogakure with his body.
• Kumogakure discovered Mano Seiichiro missing two days later and searched for an infiltrator, uncovering several spies.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to give Kōki Tobirama Senju’s research records as a reward for completing missions, prompting Kōki to report to Anbu headquarters.
• Shinnosuke Sarutobi welcomed Kōki and assigned him to Butterfly Squad, an elite team of Ino-Shika-Cho clan members.
• Nara Yūsuke introduced himself, Yamanaka Kenji, and Akimichi Tsuyoshi, explaining their roles and specialties in the squad.

Kōki joined the Butterfly Squad and revealed his Wood Release to his new teammates before they set out on their first Anbu mission. After reaching the site where a Sunagakure squad had vanished, the team tracked its trail northeast and considered whether the survivors were heading toward the Land of Fire’s capital or trying to mislead them.

• Kōki introduced himself to Nara Yūsuke, Yamanaka Kenji, and Akimichi Tsuyoshi and revealed that he specialized in Wood Release and Medical Ninjutsu.
• Shinnosuke Sarutobi assigned Kōki to follow squad captain Nara Yūsuke’s orders and sent the team to hunt Sunagakure ninja who had infiltrated the Land of Fire.
• Nara Yūsuke explained that the Sunagakure squad had suffered heavy losses crossing the border but could still threaten the Land of Fire.
• The team reached the devastated battlefield where the Sunagakure ninja had last been seen, and Yamanaka Kenji identified a trail leading northeast.
• Akimichi Tsuyoshi worried that the Sunagakure ninja were heading for the Land of Fire’s capital, while Kōki suggested they might be using that route to mislead their pursuers.

Kōki and his Konoha squad pursued the injured Sunagakure team after predicting its escape route through the Land of Lightning. They ambushed the five survivors, killing two immediately and trapping the remaining three in a coordinated attack.

• Nara Yūsuke agreed with Kōki’s assessment and ordered the squad to speed up after Yamanaka Kenji found scraps of Sunagakure clothing.
• The Sunagakure captain abandoned the mission and led his four remaining teammates toward the Land of Lightning to escape the Land of Fire.
• Kōki’s squad ambushed the five Sunagakure ninjas at night, killing Yusa with Explosive Tags and another ninja with Kōki’s Wood Release sneak attack.
• Nara Yūsuke restrained the last three Sunagakure ninjas with Shadow Possession Jutsu, while Yamanaka Kenji used the Mind Body Switch Technique to strengthen the restraint.
• Akimichi Tsuyoshi struck the restrained enemies with his enlarged fist, smashing them into the ground.

Kōki protected Nara Yūsuke, Yamanaka Kenji, and Akimichi Tsuyoshi from explosive tags planted by the defeated Sunagakure ninja. After they searched the battlefield and gathered what remained, the squad headed back to Konoha.

• Kōki sensed explosive tags beneath a Sunagakure corpse and shielded himself and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio with Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall Technique.
• The explosion nearly overwhelmed the group, and Nara Yūsuke, Yamanaka Kenji, and Akimichi Tsuyoshi thanked Kōki for saving them.
• Nara Yūsuke declared the mission complete and directed the group to search the battlefield for anything valuable.
• Kōki found scrolls, bottles, and jars on the Sunagakure puppeteer he had killed, then sealed the corpse in a blank scroll and handed it to Nara Yūsuke.
• Nara Yūsuke led Kōki, Yamanaka Kenji, and Akimichi Tsuyoshi back toward Konoha.

After returning from his first Anbu mission, Kōki rested while reflecting on how easily the squad had defeated the Sunagakure team. In the capital of the Land of Fire, Aizen met Kazuma and subtly deepened the young ninja’s resentment toward Konoha.

• Kōki returned to Konoha, reported the mission to Shinnosuke Sarutobi, and went home to rest after considering the squad’s success.
• Aizen visited the capital of the Land of Fire in disguise and noticed that Kazuma had been watching him.
• Aizen pretended to be an admiring civilian, and Kazuma introduced himself and showed him around the capital.
• Kazuma grew disgusted when he saw Konoha Ninja behaving obnoxiously in a tavern, then remembered that he was on a mission and prepared to leave.
• Aizen said he wanted to visit Konoha and questioned why the Land of Fire had two leaders, which intensified Kazuma’s shame and resentment toward Konoha.

Aizen infiltrated the Land of Fire daimyo’s estate to steal ancient books and documents, then returned to the bounty exchange to accept a mission targeting Kawasaki Ya, a Kusagakure rogue ninja with Dark Release. He left with the target’s information as the bounty hunters discussed his ruthless reputation.

• Aizen watched Kazuma leave, then vanished after deciding his encounter might draw Konoha’s attention in the future.
• Aizen used a map to find the daimyo’s neglected library, sent Shadow Clones to search it, and took valuable books and documents after three hours.
• Aizen returned to the bounty exchange and chose the mission to capture Kawasaki Ya, intending to keep the Dark Release user for his original body’s experiments.
• The exchange manager gave Aizen Kawasaki Ya’s information for free as a special privilege, hoping to build a relationship with him.
• After Aizen left, bounty hunters discussed the killings from the previous day and called him ruthless.

Aizen tracked Kawasaki Ya to a town in the Land of Waterfalls and found him fighting four Kusagakure ninjas. After Kawasaki Ya killed his pursuers, Aizen revealed himself and challenged his confidence in his bloodline.

• Aizen learned from the innkeeper, whom he controlled with Genjutsu, that Kawasaki Ya had already left town and that another search party had gone after him.
• Aizen followed Kawasaki Ya’s trail and found four Kusagakure ninjas attacking him.
• Kawasaki Ya used Dark Release to drain Ryota’s chakra and kill him.
• Kawasaki Ya unleashed Dark Release: Judgment and killed the remaining three Grass Ninja.
• Aizen appeared in a nearby tree and told Kawasaki Ya that kekkei genkai differed in strength.