Chapter Summaries

Ayato joined Tenzō's Anbu team as Ink Shadow, where his teammates initially doubted his ability because of his age. After introductions revealed Tenzō's Wood Release and the team's other roles, Ayato described his own Chakra sensing and quick-attack skills, leaving the team optimistic about their composition.

• Tenzō brought Ayato to the Anbu headquarters and introduced him as the team's new member, Ink Shadow.
• Hyena questioned whether someone as young as Ayato could serve in Anbu, but Tenzō explained that the Hokage had assigned him to the team.
• Hyena warned Ayato not to hold the team back, and Ayato calmly assured him that he would not.
• Tenzō introduced himself as the captain and revealed that he used Wood Release as the team's main attacker.
• Hyena introduced his tracking and support role and his wolfhound Gray Fang, while Fox explained that he handled logistics and healing.
• Ayato said he specialized in Chakra sensing and quick attacks, and the team welcomed the value his sensing could bring.

Ayato joined Tenzō’s squad on its first mission together, a low-risk assignment that the captain said had been prepared specifically for him. After proving he could keep pace and volunteering for watch, Ayato began to feel that the squad was a good fit.

• Tenzō showed Ayato, Hyena, and Fox the assigned mission and insisted that the squad travel together despite Ayato thinking he could handle it alone.
• The squad set out with Fox riding Gray Fang, while Ayato kept up as Hyena sped ahead and then tired; Hyena acknowledged Ayato’s speed and stamina.
• At night, Ayato offered to take Fox’s watch shift, and Tenzō explained that the mission was intended for Ayato to carry out alone later.
• Tenzō agreed to Ayato’s request, and Fox gave him an alarm device before the others went to sleep.
• Ayato kept watch beside the campfire and decided that the squad was not bad.

Ayato joined Tenzō's team on a mission to eliminate a mountain stronghold, and his teammates began to trust him after seeing his skill and resolve. At the stronghold, Ayato killed a guard in his first real fight and charged at the remaining enemies.

• Tenzō discovered Ayato had stayed alert during the night watch and acknowledged his abilities.
• Ayato and Tenzō discussed the team's doubts about him, and Ayato vowed to prove he belonged.
• The next day, Hyena greeted Ayato warmly, and the team traveled at a steady pace to the mission site.
• Tenzō, Hyena, and Fox worried that Ayato's first killing mission was too difficult, but Tenzō told them to trust him.
• At the Mountain Stronghold, Ayato disarmed a guard with a slash, steadied himself, killed the man with a second strike, and charged at the man's companions.

Ayato slaughtered the bandits in the Mountain Stronghold and completed his first mission, while Tenzō and the others worried about the effect it might have on him. Remembering the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy, Ayato recognized the massacre as a possible sign of the “Bloody Storm” and remained resolute in his path.

• Ayato cut through the Mountain Stronghold’s bandits as Tenzō, Fox, and Hyena watched, debating whether to intervene.
• Ayato killed the last bandit, who said they had only wanted to survive, and replied that neither of them had been wrong.
• Ayato reported the mission complete, and Tenzō and Fox tried to reassure him that the bandits had deserved their fate.
• Ayato explained that he understood the bandits’ perspective but had never believed his own actions were wrong.
• Ayato recalled the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy and murmured, “Bloody Storm,” while reaffirming that he would not change his goal.

After Ayato struggled with the emotional aftermath of killing bandits, Tenzō and the others supported him as their teammate. He returned to the village, rested at home, and reunited with his mother Sinai.

• Ayato wondered who was at fault and suggested that perhaps the world was to blame, then Tenzō buried the bandits’ corpses with Wood Release.
• Tenzō checked on Ayato, who admitted he was not alright but promised to recover before the next mission.
• Ayato woke after a night of nightmares, ate breakfast, and traveled back to the village with Tenzō, Hyena, and Fox.
• Ayato returned to his empty home, thought about Sinai, and fell asleep without nightmares.
• Sinai came home worried, saw Ayato waiting for her, and exchanged a happy welcome with him.

Ayato joined Tenzō’s team on a mission to eliminate a wounded rogue ninja, but he wanted a greater challenge than the relatively easy assignment. He used a lightning-charged Kunai to demonstrate the Flying Thunder God Technique, leaving Tenzō, Hyena, and Fox stunned by his sudden appearance and swift kill.

• Ayato accepted Tenzō’s second mission, though he felt the low difficulty wasted his time now that he had adapted to killing.
• Tenzō explained that Ayato would attack the rogue ninja while Hyena supported him, and the team soon located their target.
• Ayato threw a lightning-charged Kunai at the fleeing rogue ninja before Tenzō finished giving instructions.
• Ayato vanished from beside Tenzō, Hyena, and Fox and appeared over the rogue ninja, cutting off his head.
• Ayato checked the rogue ninja’s body to confirm his death while Tenzō, Hyena, and Fox stared in shock.

Ayato confronted Tenzō about taking missions that were too dangerous for the squad, then impressed his teammates with his strength. On the journey back, he began devising a faster lightning-powered projectile inspired by a Railgun, though he knew he would have to work it out through trial and error.

• Ayato apologized for disobeying Tenzō’s orders but demanded that the team stop accepting missions for his sake, and Tenzō agreed to return to their usual difficulty level.
• Tenzō waived Ayato’s punishment and accepted responsibility for underestimating his subordinate, while Fox and Hyena grew excited about having him as a teammate.
• Ayato and the squad set off with the rogue ninja’s corpse, and Ayato reflected on how slowly the enemy had reacted to his Kunai.
• Ayato imagined using Lightning Cutter on a Kunai to create a Lightning Blade Kunai, avoiding the technique’s side effects while increasing the projectile’s speed.
• Ayato recalled the principle behind a Railgun and considered combining electromagnetic acceleration with a lightning-powered blade, but realized he would need to experiment despite his poor knowledge of math and physics.

Ayato’s Flying Thunder God and Rasengan made him a decisive asset to Tenzō’s team, though he assessed that his strongest attacks depended on surprise and limited chakra. As the team waited at ANBU headquarters for a new mission, Ayato practiced controlling a Kunai with electricity, and Tenzō arrived carrying the mission Scroll.

• Ayato killed a Special Jonin with Flying Thunder God and a Rasengan, prompting Hyena and Fox to recognize his strength.
• Ayato assessed that he could defeat Special Jonin with surprise but would struggle if enemies knew his abilities or survived his opening attack.
• Ayato’s presence raised the team’s mission efficiency and status, and Hyena and Fox adapted by helping him create openings to throw Kunai.
• Ayato practiced making Kunai circle around him with electricity while the team waited at ANBU headquarters for a mission assigned by higher-ups.
• Tenzō entered carrying the mission Scroll.

Ayato and Tenzō Team began a covert mission to protect Master Craftsman on his journey to the Iron Country, with Ayato disguised as the craftsman’s grandson. The convoy set off with Ayato hidden among its passengers, while the threat of Rogue Ninjas and possible Mist shinobi remained.

• Tenzō explained that Ink Shadow would secretly protect Master Craftsman and his grandson while another team escorted the transport convoy.
• Ayato learned that he would disguise himself as the grandson, Takumi Tetsuya, and guard Master Craftsman against Rogue Ninjas and possible Mist shinobi.
• Tenzō gave Ayato a Human Skin Mask, and Ayato put it on before the team began the operation.
• Ayato entered the convoy’s carriage ahead of Master Craftsman and his real grandson, then used the time to train in the Void State.
• Takumi Tetsuya doubted Ayato’s strength, but Ayato appeared beside him instantly and reassured him; Master Craftsman welcomed Ayato’s protection.

Ayato, traveling as Ink Shadow with Master Craftsman and Takumi Tetsuya, heard Master Craftsman recount his encounter with the Konoha White Fang. After detecting a visitor and cautioning the others about the delivered fruit, Ayato considered learning swordsmanship from the samurai guarding the convoy.

• Master Craftsman told Takumi Tetsuya about meeting a young, silver-haired ninja who later became known as the Konoha White Fang.
• Ayato introduced himself as Ink Shadow and said he was probably stronger than the White Fang had been when Master Craftsman met him.
• Ayato sensed someone approaching the carriage and told Takumi Tetsuya to hide.
• A messenger delivered fruit on the Team Leader's behalf, and Ayato warned Master Craftsman not to eat it because he could not reliably test it for poison.
• Ayato sensed four Konoha ninja guarding the convoy and watched the samurai, deciding he might learn swordsmanship while posing as Takumi Tetsuya.

Ayato set aside learning swordsmanship from the convoy’s boastful samurai and began experimenting with combining ninjutsu and his sword. After several quiet days, he sensed an ambush, sounded the alarm, and the attackers rushed the convoy as Tenzō Team moved to respond.

• Ayato decided the samurai in the convoy were unsuitable teachers and chose to study sword techniques after returning to Konoha.
• Takumi Tetsuya offered to forge Ayato a better sword, and Ayato gave him a Flying Thunder God kunai to keep safe.
• Ayato prevented Takumi Tetsuya from leaving the carriage and practiced combining his chakra nature with his sword.
• Ayato sensed people approaching the convoy at night and told Takumi Tetsuya to wake Master Craftsman.
• Ayato activated the Tenzō Brand Alarm, exposing the approaching attackers, and Tenzō Team began its operation as the attackers charged.

Ayato protected Master Craftsman and Takumi Tetsuya from a fog-shrouded attack, killing dozens of outlaws who approached their carriage. As the fog began to lift, Konoha Genin arrived and saw Ayato standing over the corpses.

• Ayato left the carriage and told Takumi Tetsuya to keep the kunai he had given him close.
• Ayato used the fog to ambush and kill the outlaws who targeted the carriage.
• Master Craftsman asked about the danger, and Ayato assured him and Takumi Tetsuya that they were safe despite the hired samurai's absence.
• Ayato realized Konoha's team had encountered Mist ninja but stayed to protect Master Craftsman and his grandson.
• As Tenzō's fight disrupted the Hidden Mist Technique, Ayato tied on his Konoha Headband and watched three Konoha Genin approach.

Ayato guarded Master Craftsman’s carriage after killing the Kirigakure attackers, then set out to support Tenzō and hunt the remaining enemies. The battle continued near the supplies, where Ayato began picking off scattered Kirigakure ninjas.

• Ayato refused to let three Genin approach the carriage until Master Craftsman appeared and confirmed he was safe.
• When the Hidden Mist Technique cleared, the Genin and Master Craftsman saw the corpses surrounding the carriage and realized Ayato had killed the attackers.
• Ayato ordered the Genin to keep approaching people away, then told Hyena and Fox to guard the carriage while he went to help Tenzō.
• Ayato sensed a Kirigakure ninja heading for the supply carts and decided to hunt the scattered attackers before they could reach Master Craftsman.

Ayato tested his Lightning Ninja Sword while hunting Mist ninjas, then tried the Wind Ninja Sword against his final target. The Wind Ninja Sword cut through the enemy with overwhelming ease, convincing Ayato that he had chosen the right path for his weapon.

• Ayato ambushed a Mist ninja with his Lightning Ninja Sword, paralyzed him, and killed him.
• Ayato killed a second Mist ninja before he could test the sword, then defeated a third after struggling to control the lightning Chakra.
• After killing nearly ten Mist ninjas, Ayato faced the final one openly because he needed to hurry to Tenzō.
• Ayato used the Wind Ninja Sword to slice through the Mist ninja and his sword, then realized the weapon’s power suited his path.

Ayato joined Tenzō’s battle against a Kirigakure Jonin and used a Flying Thunder God kunai and Rasengan to kill him. After claiming his first Jonin kill, Ayato was left exhausted but satisfied.

• Ayato assessed his remaining Chakra, took a Soldier Pill, and headed to Tenzō’s battlefield.
• Tenzō steadily trapped the Kirigakure Jonin with Wood Release and noticed Ayato arriving.
• Ayato watched the fight and saw the Jonin notice an apparent gap in Tenzō’s defenses.
• Ayato threw a lightning-charged Flying Thunder God kunai, teleported behind the Jonin as he dodged, and struck him with a Rasengan.
• Ayato confirmed the Jonin was dead and celebrated his first Jonin kill.

Ayato and Tenzō defeated the Kirigakure attackers and escorted the civilians to Iron Country, where they parted from Takumi Tetsuya. After training with the Tenzō Team for several more missions, Ayato left the team, and Tenzō, Hyena, and Fox wished him well.

• Ayato and Tenzō returned to the others after killing the Kirigakure Jonin, and Ayato revealed that the attack had involved a diversion over Meteorite Iron.
• Tenzō decided to continue escorting the civilians to Iron Country, where Takumi Tetsuya promised to forge Ayato a powerful weapon.
• After returning to Konoha, Ayato exchanged contribution points for sword techniques and continued taking missions with the Tenzō Team while training.
• Ayato told Tenzō he intended to leave the team, and Hyena, Fox, and Tenzō offered him their support before he departed.

Ayato joined the Anbu, received a swordsmanship Scroll that revealed a powerful blend of ninja techniques and swordplay, and set out alone to complete his first performance-based mission. He rescued two Konoha ninjas from rogue attackers and began hunting down the fleeing enemies.

• Ayato met the Anbu Captain, accepted his Anbu identity and two Scrolls, and received a mission to prove himself within ten days.
• Ayato studied the swordsmanship Scroll in the Void State and realized its simple techniques relied on combining ninjutsu with swordplay.
• Ayato prepared supplies and left alone, choosing to work as a one-man team and aiming to finish his mission in a day.
• A group of rogue ninjas cornered two Konoha ninjas who were escorting supplies, but Ayato appeared and killed their leader with a Kunai.
• The remaining rogue ninjas fled as the Konoha ninjas recognized Ayato as Ink Shadow, and Ayato pursued them, killing two and counting nine still remaining.

Ayato hunted down rogue ninja using Flying Thunder God and a developing electromagnetic field, unleashing a Railgun-like attack on one group. He then intercepted the last four survivors and prepared to kill them.

• Ayato killed three fleeing rogue ninja and used Flying Thunder God kunai to pursue others along their escape routes.
• Ayato stopped a group of four rogue ninja’s Shuriken with his electromagnetic field, then fired an iron bullet split by the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique, killing them.
• Ayato sensed and pursued the remaining rogue ninja, whose Special Jonin leader believed they had escaped.
• Ayato appeared in front of the final four rogue ninja and told them they had chosen the worst direction.

Ayato killed the rogue ninja squad, but the escalating violence stirred by his accumulated killing intent alarmed him. After reporting the threat dealt with, he left the Konoha ninjas and planned to leave the Anbu.

• Ayato killed two rogue ninjas with his wind-enhanced blade and threw a broken Kunai to kill the third.
• Ayato fought the Special Jonin, identified his real body through the Clone Technique, and used Flying Thunder God and a Rasengan to defeat him.
• Ayato realized his growing killing intent was affecting him and decided to leave the Anbu after completing the mission.
• Ayato returned to the two Konoha ninjas, told them to collect the bodies and await reinforcements, then departed.

After rescuing Konoha ninja, Ayato struggled with the killing intent and intrusive thoughts caused by his constant missions, so he decided to leave the Anbu and rest. The Third Hokage accepted his decision, disbanded the Ink Shadow Team, and reinstated him as Ayato with the rank of Special Jonin.

• Calm Ninja told Irritable Ninja that Ink Shadow was famous among Konoha's Genin and Chunin for saving lives, and Irritable Ninja asked to learn more about him.
• Ayato walked toward Konoha with Void State active, trying to quiet his killing intent and disturbing thoughts about the two Konoha ninja he had seen die.
• The Third Hokage reflected on how rescue missions had exposed Ink Shadow's identity and earned him the names Crimson Ink Shadow and Konoha Ink Shadow.
• Ayato told the Third Hokage that he needed to rest and had decided to leave the Anbu, admitting that he had overestimated his ability to endure the killing.
• The Third Hokage agreed to disband the Ink Shadow Team and let Ayato resume life in Konoha as a twelve-year-old Special Jonin.