Chapter Summaries

Ayato and Orochimaru continued their difficult battle, with Ayato preventing Orochimaru from completing Impure World Reincarnation but finding no easy way to kill him. Orochimaru summoned Manda and ended Guren’s Crystal Release, revealing the other battles as the confrontation entered its second stage.

• Orochimaru escaped from the snake corpse and countered Ayato’s attack, then unleashed a swarm of snakes that Ayato scattered with a stronger Great Breakthrough.
• Orochimaru tried to summon three coffins for Impure World Reincarnation, but Ayato struck with the Railgun and forced the coffins back underground.
• Ayato and Orochimaru discussed Naruto’s growing Nine-Tails power and their respective battle prospects while Ayato monitored Naruto’s condition.
• Orochimaru summoned Manda and stopped relying on Guren’s Crystal Release, allowing Guren to lower the crystal walls.
• The exposed battlefields showed Jiraiya fighting a transformed Kimimaro and Naruto protecting Tsunade and Shizune from Kabuto.

Jiraiya buried Kimimaro after the shinobi died holding him back, while Naruto and Tsunade overcame the odds against Kabuto Yakushi and regrouped with Jiraiya and Ayato. Orochimaru’s plan to kill Tsunade failed, and as the group confronted him, Ayato prepared to use an unknown technique.

• Jiraiya buried Kimimaro and summoned Gamabunta after Kimimaro died delaying him.
• Kabuto Yakushi abandoned his fight against Naruto and Tsunade and returned to Orochimaru.
• Tsunade stood up despite her fear of blood and summoned Katsuyu, encouraged by Naruto’s protection.
• Orochimaru realized his plan had failed and faced Jiraiya, Tsunade, Naruto, and Ayato.
• Ayato asked Jiraiya and Tsunade to keep Orochimaru occupied while he prepared a technique, and Naruto offered to help.

Ayato used Flying Thunder God and a higher-level summoning contract to pull Manda away from Orochimaru, leaving Orochimaru exposed to the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken. As its blast engulfed Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi, Ayato wondered whether the attack could finally kill Orochimaru.

• Ayato prepared a Wind Release: Rasenshuriken while Jiraiya and Tsunade fought Orochimaru and Naruto fought Guren.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade restrained Orochimaru long enough for Ayato to hurl the Rasenshuriken at him.
• Ayato used a one-handed Summoning Technique to summon Manda away, leaving Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi exposed in midair.
• The Rasenshuriken struck Orochimaru and engulfed him and Kabuto Yakushi in a storm of light and chakra.
• Naruto used the Nine-Tails' power to complete a Rasengan and smash through Guren's crystal defense, sending her flying.
• Manda fell to the ground with Ayato standing on its head as Ayato watched the Rasenshuriken's blast and wondered whether Orochimaru had survived.

Ayato and his allies forced Orochimaru to reveal the Eight Branches Technique, but he escaped with Kabuto Yakushi and Guren. After Orochimaru collapsed unconscious, his White Phosphorous Serpent merged into Kabuto Yakushi, leaving a being whose identity was uncertain.

• Manda questioned Ayato after being summoned, then returned to Ryūchi Cave while Ayato went to check on Orochimaru.
• Ayato warned Jiraiya and Tsunade that Orochimaru might have survived the Rasenshuriken, and escaped an ambush from his Eight-Headed White Phosphorous Serpent.
• Orochimaru used the Eight Branches Technique to seize Kabuto Yakushi and Guren and retreat underground, leaving Ayato and the others unable to pursue.
• Far away, Orochimaru's serpent form collapsed unconscious, while injured Kabuto Yakushi struggled to heal himself and Guren could not move.
• Kabuto Yakushi touched Orochimaru's White Phosphorous Serpent, which flowed into his body and took control of it, creating a being that might be called Orochi Kabuto.

Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi found themselves fused in one body and left to recover while Orochimaru reconsidered how to destabilize the shinobi world. Back at the inn, Ayato explained how he got the Three Great Sage Areas’ Summoning Contracts and offered to teach Naruto the Rasenshuriken after he mastered its prerequisites.

• Orochimaru treated Guren’s injuries through their fused body, and Guren realized Kabuto Yakushi was also speaking from it.
• Orochimaru and Guren left for another hideout as Orochimaru considered targeting Konoha or another village to throw the shinobi world into chaos.
• Ayato told Jiraiya that he had obtained Ryūchi Cave’s and Shikkotsu Forest’s Summoning Contracts at Mount Myōboku, and Katsuyu confirmed his account.
• Naruto asked Ayato to teach him the Rasenshuriken, and Ayato agreed but explained that Naruto first needed to master the Rasengan and Wind Release nature transformation.
• Naruto argued with Tsunade over whether he had learned the Rasengan, and the two left with Shizune following to watch him prove it.
• Ayato reminded Naruto that two people could accomplish what one person could not, then stayed behind at the inn with Jiraiya.

Ayato taught Jiraiya the principles of the Rasenshuriken and left him responsible for teaching Naruto. He then brought Orochimaru’s Kusanagi Sword to the Takumi family so Master Craftsman and Takumi Tetsuya could use it to upgrade his Ink Shadow Sword.

• Ayato taught Jiraiya how the Rasenshuriken worked and asked him to teach Naruto the technique later.
• Ayato returned home, retrieved Orochimaru’s Kusanagi Sword, and decided to use it to strengthen his Ink Shadow Sword.
• Ayato traveled to the Iron Country and asked Master Craftsman and Takumi Tetsuya to upgrade the Ink Shadow Sword with the Kusanagi Sword.
• Master Craftsman found that the Kusanagi Sword could not be melted with their tools, so Ayato offered to provide the necessary fire.
• Ayato used enhanced flames to melt the Kusanagi Sword, and Master Craftsman and Takumi Tetsuya began forging the upgraded Ink Shadow Sword.

Ayato returned to Konoha with his upgraded Ink Shadow Sword and welcomed Tsunade back, where she examined the Third Hokage and agreed to succeed him. Before the succession ceremony, Tsunade challenged Ayato to a fight over his reputation as a potential Hokage, while Danzo watched for an opportunity to exploit the confrontation.

• Ayato received the upgraded Ink Shadow Sword, which projected a stable extension of Wind Release Chakra, and returned to Konoha.
• Ayato met Tsunade, Shizune, Jiraiya, and Naruto at the village gates and led Tsunade to examine the Third Hokage.
• Tsunade softened toward the Third Hokage after seeing his age and condition, then agreed to become the Fifth Hokage.
• Tsunade summoned Ayato, questioned him about villagers wanting him as Hokage, and challenged him to fight at the sparring ground.
• Danzo learned of Tsunade and Ayato's confrontation and watched to see how Ayato would respond to the Fifth Hokage's displeasure.

Ayato fought Tsunade to persuade her to attend her Hokage inauguration, and their clash confirmed his strength while leaving him at a disadvantage. Tsunade agreed to go, Ayato offered to pay for the damaged training ground, and Danzo began plotting to ruin Ayato’s reputation and block his path to becoming Sixth Hokage.

• Tsunade attacked Ayato, but he dodged her blows and told her that years away from battle had dulled her combat instincts.
• Tsunade agreed to settle their disagreement with one strike, and their fists collided after Ayato layered lightning and Wind Armor over his arm.
• Ayato was thrown backward and numbed his arm, while Tsunade admitted that he had made her step back and recognized his formidable strength.
• Tsunade agreed to attend the Hokage inauguration ceremony, and Ayato offered to cover the training ground’s repair costs.
• Danzo learned that Tsunade and Ayato had fought and planned to use covert cooperation and attacks on Ayato’s reputation to prevent him from becoming Sixth Hokage.

Tsunade became Konoha’s Fifth Hokage and publicly promised to hand the position to Ayato as the Sixth Hokage when he asked or turned eighteen. She explained that she had made the promise to prevent herself from repeating the Third Hokage’s failures, while Danzo vowed to stop Ayato from succeeding her.

• The Third Hokage worried that Tsunade might have fled, but learned she was coming with Ayato.
• Tsunade emerged at the inauguration ceremony with Ayato, accepted the ceremonial hat, and announced that she was Konoha’s Fifth Hokage.
• Tsunade declared that Ayato could become Hokage whenever he asked, or would take over when he turned eighteen, prompting cheers from the villagers.
• Danzo flew into a rage over Tsunade’s announcement and vowed not to let Ayato become the Sixth Hokage.
• Tsunade told Ayato that the Third Hokage’s handling of White Fang’s death had disappointed her, and that she had promised to relinquish the office to Ayato so she would never follow the same path.

Tsunade assigned Ayato a Rank S mission and later sent him to keep an eye on Naruto during a mission involving Fujikaze Yukie in Snow Country. Ayato recognized the names from a movie plot and found an Anbu record of Kakashi's earlier mission there, leaving Tsunade surprised by the connection.

• Ayato and Tsunade discussed his proposed shinobi team arrangements, and she agreed to use his approach for familiar groups like the Konoha 12.
• Tsunade mistakenly handed Ayato a dossier about him before giving him a Rank S mission; she privately reflected that she trusted him despite the Third Hokage's extensive investigation.
• Ayato completed the mission at a deliberately relaxed pace, using walks to absorb Natural Energy, and defended his efficiency when Tsunade challenged him.
• Tsunade assigned Ayato to watch over Naruto during a mission, and he recognized Snow Country, Fujikaze Yukie, and Princess Fengyun from a remembered movie plot.
• Ayato took Tsunade to the Anbu archives and found a record of Kakashi's mission in Snow Country, surprising her.

Ayato and Tsunade debated whether Konoha should benefit from Kazahana Koyuki’s return to power in Snow Country, and Tsunade sought the Third Hokage’s advice. Team 7 returned having helped Koyuki become daimyo, and Tsunade assigned Ayato to handle the follow-up mission.

• Ayato explained that protecting Kazahana Koyuki could help Konoha gain access to Snow Country’s Chakra Armor, while Tsunade objected to interfering in another country’s affairs.
• Tsunade consulted the Third Hokage, who reassured her that Ayato had not proposed acting immorally or attacking Kazahana Dōtō.
• Kakashi reported that Kazahana Dōtō had attacked Koyuki, Team 7 had protected her, and she had become Snow Country’s new daimyo.
• Tsunade assigned Kakashi to coordinate trade between Konoha and Snow Country, but Kakashi left after Ayato teased him about being single.
• Tsunade gave Ayato the follow-up mission after he scared Kakashi away.

Ayato asked Tsunade to train Hinata, Sakura, and Ino in Medical Ninjutsu, describing talents that could make them promising successors. When he asked how to heal wounds by directly transferring bodily energy, Tsunade pointed him toward the Akimichi Clan and Yang Release.

• Ayato told Tsunade he had completed four Rank S missions and asked her to arrange Medical Ninjutsu training for Hinata Hyuga, Haruno Sakura, and Yamanaka Ino.
• Ayato described Sakura's exceptional Chakra control, Hinata's unusually powerful Byakugan, and Ino's compatibility between Medical Ninjutsu and the Yamanaka Clan's secret techniques.
• Ayato suggested Neji Hyuga could also learn Medical Ninjutsu, but Tsunade said it would be a waste to train him in it.
• Ayato asked Tsunade why he could not directly transfer bodily energy to heal a wound, and she said the question involved Yang Release beyond her expertise.
• Tsunade suggested Ayato visit the Akimichi Clan to learn more, and Ayato considered seeking insight from their Multiplication Technique.

Ayato asked Tsunade to teach him Super Strength and quickly mastered it despite her warnings about combining it with his other techniques. After Tsunade approved Sasuke's Anbu application, Ayato studied the Sealing Scroll and became interested in learning the Spirit Transformation Technique; he then found Naruto waiting outside his home.

• Ayato persuaded Tsunade to teach him Super Strength, and she warned that combining it with Lightning Release could be dangerous.
• Ayato explained how Wind Release: Wind Armor and his own method could help him manage the risks, and Tsunade agreed to teach him.
• Tsunade approved Sasuke's application to join Tenzō's Anbu team after discussing Ayato's recommendation.
• Ayato mastered Super Strength so quickly that Tsunade returned to her paperwork in shock.
• Ayato studied the Sealing Scroll, memorized several techniques, and decided to learn the Spirit Transformation Technique.
• Ayato returned home and found Naruto waiting outside.

Naruto asked Ayato to help him loosen the Nine-Tails’ seal and let the beast experience the outside world, and Ayato sent him into the Sealing Space to speak with it. Naruto encountered a lingering presence tied to the Fourth Hokage and Kushina, while the Nine-Tails began reconsidering its past and Naruto’s lonely childhood.

• Naruto waited for Ayato to return, then asked him to help remove more of the Nine-Tails’ seals after the beast’s power had helped him in Snow Country.
• Naruto also asked whether the Nine-Tails could see the sights he experienced, and Ayato told him to enter the Sealing Space and announce what he wanted to do.
• Naruto told the Nine-Tails he wanted to help it, but said he could not release it because he still wanted to live and become Hokage.
• As Naruto spoke, he felt a warm presence and began crying, while the Nine-Tails sensed the Fourth Hokage’s lingering aura and then calmed down.
• The Nine-Tails turned away and recalled how it had killed the Fourth Hokage and Kushina, while recognizing that Naruto had secretly cried through his lonely childhood.

Ayato removed Naruto’s Eight Trigrams Sealing and created a way for Kurama to share Naruto’s vision and senses. The chapter ended with Kurama discovering that Ayato could see through the new TV and furiously driving him out of the sealing space.

• Naruto told Ayato about the warm, sad experience, and Ayato led him to his room to work on the seal.
• Ayato entered the Nine-Tails’ Sealing Space, teased Kurama by petting its tail, and asked what it thought of Naruto’s decision.
• Ayato removed Naruto’s Eight Trigrams Sealing and installed a large TV that let Kurama connect to Naruto’s vision.
• Ayato adjusted the seal so Kurama could sense danger near Naruto and potentially warn him, though Kurama refused to promise anything.
• Kurama secretly turned on the TV after Ayato left, but Ayato returned and revealed he could see it, prompting Kurama to roar and send a surge of Chakra at him.

Ayato removed the restriction that had kept Naruto’s and the Nine-Tails’ senses separate, then encouraged Naruto to grow stronger so he could help in the future. He told Ino that Tsunade would teach her Medical Ninjutsu and discussed her training plans before heading to investigate a place he had sensed on a previous mission.

• Ayato told Naruto the Nine-Tails could now warn him of danger, and Naruto offered to repay Ayato by treating him to Ichiraku Ramen.
• Ayato asked Naruto to work hard and become strong enough to help him when difficult enemies appeared, and Naruto promised he would.
• Ayato told Ino that Tsunade had agreed to teach her Medical Ninjutsu and asked her to inform Sakura and Hinata.
• Ayato advised Ino to learn Tsunade’s medical techniques, continue practicing Yamanaka Secret Techniques, and eventually develop mental attacks of her own.
• Ino left to find Sakura and Hinata, while Ayato set out to investigate a place he had sensed during an earlier mission.

Ayato returned to the Land of Rivers to investigate a massive source of Natural Energy and discovered an ancient underground ruin containing a lake of liquid Natural Energy. After absorbing some of it and accelerating his body modifications, he secured the ruins and returned to Konoha.

• Ayato used a Flying Thunder God mark to return to the Land of Rivers and followed the Natural Energy to a hidden ruin.
• Ayato cut through the stone entrance and forced his way past the ruin’s mechanisms until he reached a hall with an unfamiliar seal and pattern.
• Ayato recorded the pattern, then used Earth Release to pass through the seal and reach the source of the Natural Energy.
• Ayato found a glowing green lake of mineral-rich Natural Energy and meditated beside it, rapidly modifying his body until he reached his limit.
• Ayato noticed that the Natural Energy had barely diminished, placed a Flying Thunder God kunai, set up warning seals, and returned to Konoha.

Sasuke became a Chunin and received an Anbu uniform and mask from Tsunade, then reflected on his revenge, Konoha, and his growing strength. He joined his new Anbu squad and introduced himself to its captain, Tenzō, under the codename Eagle.

• Tsunade informed Sasuke that he and Shikamaru were the only ones promoted to Chunin, and Sasuke accepted the recognition of his efforts.
• Sasuke compared himself with Itachi, Ayato, and Kakashi, resolved to grow stronger, and left his temporary two-man squad with Kakashi because he felt he was holding Kakashi back on difficult missions.
• Tsunade gave Sasuke an Anbu uniform and a plain white mask like the one Ayato had worn, and Sasuke decided he would not destroy a Konoha led by Ayato.
• Sasuke resolved to investigate the Uchiha Clan Massacre while hiding his appearance behind his mask and heading to meet his new Anbu teammates.
• Tenzō greeted Sasuke as his new captain, and Sasuke introduced himself by the codename Eagle.

Ino told Sakura and Hinata that Tsunade might take them as disciples, then encouraged Hinata to pursue Naruto. Sakura was left determined to grow stronger, while Ino and Hinata agreed to spar.

• Ino told Sakura that Tsunade might take them as disciples and that Shikamaru and Sasuke had become Chunin.
• Sakura admitted she felt lonely because she had not seen Sasuke, Naruto, or Kakashi, then resolved to work hard and become Tsunade’s disciple.
• Ino visited the Hyuga Clan estate and told Hinata about the chance to become Tsunade’s disciple.
• Ino teased Hinata about liking Naruto and urged her to spend more time with him.
• Ino offered to help Hinata pursue Naruto in exchange for Hinata being her sparring partner, and they headed to the training ground.

Ino sparred with Hinata, learned more about her shyness, and promised to help her get closer to Naruto. After Hinata learned Tsunade might take her as a disciple, Ino told Ayato about the day, noticed his scent had changed, and invited him to dinner at her house.

• Ino sparred with Hinata at the Hyuga Clan residence, and Hyuga Hiashi saw that Hinata was improving despite Ino's superior strength and speed.
• Ino praised Hinata, promised to help her pursue Naruto, and left; Hinata then told Hyuga Hiashi that Tsunade might take her as a disciple.
• Hyuga Hiashi urged Hinata to work hard for the opportunity and privately hoped it would protect her from the Caged Bird Curse Mark.
• Ino told Ayato about her sparring with Hinata and promised, with his approval, to help Hinata and Naruto grow closer without forcing matters.
• Ino noticed Ayato's scent had changed, and he suspected it came from his use of Natural Energy to transform his body.
• Ino invited Ayato to eat at her house, and he accepted.