Chapter Summaries

Uzumaki Hane stayed behind to fight Jirobo while Shikamaru led the others after Sasuke. After Jirobo activated his Cursed Seal and gained the upper hand, he sent Uzumaki Hane crashing through dozens of trees.

• Jirobo trapped the group in an Earth Release barrier and absorbed their Chakra, but Uzumaki Hane melted the barrier with lava and helped everyone escape.
• Uzumaki Hane held Jirobo off and told Shikamaru to take the others after Sasuke; Shikamaru agreed and led them away.
• Uzumaki Hane battled Jirobo with lava techniques and attempted the Superhuman Strength Fist, eventually landing a powerful blow that broke Jirobo's arm.
• Jirobo activated Curse Mark Stage Two, transformed into a monster, and overpowered Uzumaki Hane, sending him flying through dozens of trees.

Uzumaki Hane defeated Jirobo and caught up with the group as Neji fought Kidomaru alone. Hane arrived just as Kidomaru fired a sticky gold arrow at him from behind.

• Uzumaki Hane survived Jirobo’s Curse Mark Stage Two attacks and killed him with a lava javelin before pursuing the others.
• Naruto and his teammates found the Sound Ninja, but Shikamaru’s disguise was exposed, and Kidomaru trapped the group in spider silk.
• Neji freed the others with Gentle Fist and stayed behind to fight Kidomaru while Shikamaru, Naruto, and Choji continued after Sasuke.
• Neji battled Kidomaru, but Kidomaru’s Curse Mark Stage Two arrow pierced Neji’s right shoulder and left him collapsing.
• Uzumaki Hane reached the battlefield, told Neji he had defeated Jirobo, and turned toward Kidomaru’s arrow just as it reached him.

Uzumaki Hane and Neji defeated Kidomaru, but Neji was too injured to continue, so Hane went after Sasuke. After Kimimaro seized Sasuke’s barrel and escaped, Hane and Naruto chased him while Shikamaru stayed behind to face Tayuya.

• Uzumaki Hane fought Kidomaru with lava attacks, and Neji struck Kidomaru down with rapid blows that stopped his chakra.
• Neji collapsed from his injuries and urged Uzumaki Hane to continue after Sasuke, so Hane left to pursue the others.
• Shikamaru, Kiba, Choji, and Naruto fought Tayuya and Sakon and Ukon, then Kiba passed Sasuke’s barrel to Naruto as they fled.
• Kiba’s trap sent Sakon and Ukon into a canyon, and Choji jumped down after them while Tayuya caught up with Naruto and Shikamaru.
• Kimimaro appeared and took Sasuke’s barrel, dodging Uzumaki Hane’s attack before escaping with it.
• Uzumaki Hane and Naruto chased Kimimaro, while Shikamaru remained to confront Tayuya, who drew her flute.

Kiba and Choji fought Sakon and Ukon, whose ability let them separate and merge into other bodies. Kiba and Akamaru used their two-headed wolf form to knock Sakon down, while Choji swallowed pills to gain strength and kept Ukon occupied.

• Kiba and Choji attacked Sakon and Ukon, who used their shared body to counter them and then separated with Curse Mark Stage Two.
• Choji rolled over Ukon with Human Bullet Tank, while Kiba and Akamaru struck Sakon with Fang Over Fang and sent him crashing into a rock.
• Ukon merged into Choji’s body and restrained him, so Kiba and Akamaru used Dynamic Marking to escape Sakon and transform into a two-headed wolf.
• Kiba and Akamaru’s Fang Over Fang struck Rashomon, and Ukon separated from Choji to help Sakon.
• Choji swallowed a green pill and hit Ukon with a powerful punch, while Akamaru sprayed Sakon’s eyes and Kiba charged him again.
• Choji swallowed a yellow pill and used Partial Multi-Size Technique to attack Ukon with his enlarged hand and foot.

Choji and Kiba struggled against Sakon and Ukon, whose healing and evasive abilities overwhelmed them. After Sakon and Ukon threatened Kiba, Choji swallowed the Red Chili Pill, defeated them with a powerful strike, and collapsed beside Kiba.

• Kiba and Akamaru knocked Sakon unconscious, but Ukon absorbed Sakon into his body and Sakon recovered.
• Choji and Kiba repeatedly attacked Sakon and Ukon, but they dodged the assaults and healed their injuries.
• Sakon and Ukon overpowered Kiba, Akamaru, and Choji, leaving them badly injured and nearly out of strength.
• As Sakon prepared to stomp Kiba, Choji swallowed the Red Chili Pill and unleashed its immense power.
• Choji struck Sakon and Ukon into a crater, then picked up Akamaru and collapsed beside Kiba.

Naruto and Uzumaki Hane pursued Kimimaro to rescue Sasuke, but Sasuke escaped from the barrel while they fought. Naruto chased after him, leaving Hane to battle Kimimaro, who activated his Cursed Seal and prepared the Dance of the Larch.

• Shikamaru stayed behind to fight Tayuya while Naruto and Uzumaki Hane chased Kimimaro.
• Naruto attacked Kimimaro with shadow clones, and Hane joined the fight with his lava abilities, but Kimimaro defeated the clones and wounded Hane.
• Sasuke burst out of the barrel and left, prompting Hane to hold Kimimaro back so Naruto could pursue him.
• Hane traded attacks with Kimimaro, who pierced his chest and criticized his weapon skills, but Hane continued fighting using his lava arms.
• Kimimaro activated Cursed Seal Level One, revealed bones emerging from his body, and announced his Dance of the Larch.

Uzumaki Hane fought Kimimaro with his magma abilities until Gaara arrived and joined the battle. Gaara trapped Kimimaro in sand, while Hane ran low on Chakra and stopped contesting who would finish the fight.

• Uzumaki Hane used Magma Mode and several lava attacks against Kimimaro, but Kimimaro repeatedly blocked and countered him.
• Gaara arrived, explained that he owed someone in Konoha a favor, and blocked Kimimaro’s finger bones with his sand.
• Uzumaki Hane asked Gaara to back him up, but Gaara stopped his charge and said he would deal with Kimimaro.
• Gaara and Uzumaki Hane attacked Kimimaro together, and Gaara’s sand eventually bound Kimimaro’s feet and wrapped around him.
• Uzumaki Hane ran out of most of his Chakra, returned to normal, and told Gaara that Kimimaro was his opponent, but made no further move.

Gaara and Uzumaki Hane fought Kimimaro as his illness worsened, but his determination to serve Orochimaru kept him attacking even after Gaara buried him beneath a forest of bone spikes. Hane stopped Kimimaro’s final thrust at Gaara and wondered whether Kimimaro had died.

• Gaara trapped Kimimaro in quicksand and used Sand Waterfall Imperial Funeral, but Kimimaro activated Curse Mark Stage Two and broke free.
• Uzumaki Hane intercepted Kimimaro with Canine Red Lotus, but Kimimaro smashed through the lava attack and knocked him away.
• Kimimaro bound Gaara with Dance of the Clematis: Flower and thrust at him, but Gaara’s Shield of Shukaku blocked the bone spear.
• Gaara buried Kimimaro two hundred meters underground, but Kimimaro unleashed Dance of the Seedling Fern and forced Gaara and Hane into the air above a vast forest of bone spikes.
• Kimimaro appeared behind the exhausted Gaara and thrust at him, but Hane caught the bone spear and found Kimimaro had no strength behind it.

Uzumaki Hane and Kakashi returned the exhausted Naruto to Konoha after Sasuke escaped, then learned that the other members of the mission were recovering. With Choji and Neji out of danger, Hane left the hospital with Yamano Koromo to get a meal.

• Uzumaki Hane found Naruto unconscious at the Valley of the End, and Kakashi arrived with Pakkun as Sasuke's trail had been washed away.
• Kakashi and Uzumaki Hane met the medical-nin, who reported that Neji, Kiba, Shikamaru, and Choji had been taken back to Konoha for treatment.
• Tsunade announced that Choji was out of danger, and Shizune reported that Neji was safe; Shikamaru cried with relief.
• Uzumaki Hane and Shikamaru visited Naruto, who was glad his teammates were safe but saddened that Sasuke had not returned.
• Uzumaki Hane checked on Kiba and Akamaru, then met Yamano Koromo, who invited him to her house for a meal.

Uzumaki Hane reflected on his defeat by Kimimaro and decided to train his Taijutsu, then met Might Guy at the training ground. Might Guy challenged Hane to fight and sent him flying with a powerful kick.

• Uzumaki Hane reassured Yamano Koromo that he was fine, and the two went to her house for dinner.
• Uzumaki Hane thought about how Kimimaro had defeated him and resolved to improve his Taijutsu and use it alongside the Magma-Magma Fruit.
• Yamano Koromo cooked dinner for Uzumaki Hane and watched over him as he ate, but she did not explain why she was acting strangely.
• Uzumaki Hane went to the training ground and found Might Guy doing push-ups.
• Might Guy attacked Uzumaki Hane and challenged him to a fight, overpowering him and kicking him onto a tree branch.

Uzumaki Hane sparred with Might Guy, who exposed weaknesses in Hane’s taijutsu and recognized his brief success with Chakra Enhanced Strength. Guy challenged Hane to name his dream, leaving him to consider whether simply surviving was enough.

• Uzumaki Hane used magma techniques against Might Guy, but Guy repeatedly dodged and countered his attacks while criticizing his slow, predictable taijutsu.
• Hane unexpectedly struck Guy with Chakra Enhanced Strength, but could not reproduce the powerful blow when he tried it again.
• Might Guy warned Hane not to lose focus during a fight and urged him to resume his extreme training.
• Might Guy asked Hane what his dream was, and Hane said he wanted to live well in this world.
• Might Guy asked whether Hane would stand by if his friends, companions, or Guy himself were hurt.

Uzumaki Hane realized that he wanted to keep fighting and asked Might Guy to train him. After exhausting himself in squat training and losing a Taijutsu spar, Hane returned home at night and sensed someone inside his residence.

• Uzumaki Hane declared that he craved battle, and Might Guy agreed to train him.
• Might Guy led Uzumaki Hane to Rock Lee, and the three began squat training together.
• Might Guy sparred with Uzumaki Hane in the forest and criticized his limited Taijutsu.
• Uzumaki Hane used his Kekkei Genkai to burn through Might Guy's bandages and escaped with the Substitution Technique.
• Uzumaki Hane distracted Might Guy by pointing out Kakashi, and Might Guy hurried after him.
• Uzumaki Hane returned home after dark, sensed someone inside, and went on guard.

Yamano Koromo reassured Uzumaki Hane that she and Tanaka would support him, then began cooking for him while he recovered and trained harder. After a strenuous day of training with Might Guy and Rock Lee, Uzumaki Hane was taken away by Mitarashi Anko, who wanted him as a training target.

• Yamano Koromo cooked dinner for Uzumaki Hane and told him that she and Tanaka would always support him.
• Yamano Koromo insisted she would cook for Uzumaki Hane every day while he recovered, and he agreed.
• Uzumaki Hane strengthened his body twice overnight and woke feeling stronger.
• Uzumaki Hane trained with Might Guy and Rock Lee, completing two thousand push-ups before continuing with other exercises.
• Might Guy treated Uzumaki Hane and Rock Lee to barbecue after their morning training.
• Mitarashi Anko grabbed Uzumaki Hane to use as a training target, while Might Guy left with Rock Lee.

Uzumaki Hane trained with Mitarashi Anko and his teammates while Danzo considered how to eliminate him. Tsunade sent Hane, Hyuga Tanaka, and Yamano Koromo on a B-rank mission, and the group took shelter in a mysterious castle where they became trapped inside.

• Mitarashi Anko challenged Uzumaki Hane, but his magma absorbed her attacks, and he made her promise to keep helping with his training.
• Uzumaki Hane continued his daily training and body strengthening for a month as Danzo monitored his growing strength and plotted to kill him.
• An Anbu summoned Uzumaki Hane to Tsunade, who assigned him, Hyuga Tanaka, and Yamano Koromo to help Yamamoto Satoshi's village fight bandits that included rogue ninja.
• During heavy rain, Yamamoto Satoshi led the group to a strange castle, where the gates opened by themselves and then slammed shut behind them.
• Uzumaki Hane and the others called out for help, received no answer, and prepared to investigate the castle.

Uzumaki Hane and his companions discovered that the castle was a gigantic summoning beast that had swallowed them. After learning Yamamoto Satoshi had brought them there to rescue his companion, they agreed to help, and a girl's scream prompted Yamamoto to run toward her.

• Uzumaki Hane recognized the castle as a transformed summoning beast, but Yamamoto Satoshi was swallowed along with him, while the beast also swallowed Yamano Koromo and Hyuga Tanaka.
• Uzumaki Hane confronted Yamamoto Satoshi, who admitted he had brought the group to save his companion, Yamamoto Naka, after she was swallowed by the beast.
• Uzumaki Hane agreed to help rescue Yamamoto Naka, and Yamano Koromo and Hyuga Tanaka agreed to join him.
• Hyuga Tanaka used his Byakugan to confirm the group was inside a gigantic summoning beast and struck its chakra-covered flesh with his palm.
• When a girl's scream sounded nearby, Yamamoto Satoshi recognized Ou's voice and ran toward it.

Uzumaki Hane freed Yamamoto Naka from a summoned beast and helped his companions escape, then fought a giant lizard that swallowed him. After escaping from inside the lizard, he followed Yamano Koromo’s trail to regroup with the others.

• Uzumaki Hane burned away the flesh wall trapping Yamamoto Naka while Hyuga Tanaka and Yamano Koromo fought off the summoned beast’s tentacles.
• Hyuga Tanaka found a weak point, and Uzumaki Hane blasted a hole through the beast so the group could escape.
• The castle transformed into a giant lizard, and Hyuga Tanaka and Yamano Koromo carried Yamamoto Satoshi and Yamamoto Naka ahead while Uzumaki Hane stayed behind to fight.
• Uzumaki Hane attacked the lizard with magma javelins and Great Eruption, but it swallowed him before he could finish it off.
• Uzumaki Hane fought his way through the lizard’s interior and escaped through a hole in the scorched flesh, then followed Yamano Koromo’s marks to rejoin the others.

Uzumaki Hane rejoined his team, and they continued Yamamoto Satoshi’s mission to find the missing villagers. They discovered the village deserted and suspected a bandit gang had taken its people as someone approached.

• Hyuga Tanaka, Yamano Koromo, and Yamamoto Satoshi waited for Uzumaki Hane, who returned exhausted after fighting a summoned giant lizard.
• Uzumaki Hane accepted Yamamoto Satoshi’s apology and decided the team would continue the mission, warning that another incident would make them cancel it.
• Yamamoto Naka woke, apologized to the Konoha ninjas, and joined the group as they set out toward the village.
• Uzumaki Hane and the others found the village empty, and Hyuga Tanaka used his Byakugan to confirm there was no one in the nearby houses.
• Yamamoto Naka blamed herself for the villagers’ disappearance, while Uzumaki Hane reassured her and Hyuga Tanaka asked Yamamoto Satoshi about the bandits.
• Hyuga Tanaka sensed someone approaching and signaled the others, knowing the newcomer could not evade his Byakugan.

Uzumaki Hane and his companions defeated the ninja ambushing them, then learned the location of the bandits holding the villagers. They prepared to launch a surprise attack, while Hyuga Tanaka warned that the mission seemed suspicious and Yamamoto Satoshi was hiding something.

• Uzumaki Hane killed a masked ninja hiding underground by turning his feet to lava.
• Uzumaki Hane destroyed Yamada with magma, while Hyuga Tanaka and Yamano Koromo fought Sato; Tanaka ultimately killed Sato with Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.
• Hyuga Tanaka confirmed the area was clear, and Yamamoto Satoshi gave the group the bandits' location.
• Uzumaki Hane planned to attack the bandits while Hyuga Tanaka and Yamano Koromo rescued the villagers.
• Hyuga Tanaka warned that the mission seemed unusual and that Yamamoto Satoshi was still concealing something, and Uzumaki Hane agreed.

Uzumaki Hane attacked the bandits’ stronghold alone to draw their attention while Hyuga Tanaka and Yamano Koromo could rescue the villagers. After defeating many bandits and several ninja, he faced a powerful middle-aged ninja whose real location remained unknown.

• Uzumaki Hane killed the five bandits guarding the stronghold gate and fought his way through the bandits who rushed out.
• Uzumaki Hane escaped an earth ninja’s grip by turning his feet to lava, then drove the fleeing bandits back with Lava Shuriken.
• Uzumaki Hane was trapped in a swamp by a ninja using clones, but escaped with Great Eruption and burned the ninja to ash.
• Uzumaki Hane realized the stronghold’s ninja were unusually strong and confronted a middle-aged ninja who recognized his Kekkei Genkai.
• Uzumaki Hane’s Canine Red Lotus destroyed the middle-aged ninja’s rock shield and struck a clone, leaving Uzumaki Hane searching for the hidden original.

Uzumaki Hane defeated the seventh ninja and returned to the village with the rescued villagers, but discovered that Yamamoto Naka had infiltrated the group. Naka took Yamamoto Tomoko hostage and revealed that she had forced Tomoko to lure Konoha ninja into a trap.

• Hane drove the middle-aged ninja out of hiding with a lava attack and killed him with Great Eruption when he tried to escape underground.
• Hane reunited with Hyuga Tanaka and Yamano Koromo, and they returned to the village with the rescued villagers.
• Hane brought Yamamoto Satoshi and Yamamoto Naka back to the village, where the villagers held a banquet to thank the Konoha ninja.
• The village chief said the bandits had seven ninja, and Koromo realized that Yamamoto Satoshi had been sent to Konoha alone as Tomoko.
• Hane and his companions learned that Yamamoto Naka was the missing ninja, and Koromo warned that she had left with Tomoko.
• Naka appeared holding Tomoko hostage and confessed that she had forced Tomoko to lure the Konoha ninja to the village so the bandits could kill them all.