Chapter Summaries

The Masked Man defeated Kakashi, Tenzo, Shisui, and Uchiha Itachi, then vanished after mocking them and leaving Kakashi with a sense of familiarity. Hagoromo discovered that compressed Yang Release Chakra could empower his punch into a devastating shock wave, giving him confidence for the coming war.

• Tenzo, Shisui Uchiha, Uchiha Itachi, and Kakashi attacked the Masked Man, but he evaded their techniques with intangibility and Space-Time Ninjutsu.
• The Masked Man bound Kakashi with a chain and flung him into Tenzo and Shisui, then vanished after declaring that they were not qualified.
• Uchiha Itachi and Shisui concluded that the Masked Man was wary of their Sharingan, and Kakashi decided to report the encounter to Lord Hokage.
• Hagoromo tested his Yang Release Chakra and found that it strengthened his body, speed, and chakra.
• Hagoromo concentrated compressed Yang Release Chakra into his fist and struck the air, creating a shock wave that tore through the training ground.

Hagoromo pushed Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Choji through a race and assigned homework and harder training according to their results. At the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi considered Kakashi’s report about a masked man with Space-Time Ninjutsu and wondered whether he had controlled the Nine-Tails.

• Hagoromo promised that Naruto would avoid homework if he beat his previous time, prompting Naruto and the others to race harder.
• Naruto finished first, followed by Choji, Shikamaru, and Sasuke, who came last.
• Hagoromo assigned homework based on their times and increased everyone’s training, including adding weights for Sasuke and five jin to Naruto’s weights.
• Hagoromo gave the exhausted disciples water and told them to rest.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled Kakashi’s report about a masked man with Space-Time Ninjutsu and a deep understanding of the Uchiha Clan’s Sharingan.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi thought the man might have controlled the Nine-Tails, though Uchiha Fugaku had denied that the Uchiha Clan was responsible.

Hiruzen visited Hagoromo at the training ground and taught him about Nature Transformation while the students practiced. Hagoromo left with extensive notes and planned to seek out his master more often.

• Hiruzen left the Hokage Building to visit Hagoromo after reflecting on how little time he had spent with his new student.
• Hagoromo supervised Naruto, Shikamaru, Choji, Sasuke, and Ino as they trained, while continuing to use Yang Release Chakra on himself.
• Hagoromo realized Hiruzen could teach him from his vast shinobi knowledge and agreed to visit him whenever he had time.
• Hiruzen praised Hagoromo's choice to have Naruto practice cutting a branch with Wind Release Chakra and offered to explain Nature Transformation for Sasuke.
• Hiruzen taught Hagoromo until sunset as Hagoromo took notes, while Naruto fell asleep with his head on Hiruzen's thigh.

Naruto rescued Hinata Hyuga from three boys who mocked her eyes, then reassured her and learned she was lost. He took her by the hand to find Teacher Hagoromo, who might know the way back to the Hyuga Clan compound.

• Naruto heard three boys insulting Hinata Hyuga and jumped down to defend her.
• The lead boy called Naruto a whiskered monster, so Naruto punched him and drove him from the alley.
• Naruto helped Hinata up, complimented her eyes, and introduced himself as her classmate.
• Hinata told Naruto she was lost and could not remember the way to the Hyuga Clan compound.
• Naruto decided Teacher Hagoromo could help and led Hinata toward the training ground.

Naruto told Hagoromo that he had encountered Nine-Tails in a strange space while sleeping, and Hagoromo explained their connection and urged him to try befriending the tailed beast. The chapter left Naruto considering that possibility, while Nine-Tails watched through Naruto’s eyes.

• Hagoromo and the others realized Naruto had passed Hinata’s compound before bringing her to the training ground, and Hagoromo sent a Shadow Clone to inform her father.
• Naruto told Hagoromo about the huge figure he had seen in a strange space and asked whether it was why villagers called him a monster.
• Hagoromo confirmed that the figure was Nine-Tails and admitted he had helped Naruto refine Chakra because Nine-Tails’ Chakra interfered with his training.
• Naruto asked if Nine-Tails could leave his body, and Hagoromo explained that either of them would die if separated from the other.
• Hagoromo told Naruto that neither he nor Nine-Tails was at fault and suggested they try talking and becoming friends.

Hagoromo advised Naruto to understand the Nine-Tails through conversation, then entered Naruto’s sealed space to speak with Kurama about giving Naruto a chance. Kurama remained distrustful, but Hagoromo reminded him of the prophecy of the blue-eyed boy who would call the Tailed Beasts by name and play with them.

• Hagoromo told Naruto that friendship required mutual understanding and urged him to learn about the Nine-Tails’ past.
• Hagoromo entered Naruto’s sealed space using a projection formed with Yin-Yang Release and greeted the Nine-Tails as Kurama.
• Kurama demanded to know who Hagoromo was and how he knew his name, then listened after seeing Hagoromo’s Yin-Yang Chakra.
• Hagoromo asked Kurama to communicate with Naruto without directing his resentment at him, explaining that Naruto had also suffered against his will.
• Kurama rejected Hagoromo’s suggestion, and Hagoromo recalled Gamamaru’s prophecy about a blue-eyed boy who would call the Tailed Beasts by name and play with them.

Hagoromo persuaded Naruto to learn the truth about the Nine-Tails, and Naruto agreed to remove the seal despite Kurama’s taunts. Minato Namikaze appeared to stop Naruto, leaving him wary of Hagoromo’s role.

• Kurama mocked Hagoromo and questioned what Naruto would do if he learned Kurama had killed his parents, but Naruto declared that he trusted Hagoromo and called Kurama a murderer.
• Hagoromo challenged Kurama to stop repeating the cycle of hatred, and Kurama agreed not to interfere while watching Naruto.
• Hagoromo told Naruto to remove the paper seal on Kurama’s cage to learn the truth, then lifted Naruto toward it with water.
• As Naruto peeled back a corner of the seal, Minato Namikaze appeared and warned Kurama to behave.
• Naruto asked Hagoromo who Minato was, and Hagoromo introduced himself as Naruto’s teacher, Sawada Hagoromo.
• Minato questioned Hagoromo and grew wary, asking whether he had urged Naruto to undo Kurama’s seal.

Naruto reunited with Minato Namikaze, confronted him over the loneliness and pain caused by the Nine-Tails seal, and heard his parents’ hopes and love for him. As Minato’s Chakra imprint began to fade, Hagoromo showed Naruto how to use his Yang Release Chakra to restore it.

• Minato Namikaze apologized to Hagoromo for mistaking him for a threat, while Naruto mocked his father for being lame.
• Minato knelt before Naruto, and Naruto punched him before breaking down in his arms and accusing him of sealing the Nine-Tails inside him.
• Minato explained that he and Kushina had sealed the Nine-Tails in Naruto so he could protect those he loved, and told Naruto they loved him and would always be proud of him.
• As Minato’s Chakra imprint began to dissipate, Naruto begged Hagoromo to save him.
• Hagoromo guided Naruto in forming hand seals and channeling his Yang Release Chakra into Minato, restoring Minato’s body and astonishing him.

Hagoromo began Taijutsu training with Shikamaru, Choji, and Sasuke, demonstrating how easily a Taijutsu master could stop Sasuke from using Ninjutsu. Naruto slept through the training and woke to find Shikamaru badly bruised and Hinata waiting to be walked home.

• Hagoromo left Naruto asleep and asked Hinata to watch over him.
• Hagoromo praised Shikamaru and the others' physical progress, then began teaching them Taijutsu.
• Hagoromo demonstrated his strength by destroying a wooden post and sparred with Sasuke, interrupting his Hand Seals and knocking him down with a kick.
• Shikamaru and Choji helped Sasuke up, and Shikamaru explained that Hagoromo had gone easy on him after months of training Naruto.
• Hagoromo sparred with Shikamaru while Naruto slept beneath a tree and Hinata fanned him.
• Naruto woke that evening, noticed Shikamaru's swollen face, and thanked Hinata for looking after him.

Naruto finished learning to cut branches with Wind Nature Transformation, so Hagoromo taught him the Shadow Clone Technique. Naruto quickly made ten clones but tried to order them to do his assignments, ending in a fight that left him bruised and disheveled.

• Naruto demonstrated that he could cut a branch instantly with Wind Nature Transformation, and Hagoromo praised his progress.
• Hagoromo checked Naruto's Chakra, confirmed the Nine-Tails was no longer interfering, and decided to teach him a new Ninjutsu.
• Hagoromo explained how Shadow Clones shared the original's consciousness and returned their memories and exhaustion when dispelled, warning Naruto not to exceed his limits.
• Naruto learned the Shadow Clone Technique after a few tries and created ten clones, then told them to do his assignments.
• Naruto's clones refused and argued that they were Naruto Uzumaki too, and they fought until the clones burst apart.
• Naruto asked Hagoromo why the clones had fought him, and Hagoromo reminded him that they shared his thoughts.

Minato spoke with the Nine-Tails about Naruto and left the fox to decide whether to trust him when the seal was undone. At the training ground, Hagoromo explained the limits of using Shadow Clones, while Naruto seized on Sasuke’s suggestion to control clones with Genjutsu before learning how difficult it would be.

• Minato told the Nine-Tails he believed Naruto would reach out to a Tailed Beast, and the fox refused to get involved for now.
• Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru, and the others discussed using Shadow Clones, and Hagoromo confirmed that clever tactics could make them as effective as some A-rank Ninjutsu.
• Hagoromo warned Shikamaru that Shadow Clones would strain Choji’s Chakra and weaken his Multi-Size Technique.
• Sasuke suggested using Genjutsu to control Shadow Clones, and Naruto eagerly agreed that he could use the idea to do his assignments.
• Hagoromo explained that Genjutsu would disrupt a clone’s Chakra and require refined control and enormous reserves, so Naruto sheepishly gave up on the plan.

Naruto trained to control two streams of Chakra at once so he could eventually use the Rasengan with one hand, while Sasuke asked to begin learning other skills. Hagoromo discovered Sasuke had lightning and fire Chakra natures, and Sasuke chose to learn Fire Style first.

• Naruto complained that Hagoromo's two-handed water-balloon training was difficult, but Hagoromo explained it would let him use the Rasengan without a Shadow Clone.
• Hagoromo showed Naruto a Rasengan and persuaded him that using it with one hand would be more practical than relying on a Shadow Clone.
• Naruto resumed training with Hagoromo's Shadow Clone, whom he called Shadow Clone Sensei Number One.
• Sasuke told Hagoromo he wanted to train in other areas, and Hagoromo tested his Chakra natures with Chakra test paper.
• Hagoromo identified Sasuke's innate lightning and fire natures, and Sasuke chose to learn Fire Style first.

Hagoromo taught Sasuke the Fire Release: Flame Bullet and guided him through his first attempt. Sasuke’s trust in Hagoromo increased, and the chapter ended with Sasuke asking how much Hagoromo knew about fire Nature Transformation.

• Hagoromo demonstrated Fire Release: Flame Bullet, explaining how oil made it stronger and describing its limits and risks.
• Sasuke tried the technique but produced weaker flames, and Hagoromo pointed out his shortcomings in Nature Transformation and oil timing.
• Sasuke thanked Hagoromo, whose guidance raised Sasuke Uchiha’s trust level to high and earned Hagoromo Fire Nature Transformation mastery.
• Hagoromo wondered whether betrayal could make Sasuke awaken his eyes, then dismissed the thought as Sasuke suspected his teacher had been thinking something strange.
• Hagoromo told Sasuke to continue practicing at home because he had no more oil, and Sasuke asked about Hagoromo’s knowledge of fire Nature Transformation.

Hagoromo taught Sasuke the basics of Fire Style Nature Transformation after Sasuke chose it over Lightning Release. At the training ground, Hagoromo checked his panel and anticipated the rewards from his students’ vacation training mission, which would settle in three days.

• Hagoromo warned Sasuke that Fire Style consumed a lot of Chakra and recommended learning Lightning Release first, but Sasuke insisted on starting with Fire Style.
• Hagoromo demonstrated how to transform Chakra into searing heat by burning a leaf to ash, then told Sasuke to train with passion and anger.
• Hagoromo took Sasuke back to the training ground so he could practice the first stage of Fire Style Nature Transformation.
• Hagoromo checked his panel and saw that his Yang Release Chakra Body had reached 25% and the vacation training mission would settle in three days.
• Hagoromo watched Naruto and the other students train and looked forward to receiving the mission rewards.

Naruto and Sasuke overworked themselves while training, but both showed Hagoromo that they had mastered the first stage of their respective nature transformations. Hagoromo left Shikamaru in charge of his disciples before departing on a mission to collect intelligence from a lookout post.

• Naruto and Sasuke collapsed from training, and Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji carried them to a tree and helped them recover.
• Hiruzen gave Hagoromo a mission to visit the new lookout post near the Land of Rice Fields and collect intelligence, and Hagoromo accepted.
• Hagoromo scolded Naruto and Sasuke for overtraining, then told Shikamaru to lead the group and keep an eye on them while he was away.
• Naruto and Sasuke told Hagoromo they had mastered the first stage of nature transformation, and Sasuke demonstrated by turning a leaf to ash.
• Naruto burst a water balloon through his control of water, surprising Hagoromo, who asked how he had thought to control it with all five fingers.

Naruto and Sasuke advanced their chakra training while Hagoromo left Konoha to deliver supplies and gather intelligence at the border outpost. There, Orochimaru ambushed him, and Hagoromo attacked with his strongest technique.

• Naruto explained that he had used his experience controlling five spinning tops to complete the first stage of chakra control, and Hagoromo moved him on to training with a rubber ball.
• Hagoromo assigned Sasuke a second stage of Fire Style Nature Transformation, then left Konoha after giving both students further instructions.
• Hagoromo traveled to the Land of Rice Fields and the Land of Fire border to check on the outpost and deliver supplies.
• Hagoromo found the outpost suspiciously quiet and sensed an ambush just before Orochimaru's snakes struck.
• Orochimaru recognized Hagoromo's connection to the old man and trapped him with killing intent, but Hagoromo broke free and charged at Orochimaru with a golden glow.

Hagoromo used a calculated fight against Orochimaru to create an opening and escape, while Orochimaru realized his opponent had never intended to fight him directly. Hagoromo reached a river and hid there to evade Orochimaru’s sensory abilities.

• Orochimaru attacked Hagoromo with Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, but Hagoromo dodged, cut through the snakes with chakra-threaded shuriken, and counterattacked.
• Hagoromo shattered the ground with a chakra-enhanced strike, then used a Shadow Clone and a Rasengan to make Orochimaru retreat and expend chakra.
• Hagoromo used explosive tags and clones to distract Orochimaru, then escaped while Orochimaru defended against a second Rasengan.
• Orochimaru recognized that Hagoromo had used the fight to escape and wondered what changes had occurred in the village.
• Hagoromo reached a nearby river, soaked and exhausted, and hid from Orochimaru’s smell and heat sensing.

Hagoromo escaped a confrontation with Orochimaru and returned to Konoha to report the encounter to Hiruzen. Orochimaru headed for the Land of Rice Fields, while Hiruzen asked the exhausted Hagoromo to explain what had happened.

• Hagoromo used his knowledge of Orochimaru to disrupt his attacks, strike with a Rasengan, and escape using his remaining strength.
• Hagoromo concluded that Orochimaru was heading to the Land of Rice Fields and hurried back to Konoha to warn Hiruzen.
• Orochimaru arrived at the riverbank too late to catch Hagoromo, then left for the Land of Rice Fields.
• Hiruzen saw Hagoromo's battered condition and grew alarmed when Hagoromo said he had run into Senior Brother Orochimaru.
• A medical-nin examined Hagoromo and reported that he was exhausted from overusing Chakra, so Hiruzen asked him to recount the encounter.

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Hagoromo access to the Scroll of Seals and promised to recommend him for Jonin within a year. Meanwhile, Minato Namikaze found a powerful Chakra source hidden behind a barrier and decided to ask Naruto's master for help.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi admitted that Hagoromo had been sent on an Anbu mission without the required team support and led him to a sealed room.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi let Hagoromo study the Scroll of Seals for two hours, excluding certain forbidden techniques.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Hagoromo to qualify for Jonin within a year and promised to recommend him, with an assessment by three veteran Jonin.
• Hagoromo began studying the scroll's techniques and committing them to memory.
• Minato Namikaze sensed a Chakra fluctuation, found a brilliant Chakra mass behind a barrier in the sealing space, and decided to seek help from Naruto's master.

Hagoromo welcomed Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino into his home for breakfast, checked on his students’ training, and announced an afternoon match before school started. Naruto then told Hagoromo that his father wanted to speak with him, and Hagoromo agreed to visit that night.

• Naruto brought Sasuke, Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino to Hagoromo’s home, where they relaxed and helped prepare breakfast.
• Hagoromo checked Naruto’s and Choji’s training progress and reminded Naruto to listen to Shikamaru.
• Hagoromo told his students that school started the day after tomorrow and announced an afternoon match, with the winner getting half their semester assignments cut.
• Naruto told Hagoromo that his father wanted to talk with him, and Hagoromo agreed to visit Naruto’s house that night.