Chapter Summaries

Tsunade confronted Jiraiya about Naruto’s poor training and made him promise to teach Naruto properly. She encouraged Naruto’s dream of becoming Hokage, then ordered him to keep an eye on Jiraiya after learning that Jiraiya’s bathhouse visits had driven away customers.

• Jiraiya begged Tsunade to give him another chance, claiming he had been laying Naruto’s foundation through training.
• Tsunade defended Naruto’s potential and acknowledged his dream of becoming Hokage, prompting Naruto to vow to work harder.
• Jiraiya remembered another boy who had dreamed of becoming Hokage and died on the battlefield.
• Tsunade explained that a Hokage must protect Konoha’s people and encouraged Naruto to accept that responsibility.
• Tsunade assigned Naruto to watch Jiraiya and confronted Jiraiya over bathhouse owners’ complaints about his visits.

Tsunade stopped Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha from fighting at Ichiraku Ramen, then summoned Kakashi Hatake to the Hokage Building the next morning. Naruto offered Sasuke a menu while Jiraiya reluctantly treated the group to ramen.

• Tsunade saw Kakashi Hatake arrive with Sasuke Uchiha, who stared at Naruto Uzumaki and greeted her without sincerity.
• Sasuke challenged Naruto to a fight, and Tsunade stopped them both with a punch before their duel could begin.
• Tsunade told Kakashi to report to the Hokage Building early the next morning, disrupting his plan to visit Rin's grave.
• Naruto handed Sasuke a menu and said Jiraiya was paying for the meal, while Jiraiya silently resented the expense.
• Kakashi asked to eat barbecue, but Jiraiya and Ichiraku steered him back toward the ramen, and Ichiraku offered Naruto a side dish.

Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi, Jiraiya, and Ayame shared a meal at Ichiraku, joking about Kakashi’s masked face and Jiraiya’s reputation. After Naruto and Sasuke said goodbye, Jiraiya resolved to improve Naruto’s nutrition so he could grow taller.

• Ayame teased Kakashi about acting cool, and Kakashi punched Naruto for speculating about what was under his mask.
• Jiraiya offered to take Naruto and Sasuke to a women’s bathhouse, but Ayame challenged him and Naruto and Sasuke rejected the idea.
• Ayame placated Naruto with an egg, and he bargained for three eggs next time.
• Jiraiya offered to take Naruto home and reminded him that important training awaited the next day.
• Sasuke challenged Naruto to get stronger, and Naruto answered with a pose that briefly made Sasuke mistake him for Might Guy.
• Jiraiya heard Sasuke mock Naruto’s height and decided to move up his plan to improve Naruto’s nutrition.

After taking Sasuke home, Kakashi felt lonely before spending the night reading a hidden art book, only to be caught by Might Guy. Guy then told him that Hikari and Tsunade were arranging matches for single ninja, leaving Kakashi embarrassed but suddenly hopeful about marriage.

• Kakashi took Sasuke back to the Uchiha compound and returned home feeling lonely.
• Kakashi unsealed an illustrated book, read it privately, and resealed it before going to bed.
• Might Guy appeared in Kakashi's room, questioned him about the book, and said he would ask Hikari for help finding it.
• Kakashi persuaded Might Guy to keep his discovery secret, but Guy said he could not promise to keep such an important secret.
• Might Guy told Kakashi that Tsunade planned to match single ninja and asked what kind of woman Kakashi wanted.
• Might Guy left after admitting he knew what Kakashi had been doing, leaving Kakashi convinced his reputation was ruined.

Tsunade reorganized Konoha’s departments and delegated authority to their leaders while setting new rules for oversight and spending. She appointed Shizune to lead the Mission Department and tasked Nara Shikaku with establishing a Civil Affairs Department and serving on a new Advisory Department.

• Tsunade clarified that the Hokage served the village and granted the Intelligence Department autonomy over most intelligence matters while requiring it to coordinate with the Mission Department.
• Tsunade directed the Medical Department to recruit potential medical ninja from the Academy and pursue new medical tools with help from the Sealing Squad.
• Tsunade appointed Shizune head of the Mission Department, defined its responsibility for lower-ranked missions, and kept A-rank and S-rank missions under her own control.
• Tsunade set new Finance Department spending rules and assigned Nara Shikaku to establish the Civil Affairs Department and select its staff.
• Tsunade created an Advisory Department with Shikaku, Hiashi, Kakashi, and Shizune, authorizing them to pursue suspected departmental corruption when they had evidence.

Tsunade appointed Hikari as the temporary captain of the Ino-Shika-Cho team while Asuma was away, despite Hikari's reluctance. As Tsunade returned to her paperwork, she overheard Hikari thinking about finding a wife for his brother and decided to intervene.

• Tsunade sent the others back to work, then asked Nara Shikahisa why he had stayed behind.
• Nara Shikahisa asked Tsunade to appoint a temporary leader for Shikamaru's team because Asuma had left to subdue Enma and had been gone for a week.
• Nara Shikahisa proposed Hikari as the temporary captain, and Tsunade agreed to give him the position until Asuma returned.
• Hikari told Nara Shikahisa to have Shikamaru meet him at Training Ground 10 at eight the next morning and warned that training would be strict.
• Shizune left to handle her duties in the Mission Department, while Tsunade resumed reviewing documents.
• Hikari thought about finding a wife for his brother Kotetsu Hagane, and Tsunade decided she would take charge of the matter.

Hikari met his new team, Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji, and tested whether they would accept him as their supervising ninja. After Shikamaru chose to stay with him, Hikari sent the three on errands with a strict deadline.

• Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji waited two hours for Hikari at Training Ground 10 and complained about his lateness.
• Shikamaru realized Hikari was hiding nearby and called him out, after which Hikari appeared behind Ino.
• Hikari offered the trio a chance to reject him, but Shikamaru chose him as their supervising ninja after Ino and Choji said they trusted Shikamaru.
• Hikari ordered the three to deliver a box to Tenten and bring him food within half an hour, then gave Shikamaru a D-rank mission to find Fat Tiger to cover the cost.
• Shikamaru grabbed Ino and Choji and hurried off with them to complete Hikari's errands.

Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji struggled through a mission under Hikari as their stamina drained abnormally, then split up to finish their tasks. Ino delivered Hikari’s gift to Tenten, where Might Guy praised Hikari’s strength and then sent everyone on a five-hundred-lap run.

• Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji noticed their stamina draining rapidly on the way to catch Fat Tiger, and Shikamaru failed to dispel what he suspected was a genjutsu.
• The three caught Fat Tiger exhausted, then split up so Ino could deliver a wooden box, Choji could buy beef, and Shikamaru could turn in the mission.
• Ino delivered Hikari’s gift to Tenten at the Hidden Leaf Village gate and told her that Hikari was now their jonin instructor.
• Might Guy told Ino that Hikari was very strong, but Tenten, Rock Lee, and Neji doubted him after Ino left.
• Might Guy ordered Tenten, Rock Lee, and Neji to run five hundred laps around the Hidden Leaf Village.

Hikari provoked the Ino-Shika-Cho trio after eating the grilled meat they had bought with their mission funds. He challenged Shikamaru’s account of their assignment, then apologized to Ino after teasing her, leaving the team’s conflict temporarily settled.

• Ino confronted Hikari for resting while the trio trained, and Shikamaru presented the grilled meat they had bought with their mission funds.
• Hikari ate all the grilled meat, ignoring the trio’s protests and Choji’s reminder that they had not eaten.
• Hikari taunted the trio about their strength, and Ino corrected him that she should be called a little sister rather than a little brother.
• Hikari challenged Shikamaru’s claim that the team had completed its tasks, pointing out that he had wanted them to work together rather than split up.
• Ino argued that the trio had separated to finish the tasks sooner, then kicked at Hikari after he mocked her intelligence.
• Hikari apologized and praised Ino’s intelligence, and she forgave him after warning him not to do it again.

Hikari punished Team Ten by sending them into the Forest of Death to catch food, then relaxed until Kakashi came to visit. Kakashi asked whether Hikari had plans for Jiraiya’s upcoming book, but Hikari declined to take the bait.

• Hikari sent Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji to catch one wild boar or five wild rabbits in the Forest of Death within an hour.
• Shikamaru confirmed that Hikari had stopped their stamina from draining and decided to discuss Hikari’s abilities with Nara Shikahisa.
• Shikamaru led Ino and Choji deeper into the forest to search for animals.
• Kakashi arrived to talk with Hikari after saying he had come to use the bathroom.
• Kakashi asked whether Hikari had plans for Jiraiya’s new book, and Hikari said he would support its launch without offering to help with Kakashi’s private scheme.

Kakashi tried to persuade Hikari to write another book, flattering him and admitting his favorite illustrations in exchange for more artwork. Hikari promised the book would come soon, then considered writing a masked, silver-haired hero inspired by Kakashi.

• Kakashi hinted that he wanted Hikari to publish a new book with more illustrations, but Hikari ignored him.
• Kakashi appealed to their connection through Guy and praised Hikari's books, while Hikari explained that writing felt mentally exhausting and risky to his reputation.
• Hikari offered to double the illustrations if Kakashi named his favorite, and Kakashi admitted he liked Airi-chan and praised several other characters.
• Kakashi asked when Hikari's next book would be released, heard it would be soon, and vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.
• Hikari wondered why Kakashi preferred fictional girls and planned a masked hero modeled on him, before deciding to change the character's hair so Kakashi might not recognize the inspiration.

Hikari tried to avoid teaching Ino-Shika-Cho by asking Ino to complain to her father and request a new jonin, but Ino revealed that Shikamaru and Choji had heard him. He then insisted that his refusal came from concern for their training, leaving Ino stunned by his shameless excuse.

• Ino told Hikari that the team had caught a rabbit, and he assigned Shikamaru and Choji to prepare it and gather firewood while Ino massaged his shoulders.
• Ino asked whether Hikari wanted to lead their team, and he admitted that Ino-Shika-Cho seemed too troublesome to train.
• Hikari urged Ino to tell Inoichi that he had bullied her so another jonin could be assigned, and offered to introduce her to Kakashi Hatake.
• Ino revealed that Shikamaru and Choji had heard Hikari say he did not want to teach them.
• Hikari claimed he was refusing because his abilities were inadequate and he did not want to ruin their training, prompting Ino to call him shameless.

Hikari argued with Ino about refusing to be the Ino-Shika-Cho team's jonin instructor while the group grilled rabbits. Shikamaru proposed that Hikari teach them seriously, and ended by asking about the Hokage's oversight of Hikari at work.

• Hikari told the others to grill the rabbits and save one for him, prompting Ino to criticize him for refusing to teach them.
• Hikari explained that the trio's clan training and likely promotion to Chunin made him an unsuitable instructor, but Ino remained unconvinced.
• Hikari suggested asking Iruka to take over, then talked Ino into agreeing that they should have a capable teacher before she caught on to his excuses.
• Ino offered to ask the Hokage to assign them another teacher, while Shikamaru proposed that Hikari simply teach them seriously whenever he led them.
• Hikari refused Shikamaru's proposal, and Shikamaru asked whether the Hokage kept a close eye on Hikari at the Hokage's Office.

Hikari reluctantly accepted the role of jonin instructor for Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji after Shikamaru proposed a way for him to supervise them while staying relaxed. The group shared roasted rabbits, though Hikari’s thoughts about Ino’s future suitors left her confused by his sudden irritation.

• Hikari praised Tsunade while Shikamaru pointed out that Hikari seemed uncomfortable working under her supervision.
• Shikamaru suggested Hikari become their jonin instructor and let the children train mostly on their own, and Hikari considered the arrangement.
• Ino objected to having Hikari as their teacher, but Hikari insisted their fathers had asked Tsunade to appoint him.
• Shikamaru divided the roasted rabbits, and Hikari, Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji ate together.
• Hikari imagined having a daughter and resented the thought of a future suitor, causing Ino to notice his changed expression.

Hikari finished an exhausting training session with Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji, then promised to find them an age-matched girl for a taijutsu spar the next day. Inoichi collected the children and walked them home, while Shikamaru admitted he still could not gauge Hikari’s strength.

• Hikari gave the exhausted Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji water after making them run three laps around the Forest of Death.
• Hikari defended the intense training and promised to arrange a taijutsu spar with a girl around their age the next day.
• Yamanaka Inoichi thanked Hikari and asked Ino about training, then carried her home and invited Shikamaru and Choji to come along.
• Shikamaru told Inoichi that Hikari seemed all right as a teacher, though he could not see through Hikari’s strength.
• Inoichi spotted Choza Akimichi and Nara Shikahisa approaching as the children headed home.

Choji, Ino, and Shikamaru finished exhausting training and enjoyed being carried home by their fathers. Hikari told Tsunade that the children were training well, while Tsunade warned him not to lead them astray.

• Choza carried Choji home, Inoichi carried the sleeping Ino, and Shikaku eventually let Shikamaru ride on his back.
• The fathers agreed the children had endured their hardest training in years, and Choza planned to make Choji more food.
• Hikari returned to the Hokage's Office and told Tsunade that the Ino-Shika-Cho children trained seriously and had decent talent.
• Tsunade warned Hikari that the children were important to the village and that she would assign them other teachers if he could not teach them properly.
• Tsunade confronted Hikari about sleeping while the children ran laps, but Hikari insisted they needed challenging training.
• Tsunade privately wondered how much money Hikari had saved and considered taking it if he caused trouble.

Tsunade summoned Da Ju and Hikari, then attacked Hikari after he insulted both women over their unmarried status. Hikari stopped her with an improved Chakra-disrupting technique, and he followed the two women out, suspicious of Tsunade’s intentions.

• Hikari tried to avoid going out with Tsunade, but she ordered him to come along and summoned Da Ju.
• Da Ju accused Hikari of flirting with young women at the hospital, and Hikari retaliated by mocking her inability to marry.
• Hikari also insulted Tsunade, prompting her to charge at him with a powerful punch.
• Hikari caught Tsunade’s wrist and disrupted her Chakra with his improved Disturbance Charge technique, weakening her strike.
• Tsunade asked Hikari to explain the technique later, then left with Da Ju while Hikari followed, determined to discover her plans.

Tsunade urged Da Ju to consider marriage and revealed she had chosen a prospective match for her. Hikari recognized the man as Kotetsu Hagane, leaving Da Ju’s reaction to the proposal unresolved.

• Tsunade invited Hikari and Da Ju to a barbecue restaurant and asked Da Ju whether she had ever considered getting married.
• Da Ju said she had devoted herself to the Senju Clan, while Tsunade encouraged her to start a family and live for herself.
• Da Ju agreed to marry anyone except Hikari, and she and Hikari bickered until Tsunade ordered them to sit properly.
• Tsunade described an eligible young Special Jonin with a younger brother and named him as Kotetsu Hagane.

Hikari tried to stop Tsunade from arranging a match between Da Ju and his brother, Kotetsu Hagane, fearing he would have to leave their shared home. After Kotetsu revealed he wanted to marry Da Ju, Tsunade brought them together, leaving Hikari to watch the match proceed.

• Tsunade proposed that Da Ju marry Hikari's brother, and Hikari objected, citing forced marriage and the risk to his living arrangements.
• Da Ju rejected the idea of sharing a courtyard with Hikari and recommended Izumo Kamizuki instead.
• Kotetsu Hagane emerged from the neighboring booth, revealed that he had heard everything, and praised Da Ju.
• Hikari insulted Kotetsu and urged Tsunade to match Da Ju with Kakashi Hatake, but Tsunade defended Kotetsu's record as a hardworking ninja.
• Kotetsu confessed his admiration for Da Ju, and Tsunade sent the two of them to talk together.

Hikari accepted the possibility of Da Ju marrying his brother Izumo and discussed Da Ju with Tsunade while they ate grilled meat. Their teasing conversation left Hikari thinking he would soon have to pay for his brother’s wedding.

• Hikari considered Da Ju a suitable wife for his brother Izumo and thought about finding lodging for them.
• Tsunade asked Hikari what he thought of Da Ju, then scolded him for giving her too little grilled meat and swapped plates with him.
• Hikari praised Da Ju but explained that he had resisted the match because she often stopped him at Konoha Hospital.
• Tsunade told Hikari that the hospital nurses called him a woman's best friend because he flirted without pursuing them.
• Hikari reflected that Izumo and Da Ju seemed to be getting along and expected he would soon have to pay a wedding gift.