Chapter Summaries

After being discharged from Konoha Hospital, Chiba planned to rehabilitate before using Gate of Pain Mode and asked Hirohiko to gather herbs for medicine. Yukina arrived with umbrellas, and she and Chiba left together under one as he resolved to recover quickly for the coming plan.

• Yuriko confirmed that Chiba's fractures had healed and sent him to complete his discharge procedures.
• After leaving the hospital, Chiba decided his body still needed rehabilitation before he risked using Gate of Pain Mode.
• Chiba asked Hirohiko to gather herbs while he recovered, but Yukina arrived with two umbrellas and thanked them for the flowers they had given her.
• Hirohiko took the black umbrella and hurried away, leaving Yukina with the white umbrella for Chiba.
• Chiba suggested that he and Yukina share the umbrella, and they walked into the rain together as he resolved to recover in time to use Gate of Life Mode.

After recovering from his near-fatal injuries, Chiba discovered that his body had grown stronger and that he could use Gate of Pain Mode, though its transformation still took too long for combat. He prepared to carry out a plan with Hirohiko the next day, but Yukina discovered they had kept it from her.

• Chiba completed two thousand punches without tiring and confirmed that his body had recovered.
• Chiba opened the first four Eight Gates and found that his strengthened body could withstand Gate of Pain for five minutes.
• Chiba transformed into Gate of Pain Mode, gaining Jonin-level Chakra and improved senses, but the one-minute transformation made it impractical for combat.
• Chiba released the mode and found that his normal Chakra reserves had risen to quasi-Chunin level.
• Hirohiko brought the medicinal herbs Chiba had requested, and Chiba asked him to stay the night before their plan the next day.
• Yukina confronted Chiba and Hirohiko after overhearing that they had a plan and realizing they had excluded her.

Yukina confronted Chiba and Hirohiko for keeping her out of the mission, then heard how Chiba and Kushina had been rescued by Minato after fighting Yagura Bi. The trio left the dango shop to thank Minato, while Chiba struggled to speak with his mouth full of dango and Hirohiko’s attempted act fell flat.

• Yukina demanded that Chiba and Hirohiko explain why they had kept her uninformed, then chose dango as their punishment.
• At the Konohamaru Dango Shop, customers insulted Chiba, but the shop owner, Sister Rumi, shielded him and praised him.
• Chiba told Yukina that Minato had rescued him and Kushina after his battle with Yagura Bi and the arrival of Iwagakure ninja.
• Yukina decided the group should visit Minato to thank him, and Chiba left the shop with his mouth stuffed with dango.
• Hirohiko emerged behind Chiba drenched in sweat, and Yukina and Chiba recognized that he had been pretending.

Chiba suspected that a spy at the Dumpling Shop had been caught in his trap, and Rumi revealed herself as the culprit when she left the shop in disguise that night. Chiba confronted her in the rain, leaving her identity exposed but the confrontation unresolved.

• Chiba told Yukina and Hirohiko he believed their first trap had caught the real spy and that the spy could help free Kushina.
• A hooded customer used a Sharingan-like gaze to make Rumi reveal the names and identities of the three children who had visited her shop.
• After closing, Rumi retrieved a black wooden box and a hidden chest from beneath a tatami mat, then changed into her spy disguise.
• Rumi left the shop through a second-floor window and raced through Konoha in the rain.
• Chiba stopped Rumi and revealed that she had fallen into his trap, and she reacted with surprise when he identified her.

Chiba confronted Rumi in a secluded alley and exposed her as a spy working for Iwa and Kumogakure. He appeared to catch her with a Shadow Clone, but Rumi revealed her own backup plan and threatened him from behind, leaving their confrontation unresolved.

• Chiba accused Rumi, the Dumpling Shop proprietress, of drugging Kushina and spying for Iwa and Kumogakure.
• Rumi denied the accusations and threatened Chiba with a kunai, while he said he had planted false intelligence to lure her out.
• Chiba distracted Rumi by questioning which captives had survived, giving his Shadow Clone an opening to press a kunai to her back.
• Chiba warned Rumi not to move, but she revealed she had positioned herself behind him and held a kunai to his throat.
• Rumi decided she had to kill Chiba for the sake of her village.

Chiba captured the spy Rumi after outmaneuvering her in the rain and knocking her unconscious with a poisoned kunai. A hidden observer identified Chiba’s unusual abilities and confirmed that Danzo was targeting the Nine-Tails’ Jinchuriki.

• Rumi’s Earth Clone vanished, and she held Chiba at kunai point, believing she had caught him alone.
• Chiba distracted Rumi by suggesting Yukina and Hirohiko were nearby, then seized her weapon hand and cut it with a kunai.
• Rumi reached for her ninja tools, but Chiba’s poisoned kunai took effect and left her unconscious.
• Chiba carried Rumi away while wondering whether someone had watched them from beside a utility pole.
• A black-clad man revealed himself beside a fallen Anbu, recognized Chiba’s possible connection to the Eight Gates, and concluded that Danzo intended to move against the Nine-Tails’ Jinchuriki.

Chiba and Yukina captured Rumi, a spy posing as the Dumpling Shop proprietress, while Hirohiko warned that Root planned to act against Kushina the following night. The chapter left Kushina near collapse from prolonged genjutsu as Root prepared to plant a cursed seal on her.

• Chiba returned to the cabin with the captured Rumi, and Yukina bound her and discovered her identity beneath the Raccoon Mask.
• Chiba checked on Hirohiko, who remained paralyzed by the anesthetic he had tested on himself, and learned he had no need to contact anyone about staying overnight.
• Hirohiko told Chiba that unknown ninja were targeting Kushina and that they planned to act soon, prompting Chiba to decide to move the following night.
• A Root kunoichi reported that Kushina's spirit was extremely weak, and a guard ordered her to report to Danzo so they could plant the cursed seal the next night.
• Kushina, exhausted and near collapse from genjutsu, thought of Chiba, Hirohiko, Yukina, and Minato before a tear slid down her face.

Chiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina ambushed the Root shinobi guarding Kushina's house and defeated them without killing anyone. With the guards subdued, they prepared to go inside and see Teacher Kushina.

• Hirohiko drew the fox-masked guard's attention by approaching Kushina's house and dodging his shuriken.
• Chiba attacked from behind and evaded a second Root ninja's Earth Release, Headhunter Jutsu and a female ninja's sword strike.
• Hirohiko's shuriken poisoned the female ninja, allowing Chiba to seize her and smash her into the ninja emerging from the ground.
• Yukina revealed that she had stopped the final guard from reporting back, completing the trio's ambush.
• Chiba asked Yukina and Hirohiko to tie up the Root shinobi while he went to see Teacher Kushina.

A Root ninja tortured Kushina with genjutsu and tried to break her will so she could plant Danzo’s cursed seal. Chiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina arrived in time to kill the Root ninja, but Kushina remained severely affected by the genjutsu.

• The female Root ninja prepared torture tools and continued using painful illusions to weaken Kushina and make her submit to Danzo.
• The Root ninja recalled how she had captured Kushina, nearly been exposed by Minato, and learned that Danzo wanted the cursed seal planted before Minato returned.
• The Root ninja nearly convinced Kushina to abandon herself, but Chiba burst through the door and killed her with a powerful punch.
• Hirohiko and Yukina arrived carrying four bound Root ninja, while Yukina examined Kushina and found her genjutsu-induced chakra disorder severe.
• Chiba asked Hirohiko and Yukina what Kushina would do if the same thing had happened to them.

Chiba confronted the Third Hokage over Kushina’s house arrest and insisted that he should protect her himself. Their discussion was interrupted when Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura arrived to discuss the management of the Jinchuriki, and Danzo told Chiba to go home.

• Chiba demanded to know why Kushina was confined and argued that he, Hirohiko, and Yukina could be trusted to visit her.
• The Third Hokage explained that Kushina’s confinement was a precaution after the village attack and refused Chiba’s offer to guard her, citing the danger to both Kushina and Chiba.
• Chiba insisted that people should protect what mattered to them with their own hands, surprising the Third Hokage.
• Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura entered the Hokage's Office and criticized Chiba for challenging the Third Hokage.
• Danzo said they had come to discuss management of the Jinchuriki and told Chiba to go home.

Chiba challenged the Third Hokage, Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura over Kushina’s confinement, arguing that the village’s leaders were blaming her for their own security failures. The chapter left the elders stunned as Chiba confronted them directly.

• The Third Hokage told Chiba to leave while he and Danzo discussed the unresolved Kushina matter.
• Chiba realized Danzo wanted control over Kushina and suspected the Third Hokage had compromised by allowing Root to manage her.
• Danzo told Chiba that Kushina’s confinement was a protective measure approved by the village’s strongest ninjas.
• Chiba challenged the decision and accused the leaders of shifting blame onto Kushina for the enemy’s successful abduction.
• Chiba argued that the infiltrators had captured Kushina while she was shopping inside the village, exposing the leaders’ failure to protect her.
• Danzo, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and the Third Hokage were stunned by Chiba’s accusation.

Chiba challenged the Third Hokage and the elders over Kushina’s confinement, arguing that the village should restore her freedom and protect her properly. When Danzo’s Root guards were brought in defeated and bound, Chiba argued that they—not he and Hirohiko—were the traitors.

• Chiba argued that Kushina had been unfairly confined after the village failed to protect her, and urged the Hokage to restore her freedom with trusted guards.
• Danzo claimed Minato Namikaze could not be spared from missions and proposed four of his Anbu guards instead.
• Hirohiko entered the Hokage's Office with the four bound Root ninja who had been assigned to guard Kushina, showing wounds from their attack.
• Utatane Koharu demanded that Chiba and Hirohiko be arrested for attacking fellow village ninja.
• Chiba argued that they had acted in self-defense and pointed out that the Root ninja had committed betrayal by attacking them.

Chiba and Hirohiko defended themselves in the Hokage's Office after Danzo's guards attacked them, and the Third Hokage confirmed the guards had struck first. Chiba then argued that the guards were unfit to protect Kushina and proposed that he and Hirohiko take their place.

• Chiba told Utatane Koharu that he and Hirohiko had tried to visit their injured teacher, Kushina, and that Danzo's guards had attacked them first.
• Chiba admitted that he and Hirohiko had injured the guards, but had no evidence to support their account.
• An Anbu Ninja informed the Third Hokage that Danzo's guards had struck first, and the Third Hokage ruled that Chiba and Hirohiko had acted in self-defense.
• Danzo claimed the guards had been following his orders to protect Kushina, and the Third Hokage said the guards had done nothing wrong.
• Chiba argued that the guards were unqualified because he and Hirohiko had defeated them, then proposed that he and Hirohiko guard Kushina instead.

Chiba argued that he and Hirohiko should protect Kushina, insisting that their commitment and past actions proved their resolve. The Third Hokage agreed to entrust them with the mission if they could prove their ability, just as the office door opened.

• The Third Hokage said Chiba lacked the experience needed to guard Kushina, despite his strength and skill.
• Chiba argued that Root’s guards had failed because they had not treated Kushina’s safety as their highest priority.
• Chiba reminded Danzo that he had risked his life holding back Yagura Bi to help rescue Kushina.
• Chiba asked the Third Hokage to let him and his companions prove they could protect Kushina, and the Third Hokage agreed to entrust them with the mission if they succeeded.
• The door to the Hokage's Office slowly opened, drawing everyone’s attention.

Chiba proved that his group could protect Kushina by capturing Rumi, a long-hidden spy, and the Third Hokage approved them for the protection detail. Chiba then punched Danzo and warned him to stay away from Teacher Kushina.

• Yukina brought the captured Rumi before the Third Hokage, and Chiba revealed that the dumpling shop owner was a spy for Cloud and Iwa.
• Chiba explained that he had lured Rumi out with fabricated news about Yagura Bi and the Iwa leader being captured.
• Chiba used Rumi’s capture and the group’s strength to prove they could protect Kushina, and the Third Hokage granted them the assignment.
• Chiba punched Danzo across the Hokage’s Office and shouted for him to stay away from Teacher Kushina.

Chiba woke in darkness after being knocked unconscious and reconstructed the plan he had made to free Kushina from Danzo’s control. He realized his impulsive punch had disrupted his final step, leaving him unsure what had happened after he fell.

• Chiba woke in a pitch-black place, felt pain at the back of his head, and recalled that Danzo had risen after being punched into a wall.
• Chiba reviewed his plan to expose spies in the village, defeat Kushina’s guards, and convince the Third Hokage to take over her protection.
• Chiba reasoned that Minato Namikaze and possibly the Third Hokage had trusted him to create a reason to free Kushina from Danzo’s surveillance.
• Chiba recalled that his final step had been to use Kushina’s genjutsu torture as leverage against Danzo without informing the Third Hokage.
• Chiba realized his anger over Kushina’s condition had made him punch Danzo before he could carry out that plan.

After attacking Danzo, Chiba accepted his three-month confinement and felt relieved that Kushina’s protection would pass to the Third Hokage. The Third Hokage barred Danzo from Kushina’s affairs and arranged guards, while Morino Ibuse told Hokoma that a woman would give him her answer about his proposal the next day.

• Chiba realized he was imprisoned, relaxed after concluding Kushina would be protected by the Third Hokage, and fell asleep from exhaustion.
• The Third Hokage ordered six Anbu to protect Kushina and confined Chiba for three months, while Danzo silently accepted the decision.
• The Third Hokage suspected Danzo had harmed Kushina, ordered him to stay out of her affairs, and Danzo left after warning Hiruzen against naivety.
• The Third Hokage praised Shisui for stopping Chiba and asked him to bring Hokoma so Kushina’s security could be arranged.
• At a tavern, Morino Ibuse told Hokoma that he had confessed his feelings and would receive the woman’s answer the next day.

Taki Chiba began serving a three-month sentence in a lightless Konoha confinement cell and decided to spend it training. Meanwhile, Minato Namikaze’s pursuit of the unknown ninjas reached the Land of Wind border, forcing him to turn back and report the threat.

• Taki Chiba explored his confinement cell, learned he would be held for three months without visitors, and worried about Yukina, Hirohiko, and Kushina.
• Taki Chiba decided to train Medical Ninjutsu, taijutsu, and Gate of Pain Mode during his confinement, then began his daily exercises.
• Minato Namikaze halted his pursuit when the unknown ninjas’ trail vanished at the Land of Wind border.
• Minato Namikaze concluded the pursuit risked escalating the conflict between nations and led his team back to Konoha to report.

After three months in confinement, Chiba completed his training and perfected Gate of Pain Mode enough for combat, though the Gate of Pain state still strained his body after five minutes. Believing his confinement had ended, he rested and wondered how Kushina and the others were doing as light and his meal came through the floor.

• Chiba continued his daily training, increasing his repetitions to 2,200 while developing Gate of Pain Mode and practicing Medical Ninjutsu on his injuries.
• Chiba completed his routine and activated the first three Eight Gates before opening the Fourth Gate of Pain and entering Gate of Pain Mode.
• Chiba reviewed the mode's improvements, including night vision, enhanced hearing, Elite Jonin-level Chakra, and a duration of about two hours.
• Chiba judged that he could defeat most Jonin during those two hours but acknowledged that battle depended on skill and tactics.
• Chiba believed his confinement should be over, chose not to train himself to exhaustion, and wondered how Kushina and the others were doing.
• A crack opened in the floor, letting in dim light as someone passed Chiba his meal.

Taki Chiba reached the end of his three-month confinement and was told to report to the Third Hokage. After leaving the cell, he stood amazed at the view of Konoha from the Second Hokage’s stone face as a hidden observer judged his resilience.

• A young voice told Taki Chiba that one hour remained in his confinement and instructed him to report to the Third Hokage afterward.
• Taki Chiba finished his meal and worried about what to say about his reflection, though he still believed he had been right to punch Danzo away.
• When the hour ended, Taki Chiba left his cell and walked through the corridor into the sunlight.
• Taki Chiba found himself atop the Second Hokage’s stone face and stared in wonder at the view of Konoha.
• A hidden observer watched Taki Chiba and praised his resilience, comparing him to Minato’s promising seed.