Chapter Summaries

Chiba learned the Tadpole Script from Kushina and began copying it, but discovered he lacked the brush skills needed to write it accurately. The chapter ended with Chiba and Hirohiko struggling to copy the script while Yukina copied it with ease.

• Chiba spent the day learning the Tadpole Script from Kushina and resolved to save her.
• Chiba completed his training, then visited the Library and memorized four useful ninjutsu while considering how to develop his fighting style before Kannabi Bridge.
• Chiba began copying the Tadpole Script at home but repeatedly ruined the paper because he had never learned brush calligraphy.
• Hirohiko struggled with his own copying, while Yukina accurately reproduced the Tadpole Script and continued practicing.

Kushina assessed Chiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina’s Tadpole Script copying and decided to give special training to Chiba and Hirohiko. The chapter left the three surprised when she set Yukina’s home in the Hyuga Clan estate as their new meeting place.

• Chiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina compared their copied Tadpole Script, with Yukina’s handwriting the best and Chiba’s the worst.
• Kushina reviewed their sheets and found errors in Yukina’s and Hirohiko’s copies, while Chiba’s careful copy had none.
• Kushina concluded that Chiba showed strong potential for Sealing Jutsu, though his handwriting needed improvement.
• Kushina announced special training for Chiba and Hirohiko, starting at Yukina’s house the next morning, and told Yukina to ask Lord Shinsuke for permission.
• Kushina dismissed them, leaving Chiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina stunned by the new arrangement.

Chiba found two unexplained scrolls in his cabin and chose not to open them, suspecting they might be traps. Meanwhile, Tsunade decided to leave Konoha, and she departed despite the Third Hokage and Jiraiya wishing she would stay.

• Chiba discovered two scrolls on his desk that someone had placed in his cabin while he was away, and he left them unopened before studying Medical Insights.
• The Third Hokage accepted Tsunade's decision to leave Konoha and told her she could return to visit him anytime.
• Tsunade left the Hokage's Office with Shizune and headed for Konoha's gates.
• Jiraiya met Tsunade at the gates and asked whether she could stay and when she would return, but she left without answering.

Chiba opened one of the sealed scrolls and discovered something that made him rush to Yukina's home, where Kushina and Hirohiko had already arrived for their training. He entered the Hyuga Clan's residence with Hyuga Shinsuke, leaving the scroll's contents unrevealed.

• Chiba's curiosity led him to open a sealed scroll, and its sudden Chakra surge vanished as emerald light spun in his eyes.
• Yukina nervously waited for Chiba, Kushina, and Hirohiko, repeatedly checking her appearance before Kushina and Hirohiko arrived.
• Yukina asked where Chiba was, and Kushina said he would likely arrive soon as they prepared to begin.
• Chiba hurried to the Hyuga Clan's residence after getting absorbed in the scroll, then met Hyuga Shinsuke at the entrance.
• Hyuga Shinsuke praised Kushina's Sealing Jutsu and walked with Chiba toward Yukina's study.

Hyuga Shinsuke brought Chiba to Yukina’s study, where Kushina had begun special training in Sealing Tadpole Script. After Chiba’s awkward arrival and oblivious concern for Yukina, Kushina angrily increased his assignment to three hundred copied sheets.

• Hyuga Shinsuke told Chiba that the Hyuga Clan's Curse Mark Jutsu and Barrier Jutsu could be classified as Sealing Jutsu, then left Chiba at Yukina’s study.
• Chiba found Yukina, Hirohiko, and Kushina copying Sealing Tadpole Script and apologized for arriving late.
• Kushina seated Chiba beside Yukina and ordered the students to copy ten sheets in an hour, while Yukina nervously tried to move away.
• Chiba asked whether Yukina was sick, missing the reason for her flushed face and prompting Kushina and Hirohiko to react with exasperation.
• Kushina raised Chiba’s assignment from one hundred to three hundred sheets, and he began copying in alarm.

Kushina reviewed the trio’s special-training results and found that Chiba had mastered the tadpole script, while Hirohiko and Yukina still made mistakes. Worried that he lacked time to study three scrolls, Chiba used Shadow Clones in Gate of Life Mode to work on them simultaneously.

• Kushina examined Chiba’s hundred copies and concluded he had mastered the tadpole script without errors.
• Kushina compared Hirohiko’s and Yukina’s work, noting Hirohiko’s remaining errors and Yukina’s mistakes after becoming flustered beside Chiba.
• Chiba considered how to study the tadpole script, Medical Insights, and a mysterious scroll at the same time, then realized his Shadow Clones could last about an hour.
• Chiba activated Gate of Life Mode and created two Shadow Clones, assigning one to the tadpole script and the other to Medical Insights.
• Chiba and his clones began studying their assigned materials, with Chiba focusing on the mysterious scroll.

Chiba continued studying Sealing Jutsu and Medical Insights while signs of approaching war troubled him. After Kakashi told him that Kento had returned injured from an ambush, Chiba feared the Third Great Ninja War was already beginning.

• Chiba spent two months using Shadow Clones to study, finishing Medical Insights and learning to draw simple Sealing Jutsu Formulas for the Yin Seal.
• As winter deepened, Chiba noticed that Jonin and Chunin were receiving more missions while Kakashi and younger Chunin remained idle.
• Kakashi visited Chiba and told him that Kento had returned from a two-month reconnaissance mission injured after his group was ambushed.
• Kakashi invited Chiba to visit Kento at the hospital that afternoon, and Chiba agreed.
• Kakashi collected his fishing rod for Asuma, while both he and Chiba suspected the village was nearing war.

Chiba received the scrolls for learning the Yin Seal from Kushina and realized the Third Great Ninja War was approaching. He planned to visit the injured Kento with Yukina, while Hirohiko surprised them by revealing he had a girlfriend.

• Hirohiko and Yukina brought Chiba scrolls from Kushina, including the formulas and instructions for constructing the Yin Seal with Chakra.
• Chiba concluded Kushina had sent the scrolls through Yukina because the Third Hokage was protecting her, and he resolved to master the Yin Seal quickly before the war began.
• Hirohiko said Kento had been injured and suggested they visit him together, and Chiba agreed to go with Yukina after running errands.
• Chiba asked whether Hirohiko and Yukina wanted to study Sealing Jutsu, but both said they preferred focusing on their own training.
• Hirohiko declined to join them, saying he would spend the day with his girlfriend, then hurried out as Chiba and Yukina stared in surprise.

Kushina learned that war might be imminent and asked the Third Hokage to keep her three students together on missions. Chiba, Yukina, and Hirohiko visited the badly injured Kinoi Kento, whose comrades gathered to show their support.

• Two Anbu told Kushina that the Third Hokage had ordered her to stay inside because war could break out soon.
• Kushina asked that Chiba, Yukina, and Hirohiko not be split up on missions, and the female Anbu began to explain something.
• Chiba, Yukina, and Hirohiko visited Kinoi Kento at Konoha Hospital and saw that he had lost an arm and suffered a severe facial scar.
• Kakashi, Obito, Rin, Might Guy, Genma Shiranui, Ebisu, Snow Eagle, Mito Kiko, and Nozawa Sota arrived with gifts to visit Kento.
• Kento became emotional at the turnout, while Shiga Takeyoshi watched him with concern over his missing arm.

Rin Nohara proposed a barbecue gathering for the class after Kinoi Kento was discharged, lifting the mood in the hospital room. The celebration was put on hold when an Anbu Ninja arrived to take Uchiha Hirohiko on an unexpectedly advanced mission, leaving Chiba and Yukina uneasy as Hirohiko departed with a rare smile.

• Rin Nohara proposed that everyone go out for barbecue after Kinoi Kento was discharged, and the others agreed to hold a class gathering.
• Kakashi reflected on his friendship with Chiba and dismissed the rumors that Chiba had attacked villagers.
• An Anbu Ninja wearing a Raccoon Mask arrived and told Uchiha Hirohiko that his mission had been moved up.
• Chiba and Yukina followed Hirohiko outside, where he explained that he had planned to tell them about the mission after visiting Kento.
• Chiba asked how long Hirohiko would be gone, and Yukina and Chiba warned him to be careful.
• Hirohiko left with the Anbu Ninja, then turned back to reassure Chiba and Yukina with a faint smile.

Chiba waited anxiously at Konoha’s gate for Hirohiko, who had been away on a mission for a month, while continuing his medical, sealing, and ninjutsu training. Yukina arrived to tell him Hirohiko had returned in poor condition, and Chiba rushed with her to Konoha Hospital.

• Chiba worried that Hirohiko’s month-long mission might have placed him in grave danger during the tense probing period.
• Chiba continued studying Medical Ninjutsu with Yuriko’s help, refining his Sealing Jutsu under Kushina, and practicing ninjutsu.
• Chiba waited at Konoha’s gate, hoping Hirohiko would return, then went back to his cabin to train on the Yin Seal.
• Yukina arrived at Chiba’s cabin and told him Hirohiko had returned in poor condition.
• Chiba hurried with Yukina toward Konoha Hospital.

Chiba and Yukina rushed to Konoha Hospital after Hirohiko returned from a mission poisoned and near death. While they waited outside with Kento and Shiga Takeyoshi, Yuriko and the medical staff began treating him, but his heart and lung functions were failing.

• Chiba and Yukina found Hirohiko in critical condition in Konoha Hospital’s intensive care ward, and Yuriko explained that his team had been ambushed and killed.
• Yuriko began treating Hirohiko and ushered Chiba and Yukina out of the ward, while Yukina tried to comfort Chiba.
• Kento and Shiga Takeyoshi joined Chiba and Yukina in the hallway, and Chiba thanked Shiga for carrying Hirohiko back to the village.
• Yuriko studied the report showing that Hirohiko had been poisoned by a new, highly destructive toxin and ordered the medical staff to prepare a standard antidote and analyze his blood.
• As Hirohiko’s heart and lung functions continued to fail, Yuriko hoped the antidote would delay the poison long enough to save him.

Yuriko and the other medics believed Tsunade’s antidote had neutralized Hirohiko’s poison, but he suddenly convulsed as the toxin damaged his organs. With Tsunade away and the medics unable to save him, Chiba stepped forward and vowed to rescue his friend.

• Yuriko administered Tsunade’s antidote, and Hirohiko’s heart and breathing initially stabilized.
• The medics tested Hirohiko’s blood and confirmed that the antidote had neutralized the toxin.
• As Yuriko went to reassure Chiba and the others, Hirohiko began convulsing and his condition rapidly worsened.
• Yuriko discovered the poison had already penetrated Hirohiko’s organs, and the medics said Tsunade had left the village.
• Chiba arrived at Hirohiko’s bedside and declared that he would save him.

Chiba took charge of Hirohiko’s treatment after the Medical Ninjas could not stop the poison from worsening. With Yuriko’s help and Yukina’s Byakugan, he began extracting poison from Hirohiko’s organs, leaving the room watching in stunned silence.

• Chiba insisted on treating Hirohiko despite the Medical Ninjas’ doubts and his own fear that he might fail.
• Chiba told Yuriko to make an opening in Hirohiko’s chest and asked Yukina to use her Byakugan to locate his organs.
• Yuriko agreed to help, while Shiga Takeyoshi fetched basins of the pale green water Chiba requested.
• Chiba used the Delicate Illness Extraction Technique to draw dark purple poison from Hirohiko’s liver into a sphere of water.
• Chiba ordered Shiga Takeyoshi to replace the contaminated basin and continued extracting poison from another organ.

Chiba successfully used the Delicate Illness Extraction Technique to remove the toxins from Hirohiko and bring him out of danger. Exhausted after the hour-long procedure, Chiba asked Yukina to help him because his legs had gone numb.

• Chiba steadily extracted the toxins from Hirohiko while Yuriko, Yukina, and Shiga Takeyoshi supported him.
• Yuriko recognized how Chiba had used her surgical experience and Yukina's Byakugan to compensate for his inexperience.
• Chiba removed the final traces of toxin, healed the incision, and saw Hirohiko's ECG return to normal.
• Yuriko ordered the Medical Ninjas to prepare an antidote and other care for the unconscious Hirohiko.
• Chiba asked Yukina for help because he was exhausted and could no longer stand on his numb legs.

After Hirohiko survived the critical stage, Chiba suspected that his poisoning and the deaths of his teammates were part of a deliberate plot against Konoha. He realized the poison could offer clues, but left the hospital with Yukina to buy food before investigating further.

• Shiga Takeyoshi said Kento needed more rest, then left with Kinoi Kento after thanking Chiba and Yukina.
• Chiba reasoned that the attackers had deliberately left Hirohiko alive and poisoned so he would return to Konoha, suspecting a powerful enemy was plotting against the village.
• Chiba decided to question Hirohiko when he woke and investigate the poison’s ingredients for clues about the attackers.
• Yukina said she would buy food before the shops closed, and Chiba went with her through the heavy snow.

Yuriko invited Chiba to help develop an antidote after confirming that Hirohiko was no longer in danger. Chiba left Yukina in the corridor with his winter coat, and Yuriko reflected on how much he had changed since Kushina took him as her disciple.

• Yuriko told Chiba that Hirohiko's poison had been removed and invited him to help develop an antidote.
• Yukina agreed to stay and watch over Hirohiko while Chiba went with Yuriko.
• Chiba returned to leave his winter coat on Yukina's cold bench before catching up with Yuriko.
• Yukina wrapped herself in Chiba's coat and smiled as she thought about sharing the food with him later.
• Yuriko recalled Chiba's lonely past and Kushina's decision to make him her disciple.

Chiba studied a deadly new poison and concluded that Sunagakure may have created it to test whether Tsunade had left Konoha, with the poison potentially giving the village leverage in the coming war. Realizing that neither he nor Yuriko could currently make an antidote, Chiba resolved to help develop one.

• Chiba examined the toxicity report and found that the poison used rare desert toxins and could not be countered with the methods in Tsunade's Medical Insights.
• Chiba saw that Yuriko's attempts to formulate an antidote had failed and concluded that Tsunade might be the only Medical Ninja capable of making one.
• Chiba reasoned that the attackers may have poisoned Hirohiko to determine whether Tsunade was still in Konoha, and suspected Sunagakure's Chiyo and Ebizo were behind the scheme.
• Chiba recognized that the poison could give Sunagakure a powerful deterrent in a future war and could also kill him if he were exposed to it.
• Chiba stood up and resolved to work on developing an antidote himself.

Chiba inspected Konoha’s medicinal reserves and helped Yuriko identify Feiying Grass as a missing ingredient in her antidote research. After Yuriko tested the new mixture, an Anbu Ninja arrived to request an update for the Hokage, and Chiba offered to write the report.

• Chiba searched Konoha’s medicine cabinets and found that they held most of the ingredients listed in Tsunade's Medical Insights.
• Yuriko’s latest antidote attempt failed, but she noticed Chiba examining the cabinets containing ingredients similar to her own formula.
• Chiba gave Yuriko Feiying Grass, which she processed into a new antidote while he studied her methods.
• Yuriko tested the mixture on the poison seal, and she and Chiba watched the result together.
• An Anbu Ninja arrived on the Hokage’s behalf to ask about Uchiha Hirohiko’s condition and the antidote research, and Chiba volunteered to write a report.

The Third Hokage learned that an antidote had been developed and that Uchiha Hirohiko was recovering, while Shikaku, Inoichi, and Choza assessed Sunagakure’s growing military presence. After hearing Chiba’s deduction that a deadly poison pointed to Chiyo, the Third Hokage assigned the three young men a new mission.

• An Anbu reported that the antidote had been developed and Uchiha Hirohiko was out of danger.
• Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Choza reviewed maps showing Sunagakure and the other great nations gathering forces.
• The Third Hokage said Chiba had identified the poison as made from desert viper and poisonous grass, pointing to a formidable Sunagakure ninja.
• Shikaku suspected Chiyo, and the Third Hokage agreed that she was likely responsible for the attack on Hirohiko’s team.
• The Third Hokage ordered more antidote prepared for the front lines, then gave Shikaku, Choza, and Inoichi a new mission.