Chapter Summaries

Chiba teased Hyuga Yukyō, who unexpectedly asked him to keep Yukina with him. Chiba suspected that Yukina’s flight from home was tied to a more serious danger.

• Chiba washed clothes while Hyuga Yukyō stood by, apparently reluctant to ask him for something.
• Yukina entered Chiba’s room, looked over his sparse belongings, and worried about how he lived alone.
• Chiba asked Hyuga Yukyō what he wanted, and Hyuga Yukyō asked him to keep Yukina there.
• Hyuga Yukyō left before Chiba could question him, and Chiba wondered what threat had driven his request.

After Hyuga Yukyō entrusted Yukina to Chiba, Chiba worried that he might not be able to protect her from an unknown threat. He struggled to ask her to stay, until Yukina came downstairs and declared that she wanted to live with him.

• Hyuga Yukyō left Yukina in Chiba's care, and Chiba realized that the danger facing her might exceed even Yukyō's ability to protect her.
• Chiba considered who or what could threaten the Hyuga Clan but could find no plausible explanation.
• Chiba decided to keep Yukina near him, though he worried that he could not ask her to live with him.
• Yukina came downstairs and told Chiba that she wanted to live there.

Yukina moved into Chiba’s home, while Chiba misunderstood her bashful excitement as anger and quietly went upstairs. At the Hyuga Clan, Hyuga Shinsuke arranged to test Hyuga Yukyō’s Gentle Fist and reflected on his debts to Chiba and Yukyō.

• Yukina asked to stay with Chiba, and they agreed to alternate the housework.
• Yukina blushed at the thought of living with Chiba, while Chiba planned to sleep downstairs and move his study materials there.
• Chiba mistook Yukina’s flustered silence for anger and went upstairs without interrupting her.
• Hyuga Yukyō told Hyuga Shinsuke that Yukina was staying with Chiba, and Shinsuke thanked him for helping protect her.
• Hyuga Shinsuke invited Hyuga Yukyō to the training ground to test his Gentle Fist, while Yukyō silently reassured him that he held no resentment.

The Third Hokage received the successful report on the operation against enemy infiltrators and arranged for Watanabe Kenshin’s transfer while keeping Minato in the village. Meanwhile, Chiba and Yukina headed to meet their class, with Yukina anxious after spending the night in Chiba’s bed.

• Hokoma reported that Kumogakure and Iwa’s temporary bases had been wiped out, while Kirigakure had withdrawn without a fight.
• The Third Hokage learned that Minato had rescued the operation after a Kumogakure squad escaped the lure, leaving Watanabe Kenshin and other mission ninja injured.
• The Third Hokage ordered Minato to remain in the village and gave Hokoma a transfer order for Watanabe Kenshin to deliver after his recovery.
• The Third Hokage reflected that Chiba’s timing had made the operation succeed and thought about Kushina training the children.
• Chiba left the cabin for the class meeting place, and Yukina followed him despite having barely slept because she was embarrassed about sharing his bed.

Chiba, Yukina, and Hirohiko endured a three-hour battle against Kushina in her six-tailed form, managing to injure her once before exhaustion forced them to stop. An elderly Anbu compared Chiba’s tactical skill to the Second Hokage’s, while Chiba concluded that the team still had a long way to go before they could challenge Kushina.

• Kushina ended the training battle after Chiba, Yukina, and Hirohiko injured her and fought her for roughly three hours.
• Kushina concealed her exhaustion as she released her six-tailed Tailed Beast Mode and nearly collapsed.
• Anbu observers praised the trio’s coordination and discussed how Chiba directed their tactics while Yukina and Hirohiko supported the attacks.
• An elderly Anbu said Chiba’s fighting style resembled Lord Tobirama’s, astonishing the other guards.
• Chiba, too exhausted to move, assessed that the team had improved its reactions and coordination but remained far from defeating Kushina.

After training, Kushina offered to take Chiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina to Ichiraku Ramen, while the Third Hokage received confirmation that her use of the Nine-Tails Power remained stable. He ordered stricter hourly monitoring for the next training session as the situation appeared to improve.

• Kushina invited her exhausted disciples to rest before taking them to Ichiraku Ramen, and Chiba gave up on trying to get barbecue instead.
• An Anbu observer reported to the Third Hokage that Kushina's control of the Nine-Tails Power was stable and improving.
• The Third Hokage ordered Sawamizu to accompany the observer and report on Kushina's training every hour.
• The Anbu observer left, and the Third Hokage smiled as he considered the situation increasingly favorable.

At Ichiraku Ramen, Chiba’s appetite surges as he eats several special extra-large bowls after Kushina rushes off to visit Mikoto. Chiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina decide to train separately to grow strong enough to challenge Kushina, leaving for their individual training grounds.

• Kushina abruptly left Ichiraku Ramen to visit Mikoto, telling Chiba to eat the ramen she had ordered.
• Chiba ate several extra-large bowls of ramen, astonishing Ichiraku, Hirohiko, and Yukina.
• Hirohiko asked Chiba how they could defeat Kushina, and Chiba said they needed to improve their individual strength before tactics could help.
• Chiba warned Hirohiko and Yukina not to overtrain or risk injuries that would interrupt their progress.
• Hirohiko and Yukina went to train separately, and Chiba headed back to the wooden cabin.

Chiba questioned Hirohiko about Hyuga Yukyō’s recent behavior as he tried to understand why Yukyō had entrusted Yukina to him for protection. He ended by preparing to tell Hirohiko something important about Yukina.

• Chiba decided to put off taijutsu training so he could prioritize other training during the Third Shinobi World War.
• Chiba secretly summoned Hirohiko and asked whether he still sparred with Hyuga Yukyō and whether Yukyō had acted strangely.
• Hirohiko said he and Hyuga Yukyō still sparred regularly and that he had noticed nothing unusual.
• Chiba reasoned that Yukyō and Hyuga Shinsuke must believe Yukina was in danger and that he could protect her, though he could not determine why.
• Chiba told Hirohiko that he needed to explain something about Yukina.

Chiba asked Hirohiko to investigate the danger threatening Yukina and the Hyuga Clan, since he feared he could not protect her alone. Hirohiko agreed to gather information, even if that meant using his Sharingan on Snow Eagle.

• Hirohiko realized Chiba needed his help and asked what he should do.
• Chiba explained that Yukina faced a danger the Hyuga Clan might not be able to handle, and admitted he did not know whether it came from a powerful person or a conspiracy.
• Chiba asked Hirohiko to collect every scrap of information he could find about the Hyuga Clan.
• Chiba told Hirohiko to use his Sharingan if necessary, and Hirohiko agreed despite his reluctance to use genjutsu on Snow Eagle.
• Chiba resolved to protect Yukina no matter what the danger turned out to be.

Chiba abandoned his first attempt at a powerful new Ninjutsu after realizing he might be able to develop an S-rank Water Style technique associated with the Second Hokage. As evening fell, he turned from training to repair the leaky, makeshift shower room so Yukina could use it safely.

• Chiba failed to combine Shape Transformation and Nature Transformation into his new technique and decided to keep experimenting.
• Chiba recalled that his idea resembled an S-rank Water Style Ninjutsu developed by the Second Hokage, though he could not remember its name or details.
• Chiba noticed the sunset and hurried into the woods with an axe to gather lumber.
• Yukina returned with ingredients and asked Chiba why he was heading into the woods, and he said he needed wood.
• Chiba returned with lumber and told Yukina he planned to repair the shower room, then asked her to bring the toolbox.
• Yukina brought the toolbox, and Chiba began hammering boards behind the cabin.

Chiba injured his finger while finishing the bathroom and let Yukina bandage it, then ate the meal she had cooked. He concealed how terrible the food tasted and went to the kitchen to cook for Yukina, deciding he should handle the cooking from then on.

• Chiba struck his left hand with a hammer while distracted by the smell of dinner, and Yukina bandaged his cut finger.
• Yukina blushed when she found herself close to Chiba, but Chiba asked if they could eat.
• Chiba praised Yukina's cooking and ate every dish while Yukina watched happily without taking any food herself.
• Chiba apologized for eating everything and went to the kitchen to cook a meal for Yukina.
• Chiba endured the meal's bitter flavors and decided he should do the cooking in the future.

After Kushina’s brutal training left Chiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina exhausted, Kushina hurried away and the three went to eat before returning to their separate training. Hirohiko then told Chiba that Hyuga Shinsuke had stopped his investigation with a single word, “enough,” leaving Chiba to suspect the matter ran deep.

• Anbu discussed Chiba’s simplified hand seals and exceptional talent, then resumed guarding Kushina after an elderly Anbu warned them to focus on their duties.
• Chiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina recovered from training as Kushina hurried away and the Anbu departed.
• The three friends went to Ichiraku Ramen, then separated to train on their own.
• Hirohiko visited Chiba and said he had found no information because Hyuga Shinsuke had stopped him from seeing Snow Eagle and told him, “enough.”
• Chiba grew troubled by Shinsuke’s unusual refusal and suspected the matter ran deep.

Chiba concluded that Hyuga Shinsuke's message was for him to stop investigating and protect Yukina by keeping her close, so he told Hirohiko to end his inquiries. Though Hirohiko agreed, Chiba remained troubled by why Shinsuke had sent Yukina away and what had happened within the Hyuga Clan.

• Chiba decided that Hyuga Shinsuke's warning meant he should stop investigating Hyuga Yukyō and keep Yukina safe by staying close to her.
• Chiba explained his reasoning to Hirohiko, including that Shinsuke likely trusted him to protect Yukina and would handle the matter himself.
• Hirohiko asked whether keeping Yukina at his house and having her train with Teacher Kushina would be enough, and Chiba confirmed it.
• Hirohiko agreed to follow Chiba's plan, while Chiba continued to wonder why Shinsuke had sent Yukina away and what had happened inside the Hyuga Clan.

Chiba reflected on the limits of Gate of Pain Mode and continued developing a new technique when Kinoi Kento arrived to say goodbye before leaving for the front lines. Chiba accepted Kento’s decision to go and challenged him to a spar before he departed.

• Chiba considered how to fight after Gate of Pain Mode ran out and tried to identify why his new technique kept failing.
• Kinoi Kento visited Chiba and said he was leaving the next day to stand guard at the front lines.
• Chiba questioned why Kento had been assigned there, but Kento explained that he had volunteered to defend his hometown despite losing his right arm.
• Kento said his left-handed swordsmanship had made him stronger, and Chiba realized he could not dissuade him from going.
• Chiba challenged Kento to spar, and Kento agreed as they prepared to fight.

Chiba sparred with Kinoi Kento and recognized how powerful Kento’s Sparrow Flash had become. Kento left for the front lines after promising Chiba he would survive and teach him swordsmanship when he returned.

• Kinoi Kento’s Sparrow Flash cut Chiba’s kunai, but Chiba evaded the strike and Kento conceded that he had lost.
• Chiba praised Kento’s swordsmanship and realized his strength was close to a Jonin’s, easing his worries about Kento going to the front lines.
• Kinoi Kento explained that he had seen Chiba preparing ninjutsu and believed Chiba could counter Sparrow Return, so Chiba called their match a draw.
• Kinoi Kento told Chiba he would stay alive and hoped to earn achievements with him on the battlefield.
• Chiba asked Kinoi Kento to teach him swordsmanship when he returned, and they promised to meet again before Kento left for the forest.

Chiba enjoyed a peaceful training routine until he woke on June 9, forgot that he and Yukina had three days off, and was persuaded to go find Kushina. After Chiba adjusted Yukina’s collar, she panicked, activated her Byakugan, and struck him with a Gentle Fist, leaving him collapsed on the floor.

• Chiba settled into a regular routine of training with Kushina and studying, while secretly keeping watch over Yukina with Hirohiko.
• Chiba woke at 9:30 a.m. on June 9, thought he was late for training, and remembered that Kushina had given them three days off.
• Yukina reminded Chiba that Kushina had told them to meet her on the first day of the break, and insisted he get ready instead of going back to sleep.
• Chiba pulled Yukina’s slipping collar back over her shoulder, causing her to freeze and blush as she worried he had seen too much.
• When Chiba returned from washing up, Yukina activated her Byakugan, struck him with a full-strength Gentle Fist, and called him an idiot.

After being defeated by Yukina, Chiba worried that the Naruto world's history might differ from the original story, making his plans to save Kushina and the others unreliable. Yukina helped him regain his resolve and reminded him to meet Kushina at the Uchiha Clan compound.

• Chiba wondered why Yukina's extraordinary Gentle Fist talent had never appeared in the original story and considered that this world's history might differ from it.
• Chiba feared that his plans to save Kushina and the others could fail if their fates differed from the original timeline.
• Chiba sat against the wall, overwhelmed by uncertainty about the coming Kannabi Bridge Battle and his ability to change anyone's fate.
• Yukina reminded Chiba that Kushina had asked them to meet at the Uchiha Clan compound and offered him her hand.
• Chiba took Yukina's hand, smiled, and agreed to go with her.

On the way back to the village, Chiba developed an idea for combining Hard Style and Soft Style taijutsu and asked Yukina to spar with him. Before they could discuss it, Hirohiko arrived with an urgent request at the Uchiha compound, where a midwife had fainted during Itachi's birth.

• Yukina reflected on how safe Chiba's warmth made her feel, while Chiba struggled to walk after her Pressure Point Strike.
• Chiba realized Hard Style and Soft Style were not incompatible categories and asked Yukina to spar with him regularly.
• Hirohiko collided with Chiba and told Yukina that the midwife had fainted and the situation was serious.
• Chiba recognized the Uchiha compound and realized that Uchiha Itachi was being born on June ninth.
• Hirohiko pulled Chiba toward the residence to examine the midwife, and Chiba clarified that he did not know how to deliver a baby.

Mikoto safely gave birth to Itachi, and Kushina introduced the newborn to Yukina and Hirohiko. The chapter ended with Yukina preparing to bring Itachi to the unconscious Chiba while Mikoto reflected on how fearsome Kushina was with her students.

• Kushina delivered Mikoto's newborn son and placed him beside her, where Mikoto named him Itachi.
• Mikoto asked Kushina to let Hirohiko and Yukina meet the baby, and Kushina allowed them to approach.
• Yukina held Itachi while Hirohiko stepped back, afraid he might hurt the newborn.
• Mikoto asked Yukina to bring Itachi to Chiba, who had fainted after delivering the baby and cutting the umbilical cord.
• Yukina hesitated at Kushina's displeasure, but Mikoto encouraged her to go ahead.

After helping Mikoto Uchiha deliver Itachi, Chiba fainted from exhaustion and woke to find the baby safe. Though terrified of holding him, Chiba took Itachi in his arms, and the baby stopped crying and smiled at him.

• Chiba woke after fainting for half an hour and learned that Mikoto Uchiha and Itachi were safe.
• Yukina brought Itachi to Chiba, and Mikoto Uchiha asked him to hold the baby.
• Itachi reached for Chiba, and Yukina and Kushina urged Chiba to take him.
• Itachi began crying, so Chiba nervously took him from Yukina.
• Itachi stopped crying, clutched Chiba's clothes, and smiled at him.