Chapter Summaries

Chiba’s offer to take Chiaki to Konoha frightened her, and she hid under the bed and cried. Yukina woke and tried to comfort Chiaki, but the girl began crying again, leaving the reason for her fear unexplained.

• When Chiba asked Chiaki to come with them, she hid beneath the bed and repeatedly cried, “Don’t!”
• Chiaki burst into tears, and Chiba and Hirohiko panicked as they realized she seemed terrified rather than simply unwilling to leave.
• Chiba recalled that Chiaki had sheltered and fed him, Hirohiko, and Yukina while he was gravely wounded, and he worried that they had touched a painful memory.
• Yukina woke up and joined Chiba and Hirohiko in trying to understand Chiaki’s reaction.
• Chiaki lifted her tear-streaked face when she heard Yukina, but she started crying again after Yukina opened her arms and reassured her.

Chiba, Yukina, and Hirohiko debated what to do about Chiaki, who refused to leave the war-torn house because she was waiting for her parents. Chiba rejected taking her away by force and proposed finding a way to improve her situation while they recovered nearby.

• Yukina comforted Chiaki until the girl fell asleep, while Chiba and Hirohiko watched the worsening rain and worried about her.
• Chiba estimated that Chiaki's father had likely died in the fighting and that her mother was dead or had been taken away.
• Yukina and Hirohiko suggested taking Chiaki back to the village, but Chiba said the group needed time to recover and Chiaki would resist or run back.
• Chiba concluded that they had to leave Chiaki in the house for now, but said they could use a method within their power to change her situation.

Chiba proposed teaching Chiaki ninjutsu and wilderness survival so she could protect and feed herself while they returned to the village with the Defense Map. Yukina warned that teaching an outsider ninjutsu violated village rules, but the three agreed to teach Chiaki anyway, then turned their attention to their pork soup.

• Chiba proposed teaching Chiaki Chakra, ninjutsu, and wilderness survival skills so she could survive until they returned for her.
• Yukina warned that privately teaching ninjutsu to an outsider could bring severe punishment, but Chiba argued there was no better way to help Chiaki.
• Hirohiko and Yukina fell silent, then agreed with Chiba that they would teach Chiaki the skills she needed once they could eat.
• Chiba, Yukina, and Hirohiko grew impatient as the pork soup cooked, and Hirohiko suggested tasting the meat.
• Chiba and Yukina handed Hirohiko a piece of undercooked pork and made him try it.

Chiba and Hirohiko began planning Chiaki’s training while recovering at their shelter, and Chiba discovered his injuries still hurt when he moved carelessly. He persuaded Chiaki to learn ninjutsu so she could protect herself while waiting for her father, and began preparing a simple explanation of Chakra refinement.

• Hirohiko reported that the shelter had remained quiet overnight, and Chiba told him to rest before teaching Chiaki wilderness survival and shurikenjutsu.
• Chiba wondered why he felt energetic and pain-free, then hurt his shoulder when he moved his injured arm.
• Yukina and Chiaki approached, and Chiba reassured Chiaki that they would stay rather than leave.
• Chiba offered to teach Chiaki ninjutsu so she could protect herself and make her father proud, and Chiaki eagerly agreed.
• Yukina led Chiaki to eat, while Chiba considered how to explain Chakra refinement simply.

Chiba explained Chakra training to Chiaki while Yukina fed him, and Chiaki quickly demonstrated an unexpected ability to focus and refine spiritual energy. Chiba realized she might master Chakra before they leave.

• Chiba checked that Chiaki remembered his explanation of Chakra, and she correctly described it as a mixture of physical and spiritual energy.
• Yukina fed Chiba meat because his injuries kept him from using his hands, while Chiaki ate her meal and privately wondered if Chiba and Yukina would have a baby.
• Chiba told Chiaki to begin Chakra training after she finished eating.
• Chiaki formed the gathering seal, placed a pebble on her head, and immediately entered a focused state to refine spiritual energy.
• Chiba and Yukina exchanged astonished looks, and Chiba told Yukina that Chiaki might master Chakra before they left.

Chiba watched Chiaki enter a remarkable state of stillness while practicing Chakra extraction, then began trying to break the seal on Iwa's Defense Map. He hoped to copy the map and use it to end the Third Great Ninja War, though Kumogakure and Iwa could discover their hideout at any moment.

• Chiaki quickly entered a deep state of stillness, surprising Chiba and Yukina.
• Chiba asked Yukina to teach Chiaki hand seals and the Three Body Techniques once she could extract Chakra.
• Chiba examined the Defense Map and removed the part of its seal he had added to protect it from Kumogakure.
• Yukina activated her Byakugan and watched over the area while Chiba studied the remaining seal.
• Chiba resolved to decode and copy the Defense Map so he could use it to end the war and help them escape notice.

Chiaki became frustrated when she could not extract physical energy, but Chiba realized her body was weak from not eating properly. He told her to eat regular meals and begin taijutsu training before resuming Chakra extraction, leaving Chiaki determined to follow his advice.

• Chiaki sulked in the rain after failing to extract physical energy, and Yukina tried to comfort her.
• Chiaki admitted to Chiba that she feared she was too stupid to extract physical energy despite trying hard.
• Chiba realized Chiaki was physically depleted from eating poorly and explained that her cells lacked energy.
• Chiba told Chiaki to eat three proper meals a day and start taijutsu training, putting Chakra extraction on hold.
• Chiaki eagerly agreed to eat properly, and she and Chiba went inside to prepare lunch as Yukina followed.

Chiaki began physical training under Chiba’s guidance, showing determination despite her weak body. Chiba planned a gradual training and nutrition program for her, while deciding that he could only teach her the Eight Gates after the war and with the Third Hokage’s approval.

• Chiaki struggled through her first push-up, then insisted on continuing when Yukina tried to stop her.
• Yukina recognized Chiaki’s determination as similar to Chiba’s, while Chiba regretted that he could not teach her the Eight Gates yet.
• Chiba considered Chiaki’s weak physical condition and decided her training needed to be carefully tailored rather than as strenuous as his own.
• Chiaki managed a second push-up before collapsing, and Chiba assigned her two push-ups per set for five sets, followed by squats.
• Chiba asked Yukina to help plan Chiaki’s meals, and they began discussing her nutrition while Chiaki continued exercising.

Hirohiko woke to find Chiaki training and learned that Chiba and Yukina had prepared nutritional meal plans to strengthen her frail body. He set out to scout for ingredients at night while Chiaki finished her exhausting push-ups, and the chapter ended with her ready to begin proper training the next morning.

• Hirohiko woke and saw Chiaki struggling through push-ups as Chiba and Yukina discussed her training.
• Yukina gave Hirohiko a scroll of meal plans, and he agreed to find the listed ingredients.
• Hirohiko left to search and scout the area, telling Yukina to stay and look after Chiba.
• Hirohiko privately worried that Chiba was oblivious to his feelings for Yukina, while Chiba suspected Hirohiko was plotting revenge.
• Chiaki completed her fifth set of push-ups, collapsed from exhaustion, and agreed to begin real training the next morning.

Chiba discovered that his left hand had healed enough to use and immediately resumed copying the Sealing Jutsu Formula. As Yukina and Hirohiko cared for Chiaki and began her training, the group settled into another peaceful day indoors while the rain fell outside.

• Chiaki woke groggily, bumped into a wall, and was caught by Hirohiko just before she reached the campfire.
• Chiba realized his puncture wound had healed and hurried to the table to copy the Sealing Jutsu Formula onto scrolls.
• Yukina washed and fed Chiaki while Hirohiko prepared pork, mushroom, and vegetable soup.
• Chiaki began her assigned taijutsu training, and Yukina activated her Byakugan to keep watch.

Chiba struggled to find an efficient way to test combinations for a sealing-release formula until Yukina’s remark inspired him to use Shadow Clone Jutsu for the experiments. He chose to rest and recover before beginning the new approach the next day, determined to help his companions escape the war.

• Chiba spent the day testing possible sealing-release formulas but made little progress, and Yukina brought him soup and asked if she could help.
• Yukina mentioned that it would be good if someone could help Chiba, prompting him to realize Shadow Clone Jutsu could let him run experiments more efficiently.
• Chiba decided to rest for the night and start using Shadow Clones for research the next day while continuing to recover from his injuries.
• Hirohiko and Chiaki returned from practicing wilderness survival, and Chiaki imitated Hirohiko before collapsing with exhaustion and asking for food.
• The group gathered to eat, while Chiba resolved to protect them and help them escape the war.

Chiba planned to use two Shadow Clones to help break the seal while carefully managing the physical risks. As Chiba and the clones began their work, Hirohiko rejected the idea of awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan through killing a friend, and Chiaki watched Chiba in awe.

• Chiba woke early and learned from Hirohiko that Chiaki was progressing quickly in wilderness survival training.
• Chiba considered how to divide the seal-breaking research among Shadow Clones and limited himself to creating two because of the strain on his body.
• Hirohiko reflected on the mission and considered awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, but rejected gaining power by killing his closest friend.
• After breakfast, Chiba created two Shadow Clones and assigned them to test different unsealing combinations.
• Chiaki watched the three Chibas organize their work, decided Chiba was cool, and returned to her training.

Chiba and his Shadow Clones debated how to break the Iwa security Sealing Jutsu Formula while his exhausting research worried Yukina and Hirohiko. The chapter ended with Chiaki surprising Yukina by forming hand seals and producing a puff of white smoke.

• Chiba’s Shadow Clones argued over whether to target a suspected trap formula or sever the connecting formulas, while another urged them to test their ideas directly.
• Chiba told the clones to stop arguing and work, then continued calculating Sealing Jutsu Formulas despite his fatigue.
• Yukina and Hirohiko worried about Chiba’s declining condition and made nourishing venison soup for him.
• Chiaki called Yukina’s attention, formed the Ram, Snake, and Tiger hand seals, and caused a cloud of white smoke to appear beside her.

Chiaki mastered the Clone Technique after accidentally using it while practicing hand seals, and Yukina realized she was unusually gifted at extracting Chakra. Chiba successfully copied the unsealing formula from the Defense Map, while Chiaki watched his celebration in silence.

• Chiaki demonstrated a nearly flawless Clone Technique, surprising Yukina with how quickly she had learned it.
• Chiaki explained that she had used the technique by accident while practicing hand seals, and Yukina praised her as a natural ninja.
• Chiaki asked why her clones could not talk or last like Chiba's, and Yukina explained the difference between the Clone Technique and Shadow Clone Jutsu.
• Chiaki resolved to train until she had enough Chakra to learn the Shadow Clone Jutsu.
• Chiba's Shadow Clone removed the Sealing Jutsu Formula from the Defense Map, and its memories returned to Chiba with the unsealing formula.
• Yukina congratulated Chiba, while Chiaki stared blankly at them and let her clenched hands fall.

Chiba successfully unsealed two copied Sealing Jutsu Formulas, confirming he had found a way to undo the Defense Map’s seal. When he tried the technique on the map itself, the three friends saw a result that left them in disbelief.

• Hirohiko woke and asked Chiba whether he had unsealed the Defense Map.
• Chiba tested his Unsealing Jutsu Formula on two copied scrolls, and both seals disappeared.
• Chiba placed the Defense Map on the table and prepared to unseal its formula while Yukina and Hirohiko watched.
• Chiba applied the formula to the Defense Map, but the result shocked all three of them.

Chiba, Yukina, and Hirohiko discovered that the Defense Map was blank, and Chiba collapsed after reacting furiously. They decided to return to the village, but then realized Chiaki had disappeared.

• Chiba, Yukina, and Hirohiko unsealed the Defense Map and found it completely blank.
• Chiba coughed blood and collapsed, but Yukina and Hirohiko caught him and helped him stand.
• Chiba confirmed the unsealing had succeeded and warned that the blank scroll could be a conspiracy or contain invisible writing.
• Chiba said they should return to the village quickly to report the scroll, and Hirohiko agreed.
• Yukina noticed Chiaki was missing, and Chiba and Hirohiko hurriedly searched the empty space where she had been.

Chiba, Yukina, and Hirohiko searched the ruins for Chiaki, fearing she was in danger and worrying about how she would take their eventual departure. After hours without finding her, they returned to the house and were startled when Chiaki emerged from inside, coughing and covered in soot.

• Chiba searched the ruins while thinking about Chiaki’s hardship and resolving to reassure her that they would return after the war.
• Hirohiko and Yukina searched the surrounding ruins and countryside but found no sign of Chiaki.
• As night approached, Chiba suggested they search places where Chiaki might sleep after dark, and Yukina and Hirohiko agreed.
• Chiba, Yukina, and Hirohiko returned to the house and saw Chiaki rush out, soot-covered and coughing.
• Chiaki recognized them, smiled joyfully, and greeted Big Brother Chiba, Big Sister Yukina, and Big Brother Hirohiko.

After finding Chiaki safe, Chiba and Hirohiko discovered that the smoke came from her badly burnt meat soup rather than a fire. Chiaki revealed she had gone to pick pears for them to celebrate Chiba’s success, leaving the group touched by her thoughtfulness.

• Yukina found Chiaki outside the smoky house and hugged her while Chiba and Hirohiko rushed inside.
• Chiba and Hirohiko discovered that Chiaki’s meat soup had burned and filled the house with smoke.
• Chiba asked Chiaki where she had gone during the search, and she fetched three pears from beneath the bed.
• Chiaki said she had picked the pears to celebrate Chiba’s success, moving Chiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina.

Chiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina prepared Chiaki for life on her own in the ruins while teaching her practical skills and passing on scrolls and an escape plan. The chapter ended with Chiaki resolved to stay behind as the three prepared to return to the village that night.

• Chiba woke with no memory of what happened after he ate the previous night's meat soup, while Yukina taught Chiaki to sew clothes from animal hides and Hirohiko repaired the roof.
• Chiba wrote through the day as the group ate together, and Hirohiko took Chiaki by the hand and taught her a technique on their walk.
• Chiba gave Chiaki six scrolls covering basic ninjutsu, chakra transformations, and Shadow Clone Jutsu, warning her to use the latter cautiously.
• Chiba reviewed the hidden escape tunnel and its trap with Chiaki and confirmed that she had decided to stay behind.
• Chiba said they would return to see Chiaki, then joined Hirohiko and Yukina as they prepared to leave for the village that night.

Chiaki tried to follow the training and survival instructions Chiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina had left her, but broke down crying after they departed. A hooded figure with blood-red eyes appeared behind her, and one of her scrolls caught fire.

• Chiaki watched Chiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina leave, then reviewed the training and household tasks they had assigned her.
• She remembered the supplies and instructions they had left, including the ninja tools, hidden tunnel, and wilderness survival lessons.
• Chiaki passed the campfire and imagined the three of them sitting there with her, then cried over their departure.
• A voice called Chiaki from behind, and she turned, thinking Chiba had returned.
• Chiaki saw a hooded figure whose red eyes shifted into a strange pattern, dropped the scrolls, and watched one roll into the fire.