Chapter Summaries

Chiba, Yukina, and Hirohiko left Chiaki behind in the ruins and hurried back toward Konoha with the Defense Map, knowing their pursuers could endanger her if they stayed. They promised themselves they would return for Chiaki after the war.

• Chiba watched Chiaki wave from her doorway until she went back inside, then told Yukina and Hirohiko she had returned to the house.
• Yukina asked Chiba to stay another day so they could help protect Chiaki, whose house had no door.
• Chiba refused, explaining that Iwa and Kumogakure could pursue them for the Defense Map and might use Chiaki as leverage if they found her with them.
• Chiba set off toward Konoha, and Hirohiko and Yukina followed after agreeing they would return for Chiaki when the war was over.

Chiba realized that Iwagakure had made the blank Defense Map and encirclement part of a conspiracy to draw Konoha and Kumogakure into a trap and win the war. Before he could explain his deduction to Hirohiko and Yukina, Chiaki's cabin exploded.

• Chiba hurried through the woods, suspecting Iwagakure had sacrificed its own force and commander to conceal a larger plan.
• Hirohiko and Yukina followed Chiba and worried that the mission and their comrades' safety were slipping beyond his control.
• Chiba deduced that Iwagakure intended to use the encirclement to trap Konoha and Kumogakure and secure victory in the war.
• Chiba turned to explain his conclusion, but an explosion erupted at Chiaki's cabin, leaving him and his companions shocked.

Chiba raced back toward the ruins after realizing Iwagakure’s scheme was designed to trap and weaken Konoha and Kumogakure. An explosion suggested Chiaki had encountered Iwagakure ninja, and Chiba, Yukina, and Hirohiko rushed toward the smoke and flames.

• Chiba concluded that Iwagakure had sacrificed an elite force to lure Konoha and Kumogakure into a deadly encirclement, likely under Ōnoki’s orders.
• Chiba reasoned that Iwagakure might either abandon the scheme and kill as many trapped enemies as possible or recover the Defense Map and continue the plan.
• Chiba feared Chiaki had triggered the ninjutsu Hirohiko had placed in her sealing mechanism after encountering Iwagakure ninja.
• Chiba emerged from the forest and recognized the ruins ahead with an unsettling sense of familiarity.
• Yukina and Hirohiko followed Chiba as the three hurried toward the smoke and flames.

An Iwagakure search team found a bound little girl beside a burning house after a mysterious Akatsuki ninja handed her over. As the captain prepared to interrogate her, the team sensed a furious presence behind them.

• Five Iwagakure Ninja inspected the burning house and discussed how an Akatsuki ninja had given them the girl before fleeing.
• The Iwagakure captain suspected the Akatsuki ninja’s offer was part of a conspiracy, but his companion urged him to focus on finding Taki Chiba and the others.
• The captain approached the bound girl with a kunai and threatened to torture her for information.
• The captain froze as he sensed a terrifying presence behind him, and the other Iwagakure Ninja shouted a warning.

Chiba used a series of clones and Earth Release to defeat the Iwa captain, who had mistaken his Water Clone for the real boy. The captain died under Chiba’s counterattack, leaving the four remaining Iwa shinobi stunned.

• Chiba appeared behind the Iwa captain and stabbed him through the back, but the captain revealed himself to be an Earth Clone.
• The real captain attacked Chiba from behind and slashed through what appeared to be his neck, only to discover it was a Water Clone.
• Chiba formed three spinning water arrows from the clone and prepared to strike the captain.
• The captain tried to dodge, but hands emerging from the ground seized his ankles with Earth Release, Headhunter Jutsu.
• Chiba’s three water arrows struck the captain, killing him and leaving the four other Iwa shinobi staring in disbelief.

Taki Chiba killed the Iwa captain with a carefully prepared combination of ninjutsu, then ambushed and killed three more Iwa ninjas. He left the last two attackers impaled on Rock Spikes as they lunged at him.

• The skinny Iwa ninja realized Taki Chiba had planned the captain’s death with a Water Clone, a Water Arrow Technique, and Earth Style.
• The skinny Iwa ninja recognized Chiba and warned his companions that the enemy was still present.
• Chiba used a Shadow Clone as a distraction, then slammed the skinny Iwa ninja and the companion beside him into the ground, killing them.
• The remaining two Iwa ninjas attacked Chiba from both sides as he landed.
• Rock Spikes pierced the two attackers from below, and Chiba repeated that it was too late.

Chiba killed the remaining Iwa shinobi with a carefully prepared trap, then discovered Chiaki was unconscious despite showing no ordinary signs of injury. Yukina examined Chiaki with her Byakugan and reacted with shock and fury, leaving the cause of Chiaki’s condition unknown.

• Chiba’s Rock Spikes killed the two Iwa shinobi, who realized he had controlled the battle from the beginning.
• Chiba noticed that his previously fractured right hand had healed without pain.
• Yukina brought the unresponsive Chiaki to Chiba and warned him that she seemed seriously ill.
• Chiba examined Chiaki and found her body healthy, with no wounds or internal injuries.
• Chiba asked Yukina to use her Byakugan, and she reacted with shock, fury, and disbelief at what she saw.

Chiba and Yukina discovered that Chiaki was suffering from an unusually powerful genjutsu, and Chiba tried to release her from it. The attempt failed, leaving Chiba with an ominous sense that the unseen caster was still watching them.

• Yukina told Chiba that Chiaki's Chakra was more chaotic than Kushina's had been during Root's genjutsu interrogations.
• Chiba searched the area with his enhanced senses but found no one, while Yukina confirmed that no one else was nearby and Hirohiko was returning.
• Chiba placed a hand on Chiaki's forehead and performed a genjutsu release, briefly disrupting her chaotic Chakra flow.
• Yukina warned Chiba that Chiaki's genjutsu had not been dispelled, and Chiaki remained unconscious.
• Chiba decided that they would try to dispel the genjutsu together as he sensed an unseen presence watching Chiaki from a distant direction.

Chiba and Yukina struggled to wake Chiaki from a powerful genjutsu even after her Chakra returned to normal. When Hirohiko examined her with his Sharingan, he recognized the genjutsu’s source and collapsed in terror.

• Chiba and Yukina found Chiaki still trapped in an illusion despite her Chakra calming down.
• Chiba stabbed Chiaki’s hand with a kunai to use pain to wake her, but she remained unconscious.
• Hirohiko returned from the safe location and examined Chiaki with his Three Tomoe Sharingan.
• Hirohiko saw no sign of genjutsu in Chiaki’s Chakra flow, then reacted with horror after hearing what Chiba and Yukina had tried.
• Hirohiko collapsed and realized that only one person could have used this kind of genjutsu.

Hirohiko recognized the genjutsu affecting Chiaki and was overwhelmed by memories of his own trauma, but Chiba and Yukina brought him back. Reassured by his friends, Hirohiko tried to use his Three Tomoe Sharingan to release Chiaki from the genjutsu.

• As Chiba turned to Chiaki, he accidentally dropped his Kunai and cut her hand, so he used healing chakra to close the wound.
• Hirohiko recognized the genjutsu and fell into a panicked state as memories of past torment overwhelmed him.
• Chiba slapped Hirohiko and called to him until he broke free of the darkness and regained his senses.
• Hirohiko said he knew the genjutsu and could try to counter it, then accepted Chiba and Yukina's help to stand.
• Hirohiko stared into Chiaki's eyes as his Three Tomoe spun, blood ran from his eye, and he attempted to release the genjutsu.

Chiba deduced that the powerful genjutsu haunting Hirohiko may have been cast by an Uchiha, but chose not to question him about his trauma. Hirohiko’s ocular power helped break Chiaki’s genjutsu, though she remained terrified and fled before Chiba and Yukina comforted her.

• Chiba reasoned that an Uchiha had likely cast the genjutsu on Hirohiko and wondered whether the culprit was Hirohiko’s estranged older brother, but decided not to ask him about it.
• Hirohiko’s ocular power caused Chiaki’s eyes to open, and the genjutsu broke as he suffered a backlash and covered his eye.
• Chiaki ran toward the ruins, sobbing that her family and friends would not die and that what she was seeing was only a dream.
• Chiaki fell and insisted that it did not hurt, while Chiba and Yukina approached her and listened to her repeat the words.
• Yukina gently reassured Chiaki, who refused to believe her and kept her face buried in the dirt; Chiba and Yukina felt relieved that she was safe.

Chiaki resisted the Uchiha’s genjutsu by treating its horrors as a scary game, and Chiba realized her resilience was exceptional. After cautiously checking that her friends were unharmed, she understood she had escaped and broke down crying as they welcomed her back.

• Chiba, Yukina, and Hirohiko watched Chiaki resist the genjutsu and saw her fear gradually give way to adaptation.
• Chiaki decided the terrifying figures were monsters trying to trick her and kept her face turned away from them.
• After the illusions and voices fell silent, Chiaki cautiously peeked at Chiba and Yukina and saw that they were unharmed.
• Chiba told Chiaki she had escaped, and she looked around at him, Yukina, and Hirohiko without seeing the frightening visions return.
• Chiba, Yukina, and Hirohiko comforted Chiaki, who finally burst into tears.

Chiba worried that the war was moving toward the Kannabi Bridge Battle and that the mysterious Uchiha’s powerful genjutsu made him a dangerous enemy. After Chiaki recovered, Chiba planned to return to the village and report what had happened, then realized there was a ninjutsu he needed to ask about.

• Chiba considered how the war’s escalation pointed toward the Kannabi Bridge Battle and feared history might be impossible to change.
• Chiba worried that the mysterious Uchiha who had trapped Chiaki in genjutsu possessed a powerful Mangekyō Sharingan ability.
• Chiaki pulled Chiba’s ears to confirm she was awake, then explained that Yukina had told her the illusions were genjutsu.
• Yukina told Chiaki to eat, and Chiaki let go of Chiba’s ears before joining Hirohiko for food.
• Chiba told Yukina they needed to bring Chiaki back to the village and check Hirohiko’s injured eye, then began planning to report the incident.
• Chiba suddenly remembered a ninjutsu he needed to ask about.

Chiba considered how to warn Konoha about the Defense Map, then realized Hirohiko was hiding something about his eye and his brother. After deciding Chiaki should leave the burned and unsafe house, Chiba invited her to visit Konoha.

• Chiba asked Hirohiko whether he knew the Summoning Jutsu as a way to send the Defense Map back to Konoha, but Hirohiko said he did not.
• Chiba questioned Hirohiko about his eye, and Hirohiko revealed a Three Tomoe Sharingan before telling Chiba he was fine.
• Chiba concluded that the mysterious Uchiha was Hirohiko's brother and decided to trust Hirohiko while keeping Chiaki from staying in the unsafe area.
• Chiba sat with Chiaki and invited her to come to Konoha as their guest.

Chiba tried to persuade Chiaki to go to Konoha by explaining that it would be a visit, but she refused until he warned that her father could be captured or put under genjutsu by Iwa. Chiaki then agreed to return with Chiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina.

• Chiba asked Chiaki to visit Konoha, and she asked what visiting meant.
• Chiba explained that they would go to Konoha to play and then return, but Chiaki refused.
• Chiba told Chiaki that the ruins were unsafe and that Iwa had targeted her to learn about them.
• Chiba warned that Iwa could capture or put Chiaki's father under genjutsu if he returned.
• Chiaki thanked Chiba and firmly agreed to go back with them.

Chiba persuaded Chiaki to leave the burned house and go to Konoha, while preserving her hope that her father might return. The group prepared to head back to the village, leaving signs so Chiaki’s father could find her.

• Chiaki agreed to leave with Chiba because she feared her presence would put him in danger.
• Chiba asked whether Chiaki had arranged a meeting place with her father, and she explained their plan to leave a coded mark on the doorframe.
• After seeing that the house had burned down, Chiba carved Chiaki’s code and Konoha’s symbol into the remaining doorframe so her father could find her.
• Yukina comforted Chiaki, who brightened at the thought of waiting safely in Konoha for her father.
• Chiba decided that the group would return to the village.

Chiba and his companions prepared to leave the ruins and return to Konoha with Chiaki and the Defense Map, but Chiaki suddenly turned pale and backed away. The chapter ended before they learned what had frightened her.

• Yukina packed the remaining smoked venison while Chiaki asked about it and tried a small piece.
• Chiba restored the code and Konoha symbol on the burned house, then explained a damaged Exploding Tag Chiaki had found near the graves.
• Chiaki demonstrated the Chakra technique Hirohiko had taught her, and Chiba told Hirohiko to seek his help if he needed it.
• Chiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina finished breakfast and prepared to return to the village with Chiaki and the Defense Map.
• As the group was about to leave, Chiba noticed Chiaki had gone pale and was backing away with a blank stare.

Chiaki was struck by a genjutsu that convinced her she would get Chiba, Yukina, and Hirohiko killed, while black curse marks and Black Flames erupted from her body. She fled into the burned-out hut, where a pillar of Black Flames rose into the sky.

• A hooded figure used the Sharingan to implant something in Chiaki and prepare a genjutsu aimed at his little brother.
• Chiaki snapped out of a daze, then suffered chest pain as black curse marks spread across her body.
• Chiba tried to approach and examine Chiaki, but she backed away, convinced a dangerous force would kill her friends.
• Black Flames ignited on Chiaki's shoulders, and she slipped past Hirohiko and Yukina into the burned-out hut.
• Chiaki's friends heard her thank them and say she liked them all the most before a pillar of Black Flames burst from the hut.

A hooded man watched events unfold and resolved to reshape Uchiha Hirohiko, while Chiba struggled to keep Hirohiko and Yukina from rushing into the Amaterasu consuming the cabin. When the flames faded, the three entered and found that Chiaki was alive, leaving Chiba laughing in relief.

• A black-robed man activated strange patterns in both eyes and decided it was time to change Uchiha Hirohiko into someone who valued power above friendship.
• Chiba restrained Hirohiko and Yukina as they tried to reach Chiaki inside the pillar of Amaterasu, fearing the flames would kill them too.
• Chiba’s grief and hatred erupted as he imagined the life Chiaki should have had and vowed to kill whoever caused her suffering.
• Rain began as the pillar of flames dissipated, and Chiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina rushed into the cabin hoping Chiaki had survived.
• Chiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina froze at the sight inside, then Chiba laughed and declared that Chiaki was not dead.

Chiba reasoned that Chiaki had survived the Black Flames and asked Yukina to search for her with the Byakugan. Yukina activated it, then reacted with alarm.

• Chiba told Hirohiko and Yukina that Chiaki was not dead, arguing the flames could not have burned her away completely.
• Chiba pointed out that the Black Flames appeared to have been blasted outward from the center of the house.
• Chiba concluded that Chiaki had scattered the flames and must still be alive.
• Hirohiko and Yukina agreed, then asked where Chiaki had gone.
• Chiba told Yukina to search with her Byakugan, and Yukina's expression changed as she activated it.