Chapter Summaries

Yukina returned from her first day in the Defense Force with intelligence about Watanabe Kenshin and the military, while Chiba worried about Kenshin’s state of mind ahead of the Annihilation Plan. After dodging Nao’s questions about Hirohiko’s visit to the Hyuga Clan, Chiba read Yukina’s report and was surprised by her apparent talent for intelligence work.

• Yukina gave Chiba a scroll containing Watanabe Kenshin’s decisions, the intelligence he reviewed, Defense Force changes, and reconnaissance reports.
• Chiba decided to keep a backup plan because he feared Kenshin’s lack of confidence could lead to trouble during the Annihilation Plan.
• After dinner, Nao teased Chiba about feeling sorry for Yukina, then asked when Hirohiko would return from the Hyuga Clan.
• Chiba concealed what he knew about Hirohiko’s investigation, and Nao went upstairs without pressing him further.
• Chiba opened Yukina’s intelligence scroll and was surprised by the quality of her work.

Chiba finished a detailed Annihilation Plan for Watanabe Kenshin’s operation and asked Hirohiko to help carry it out. He also presented a more effective medicine for Nao, then looked ahead to pursuing another idea once Kushina’s matter was resolved.

• Chiba completed the Annihilation Plan using intelligence summaries Yukina had organized.
• Hirohiko agreed to lie in ambush for Chiba, then read the plan and was stunned by how it seemed to direct the enemy’s actions.
• Chiba handed Hirohiko Yukina’s intelligence scrolls so he could study the plan’s details.
• Chiba gave Hirohiko two bottles of improved fruit-flavored medicine for Nao, which he hoped would stabilize her condition and buy more time.
• Chiba planned to focus on treating Nao after Kushina’s matter was over and to begin putting his next idea into practice.

Chiba continued training while monitoring Watanabe Kenshin’s execution of the Annihilation Plan, which remained within his expectations. While shopping for supplies with Yukina, he reassured her about the plan and suggested changing the search-team rotation before they were teased by the Defense Force guards.

• Chiba trained, refined his medicine, and used his nightly free hour to review his abilities and prepare for the approaching Kannabi Bridge Battle.
• Yukina brought Chiba daily intelligence about Watanabe Kenshin’s progress, convincing Chiba that the commander was handling the Annihilation Plan competently.
• Yukina questioned Chiba about the frequent search-team redeployments, and Chiba told her the situation was within his expectations.
• Yukina said she had given Watanabe Kenshin the plan five days earlier, and Chiba asked her to suggest rotating a new batch of searchers each day.
• Defense Force members teased Chiba and Yukina as a young couple, prompting Yukina to hurry home while Chiba followed her.

Watanabe Kenshin reflected on Lady Yukina’s exceptional work in the Defense Force and steadied himself against his anxiety over the Annihilation Plan. A messenger then announced that the long-sought enemy had appeared.

• Watanabe Kenshin reviewed the gathered intelligence and worried that the Annihilation Plan might fail after a month without finding the enemy.
• Lady Yukina delivered a scroll for Dun and gave Watanabe Kenshin the day’s intelligence and personnel records.
• Watanabe Kenshin recalled how Lady Yukina had disciplined the Defense Force and improved its records and staff rotations.
• Watanabe Kenshin reread Chiba’s advice to stay calm and trusted that he could make the plan succeed.
• A Defense Force ninja rushed in and shouted that the enemy had appeared.

Chiba removed his weighted gear and attempted to open the Fifth Gate, but Yukina's arrival forced him to stop after the strain hurt his internal organs. Yukina brought enemy intelligence and Watanabe Kenshin's defensive orders, then insisted on taking Chiba to the hospital.

• Chiba finished his 5,000-unit training and decided to test whether his body could withstand opening the Fifth Gate.
• Chiba began opening the Fifth Gate, but stopped when Yukina returned and called out to him.
• Yukina gave Chiba the enemy intelligence and reported that Watanabe Kenshin had recalled troops and strengthened the city's defenses.
• Chiba praised Watanabe Kenshin's choice and said the plan should secure the village within three days, while hiding his pain.
• Yukina noticed Chiba was unwell and dragged him toward the hospital despite his protests.

A wounded Kumogakure Jonin fled after Konoha’s Anbu wiped out his infiltration force, realizing Taki Chiba had anticipated their moves and lured them into an ambush. He escaped with a scroll containing a Forbidden Jutsu, but an Uchiha appeared to stop him.

• A middle-aged Kumogakure Jonin escaped the Anbu ambush that killed the other twenty members of his force.
• While fleeing, he realized Konoha had deliberately manipulated its patrols and defenses to lure the infiltrators into a trap planned around Taki Chiba.
• He vowed revenge on Taki Chiba but focused on delivering the Forbidden Jutsu scroll to the Third Raikage.
• An attacker appeared beside the wounded Jonin, and he recognized the Uchiha’s three-tomoe Sharingan as he faced despair.

Hirohiko killed a fleeing Kumogakure ninja and found a Konoha scroll that might offer him a way to grow stronger. As he read it, his hooded brother watched from the forest, only to realize that Hirohiko was a Shadow Clone and that Taki Chiba had anticipated his surveillance.

• Hirohiko watched the wounded Kumogakure ninja die after a kunai pierced his heart.
• Hirohiko searched the body and found a scroll bearing Konoha's design.
• Hirohiko struggled over whether reading the scroll would violate village rules, then opened it in hopes of gaining power.
• A hooded man with a Three Tomoe Sharingan watched Hirohiko and anticipated what his younger brother might do next.
• The hooded man recognized that the Hirohiko reading the scroll was a Shadow Clone and became wary of Taki Chiba.

Chiba sensed a sinister gaze and discovered he could detect fluctuations in the Sharingan’s ocular power. Watanabe Kenshin then warned that a Kumogakure ninja had escaped with a dangerous Konoha Forbidden Jutsu, but Hirohiko returned with the ninja intercepted.

• Chiba sensed someone watching him and suspected the gaze might come from the Hyuga or Uchiha Clan.
• Chiba recognized the ominous sensation as fluctuations in the Sharingan’s ocular power and realized he had an undeveloped sensory ability.
• Watanabe Kenshin rushed out and told Chiba that a Kumogakure ninja had escaped with a dangerous Konoha Forbidden Jutsu.
• Hirohiko returned, saying he had intercepted the escaped ninja and found something on him that seemed to belong to Konoha.

Chiba let Watanabe Kenshin take the Completion Plan and the Kumogakure ninja’s corpse, while asking him to credit Hirohiko instead. Watanabe reluctantly agreed and promised Chiba a favor, and Chiba returned to training.

• Chiba explained to Watanabe Kenshin that the cabin’s location lay near a weak point in Konoha’s defenses and had served as an escape route for past invaders.
• Hirohiko denied reading the scroll, and Chiba asked Watanabe Kenshin to take it and the Kumogakure ninja’s corpse back without mentioning Chiba’s role in the plan.
• Watanabe Kenshin began to object to giving Chiba’s credit to Hirohiko, but Hirohiko urged him to respect Chiba’s reasons.
• Chiba confirmed that he had his own plans, and Watanabe Kenshin reluctantly agreed to keep Chiba’s role quiet.
• Watanabe Kenshin thanked Chiba and promised him a favor before leaving with Hirohiko; Chiba returned to training.

Watanabe Kenshin reported that Konoha’s forces had eliminated all twenty-one infiltrating Kumogakure shinobi, and the Third Hokage praised his command. Hirohiko then claimed Chiba and Yukina had been on a date during the operation, leaving the Hokage concerned about their relationship with the Hyuga Clan.

• Watanabe Kenshin reported that Konoha had confirmed the elimination of all twenty-one elite Kumogakure shinobi.
• The Third Hokage praised Watanabe Kenshin’s Annihilation Plan and decided to assign him additional Anbu personnel.
• Hirohiko credited Watanabe Kenshin with arranging his ambush, while Watanabe Kenshin reluctantly supported his account.
• Hirohiko told the Third Hokage that Chiba and Yukina had gone on a date and left him and Nao at home.
• After Hirohiko left, the Third Hokage wondered whether he needed to speak with the Hyuga Clan about Chiba and Yukina.

Watanabe Kenshin reported that he had adopted Yukina’s revised defense plan, and the Third Hokage approved it. Chiba then visited the Hokage with a medicine he had developed and asked for support to continue his research.

• Watanabe Kenshin explained how Yukina’s plan used monitored gaps in the defenses to free troops for critical posts and support the front lines.
• The Third Hokage approved the revised deployment and asked Kenshin what he would do if a certain crisis came; Kenshin promised to do everything in his power.
• Chiba arrived at the Hokage’s Office and presented a sealed vial of nutrient-replenishing medicine he had researched.
• Chiba gave the Third Hokage the formula and refining method, urged him to take the medicine, and requested funding and medicinal materials for further research.

At year's end, Chiba and Hirohiko prepared for the New Year while Chiba reflected on the success of his medicine and the coming Kannabi Bridge Battle. Chiba decided to join Hirohiko in looking for missions, determined to train harder before the battle.

• After finishing his training, Chiba asked Hirohiko where he had found the unusually sturdy wooden post, and Hirohiko explained that he had brought it back from a forest west of the village.
• Hirohiko went outside and discovered that the cabin and surrounding woods were covered in snow.
• Chiba urged Hirohiko to take more days off, noting that the village was subsidizing their drug research and that his nutrient-restoring medicine had become valuable military supplies.
• Hirohiko said they should gather New Year's goods and celebrate together, since the war might leave them less time to meet next year.
• Chiba realized the Kannabi Bridge Battle was approaching and resolved to perfect his abilities before it began.
• Chiba caught up with Hirohiko and offered to help look for missions so they could earn more money for the New Year.

After Yukina returned home exhausted from arranging New Year leave, Hirohiko and Yukina panicked when they learned Chiba had skipped an hour of training to help Hirohiko and buy holiday supplies. Chiba came home to find them convinced something was wrong with him, and Nao questioned him too before a knock interrupted them.

• Yukina returned home after days of arranging Defense Force leave as the war’s front lines quieted and villages recalled troops.
• Hirohiko told Yukina that Chiba had spent an hour helping him choose missions and had bought New Year supplies, prompting both of them to fear Chiba had changed or been replaced.
• Chiba came in through the back door and found Yukina and Hirohiko staring at him in terror and suspicion.
• Yukina and Hirohiko hid behind Nao and asked her whether Chiba was still himself, while Nao challenged him about giving up an entire hour of training.
• Someone knocked on the front door.

Asuma brought Chiba a large bag from the Third Hokage and joined the others around their charcoal-heated kotatsu. Kakashi, Obito, and Rin arrived as heavy snow fell, and Kakashi told Chiba that his technique was progressing smoothly and would be mostly finished after the New Year, leaving Chiba determined to stop delaying.

• Asuma arrived with a large bag from the Third Hokage and greeted Chiba, Hirohiko, Yukina, and Nao.
• Asuma tried Chiba and Hirohiko's charcoal-heated kotatsu and praised how warm it was.
• Kakashi, Obito, and Rin arrived through the snow, and Rin joined Asuma under the kotatsu.
• Obito blushed and panicked when he noticed Rin's legs as she lifted the kotatsu blanket, making everyone laugh.
• Kakashi told Chiba his technique was progressing smoothly and should be mostly finished after the New Year.
• Chiba decided he could not keep delaying anymore.

Chiba reviewed his notes on fate and the Third Shinobi World War but found no clues about whether he could change the future. He decided to focus on training for the coming Kannabi Bridge Battle, while Hirohiko mistakenly thought Chiba was working on a novel.

• Hirohiko noticed Chiba's troubled expression as he studied the scrolls and wondered if Chiba was planning to write a novel.
• Chiba reconsidered his notes about his experiences and the original story, concluding that he could not yet tell whether fate could be changed.
• Chiba found the money Kakashi had repaid him and planned to use it to buy heavier Weighted Training Gear.
• Remembering that Kakashi expected to complete the Chidori next year and that the Kannabi Bridge Battle could be near, Chiba closed his scrolls and went out to warm up for training.
• Hirohiko chose not to read Chiba's scrolls and returned to his book, hoping to earn a mission reward to buy Nao something she liked.

On New Year’s morning, Chiba angered Yukina by injuring himself while testing his self-created ninjutsu. After Hirohiko and Nao teased him, Nao offered to tell him how to make Yukina happy, leaving Chiba wary of her plan.

• Yukina angrily bandaged Chiba after finding him injured from training, then left the grove.
• Chiba reflected on his ninjutsu tests and planned to buy weighted training gear and supplies for the New Year.
• Hirohiko and Nao mocked Chiba when they saw his bandages, and he admitted he had handled things badly.
• Nao asked whether Chiba wanted to make Yukina happy, and he eagerly asked if she had a way.
• Nao began to explain her idea as Hirohiko recognized what she had in mind.

Chiba waited for Yukina with flowers, rehearsing how to apologize while Hirohiko and Nao watched. Yukina worried that she had hurt Chiba and feared he might be angry, and the chapter ended as she returned home.

• Chiba tried several ways to apologize to Yukina while holding out the sunflowers, and Hirohiko watched from the kitchen, struggling not to laugh.
• Yukina worried about Chiba’s dangerous training and remembered how badly he had been injured before.
• Yukina lost focus during Mako’s report, then left the Defense Force office anxious about facing Chiba.
• Chiba waited for Yukina with the flowers and rejected Hirohiko’s offer to go check on her.
• The front door opened, and Yukina announced that she was back.

Yukina returned to find Chiba waiting with her favorite sunflowers, ready to apologize for frightening her that morning. His bow and apology looked like a confession to Yukina, and she fainted before anyone could clear up the misunderstanding.

• Yukina entered the cabin and blushed when she saw Chiba holding sunflowers.
• Hirohiko jabbed Chiba, prompting him to bow and apologize to Yukina for that morning.
• Yukina mistook Chiba's apology and flowers for a confession and stood speechless as Chiba worried she would not forgive him.
• Rin, Asuma, Obito, and Kakashi appeared and revealed that Yukina had invited them for New Year's dinner.
• Yukina fainted, and everyone rushed to help her while Rin tried to get past Obito.

Yukina fainted after Chiba apologized, and Rin stayed behind with Nao and Hirohiko to demand an explanation. While Chiba puzzled over what had happened, he arranged to spar with Kakashi after lunch.

• Rin confirmed that Yukina was all right, sent Chiba and the others downstairs, and confronted Nao and Hirohiko about what had frightened Yukina.
• Chiba sat with Obito, Kakashi, and Asuma, trying to figure out why Yukina had fainted while Obito asked where the food was.
• Chiba stopped Asuma from cooking and took Kakashi to the kitchen instead.
• Chiba suggested a spar after lunch, and Kakashi agreed to begin after they had rested.

Chiba and the others wondered why Obito and Asuma rushed away after lunch, while Rin arranged for Kakashi and Obito to stay for dinner. Chiba planned an earlier spar with Kakashi, and Hirohiko, Rin, and Nao realized that the spar might explain the boys’ urgency.

• Obito and Asuma hurried out after asking Chiba the name of his fried rice dish.
• Chiba asked Rin about Yukina, and Rin said she was fine and would wake soon.
• Rin and Nao persuaded Kakashi to stay for dinner, and Kakashi agreed on the condition that Rin invite Obito.
• Chiba asked Kakashi to spar earlier so he could prepare dinner afterward.
• Hirohiko, Rin, and Nao heard that Chiba and Kakashi would spar and connected it to Obito and Asuma’s haste.