Chapter Summaries

Chiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina received reserved Chunin qualifications because they lacked mission experience, and they feared Kushina would blame herself for not taking them on missions. Kushina comforted them instead of beating them, but after Chiba complained that her hug was suffocating, she grew furious and prepared to punish him.

• Chiba realized the Third Hokage had withheld their Chunin promotions because they lacked mission experience, which they had missed out on while training under Kushina.
• Chiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina agreed to accept Kushina's expected beating without mentioning that their lack of missions was her responsibility.
• Kushina welcomed them at the meeting place and asked how the exam had gone, though she already knew the result from her Shadow Clone.
• Kushina hugged the three and apologized for their reserved Chunin qualifications, and they reassured her that it was okay.
• Chiba complained that Kushina's tight hug was suffocating, prompting her to glare at him and crack her knuckles.

Kushina Uzumaki told Chiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina that they would complete one final training lesson before beginning missions. Afterward, she agreed with Minato Namikaze that he could teach Yukina the Rasengan during their next training session.

• Kushina Uzumaki scolded Chiba for speaking thoughtlessly, then sent him and his teammates home to rest before their next training.
• Kushina told Chiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina that their next lesson would be her last before they began carrying out missions.
• Chiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina hurried back toward the village, with Chiba puzzled by how eager the other two seemed to be.
• After the students left, Kushina called Minato Namikaze out of the woods and argued over whether he could teach them the Rasengan.
• Minato proposed teaching just one student, and Kushina agreed on the condition that he teach Yukina; he arranged to take her during the next special training.

The Third Hokage weighed which of his three disciples should train Chiba, impressed by the boy’s many talents. At Ichiraku Ramen, Chiba let Kanno Satoru, Aso Sasuke, and Kusunoki Masaru believe he had helped them in the Chunin Exams, and they left determined to train harder.

• The Third Hokage reflected on Chiba’s talent and summoned Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru to discuss taking him as a disciple.
• Chiba entered Ichiraku Ramen because he was hungry and ordered an extra-large tonkotsu ramen despite having no money left afterward.
• Kanno Satoru, Aso Sasuke, and Kusunoki Masaru thanked Chiba for helping them in the Chunin Exams and said they planned to undergo special training.
• Kanno Satoru paid for Chiba’s ramen, and Chiba wished the three good luck rather than telling them how he had used them.
• The three left Ichiraku Ramen grateful to Chiba and resolved to work harder, while Chiba watched them go with a smile.

Chiba trained at his cabin while considering how to develop Gate of Pain Mode without suffering repeated, time-consuming injuries. He realized another Ninjutsu could help, then an Anbu Ninja arrived with a summons from the Third Hokage.

• Chiba returned to his cabin and resumed his training while thinking about the risks and inefficiency of repeatedly opening the Gate of Pain.
• Chiba considered how greater Chakra reserves would improve his Ninjutsu and Monster Strength before the Third Shinobi World War.
• Chiba realized that a Ninjutsu could help him develop Gate of Pain Mode more efficiently.
• Chiba stopped training to retrieve his Weighted Training Gear, but an Anbu Ninja arrived and summoned him to see the Third Hokage.
• Chiba asked to collect a few things inside, and the Anbu Ninja waited outside, impressed that Chiba seemed to have anticipated his arrival.

Chiba explained that he had found the Eight Gates scroll beneath his home, and the Third Hokage took it back while allowing him to continue training under strict conditions. Afterward, Jiraiya and Tsunade concluded that the Third Hokage had already known about Chiba’s discovery and had quietly watched over him.

• Hokoma vouched for Chiba, saying he believed the boy had nothing to do with the Hidden Stone ninjas who stole the Eight Gates scroll.
• Chiba admitted that he had learned the Eight Gates from a scroll he found in the basement beneath his home and explained how he discovered it.
• The Third Hokage reclaimed the scroll, let Chiba’s merits and faults cancel out, and warned him not to endanger himself or teach the technique to anyone.
• Minato Namikaze claimed he had only been passing by, though he had come because Kushina was worried about Chiba.
• Orochimaru questioned the lack of an investigation, and Jiraiya and Tsunade reasoned that the Third Hokage had long known about Chiba and had watched over him.

Chiba met Kushina, Hirohiko, and Yukina on time, then learned that Kushina had arranged for Minato Namikaze to train Yukina. Yukina initially objected, but Kushina whispered something to her, and she agreed to go with Minato.

• Chiba finished his morning routine and arrived on time, winning Hirohiko a bet against Kushina and Yukina.
• Chiba and Hirohiko tried to negotiate a share of Hirohiko's winnings, but Kushina caught them and punched them both.
• Kushina arrived with Minato Namikaze and told Yukina to train under him.
• Yukina objected that Minato could not teach her the Gentle Fist, while Chiba realized he had wrongly believed the Rasengan required Wind Release Chakra.
• Kushina whispered to Yukina, who blushed, glanced at Chiba, and agreed to go with Minato.

Chiba asked Kushina to teach him Medical Ninjutsu so he could recover faster from the damage caused by developing Gate of Pain Mode. Tsunade won the chance to teach him, while Hirohiko asked for opponents to train against.

• Kushina offered to find and teach Chiba and Hirohiko any ninjutsu they wanted to learn.
• Chiba asked to learn Medical Ninjutsu, surprising Kushina and Hirohiko.
• Chiba explained that he was prepared to study and practice Medical Ninjutsu, and Kushina accepted his decision.
• Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya watched from the bushes, and Tsunade claimed the right to teach Chiba under their agreement with Sarutobi.
• Hirohiko asked for taijutsu and ninjutsu opponents, prompting the three Sannin to look at one another.

After training, Chiba explained the Eight Gates and Gate of Life Mode to Hirohiko, who asked him to teach the techniques so he could confront his estranged older brother. Chiba refused because he had promised the Third Hokage not to teach the Eight Gates, leaving Hirohiko disappointed and Chiba wondering about the powerful brother and the strange lack of records about Hirohiko and Yukina.

• Kushina ended the training session and left, while Chiba and Hirohiko wondered why she had seemed unusual.
• Hirohiko asked why Chiba wanted to learn Medical Ninjutsu, and Chiba explained that it would help him develop Gate of Pain Mode despite the time it might take.
• Chiba told Hirohiko that Gate of Life Mode came from the Eight Gates and that he wanted to control the more powerful but damaging Gate of Pain.
• Hirohiko asked Chiba to teach him the Eight Gates and Gate of Life Mode so he could become strong enough to confront his older brother, who had defected from the village.
• Chiba refused because he had promised the Third Hokage not to teach the Eight Gates to anyone else, and Hirohiko apologized before walking away.
• Chiba learned that Hirohiko's brother ranked among the Uchiha Family's strongest and wondered why Hirohiko and Yukina had left no trace in the records he knew.

Kushina arranged for Jiraiya to train Hirohiko and Tsunade to train Chiba, explaining that she wanted them to gain experience and grow stronger. After the others left, Chiba noticed that Kushina seemed troubled despite her smile.

• Chiba overheard Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Kushina talking in a forest clearing.
• Orochimaru left, and Kushina asked Jiraiya to spar with Hirohiko because she lacked experience in life-or-death battles.
• Kushina bowed to Jiraiya, shocking him and Tsunade, and Tsunade threatened Jiraiya with her killing intent when he hesitated.
• Jiraiya agreed to begin training Hirohiko the next morning, and Tsunade agreed to take Chiba into her care.
• After Jiraiya and Tsunade departed, Kushina reflected that Hirohiko, Yukina, and Chiba would grow stronger, then left the clearing.
• Chiba wondered why Kushina had seemed troubled as he watched her leave.

Chiba struggled to understand why he felt no happiness about Tsunade offering to teach him, despite the chance to grow stronger and survive the coming war. At the training meeting, Tsunade took Chiba to train while Jiraiya took Hirohiko, and Chiba remained uneasy about Kushina’s unusual smile.

• Chiba returned to his cabin, wondered why Tsunade’s offer did not make him happy, and continued his training until he broke a wooden post.
• Chiba spent the night and the following morning still unable to explain his reaction to Tsunade’s offer.
• At the meeting place, Chiba noticed Kushina wearing a mature, gentle smile that felt unlike her usual expression.
• Kushina introduced Tsunade and Jiraiya, then Tsunade took Chiba to train and Jiraiya took Hirohiko.
• After they left, Kushina looked over the empty meeting place, smiled again, and departed.

Tsunade began Chiba’s Medical Ninjutsu training by testing his Chakra control and asking whether his strength came from Monster Strength. After knocking him into a crater for ignoring her, she recognized his discipline and potential, while Chiba realized Kushina’s smile had shown how precious he and the others were to her.

• Tsunade took Chiba to a rocky training ground and asked if he had used Monster Strength during the Chunin Exams.
• Chiba stayed lost in thought about Kushina’s smile, so Tsunade punched him into the ground to make him pay attention.
• Chiba felt the vast difference between Tsunade’s Monster Strength and his own, then apologized and resolved to grow stronger.
• Tsunade reflected on Chiba’s talent, perseverance, and training in the Eight Gates, and understood why Kushina had entrusted him to her.
• Chiba realized Kushina’s smile had been lonely because she was entrusting someone precious to another person, then asked Tsunade for a favor.

Chiba blurted out that he wanted to learn Medical Ninjutsu from Tsunade without becoming her disciple, then confessed that he considered Kushina his only Teacher. Tsunade understood his loyalty and agreed to teach him Medical Ninjutsu without taking him as her disciple.

• Chiba impulsively asked Tsunade to teach him Medical Ninjutsu without making him her disciple, angering her.
• Chiba recalled realizing how Kushina had trained and protected her students despite being unable to leave the village with them.
• Tsunade questioned Chiba about his motives, then startled him with a punch to make him reveal his true feelings.
• Chiba blurted out that Kushina was his only Teacher, and Tsunade laughed as she recognized his loyalty to her.
• Tsunade agreed to teach Chiba Medical Ninjutsu without becoming his Teacher.

Tsunade recognized Chiba’s explosive strength as Monster Strength and agreed to train him in it alongside Medical Ninjutsu. She began teaching him the medical foundations while Chiba resolved to learn quickly so he could develop Gate of Pain Mode.

• Tsunade asked Chiba whether his explosive strength came from Monster Strength or a Water Style Secret Ninjutsu, and Chiba admitted he did not know either technique.
• Chiba explained how he had discovered the principle behind his explosive strength while fighting the Hidden Stone ninja who abducted Yukina.
• Tsunade identified Chiba’s technique as Monster Strength, developed by her grandfather, and promised to teach him while setting stone-pillar training as his first goal.
• Tsunade began explaining Medical Ninjutsu and planned to organize her Medical Insights for Chiba.
• Chiba listened carefully and resolved to master Medical Ninjutsu quickly so he could begin developing Gate of Pain Mode.

Tsunade explained the principles of Medical Ninjutsu to Chiba, who grasped its foundations after hearing them once. She then began his Monster Strength training, while Chiba resolved to work hard and grow stronger.

• Tsunade spent the morning teaching Chiba the principles and Chakra control required for Medical Ninjutsu.
• Chiba quickly formed a general understanding, surprising Tsunade with his comprehension.
• Tsunade instructed Chiba to train Monster Strength by repeatedly striking a stone pillar and said she would prepare her Medical Insights for him.
• Chiba struck the pillar, felt the pain and satisfaction of training, and decided to add Monster Strength to his daily punches and kicks.
• Tsunade left to organize her Medical Insights while Chiba continued training without noticing.

Chiba exhausted himself with an intense Monster Strength training session and worried that he could not afford proper food to sustain it. Tsunade found him after nightfall, realized how much he had trained, and carried him back to Konoha to buy him roasted meat.

• Chiba completed three hundred Monster Strength punches and side kicks along with twelve hundred squats and push-ups, leaving him unable to move.
• Chiba worried that relying on Ration Balls would harm his development and considered borrowing money before dismissing the idea.
• Tsunade returned and was shocked to learn how much Chiba had trained, then warned him to take care of his body.
• Chiba admitted he could not walk and had not eaten dinner, so Tsunade carried him toward Konoha after agreeing to treat him to roasted meat.

Tsunade treated Chiba to barbecue and told him that Genin received a fixed income, which he planned to collect the next day. Back at his cabin, Chiba opened one of the three scrolls she had given him and discovered a vast amount of medical knowledge to study.

• At the barbecue restaurant, Tsunade watched Chiba eat and explained that Genin received a fixed income they had to collect from the appropriate department.
• Chiba realized he had never known about Genin pay and decided to collect his income the next morning.
• Tsunade gave Chiba three scrolls of essential professional knowledge and told him to read them at home.
• After returning to his cabin, Chiba opened one scroll, which revealed a much larger document filled with anatomical diagrams and dense writing.
• Chiba recognized that memorizing all three scrolls would take time and decided to read through them and make a proper study plan.

Chiba studied Tsunade's medical scrolls and decided to focus on learning about muscle tissue for Gate of Pain Mode rather than becoming a Medical Ninja. As Chiba, Yukina, and Hirohiko went to sleep after their first day of training, Minato heard from Tsunade and Jiraiya that both boys were hardworking geniuses and hurried off to see Kushina.

• Chiba finished reading Tsunade's three medical scrolls, realized mastering their knowledge and gaining practical experience would take years, and decided to study muscle tissue first for Gate of Pain Mode.
• Yukina wondered how Chiba and Hirohiko were progressing under their new mentors and fell asleep confident that Chiba would become a great Medical Ninja.
• Hirohiko checked his Ninja Tool Pouch, looked at a photo of himself with another boy, and resolved to grow stronger to protect Chiba and Yukina on missions.
• Minato treated Tsunade and Jiraiya to drinks and asked about Chiba and Hirohiko's progress; they described both as hardworking geniuses.
• Minato thanked Tsunade and Jiraiya, then used Body Flicker Technique to hurry toward Kushina's place.

Chiba collected his Genin salary and began Tsunade’s new training program, learning Medical Ninjutsu alongside a more precise form of Monster Strength. He struggled to control his punches in the stream and ended the day determined to master the techniques.

• Chiba collected his delayed Genin salary and ignored a payroll Chunin who resented him.
• Tsunade gave Chiba a Medical Ninjutsu scroll and told him to focus on medical training and theory instead of practicing Monster Strength on stone pillars.
• Tsunade led Chiba to a stream and demonstrated how to strike fish without killing them or disrupting the water, then heal an injured fish with Medical Ninjutsu.
• Chiba attempted the stream exercise but repeatedly sent water, pebbles, and fish flying as Tsunade corrected his force and aim.
• Chiba kept training, determined to learn Medical Ninjutsu well enough to treat muscle injuries.

After two months of intensive practice, Chiba had become proficient at healing fish and planned to ask Yuriko for advice before treating human muscle injuries. The Third Hokage watched him and decided to change the personnel arrangement for an upcoming mission so Chiba could gain mission experience.

• Chiba healed a fish in just over twenty seconds after two months of daily Medical Ninjutsu training.
• Chiba decided to consult Yuriko about treating human muscle injuries, since he had no experience healing human muscle tissue and could not find Tsunade, who had gone gambling.
• Chiba put on his Weighted Training Gear and headed back toward the village.
• The Third Hokage observed Chiba through the Crystal Ball and reflected on his Medical Ninjutsu talent and perseverance.
• The Third Hokage summoned Shinsu and told Hokoma that he wanted to change the personnel arrangement for a mission.
• Hokoma wondered how the Third Hokage could alter the mission roster, since the available personnel were already committed.

Chiba returned to the village and was summoned by the Third Hokage to join a mission that had been upgraded from C-rank to B-rank. The chapter ended as Chiba entered the Hokage's Office, where Hokoma, Shinsu, and the Third Hokage questioned whether he had enough mission experience for the dangerous assignment.

• Chiba reflected on his training, his progress with Gate of Life Mode, and how Yukina and Hirohiko had been doing.
• An Anbu Ninja told Chiba that the Hokage wanted to see him, and Chiba followed the ninja to the Hokage's Office.
• The Third Hokage told Shinsu that he would add another person to Shinsu's team because their mission had been upgraded to B-rank.
• An Anbu Ninja announced Chiba's arrival, surprising Hokoma and Shinsu, who doubted the inexperienced Chiba was suited for the mission.
• Chiba entered the office as the Third Hokage considered whether his talent could help with a mission that had gone uncompleted for over a year.