Chapter Summaries

Yūsuke reunited with Uchiha Fugaku and learned how the Uchiha Clan had been pushed toward rebellion under Minato Namikaze’s policies. He promised to bring Jun and Yono back to the clan, then said he would confront Minato the next day.

• Uchiha Fugaku welcomed Yūsuke back to the clan compound and explained the Uchiha Clan’s worsening position.
• Fugaku admitted he had placed Itachi Uchiha in the Anbu as a spy but no longer knew which reports from him were genuine.
• Yūsuke promised to have Jun and Yono return to the Uchiha Clan to help ease the pressure on it.
• Yūsuke told Itachi that his greatest mistake was failing to take a firm stance, and Itachi could not deny his divided loyalties.
• Yūsuke said he would meet Minato Namikaze the next day and address the conflict within Konoha.

Yūske’s return ended the immediate threat to the Uchiha Clan, while Minato and Konoha’s former leaders worried that he would uncover their plans. The chapter left Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura suspending their scheme as tensions within Konoha continued to grow.

• Uchiha Fugaku reassured the coup-supporting clansmen, and Itachi told Sasuke about the Fourth Hokage’s power and influence.
• Minato Namikaze worried that Yūske might oppose his plans, while Kushina urged him to explain everything to Yūske.
• Naruto learned that Yūske could reclaim the Hokage position and decided to question Sasuke about Yūske’s visit.
• Minato remained restless as Shisui’s intelligence pointed to the Akatsuki stirring into action.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura to suspend their plan against the Uchiha and conceal their moves.

Yūske rejected Minato’s request to act as Hokage and challenged his approach to governing Konoha, leaving Minato shaken by doubts about his policies. Meanwhile, the children gathered at a party, where rivalries and crushes emerged as their mothers watched and gossiped.

• Minato asked Yūske to serve as acting Hokage while he attended the Chunin Exams, but Yūske refused and warned that he might leave Konoha with his former subordinates if they were no longer welcome.
• Yūske criticized Minato’s plans for civilian welfare and ninja training, and Minato left the Senju Clan Compound wondering whether he had been wrong.
• Yuki Haku, Watanabe Mayumi, and Watanabe Yūto hosted a gathering for the young ninja, where Yūto defeated Sasuke with one strike.
• Naruto became captivated by Haku, then froze when Haku revealed he was a boy, while Shino explained Haku’s connection to the Yuki Clan.
• The mothers gossiped about Ino’s feelings for Sasuke and Naruto’s attraction to Haku.

Yūske watched Naruto and Sasuke compete, then promised a powerful ninjutsu and team leader to the Academy’s top graduate. He left Kimimaro to impress the students and visited the Hyūga compound with Hyuga Reon, where Hiashi and Hizashi welcomed them.

• Naruto and Sasuke competed with basic techniques, ninjutsu, shuriken, and taijutsu, with Sasuke taking the upper hand.
• Yūske promised the top graduate an extremely powerful ninjutsu and team leader, prompting Naruto to vow to surpass Sasuke.
• Yūske told Sasuke that Kimimaro could rival an elite jonin, and Kimimaro said he ranked among Konoha’s top ten jonin.
• Yūske and Hyuga Reon arrived at the Hyūga compound, where Hiashi and Hizashi greeted them.

Yūske visited the Hyuga Clan Compound and demanded that Reon’s Caged Bird be removed, while Hiashi asked for time to challenge the clan’s traditions. Meanwhile, Yūto spent time with Hinata and the other children until Hanabi arrived and confronted him.

• Yūske met Hiashi, Hizashi, and Neji, then demanded that Reon’s Caged Bird be removed.
• Hiashi explained that changing the main and branch family system would be difficult, while Hizashi worried about Neji’s future.
• Reon’s father arrived, and Yūske warned Hiashi to decide before his next visit; Hiashi asked for time to fight for Reon, Hizashi, and Neji’s freedom.
• Hiashi invited Yūske and Reon to dinner, and Yūske accepted after Reon agreed.
• Yūto spent the afternoon with Hinata and joined the children’s gathering, where Haku discussed Ice Release and the children talked about Yūske’s abilities.
• Hanabi found Hinata beside Yūto, demanded to know who he was, and Hinata explained that he was the son of the Fourth Hokage and Fifth Hokage.

Hanabi confronted Yūto after she saw him bothering Hinata, but Yuki Haku and Yūske stopped the dispute from escalating. At the Hyuga Clan compound, Hiashi explained why he had chosen Hanabi over Hinata as his heir, while Yūske decided to remain in Konoha until the Akatsuki Organization emerged into the open.

• Hanabi challenged Yūto at the restaurant, and Mayumi defended her younger brother before Yuki Haku quieted the group.
• Hanabi took Hinata's seat and served her food, while Yuki Haku warned Yūto not to cause trouble and Yūto backed down.
• Hiashi summoned Hanabi home, but Yūske dismissed the incident and offered to bring Yūto over to apologize to Hinata another day.
• Hiashi admitted that he had given up on Hinata as his heir and was training Hanabi instead, though he regretted that she was not a boy.
• Yūske told the Branch Family First Elder that he would leave Konoha when he grew tired of staying, and wondered how much of the Akatsuki Organization's membership Itachi Uchiha had revealed.

Yūske arranged for Haku, Mayumi, and Yūto to become Konoha genin, then reunited with Hiruzen and Biwako Sarutobi. He left Hiruzen to handle the Uchiha issue while warning him to consider how the clans would react if their positions were reversed.

• Yūske told Haku, Mayumi, and Yūto they would become genin, and Minato filed their ninja records the next day.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived at the Hokage office, where Yūske introduced the three children as his granddisciples and accepted Hiruzen's invitation to dinner.
• Yūske and Hiruzen went ahead to the Sarutobi compound, where Biwako asked Yūske not to leave again and Sarutobi Asuma returned unexpectedly.
• After Tsunade arrived with the children, Yūske told Hiruzen to think carefully about the Uchiha matter by considering how he would respond if the Uchiha pressured the other clans.
• Hiruzen asked about Minato, and Yūske said Minato's naïve ideas were Jiraiya's responsibility; Hiruzen revealed that Jiraiya had run off.

Yūske discussed Asuma’s feelings for Kurenai at dinner, then supported matching his son Yūto with Hinata while deciding that Hyuga Reon’s Caged Bird seal had to be removed. The next morning, Hizashi begged Yūske to help remove Neji’s seal, and Yūske went to confront the Hyuga elders gathered with Hiashi.

• Biwako asked Yūske about finding Asuma a partner, and Asuma admitted Kurenai saw him only as a friend and companion.
• Yūske said he would not force Kurenai’s feelings and suggested Asuma consider other women, including Anko.
• Tsunade told the family about Yūto and Hinata, and Yūske supported the match while insisting that Hyuga Reon’s Caged Bird seal be removed.
• Hyuga Hiashi sent for Yūske the next morning, and Yūske brought Reon to the Hyuga compound.
• Hizashi knelt before Yūske and begged him to remove Neji’s Caged Bird, saying the main family elders were delaying Hiashi’s efforts.
• Yūske asked whether the elders were gathered with Hiashi and prepared to go meet them.

Yūske agreed to help Hyuga Reon remove her Caged Bird, but Neji argued that the Hyuga Clan should resolve its own affairs. After the clan removed Reon’s seal, Yūske proposed a marriage between Yūto and Hinata, leaving Hiashi to ask his daughter what she wanted.

• Yūske agreed to help Hizashi and Neji because Reon had asked him, then called Neji down from the roof.
• Neji refused to have his Caged Bird removed by an outsider, arguing that it would leave the branch family without a place in the Hyuga Clan.
• Yūske praised Neji’s resolve and left the matter to Hiashi and the clan elders.
• Hiashi and the elders removed Reon’s Caged Bird, and Reon thanked them for remaining her maternal family.
• Yūske proposed a marriage between Yūto and Hinata, and Hiashi agreed to sound out Hinata’s opinion.

Yūske warned Hiashi that the Hyūga clan might reject a female clan head, while Konoha’s clans grew more active and Naruto’s generation graduated. The chapter ended with Kimimaro fighting Kakashi as Yūske and Minato watched, with Kakashi choosing to stall against the Eight Inner Gates.

• Yūske urged Hiashi to consider how the Hyūga clan would respond to Hinata or Hanabi becoming clan head, then left him to think it over.
• Yuki Haku, Mayumi, and their teammate took high-ranking missions, while the Uchiha, Senju, and Hyūga clans became more active in the village.
• Hanabi began skipping grades and visiting the Senju compound with Hinata, who decided to try being friends with Yūto.
• Naruto and the others graduated as genin, while the Scroll of Seals theft never occurred because no country dared to provoke Konoha.
• Kimimaro fought Kakashi in the Forest of Death, using the first three gates of the Eight Inner Gates and his bone techniques.
• Yūske and Minato watched the fight as Kimimaro and Kakashi competed to become Sasuke’s instructor, and Kakashi chose to stall against Kimimaro.

Yūske stopped Kimimaro from using Early Fern Dance against Kakashi, then assigned Kimimaro to guide Hinata’s team and Yūhi Kurenai to guide Mayumi’s team. The Ninja Academy announced the preassigned classes, where Minato Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno were grouped together.

• Kimimaro began to unleash Early Fern Dance, but Yūske appeared and stopped him before the technique could harm Kakashi.
• Yūske explained that Kimimaro’s Early Fern Dance could cover a five-hundred-meter area with bone spikes, and Kakashi realized he had been in danger.
• Yūske assigned Kimimaro to guide Hinata, Aburame Shino, and Kiba Inuzuka, and told Minato Namikaze to send Kurenai Yūhi and Yūhi Kurenai to see him.
• Yūske appointed Yūhi Kurenai as the nominal guiding teacher for Mayumi’s team because they needed genjutsu instruction, while Kurenai Yūhi was told he could relax and fish.
• At the Ninja Academy, the preassigned teams were announced: Minato Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno formed Seventh Squad; Aburame Shino, Kiba Inuzuka, and Hinata Hyuga formed Eighth Squad; and Nara Shikamaru, Ino Yamanaka, and Choji Akimichi formed Ninth Squad.
• Minato Uzumaki celebrated being placed with Sasuke, but Sakura Haruno knocked him off his desk and then happily told Sasuke she was glad they shared a team.

Kimimaro became the instructor of Eighth Squad and let his students choose what to do, then offered to take Hinata and Aburame Shino to visit Yūto. Meanwhile, Yūske went fishing with Kurenai Yūhi and encouraged Mayumi to pursue genjutsu without neglecting her other skills.

• Ino and Sakura argued over Sasuke while Naruto challenged him, and the students waited for their instructors to arrive.
• Kimimaro took charge of Eighth Squad and led Aburame Shino, Kiba Inuzuka, and Hinata Hyuga to the rooftop.
• Kimimaro dismissed Kiba until the next day, then offered Hinata and Aburame Shino a chance to visit Yūto and Mayumi.
• Yūske and Kurenai Yūhi caught fish while Mayumi said she wanted to specialize in genjutsu, and Yūske told her to keep practicing her other skills too.

The Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Squads gathered at Yūske’s family barbecue restaurant, where Naruto asked for a C-rank mission. Yūske agreed to arrange a mission for the squads the next day, planning to find real opponents so the young ninja would gain combat experience.

• The young ninja squads met Yūske and Tsunade at the family restaurant, where Mayumi’s grandmother fussed over her and the others joked with Yūske.
• Yūto brought grilled meat to Hinata, then Yūske’s mother offered to slice it after Yūske scolded his son for trying to order him around.
• Naruto asked Yuki Haku to help the Seventh Squad get a C-rank mission, but Yuki Haku said Yūske would not approve one for them yet.
• Yūske heard Naruto’s wish to become a real ninja and promised to arrange a mission for the next day; Kiba Inuzuka asked for one for his squad as well.
• Tsunade asked Yūske how he would find missions, and he said he would search that night or create one, hoping the squads would face real enemies before the Akatsuki Organization returned.

Yūske visited Minato Namikaze at the Hokage's Office and urged him to delegate routine work and strengthen Konoha's younger generation. He arranged a dangerous training mission for the new Genin squads and left Minato to consider bringing the Hokage Assistants back.

• Yūske used the Flying Thunder God Technique to visit Minato Namikaze, who was working late at the Hokage's Office.
• Yūske told Minato Namikaze that Konoha's strength gave him no reason to handle every matter himself and argued that future Hokage should not be left idle.
• Yūske proposed a mission for the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth squads of Genin because they lacked experience with bloodshed.
• Yūske said he had sent people to locate a vicious bandit stronghold for the Genin's training, and Minato Namikaze entrusted the matter to him.
• Yūske advised Minato Namikaze to invite the Hokage Assistants back, then left using the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Yūske arranged a B-rank mission to test Sasuke and the other young ninja, with their instructors secretly following. He also discussed Uchiha Fugaku’s failing eyesight and the possibility of restoring it, then the teams gathered to begin the mission.

• Yūske ordered a B-rank mission against a mountain fortress and planned for Itachi to appear as the mastermind after Sasuke’s team defeated its occupants, while Shikamaru would help Ino and Choji fake their deaths.
• Yūske warned Uchiha Fugaku that his Mangekyō Sharingan use was damaging his eyesight and explained that transplanting a close relative’s eyes could help, while his science department investigated another method.
• Uchiha Fugaku and Itachi both offered to give up their eyes for the other, but Yūske told them to limit their Mangekyō use.
• Kakashi, Kimimaro, and Asuma gathered their teams for the B-rank mission, which Yūske had arranged to be issued in front of them.
• Naruto and Sasuke argued over the mission and teamwork, and Kimimaro stopped Kakashi from intervening so the young ninja could learn for themselves.
• The instructors led the teams to the mission office to begin their assignment.

Kimimaro, Kakashi, and Asuma arranged a bandit-elimination mission for nine children, with Shikamaru as their captain. The team met the disguised clients Hiruzen Sarutobi and Yūske, who described their village’s plight, while Shikamaru reminded Naruto that protecting the village was outside the mission’s terms.

• Kimimaro took a bandit-elimination mission from the Konoha Mission Office, and Asuma accepted it with Kakashi and Kimimaro.
• Kakashi gave Shikamaru command of the nine children and ordered them to complete the mission themselves; Shikamaru warned them they would have to kill the bandits and set out with the team.
• Sasuke asked where the client was, and Shikamaru explained that the client had spent the village’s savings to pay for the mission.
• Shikamaru met Yūske and Hiruzen Sarutobi at a dilapidated temple, where Yūske complained that Konoha had sent children.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Yūske acted out the village’s poverty and danger, prompting Naruto to promise to protect them; Shikamaru cautioned him that village protection was not part of the mission.

Yūske and Hiruzen Sarutobi traveled with Shikamaru’s team toward a village, with Shino carrying Yūske after she recognized him as the Fourth Hokage. At the village, Yūske directed the ninja toward a bandit hideout and urged them to kill the bandits, who had blood on their hands.

• Yūske suggested that the ninja carry him and Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Shikamaru assigned Naruto, Sasuke, Choji, and Kiba to do it.
• Yūske insisted that a female ninja carry him, and Shino quietly recognized him and offered to carry him instead.
• Yūske challenged Naruto to consider whether the bandits they had driven away might harm future victims.
• Yūske led the group to a village, then told them the bandit hideout was about ten kilometers farther ahead.
• Yūske warned the ninja that the bandits had killed before and said they should wipe them all out if they chose to act.

Naruto’s team scouted a bandit stronghold and learned it held seven ninja, captured women, and injured men. Shikamaru began planning the attack while the team prepared to fight.

• Kimimaro, Kakashi, and another teammate left to follow Naruto’s group and ensure they drew blood, while Yūske and Hiruzen Sarutobi went fishing.
• Shikamaru assigned Hinata, Kiba, and Shino to scout, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to protect them, and Ino, Choji, and himself to bring up the rear.
• Hinata and Shino’s scouting revealed seven enemy chakra signatures, including two comparable to Chunin, along with over a hundred people at the stronghold.
• Shikamaru’s team agreed to fight after learning the bandits held fifty-six women and more than a dozen barely breathing men.
• Shikamaru began formulating a battle plan, and Naruto promised Sakura he would protect her.

Shikamaru led the Konoha genin in an assault on a bandit stronghold to rescue the women held there. Their infiltration was discovered, and the bandit leader ordered his men to kill the ninjas and flee.

• Shikamaru calmed Naruto and Kiba, organized the genin into three teams, and ordered them to enter through the stronghold’s front gate.
• Sasuke killed the guards with shuriken while Shino’s insects caught their bodies, allowing the nine genin to slip inside.
• Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura Haruno assassinated bandits in the rooms and freed several women held captive.
• Naruto acted alone after finding a wounded woman, killed the bandit who had attacked her, and exposed the team’s position.
• Shikamaru regrouped with Hinata and the others as the bandits discovered them, and their leader ordered his men to kill the Konoha ninjas and relocate.

Yūske and the others watched Naruto’s team rescue hostages from bandits, while Itachi prepared to enter the field disguised as Obito. The hostages were safe, and Itachi had just joined the battlefield.

• Yūske told Kakashi that the younger generation had to face hardship, and Kimimaro recalled how Haku, Mayumi, and Yūto had once wiped out a pirate crew.
• Naruto offered himself as a hostage to save the captives, then stabbed his own shoulder to convince the bandits he was serious.
• Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji used their coordinated techniques to create an opening, and the Genin defeated the bandits and rescued every hostage.
• Yūske gave Itachi a mask and ordered him to disguise himself as Obito and use the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Yūske pointed out that Itachi had entered the field as Naruto and the others finished rescuing the hostages.