Chapter Summaries

Genma recognized that the minister’s son was using supposed medical examinations to obstruct the minister’s treatment, then diagnosed the unconscious minister with hepatic encephalopathy. He admitted he could not cure him alone and proposed working with other physicians, including Tsunade, leaving the minister’s aide cautiously hopeful.

• The minister’s Eldest Son brought Genma to the minister’s residence and hinted that he wanted him to bluff rather than cure his father.
• A middle-aged aide challenged Genma to diagnose the minister from a distance, and Genma identified a liver-related brain disorder by observing and smelling him.
• The aide revealed that Tsunade had diagnosed the same illness three days earlier and had promised to cure the minister.
• Genma explained that his own treatment would be slow and uncertain, so he proposed cooperating with more capable physicians.
• The aide invited Genma to examine the minister further and reacted with disbelief when Genma offered to work with others.

Genma met Tsunade while seeking a way to treat the minister’s liver disease. He earned her interest by identifying the potion she was preparing and proposing that they remove the minister’s diseased liver, but she demanded proof of his abilities.

• The steward sent Genma to meet Lady Tsunade, and the Eldest Son watched him leave with surprise and admiration.
• A white-haired old healer mocked Genma, but Genma challenged him to go back inside and prove his skill.
• Tsunade suspected Genma was another fraud until he identified the herbs and recognized that she was preparing a Vitality Potion.
• Genma explained that the potion could only extend the minister’s life temporarily because of his liver disease.
• Genma proposed removing the minister’s liver and told Tsunade that she had the ability to keep him alive without it.
• Tsunade asked Genma to prove his abilities.

Genma tried to recruit Tsunade to help operate on the minister by showing her prescriptions and medicinal ingredients. When Tsunade considered taking his medicine chest, Genma proposed a dice gamble to secure her cooperation, leaving their bargain unsettled.

• Tsunade questioned whether Genma was a ninja, and he avoided revealing his identity while showing her two prescriptions for treating the minister.
• Genma opened a chest of medicinal ingredients, and Tsunade inspected them before recognizing that his supplies could help with the operation and recovery.
• Genma asked Tsunade to share the reward, while Tsunade considered robbing him of the medicine chest.
• Genma proposed a dice gamble in which Tsunade could win the chest, while he would ask her to do something within agreed limits if she lost.
• Tsunade agreed to gamble, and Genma offered to give up any share of the minister's reward regardless of the outcome.

Genma and Tsunade made a wager, and Genma won two rounds, gaining a chance to ask her for a favor. While they prepared medicine and discussed treating liver disease, Tsunade asked whether Genma knew Medical Ninjutsu, and he suggested using a Microscope to learn.

• Tsunade agreed to bet with Genma on one favor, provided his request would not harm Konohagakure.
• Genma and Tsunade played two rounds of big or small, and Genma won both.
• Genma decided to use his wager to ask Tsunade to take in Karin and her mother.
• Genma and Tsunade prepared medicinal ingredients and discussed treating liver disease, while Tsunade's hands trembled.
• Tsunade asked whether Genma knew Medical Ninjutsu, and Genma suggested that a Microscope might make it easier to learn.
• Tsunade realized Genma might be trying to learn Medical Ninjutsu from her using a Microscope.

Genma showed Tsunade his Microscope and taught her how to use it, then followed her to meet Shizune. Shizune recognized him as Shiranui Genma, prompting Tsunade to grab him.

• Genma summoned his Microscope and explained its use to Tsunade.
• Genma prepared a specimen from hand-washing water, and Tsunade examined the tiny organisms under the Microscope.
• Tsunade invited Genma to meet someone and led him deeper into the house.
• Genma met Shizune, who recognized him as Shiranui Genma, and Tsunade abruptly grabbed him.

Genma revealed his identity to Tsunade and explained why he had sought her out, while helping her continue treating the minister in the Land of Hot Springs. He asked her to look after a woman from the Uzumaki Clan for ten million ryo a month, leaving Tsunade’s answer unresolved.

• Tsunade confronted Genma for deceiving her, and Shizune intervened to prevent her from attacking him.
• Genma persuaded Tsunade to finish treating the minister, then showed Shizune how to use the Microscope as Tsunade ordered her to practice the Regenerative Healing Technique.
• Tsunade demanded Genma explain his identity, purpose, and how he had found her, and Genma recounted his reasons while omitting his intelligence network.
• Genma admitted he could not fully trust Konoha’s Will of Fire after hearing about the Darkness of Konoha, and Tsunade challenged his request that she care for someone from the Uzumaki Clan.
• Genma offered Tsunade ten million ryo a month to look after the woman, but Tsunade had not yet answered.

Genma tried to persuade Tsunade to protect Karin and her mother, then offered her Hatake Swordsmanship as proof of his claims. Tsunade agreed to test him in the courtyard, where they encountered a stubborn old man outside the wooden house.

• Genma offered Tsunade payment to protect Karin and her mother, and proposed a three-year time limit.
• Tsunade questioned Genma's motives, and he handed her a scroll containing Hatake Swordsmanship.
• Tsunade challenged Genma to prove the swordsmanship was genuine and headed outside to fight him.
• Shizune stayed behind to train her Medical Ninjutsu after Tsunade encouraged her.
• Genma warned an old man outside the wooden house to leave, but Tsunade carried him out of the doorway when he tried to enter.
• Genma drew his sword in the courtyard as Tsunade stood ready to face him.

Genma settled matters with Tsunade, helped her protect Kana and Karin, and gave the family supplies to train and defend themselves. He left them with a promise that he and Tony would come to their rescue if they were captured.

• Genma demonstrated his swordsmanship for Tsunade, who agreed to meet Kana and Karin after the minister's affairs were settled.
• Shizune used the Regenerative Healing Technique to treat the minister, and Tsunade agreed to protect Kana and Karin after testing Kana's abilities.
• Tsunade beat Genma after he admitted that his medicine box could be refilled infinitely, and Shizune treated his injuries.
• Genma gave Kana and Karin supplies and notes to help them learn to become stronger, and Karin vowed to protect her family.
• Genma warned Kana to keep herself and Karin safe and promised that he and Tony would rescue them if they were captured.

Genma returned to Konohagakure and trained with Minato and the other guards to learn a cooperative Flying Thunder God technique. During a visit to the orphanage, he noticed Kabuto was unusually subdued and asked what had happened.

• Genma left the minister’s estate, reunited with Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki, and returned with them to Konohagakure.
• Genma and the other Hokage guards practiced the Three-Tailed Seal until Minato judged them ready for further training.
• Minato tested the guards’ aptitude for object-summoning, and Genma demonstrated the Summoning Jutsu before helping the others practice.
• Genma and three other guards studied the Flying Thunder God Array, but their poor coordination prevented them from using it successfully.
• Minato arranged coordination exercises for the four guards, while Genma continued training his swordsmanship with Noma and Yushi.
• Genma visited the orphanage, noticed Kabuto’s smile seemed forced, and asked whether something had happened.

Genma comforted Kabuto, gave him a shape-changing pendant as a way to stay connected, and later learned Kabuto had been taken away. At the orphanage, Urushi asked Genma about finding work to help support the children.

• Genma noticed Kabuto was upset about possibly leaving the orphanage and offered him comfort.
• Genma gave Kabuto a magical pendant that could change shape and told him its original design could help him find Genma.
• A week later, Genma learned Kabuto had been taken away, then donated funds and shared snacks with the orphanage children.
• Urushi complained about Kabuto's departure, and Genma observed the children while considering clothes for them.
• Urushi asked whether he could come to Genma for a job, and Genma wondered what work the young boy could do.

Genma arranged apprenticeships and work for Urushi and the other older orphans, then continued training in swordsmanship and the Flying Thunder God Array. After testing the technique and arranging a trusted contact in the Land of Iron, he established a passage there.

• Genma placed Urushi at Myoami House, Yurisha at the Hotpot Restaurant, and Purple Tongmu as a reporter.
• Two months later, Genma, Raiton, and Washi used the Flying Thunder God Array to transfer Tadano Nobuo to their marked location.
• Genma made his own Flying Thunder God Kunai and discovered he could teleport passively, but struggled to control his destination and found the technique costly to use.
• Genma learned that Chakra could conceal a Flying Thunder God Kunai and that transferring immediately after wrapping it prevented interference from multiple targets.
• Genma chose a former Rogue Ninja traveling to the Land of Iron as his contact, and Tony delivered the Kunai and arranged secrecy agreements.
• A month later, Genma successfully established a passage to the Land of Iron.

Shiranui Genma explored the Land of Iron and learned how to use his Iron Token to find samurai challengers. An old man led him to a youth dojo, where Genma questioned the fees and challenge rules before the old man asked who had given him the token.

• Shiranui Genma asked an elderly passerby who the strongest samurai in the Land of Iron were and showed him his Iron Token.
• The old man recognized the token as a rare Iron Warrior's Certificate and explained that it could help Genma gain an audience with powerful samurai.
• Genma gave the old man soup dumplings and asked where he could challenge samurai one by one before facing Mifune and his master.
• The old man brought Genma to a dojo for challengers under twenty and asked him to pay an entry fee.
• The old man explained that Genma would need to build a reputation and win one hundred matches before challenging the adult group, then asked who had given him the Iron Token.

Genma paid Gozan Sanban to enter the dojo and trained while waiting for an opponent. When a bald young samurai unexpectedly attacked, Genma blocked him and learned that the man had compared his reaction to Brother Mifune's.

• Genma refused to use the name of the senior who gave him the Iron Token, then paid Gozan Sanban to enter the dojo.
• Gozan Sanban brought Genma into the empty dojo and told him to wait for someone to arrive.
• Genma practiced the Eight Forms of Swordsmanship, imagining attacks from Obito and Madara Uchiha and training to defend from every direction.
• A bald young samurai entered the dojo, dismissed Genma's challenge, and headed toward the inner room.
• The young samurai attacked Genma from the side, but Genma blocked the strike and heard him compare his reaction to Brother Mifune's.

Genma met Chōsuke, learned that his Iron Token was exceptionally rare and allowed its holder to challenge anyone without conditions, then fought him with wooden swords. They stopped when their fierce duel damaged the dojo and went outside to continue.

• Genma introduced himself to Chōsuke, who eagerly offered to duel after hearing that Genma sought outstanding samurai.
• Chōsuke examined Genma’s Iron Token and explained that fewer than five people in the Land of Iron possessed one and that it granted unrestricted challenges.
• Chōsuke spoke of wanting to defeat Hanzō someday, and he and Genma agreed to spar with wooden swords.
• Genma and Chōsuke exchanged powerful attacks until their duel damaged the dojo floor.
• Chōsuke suggested they continue outside and asked about Genma’s training, and Genma explained that his first master had been a great fist fighter.

Genma defeated Chōsuke’s Drawing Sword Technique in a spar, and Chōsuke urged him to discover the conviction behind his swordsmanship. The chapter left Genma wondering whether he could find that conviction outside of battle.

• Chōsuke challenged Genma to a serious duel and used the Drawing Sword Technique he had practiced for fifteen years.
• Genma countered Chōsuke’s strike, and their wooden swords snapped when they collided.
• Chōsuke accepted that the exchange did not count as a loss and promised to keep improving his swordsmanship.
• Genma told Chōsuke that he had loved swords since childhood and wanted them to spar again.
• Chōsuke asked whether Genma had a samurai’s conviction and suggested he look beyond his sword and beyond battle to find it.
• Genma wondered whether his daily swordsmanship training might be what Chōsuke meant.

Genma questioned Mifune’s motives and followed Chōsuke to meet his master, Gozan Sanban. Mifune admitted he had mixed truth with falsehood to guide Genma and warned him that the Land of Iron’s famous “strongest samurai” might be champions of reputation rather than strength.

• Chōsuke led Genma into the dojo and confirmed that his master lived there and that Mifune had brought Genma in.
• Chōsuke showed Genma the room filled with bamboo scrolls and then led him to the courtyard, where Gozan Sanban meditated atop a stone pillar.
• Mifune noticed Genma and Chōsuke, came down from the pillar, and praised Genma’s aptitude while teasing Chōsuke.
• Mifune admitted that his earlier statements had been partly false and explained that he wanted to keep Genma from being drawn into the Land of Iron’s false samurai culture.
• Mifune explained that the Iron Warrior’s Certificate could be used to challenge famous samurai, but warned that the celebrated “strongest” might simply be those whose reputations had spread farthest.

Genma learned about the Land of Iron’s samurai traditions and Sanban’s plans for him, then followed Sanban and Chōsuke to watch Mifune practice. The chapter left Genma observing the legendary swordsman in the bamboo grove.

• Sanban explained how Hanzō’s influence had changed the Land of Iron’s samurai and offered to help Genma with training or weapons.
• Sanban told Genma he would fight Sanban’s disciples and the samurai regarded as the strongest, and explained the Land of Iron’s Heart’s Blade tradition.
• Chōsuke reported that Daido had defeated most of the strongest samurai and that the Daimyo wanted him to join the guard, though his actions had angered people.
• Sanban rebuked Chōsuke for boasting about his draw with Genma, then led Genma and Chōsuke to a bamboo grove.
• Sanban pointed out Mifune practicing with a wooden sword and ordered Genma and Chōsuke to watch quietly.

Genma watched Mifune train through the lasting effects of Hanzō’s poison and learned that Gozan Sanban wanted to test the swordsmanship of Hatake Sakumo’s student. The chapter left Genma preparing to face Mifune in a samurai duel.

• Genma watched Mifune repeatedly practice the Basic Saber Technique despite his impaired coordination, and learned that Hanzō’s poison had damaged his nervous system.
• Mifune explained that the dojo might soon face challenges from samurai seeking fame, and Chōsuke offered to defend it.
• Genma reflected on Mifune’s perseverance and learned that he could handle three of the strongest challengers in succession.
• Genma asked whether he should challenge the so-called strongest samurai, but Mifune said Genma would challenge him instead.
• Genma told Gozan Sanban that he was a ninja from Konohagakure and had learned swordsmanship from Hatake Sakumo, Konoha’s White Fang.
• Gozan Sanban said he wanted to experience White Fang’s strength through Genma and called for a duel to understand the will behind Genma’s sword.

Genma fought Mifune with wooden swords and was overwhelmed by the samurai master’s strongest strike. Mifune stopped Genma from treating himself and prepared a medicinal bath, leaving Genma at the tub’s edge.

• Chōsuke fetched wooden swords so Genma and Mifune could duel.
• Genma and Mifune exchanged dozens of blows until their wooden swords broke.
• Mifune unleashed his strongest strike, breaking Genma’s sword and sending him flying with a painful chest injury.
• Mifune examined Genma and said he would treat him with something better than ordinary treatment or Medical Ninjutsu.
• Chōsuke and Mifune filled a wooden tub with hot water and added a black and red paste before bringing Genma to it.

While Genma recovered in a medicinal bath, Gozan Sanban discussed war, peace, and the samurai spirit before telling him he would soon visit the Sword Mountain Range to choose his Heart’s Blade. Genma grew eager to discover whether he could find a sword that gave him strength.

• Genma endured the painful medicinal bath as Gozan Sanban explained that the medicine was healing his injuries.
• Gozan Sanban asked how Genma cultivated his Blade Momentum, and Genma recalled surviving increasingly dangerous battles during the war.
• Gozan Sanban reflected on the Land of Iron’s peaceful life and wondered whether samurai and ninja would still be needed in a peaceful world.
• Genma pointed out that samurai still had to maintain order and settle disputes, and Gozan Sanban said he would take him to the Sword Mountain Range in a few days.
• Gozan Sanban explained that swords in the Sword Mountain Range could become Heart’s Blades, which gave strength to the person who held them, and Genma eagerly anticipated finding one.