Chapter Summaries

Genma discussed Shizune’s devotion to Tsunade, then returned to propose researching Impure World Reincarnation with her. Tsunade questioned whether the work would involve human experimentation, and Genma remained unsure whether the technique could truly resurrect someone.

• Genma complained to Shizune about his earlier encounter with the drunken Tsunade, and Shizune defended her while explaining why she had stayed by her side.
• Genma left the inn to clean up and returned several hours later to find Tsunade awake and drinking tea.
• Genma told Tsunade he had obtained a technique for summoning Netherworld Spirits and asked whether she and Shizune should leave with him to begin research.
• Tsunade asked whether Impure World Reincarnation required human experimentation, and Genma proposed using unconscious clones as sacrifices.
• Tsunade questioned whether clones had souls and whether the technique could fully resurrect the dead, while Genma admitted he did not know how to summon only spirits.

Genma persuaded Tsunade to travel to his research facility and attempt a soul-transfer experiment. At the Land of Fire border, Gaara said farewell to Naruto and Kushina, who embraced him as her son before he returned to his village.

• Genma persuaded Tsunade that attaching another person's soul to a body might work, and she agreed to try the experiment.
• Genma used the Flying Thunder God Technique to take Tsunade and Shizune to his secluded research compound in the Land of Fire.
• Genma arranged a maid to guide Tsunade and Shizune, then hurried home after being away most of the day.
• At the Land of Fire border, Gaara told Naruto and Kushina that his people were nearby, and Naruto called him his first friend.
• Kushina invited Gaara to call her Mom, and Gaara tearfully accepted before she embraced him; Naruto began crying too.

Naruto, Kushina, and Gaara met Temari and Kankuro, who had come to take Gaara back. As Gaara prepared to leave Kushina, Naruto and Kushina described him as the kind of man girls liked, leaving Temari unexpectedly intrigued.

• Temari and Kankuro spotted Kushina embracing Gaara and were shocked by how close they had become.
• Naruto greeted Temari and Kankuro, forgot their names, and mistakenly assumed Gaara had no family.
• Temari and Kankuro introduced themselves as Gaara's real older sister and brother, and said they had come to pick him up.
• Kushina encouraged Gaara to get along with his siblings, and Gaara thanked Naruto for hosting him before heading over to him.
• Naruto told Gaara that girls would go crazy for him and called him an Overbearing CEO, while Temari looked at Gaara with growing interest.

Tsunade and the others tested a method for accelerating the growth of artificially fertilized eggs, hoping to prepare for a resurrection plan. After the experiment, Karin learned that Haku sometimes dressed as a woman because he yearned for the warmer life he associated with being a girl.

• Tsunade directed Karin, Haku, Kabuto, Nonō, and Shizune as they accelerated the development of a fertilized fish egg.
• The team stopped when the egg developed into an embryonic fish, after hundreds of experiments had helped them coordinate their efforts.
• Tsunade reflected on the skill of Kabuto and Nonō and on Genma's training base and Baoduoduo's need for armed protection.
• Karin gave Haku a handkerchief and asked why he sometimes went shopping dressed as a woman.
• Haku told Karin that he liked women's kimono and cherished dressing as a girl because he yearned for the sweeter, warmer life he associated with it.
• Karin reacted with surprise and asked whether Haku might become unable to change back.

Karin learned that Haku had considered becoming a girl because he loved Zabuza and feared he could not stay by his side as a boy. She encouraged him to wait for Tsunade’s research to advance, while privately hoping he would help push research into changing the body’s development.

• Karin told Haku she would support him if he wanted to become a girl, and Haku admitted that the possibility mattered to him.
• Haku recalled that his feelings for Zabuza might be love and feared that Zabuza would no longer need him if he could only serve as a trusted attendant.
• Karin said Tsunade’s research might eventually make bodily transformation possible, prompting Haku to ask whether he should wait for progress.
• Karin urged Haku to consider pursuing his wish sooner because research on the subject could take years, then told him there was no need to rush.
• Karin privately hoped Haku would help persuade the research group to study changes in human cell differentiation, and reflected on her own undeveloped secondary female characteristics.

Four years after Kakashi’s cohort began teaching, Genma and Kurenai became Jonin squad leaders and learned which graduates they would train. Minato accompanied Genma to visit his squad’s homes, starting with Konohamaru’s, and Genma suggested they visit Konohamaru’s tutor, Ebisu.

• Minato showed the new Jonin instructors footage of the graduating students and assigned them their squads.
• Genma recognized Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon, while Kurenai learned that her squad included their daughter Kagura, Hanabi, and a girl who could summon ninja cats.
• Genma and Kurenai discussed teaching their squads together and making up for each other’s weaknesses.
• Minato asked Genma to accompany him on home visits to the students in Genma’s squad.
• Minato and Genma planned to visit Konohamaru’s home, and Genma suggested visiting Ebisu, Konohamaru’s personal tutor.

Minato and Genma visited Asuma and Ebisu to learn about Konohamaru’s upbringing and recent changes. Ebisu explained that Lee and the books he recommended had helped transform Konohamaru, linking his development to Genma’s hazy memories of the past.

• Minato and Genma used Flying Thunder God to reach the village center, then walked to Asuma’s home.
• Asuma and his daughter Nanatsuri told Minato and Genma that Konohamaru had grown from a spoiled, willful child into a diligent and caring older brother.
• Minato and Genma visited Ebisu, who described Konohamaru’s learning progress and praised his calm temperament.
• Ebisu said Lee and the books he recommended had sparked Konohamaru’s transformation, reminding Genma of Konohamaru’s earlier challenge to the Hyuga Clan.
• Genma connected Ebisu’s account with the strong Konohamaru they had seen in the crystal ball, and he and Minato left Ebisu’s home.

Genma and Minato visited Moegi and Udon’s families after graduation, learning about the children’s strengths and weaknesses. Udon’s father asked Genma to help Udon overcome a flaw in his personality, leaving Genma with an unresolved request.

• Genma and Minato visited Moegi’s home, where her mother described Moegi as kind and capable but overly innocent.
• Moegi’s mother gave Genma instructions about Moegi before he and Minato left.
• Genma and Minato arrived at Udon’s home, where Yumi hurried to prepare coffee and Yumimori welcomed them nervously.
• Yumimori described Udon’s excellent academic ability, weaker physical skills, and strong estimation and battle-analysis skills when wearing his glasses.
• Yumimori admitted that Udon was shy and seemed to have inherited his own personality flaw, then asked Genma to help Udon overcome it.

Genma visited Udon’s family, then met Team 7 and learned the children’s dreams and interests. He warned Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon about the difficult test awaiting them, but Konohamaru vowed that all three would pass.

• Genma reassured Udon’s parents that he would guide Udon and that they would need to support him during training.
• Genma met Kurenai before collecting Team 7, and they flirted as they walked toward the classroom.
• Genma introduced himself to Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon and asked them to share their dreams, hobbies, and dislikes.
• Udon said he wanted to learn more, Moegi hoped to become a great ninja like Tsunade, and Konohamaru declared his dream was to become Hokage.
• Genma warned the students that tomorrow’s practical exercise had a low pass rate and that anyone who failed would return to the Academy.
• Konohamaru insisted that all three of them would pass the exercise.

Genma and Kurenai struggled to come up with survival exercises for their students and decided to ask Asuma for ideas. The chapter left Genma heading out while Kurenai teased him about their plans for the evening, and described how Tsunade and Kakuzu unknowingly helped Baoduoduo grow richer.

• Genma dismissed Konohamaru, Udon, and Moegi after telling them to meet at Training Ground 23 at five the next morning with ninja tools.
• Genma realized his attempt to intimidate his students had failed and worried about how to run their exercise.
• Kagura tried to learn what Kurenai had planned for the survival exercise, but neither Kurenai nor Genma would tell her.
• Genma and Kurenai admitted they had not devised an exercise and decided he should ask Asuma for suggestions.
• Genma left after Kurenai teased him about their plans that night.
• Tsunade and Kakuzu continued gambling, working, and depositing money in banks, unknowingly funneling wealth to Baoduoduo.

Genma and Kurenai discussed other jonin's survival exercises as they tried to devise a suitable test for Kurenai's team. Genma considered several possible team-building methods but had not settled on one by the end of the chapter.

• Genma told Kurenai how Might Guy tested his students' stamina and teamwork by having them run a combined lap total together.
• Genma described Kakashi's bell exercise, and Kurenai recognized how it tested teamwork and the importance of comrades.
• Genma and Kurenai compared their plans for leading their teams, with Kurenai worrying that she needed to design a proper survival exercise for her team.
• Genma considered adapting team-building activities to help Kurenai's students build trust, but admitted his ideas might not work.
• Kurenai worried that students who failed the test would have to return to the Academy, while Genma insisted they should not pass if they were unready.

Genma began a bell-snatching exercise with Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon, requiring them to seize two bells despite having only three students. The children coordinated their attacks and began to pressure Genma, who secretly held back to give them hope.

• Genma explained that the children had one hour to take his two bells and that only two of them could pass.
• Konohamaru encouraged Udon and Moegi to work together rather than give up because one student would be eliminated.
• The three children attacked Genma with shuriken and kunai, but he easily dodged and stopped their early attempts.
• Udon suggested they combine their taijutsu, and the three gradually synchronized their attacks.
• Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon increased their speed until their strikes began piercing Genma's clothes, while Genma deliberately restrained his real speed.

Genma tested Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon by forcing them to choose which teammate would be eliminated, then passed them when they each showed they valued one another. He took the exhausted trio to receive their first Genin mission, a dog-walking assignment, leaving Konohamaru disappointed by how ordinary it was.

• Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon each insisted Genma should eliminate them so the other two could pass.
• Genma explained that their willingness to sacrifice themselves showed they valued their companions, and told them they had passed his test.
• Genma noticed the team had completed the test with time to spare and brought the three children to the mission reception office at six in the morning.
• The newly promoted Genin received a mission to walk a dog, which disappointed Konohamaru and worried Moegi.
• Genma explained that the team would start with simple missions and could work toward assignments outside the village.

Genma led Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon through their first missions, and after two weeks their team received a C-rank escort mission to Shukuba Town. As they prepared to leave, Genma discovered the children had packed absurd amounts of luggage and began removing their excess gear.

• Genma supervised Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon on a dog-walking mission, then took them to Sweet Delights for dumplings and red bean soup.
• Over the next two weeks, the team completed missions efficiently until the Mission Assignment Office gave them a C-rank escort mission from the Land of Tea to Shukuba Town.
• Konohamaru and Moegi eagerly anticipated leaving the village, while Udon worried about supplies and the team’s preparations.
• At the Konoha Main Gate, Genma questioned Moegi’s camera, Konohamaru’s training-filled hiking pack, and Udon’s enormous supply bag.
• After learning the children’s parents were absent or had not stopped them, Genma removed his sword bag and extra luggage and beckoned them over.

Genma taught Konohamaru, Udon, and Moegi how to pack for missions and used a Summoning Scroll to store their equipment. After two days of travel, they reached the Land of Tea, where Genma told them about its famous fish sashimi.

• Genma showed the three students the basic Ninja tools to pack and rebuked Konohamaru and Udon for bringing excessive equipment.
• Genma demonstrated how he used a scroll and the Summoning Jutsu to store clothes, supplies, and other gear.
• Genma promised to store the students’ equipment during the mission and said he might teach them the Summoning Jutsu after it ended.
• Genma and the three students left Konohagakure and traveled for two days to the Land of Tea.
• Konohamaru called the country boring, but became interested when Genma described its famous fish sashimi.

Genma brought Konohamaru, Udon, and Moegi to the Land of Tea for a mission commissioned by a local gang. The gang’s leader explained that a rival faction had been secretly assassinating its members, and Genma’s team prepared to help protect them.

• Genma described the Land of Tea’s prized seasonal fish, disappointing Konohamaru while intriguing Udon.
• Genma warned Konohamaru, Udon, and Moegi to behave properly when they met the local gang.
• A gang member escorted Genma and the children inside to meet the middle-aged boss, who welcomed the Konoha ninjas.
• The boss explained that a rival gang had been targeting important members with assassinations since losing a competition.
• Genma reassured the boss that his team could help, and Konohamaru declared that he was striving to become Hokage.

Genma and his team accepted a lavish seafood feast from their employer in the Land of Tea, while Itotena explained that the meal was an unusually generous gesture. The chapter ended with Itotena identifying his boss as Wasabi Jirocho, leader of the area's largest Yakuza Gang, and Konohamaru asking what a Yakuza Gang was.

• A middle-aged man invited Genma, Konohamaru, Udon, and Moegi to dine with him, and Genma accepted.
• Itotena led the four guests to a private dining room, where maids served the elaborate Feast of a Hundred Delicacies.
• Itotena arranged a hot pot for Konohamaru, who was uneasy about eating sashimi, while Moegi and Udon enjoyed the raw seafood.
• Itotena explained that the rare feast was usually reserved for wealthy local figures and top dignitaries, and Genma recognized the meal as an attempt to win them over.
• Genma asked Itotena for their employer's name, and Itotena said his boss was Wasabi Jirocho, the leader of the area's largest Yakuza Gang.
• Konohamaru asked what a Yakuza Gang was.

Genma used a Shadow Clone to seek intelligence on the Land of Tea’s leading organizations. After learning about the rivalry between the Wasabi Clan and Mustard Clan, he prepared to end the clone, leaving the branch manager wondering whether Genma was planning a larger operation.

• Genma left Itotena explaining gangs to Konohamaru and the others, then visited the merchant association’s Land of Tea branch as a Shadow Clone.
• The branch manager led Genma to a sealed room and showed him a scroll detailing the Wasabi Clan and Mustard Clan’s rivalry and the Mustard Clan’s expulsion from the Land of Tea.
• Genma concluded that Wasabi Jirocho’s account was mostly accurate but suspected he had concealed something about the lavish Feast of a Hundred Delicacies.
• Genma read general reports that the two clans had recently clashed without either gaining a clear advantage.
• As Genma prepared to release the Shadow Clone, the nervous branch manager asked whether he should summon capable men or be informed after Genma resolved the matter.

Genma’s team prepared to escort a woman from the Land of Tea, and Genma challenged the hostile coachman Yan Hua after he insulted the young ninjas. The carriage set off with Konohamaru riding beside Yan Hua while Genma, Moegi, and Udon followed on foot, leaving the team concerned but reassured about the mission.

• A pale Chamber of Commerce official told Genma he was sorry he could not help, and Genma returned to his main body.
• Itotena introduced Yan Hua and the carriage that would carry the woman, and Yan Hua questioned whether the young ninjas could protect her.
• Genma told Konohamaru to sit beside Yan Hua, then appeared silently behind the coachman when Yan Hua drew his sword and threatened him.
• Yan Hua drove the carriage with Konohamaru beside him while Genma, Moegi, and Udon followed behind.
• Udon and Moegi worried about Konohamaru and the mission, and Genma told them to cooperate and promised to protect them if danger arose.

Genma defended the carriage from an ambush and considered staging a fight so Konohamaru and the others could gain experience. After sensing the attackers, he killed two and struck the third, who was hiding underground.

• Genma raised earthen walls to protect the carriage as attackers launched Senbon from the forest.
• Genma’s apparent defeat was revealed to be a substitution, and he used Shadow Clones while ordering Konohamaru to guard the employer.
• Genma entered Sage Mode, sensed three powerful enemies and other nearby chakra signatures, and considered putting on an act to test Konohamaru and the others.
• Genma and his Shadow Clones approached the attackers, and Genma cut down two ninjas after they dodged Flying Thunder God Kunai.
• Genma followed the Earth Release user underground and threw two Kunai into the ground, drawing a muffled cry from the hidden ninja.