Chapter Summaries

Genma and Kurenai monitored the Town Chief during the Sword-Grabbing Tournament, then followed a lead after he spoke with a provocative woman. The Town Chief went to an inn to secretly inspect its recent guests, while Genma considered how to investigate him.

• Raiton waited to conserve his strength, while contestants fought in the Sword-Grabbing Tournament and Namiashi Raidō won the black Black Blade.
• Genma and Kurenai watched the Town Chief as he spoke with a woman, and Kurenai followed her after she left.
• The Town Chief watched the woman depart and left in a sedan chair, prompting Genma’s Shadow Clone to relay new information to Genma.
• Genma came up with a way to verify the situation and used the Body Flicker Technique to move again.
• The Town Chief arrived at the inn the woman had recommended and instructed the Waiter to arrange a quiet room so he could inspect recent guests.

Namiashi Raidō distracted the Town Chief while Kurenai and Genma set a trap at the inn, but the plan went awry when the Town Chief's Wife arrived and uncovered the danger. The woman holding the Town Chief hostage was subdued, and the Town Chief fled as Kurenai, Genma, and Raiton moved in.

• Namiashi Raidō challenged the Town Chief to a wooden-sword match, then left after drawing out the encounter.
• The Town Chief told the Waiter to bring him the woman in room 201 and went to a secluded room with her.
• The Town Chief's Wife arrived at the inn, and the Waiter and innkeeper led her to the Town Chief's room.
• The woman in the room held the Town Chief at Kunai-point and threatened to kill him, while his Wife pleaded for his release.
• Kurenai, Genma, and Raiton approached from three directions as vines bound the attacker; the Town Chief escaped, and two Kunai restrained the woman.

Kamise Yushi was left to interrogate the captured female ninja while Genma and Kurenai went to get food. Instead of questioning her, he covered and fed her, and his heart began to soften toward her.

• Raiton and Kurenai subdued the woman who had attacked the Town Chief, bound her, and took her away.
• Genma sent Raiton to guard the Town Chief while he and Kurenai returned to their temporary residence with the captive.
• Kamise Yushi agreed to interrogate the woman after finishing his meal, but Genma and Kurenai left to find meat instead.
• Yushi untied the woman’s bindings, covered her with a blanket when she woke, and offered her food.
• The woman cautiously ate the meat Yushi fed her, and he found himself growing fond of caring for her.

Kamise Yushi sheltered Hanako, a captured female ninja, and grew attached to her before she was sent back to the village. After leaving Feiyu Town, Yushi and his team continued their mission, while Noma encountered Might Guy’s enthusiastic pitch for a green bodysuit.

• Kamise Yushi sent a message to Konohagakure requesting help with Hanako and tried to make her more comfortable while she waited.
• Hanako eventually told Yushi her name and left with a ninja sent from the village, leaving Yushi distracted and his teammates amused.
• Yushi, Genma, Kurenai, and Raiton completed their month observing the Town Chief and departed Feiyu Town.
• During a cave rest, Raiton teased Yushi about Hanako, and Yushi deflected their questions about why they had hurried onward.
• Noma sneezed during a mission, and Might Guy offered him a green bodysuit as protection from the cold.

Yushi assigned Genma, Raiton, and Kurenai an uncertain-rank escort mission for Sagi, heir to the Land of Birds. Sagi delayed their departure to explore Konoha’s food shops, while Genma and Kurenai were chosen to accompany him and Raiton was left behind.

• Yushi introduced the team to Sagi and his attendant Chishima, and Sagi mistook Genma for a girl because of his appearance.
• Sagi asked to spend the morning exploring Konoha before the mission, and Yushi agreed to leave in the afternoon.
• Sagi chose Genma and Kurenai to accompany him, while Yushi told Raiton he could go home or secretly follow them.
• Chishima showed Sagi a food map, and Sagi decided that their first stop would be Myoami House.

Raiton tried the new fish cakes at Myoami House and used his enjoyment of them to provoke Sagi, who had previously offended him. Genma bought fish cakes for his group and persuaded Raiton that sharing them might ease the team’s conflict, though Sagi’s reaction remained uncertain.

• Raiton ordered ten skewers at Myoami House, sampled four fish cake flavors for free, and praised them to the vendor, Yamazaki.
• Sagi and Chishima arrived with Genma and Kurenai, and Raiton rebuffed Sagi before deliberately eating and describing a fish cake in front of him.
• Genma ordered four-flavor skewers from Yamazaki, who supplied them free because of the Shiranui Clan’s support for the shop.
• Raiton complained that Genma had taken fish cakes without him, but Genma argued that the gesture could help ease the conflict between Raiton and Sagi.

Genma and Kurenai shared fish cakes and dumplings with Sagi and Chishima at Myoami House, then persuaded Sagi to try hot pot for lunch. After the Six-Flavor Fish Cakes drew a crowd, the group left to shop for local specialties, and Genma and Kurenai ended up carrying Sagi between them toward the Hotpot Restaurant.

• Genma gave Kurenai fish cakes and passed four skewers to Sagi through Chishima, who convinced Sagi to try them.
• Sagi enjoyed the fish cakes, shared one with Chishima, and agreed to have hot pot after Genma explained what it was.
• Raiton left to find Teacher Yushi while Yamazaki announced the freshly made Six-Flavor Fish Cakes, drawing a crowd to Myoami House.
• Genma and Kurenai left with Sagi and Chishima to buy local specialties, and the children soon carried bags larger than themselves.
• Genma and Kurenai each took hold of Sagi's bags, lifting him into the air as they carried him swinging toward the Hotpot Restaurant.

Sagi, Chishima, Yamame, and the Konoha ninja set out for the Land of Birds, where Genma, Kurenai, Yushi, and Raidō prepared to escort them. A mist ambush struck as they entered a forest, leaving the team under attack.

• Sagi and Chishima grieved for the guards who had died protecting them, while Yamame vowed to defend Sagi and Genma promised the Konoha ninja would do their duty.
• Sagi gave Yamame local specialties, and Yamame warned Genma and Kurenai to protect Sagi before driving the carriage out of Konoha with the ninja escort.
• Genma reflected on beginning his ninja career as he and Kurenai discussed the dangers of the mission with Yushi.
• Raidō joined the team at Konoha's main gate, and the four ninja arranged themselves to guard the carriage as they departed for the Land of Birds.
• A suspicious mist rose around the team in a forest, and attackers hurled shuriken at Genma and Yushi, who responded with the Great Fireball Technique.

Genma, Kurenai, Yushi, and Raiton were forced to return to Konohagakure after Hagane's Rogue Ninjas poisoned Genma and Kurenai during an ambush. Once the two recovered, Yushi arranged for Sagi's group to stay another night, then visited Delia in prison with hot pot.

• Hagane escaped with a captured Rogue Ninja after Genma and Kurenai defended the carriage, while Yushi and Raiton captured two other attackers.
• Genma and Kurenai fainted from a slow-evaporating toxin, so Yushi brought them and Sagi's group back to Konohagakure for treatment.
• A doctor said the poison was not potent and Genma and Kurenai would recover soon; Yushi agreed to let Sagi's group stay overnight and leave the next day.
• Yushi arranged for Raiton to escort Sagi and Chishima to eat hot pot, while he brought hot pot to Delia in prison and spent the evening with her.

Genma's team arrived in the Land of Birds, where Genma worried that Hagane's identity as the monk Mōzō could endanger Sagi. Sagi arranged for Genma and Kurenai to visit his little sister Toki while Yushi met the Daimyo, and they found the children playing in a wetland behind a small house.

• Hagane canceled the plan to assassinate Sagi and assigned Beichen and the other Rogue Ninja children missions to steal techniques from other countries.
• Genma's team traveled cautiously for two and a half days before reaching the Land of Birds, and Genma worried about Hagane's secret identity as Mōzō.
• Sagi asked Genma and Kurenai to meet his little sister, while Yushi went to the Daimyo's Palace and sent Raiton to explore and buy local specialties.
• Sagi and Chishima led Genma and Kurenai through a small house to its backyard, where Toki and a purple-haired boy were playing in a vast wetland.

Genma learned that the giant Grey Heron was the last of its kind and that Sagi hoped someone would help find the others. He decided to approach the bird and investigate its lost companions, leaving Kurenai to watch over the children.

• A giant Grey Heron arrived at the marsh, startling Genma and Kurenai while Sagi and Toki greeted it excitedly.
• Genma asked Toki where the Grey Heron came from, but she said only her father knew.
• Sagi explained that the Grey Herons once lived in the Valley of the Grey Herons, which was destroyed, and that most of the birds were captured.
• Sagi asked Genma to help find the Grey Heron's companions and promised to pay if he became Daimyo.
• Genma agreed to help, asked Kurenai to watch the children, and removed his headband and uniform before approaching the Grey Heron.

Genma spoke with the Grey Heron and promised to help find its nearly extinct companions, but the bird refused to become his summoning beast until he was strong enough to defeat it. After Genma and Kurenai reconciled over his wish to protect her, they returned to Sagi, Toki, and Chishima, who eagerly questioned him about the bird.

• Genma approached the Grey Heron, earned its trust, and promised to help it find its missing companions.
• Genma asked the Grey Heron to become his family's summoning beast, but it knocked him into the water and told him to return when he could defeat it.
• Kurenai confronted Genma for keeping her outside his plans, and he invited her to join him when he next tried to tame the Grey Heron.
• Genma and Kurenai returned to Sagi, Toki, and Chishima, and Genma told them about his promise to help the Grey Heron.
• Toki asked Genma to make the Grey Heron sing, while Sagi insisted it should recite poetry, and the two began arguing.

After returning from the Land of Birds, Genma trained with Str at a waterfall and discovered that his master could use Chakra and was far stronger in Taijutsu than he had expected. Str told Genma that he would have to figure out much of the Drunken Immortal Lineage’s Nintaijutsu himself, then pointed him toward the waterfall.

• Namiashi Raidō and the others enjoyed Chicken Wing Bun before setting off from the Land of Birds for Konoha.
• Str took Genma to a waterfall, where they both stood on the water, and Genma learned that Str could use Chakra.
• Str explained that his master had left him Chakra as a fallback, and he described the potential of the Drunken Immortal Lineage and other Sage Art inheritances.
• After Genma asked Str to teach him powerful techniques, Str ordered him to hit him and blocked Genma’s repeated punches before sending him flying with a brief counterattack.
• Genma apologized for being greedy, and Str said Genma would have to figure out much of the Nintaijutsu himself before pointing at the waterfall with a Bottle Finger.

Genma trained in Nintaijutsu beneath a waterfall for seven days before rejoining Kurenai and Raiton at the training ground. Their sensei, Kamise Yushi, arrived with Chunin Exams registration forms, and the team learned that the exams might include older and stronger opponents.

• Str demonstrated how to cut through a waterfall with Bottle Finger and ordered Genma to practice tai chi beneath it.
• Genma gradually learned to stand beneath the waterfall and practiced tai chi there for seven days.
• Genma, Kurenai, and Raiton waited for Kamise Yushi, then cooked and ate Bamboo Rice when he did not arrive by noon.
• Yushi arrived late, traded Bamboo Rice with Kurenai, and handed the three of them Chunin Exams registration forms.
• Genma and Raiton suspected Yushi had planned their recent missions around the exams, while Kurenai guessed he had wanted to earn more money.
• Yushi warned the team about older competitors, and Raiton's question about Kakashi left Yushi wondering what had happened to him.

Genma, Kurenai, and Raiton passed the Chunin Exams’ written test and entered the team elimination round. Their coordinated tactics and Genma’s speed won them their first three-on-three match, leaving them to continue toward advancement.

• Yushi asked whether anyone had seen Kakashi, and Genma, Kurenai, and Raiton said they had not heard from him.
• Genma studied medical knowledge and practiced healing octopuses and red carp before resting ahead of the exams.
• Genma, Kurenai, and Raiton passed the written test, where Kakashi, Might Guy, and Obito also advanced.
• The team elimination round began with three-on-three matches, and Genma’s team faced three older Genin.
• Raiton engaged the sturdy opponent while Genma and Kurenai used coordinated techniques to pin and defeat the opposing team.

Genma watched Kakashi defeat Might Guy’s team and then planned for his own team’s match against Kakashi’s team. He proposed that they focus their attacks on Kakashi, but Raiton and Kurenai were still unsure how the plan would work as Genma suggested they begin with rock-paper-scissors.

• Genma watched Hyuga Hashiri compete in the Chunin Exams and noticed his practiced Acupoint Strikes.
• Might Guy’s team defeated Rin and Obito, but Kakashi trapped Might Guy and Ebisu underground before Ebisu persuaded Washi to surrender.
• The exam officials separated winning teams from losing teams for the next round, and Genma’s team drew Kakashi’s team as opponents.
• Raiton proposed that he stall Kakashi while Genma fought Rin and Kurenai fought Obito, but Genma instead suggested they target Kakashi together.
• Genma explained that he would occupy Kakashi while Raiton and Kurenai created chances to join the attack, then proposed they play rock-paper-scissors.

Genma, Kurenai, and Raiton battled Kakashi, Obito, and Rin, focusing their coordinated attacks on Kakashi but failing to overcome him. As both teams prepared to resume the fight, Minato explained that Kakashi had qualified as a Chunin at six but had delayed promotion, while the author added notes about the characters’ ages and terminology.

• Genma used rock-paper-scissors to teach Raiton to deceive opponents, then advised Kurenai and Raiton to support him against Kakashi whenever they could.
• Genma's team opened the match with a coordinated attack, but Kakashi blocked Genma and pressured him with Shadow Clones while Kurenai and Raiton engaged Obito and Rin.
• Kurenai and Raiton broke away to help Genma attack Kakashi, and Kurenai briefly distracted Obito by stomping on his foot.
• Kakashi repelled the trio's combined assault, and Rin and Obito returned to his side as the teams prepared for another clash.
• Genma and Kakashi each used Shadow Clone Jutsu again, while Minato told Kamise Yushi that Kakashi had qualified as a Chunin at six but had refused promotion until now.
• The author explained the ages assigned to Kakashi and Might Guy and commented on the translated distinction between blades and swords.

Genma's team fought Kakashi's team in the arena and targeted Rin and Obito to expose Kakashi's concern for his teammates. The match ended with Kurenai accidentally stabbing Rin, who began treating the wound while Obito awakened his Sharingan.

• Genma, Kurenai, and Raiton fought Kakashi, Obito, and Rin, destroying each other's Shadow Clones as Kakashi pressed the attack.
• Genma realized Kakashi prioritized protecting his teammates and told his group to target Rin and Obito to create openings.
• Raiton drew Kakashi's attention while Genma joined him in a sword fight, and Rin and Obito confronted Kurenai.
• Kurenai used Secret Sword: Obscure Moon Night against Obito, but Rin knocked him out of the way and was pierced by Kurenai's blade.
• Obito's Sharingan awakened as he supported the injured Rin, who asked Kurenai to hold the blade steady while she began treating the wound.

Genma and Raiton forfeited their match against Team 7 after Kakashi pointed out that continuing would leave them at a disadvantage, especially with Obito's Sharingan awakened. Minato rushed to check on Obito, while Yushi tended to the injured students and promised Genma and Raiton he would recommend them as future Hokage guards.

• Kakashi adapted Genma's clinging swordsmanship and warned Genma and Raiton that their team would be worse off if they kept fighting.
• Genma decided to forfeit, and the referee declared Team 7 the winner of the fourth round.
• Rin was taken for treatment while Genma, Raiton, and Kurenai tended to their wounds and discussed the possibility of another match.
• Yushi and Minato arrived with fish cakes, and Raiton told Minato that Obito had awakened the Sharingan.
• Minato hurried off to see Obito, while Yushi told Genma and Raiton he would recommend them as future Hokage guards.
• Raiton offered Yushi a large fish cake, which Yushi recognized as one he had bought himself.

The third-round elimination matches began, and Genma reassured his teammates that becoming Chunin was not their only goal. Team Four won a brutal first match, and Genma's team learned they would not face Team Ten yet as Might Guy, Ebisu, and Washi entered the arena for the second match.

• The referee paired Team Four against Team Nine for the first match, while Genma and Might Guy's teams waited anxiously to learn their own opponents.
• Genma told Raiton that Kakashi was likely to take one of the few Chunin spots and that he did not need to become a Chunin this early.
• Kamise Yushi agreed to take the team for hot pot after their match if they were not too badly injured.
• Team Four defeated Team Nine in a vicious battle, with Senpu enduring a Kunai wound and slamming his final opponent to the ground before collapsing.
• The referee announced Team Ten for the second match, and Genma, Raiton, and Kurenai cheered on Might Guy, Ebisu, and Washi.