Chapter Summaries

Genma escaped Guy’s attempt to recruit him into a green bodysuit, then dealt with Kurenai’s jealousy after she caught him watching Rin. The two spotted Raiton fighting Tadano Nobuo and grew worried as the more experienced opponent pressed him.

• Guy praised Genma’s taste in green outfits and decided he would dye his hair green after Genma suggested it.
• Genma fled from Guy and told Kurenai that Guy had wanted him to wear a green bodysuit.
• Kurenai caught Genma watching Rin and became jealous, but cheered up when he promised to stop paying attention to other girls.
• Kurenai and Genma spotted Raiton fighting Tadano Nobuo, whose greater strength and combat experience appeared to put Raiton at a disadvantage.

After the nine preliminary matches, Genma and the other winners drew lots for the next round, and Genma discovered he would have to face Kurenai. Their playful conversation helped him resolve to fight her despite his worries about damaging their relationship and upsetting her father.

• Raiton returned to the stands after losing to Tadano Nobuo, while Genma and Kurenai quietly offered him water and snacks.
• The nine winners gathered in the arena, and Genma assessed the fighters, including Kakashi, Might Guy, Kurenai, Senpu, Natsuno Kyokashi, and Akame Goki.
• Genma spotted Nara Shiozu watching the matches beside the Third Hokage and wondered whether Shiosui would graduate early.
• Genma drew lot number three and learned that his match would be against Kurenai, while Kurenai also drew the third match.
• Kurenai told Genma to treat their match as her choosing a husband and promised they could discuss marriage if he won.
• Genma decided that Kurenai's support mattered most and teased her about joining his family, and Kurenai challenged him to beat her first.

Kakashi and Sarutobi Hashirama won the first two semifinal matches, while Genma and Kurenai faced off in a fierce blade-and-sword duel. The chapter ended with Kurenai Yuhi admiring his daughter’s swordsmanship as the fight continued.

• Kakashi defeated Might Guy after a Wood Clone took the force of Guy’s kick and Guy hurt his ribs.
• Sarutobi Hashirama overcame Natsuno Kyokashi by exploiting her fatigue and finishing her with a back throw.
• Genma and Kurenai began their match, exchanging rapid blade and sword strikes as the crowd watched.
• Hideyoshi and Riya commented on how well-matched Genma and Kurenai seemed, and Kurenai Yuhi agreed while admiring his daughter wielding a sword.

Genma and Kurenai fought in the tournament, testing each other with genjutsu, clones, and substitutions until Kurenai conceded. They returned to the stands together to watch the final match, Shino Aburame against Akame Goki, whose winner would face Nohara Hikari.

• Hideyoshi and Riya praised Genma’s childhood kindness and cleverness, while Genma and Kurenai continued their close fight.
• Kurenai used a visual genjutsu to confuse Genma, who considered whether she had layered it before countering her attacks with substitutions and clones.
• Genma and Kurenai traded feints and sword strikes until a Shadow Clone held a blade to Kurenai’s neck, and she conceded the match.
• Genma stayed close to the angry Kurenai and tried to appease her with food as they returned to the stands with Raiton.
• Shino Aburame and Akame Goki were set to fight first, with the winner facing Nohara Hikari.

Tadano Nobuo lost to Akame Goki after a prolonged fight involving shuriken, steel wires, and lightning techniques. After the morning matches, the classmates made plans to celebrate that night, and the afternoon finals began with the arena packed for Hiruzen Sarutobi’s speech.

• Tadano Nobuo surprised Akame Goki with a Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, but Akame Goki used the Substitution Technique and attacked him with wire-controlled shuriken and Lightning Style: Earth Running, winning the match.
• The morning matches ended, and Rin invited Kurenai, Genma, and Raiton to join a group meal that evening to celebrate the finalists.
• Might Guy promised to prepare youthful gifts for Genma and Kakashi, while Kakashi warned him that their matches were not over.
• Genma, Kurenai, and Raiton ate grilled meat before returning to the arena for the afternoon matches.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi gave an impassioned speech to the larger crowd, and the first afternoon match began.

Nohara Hikari defeated Akame Goki in a brutal match, advancing to the finals. The matchups were announced, leaving Genma set to face Kakashi, while Kurenai encouraged him to try for a win.

• Nohara Hikari and Akame Goki exchanged kunai blows and both briefly paralyzed themselves when their lightning chakra met.
• Akame Goki used Lightning Style: Earth Running, but Nohara Hikari countered with Lightning Style: Wolf Howl Twin Slayers and struck his shoulder.
• Nohara Hikari threw shuriken at the paralyzed Akame Goki, then rushed him on his hands before recovering his footing and disarming him.
• Akame Goki surrendered, and the referee declared Nohara Hikari the winner and advanced him to the finals.
• The matchups placed Genma against Kakashi, and Kurenai encouraged Genma to fight for victory.

Shiranui Genma fought Kakashi in the first round of the Chunin Finals, hoping to take off Kakashi’s mask while testing his swordsmanship. Though Genma was wounded and falling behind, he adapted to Kakashi’s attacks and began to counter as the fight continued.

• Shiranui Genma told Kakashi that he had been asked to remove his mask if he won, and Kakashi accepted the condition.
• Shiranui Genma and Kakashi exchanged sword strikes, clones, shuriken, and fire and earth techniques until Kakashi’s clones self-destructed.
• Shiranui Genma tested his Spiral Drill sword technique against Kakashi’s white Chakra-coated blade and found their strikes nearly even.
• Kakashi gained the advantage in their sword fight, wounding Shiranui Genma while avoiding injury himself.
• Shiranui Genma persisted through the pain, learned to read Kakashi’s attack patterns, and began making counterattacks.

Genma lost to Kakashi in the tournament, then finished third as Kakashi won first place and became a Chunin. After the exams, Genma learned the war had begun and that his parents would soon leave for duty.

• Genma used a final inward slash to strike Kakashi, but Kakashi substituted a log and put a blade to Genma's back, prompting Genma to concede.
• Kakashi walked back with Genma and mentioned that his father, the White Fang, had called Genma a rare swordsmanship genius.
• Senpu defeated Sarutobi Hashirama, and Kakashi beat Nohara Hikari to take first place; Nohara Hikari placed second and Genma placed third.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi announced that Kakashi became a Chunin while Genma and Senpu became Chunin candidates, then ordered the squad leaders to gather at Konoha's main gate in three days.
• Genma returned home and learned from Hideyoshi that the war had begun and that he and Genma's mother were preparing to leave later.
• Genma advised Hideyoshi to carry Exploding Tags for protection, and Hideyoshi decided to make fake ones to wear under his clothes.

Genma wrestled with his doubts about war, his relationship with Kurenai, and the value of his relentless training. At Str's tavern, he found comfort in his master's concern, but Str gave him the full senjutsu inheritance and said he would no longer need to visit.

• Genma attended a barbecue reunion and walked Kurenai home, where they agreed to train together the next morning.
• After training with Kurenai and buying sweet rice dumplings, Genma headed to his usual training place, troubled by what he had gained from his efforts.
• Genma arrived at Str's tavern and declined a lumberjack's offer to spar.
• Str praised Genma's Chunin Exam performance and revealed that he had worried about leading his student astray.
• Str gave Genma a copy of the entire inheritance and told him he could cultivate on his own from then on.

Str revealed that he had become a Konohagakure resident and Chunin despite the coming war, then demonstrated a powerful technique to Genma while explaining the importance of learning the right skills at the right stage. He led Genma to a mat to begin explaining Momentum, though Genma was not yet ready to master it.

• Str told Genma that he had become an official Konohagakure resident and Chunin, and Genma worried about the coming war and their possible separation.
• Genma asked Str about Blade Momentum, and Str took him to the yard to demonstrate his powerful Fist Momentum.
• Str rebuked Genma for wanting to learn everything at once and explained that a person needed to focus on what suited each stage of their training.
• Genma reflected on his clan's inheritance and agreed that Hideyoshi had been right to urge him to focus his studies.
• Str told Genma he was not ready to master Momentum but could learn what it was, then led him to a mat to begin the lesson.

Genma learned from Str about Momentum, the stages of Sage Arts, and the risks of pursuing its final step. Str rejected Genma’s suggestion to use Chakra to stabilize Nature Energy, leaving Genma’s theory untested.

• Str explained that Momentum came from an initial fusion of consciousness and ability, and described the Entering Dao, Guiding Dao, and Dao Fusion stages.
• Str recounted how his master took him traveling to fight powerful opponents and admitted that he was waiting for an opportunity to reach the final step.
• Str told Genma to focus on cultivating Blade Momentum, keep practicing Taiji, and avoid learning beyond his current stage.
• Str revealed that Sage Arts cultivation could be fatal and said he would leave his unfinished training to Genma if he could not complete it.
• Genma proposed using Chakra to stabilize Nature Energy, but Str considered the difficulty of fusing the powers and rejected the idea.

Genma reflected on his cautious approach to sage arts, received encouragement from Str, and resumed training ahead of the gathering. On his way to Konoha's main gate, he remembered how Might Duy had inspired him to train, ending with Dai addressing the empty training ground where Genma had been watching him.

• Genma decided he would use Shadow Clones to prepare before attempting the dangerous final stage of sage arts training.
• Str praised Genma's progress and encouraged him, and Genma urged Str to keep working hard as his master.
• Genma trained beneath the waterfall while his Shadow Clones practiced Chakra Nature Transformation, then prepared supplies for the gathering.
• Genma met Might Guy training on the way to Konoha's main gate and reflected on how Guy's father, Might Duy, had inspired him to begin training.
• Genma recalled secretly watching Dai train until Dai noticed him and spoke to the empty training ground.

Genma trained with Might Duy, developed his medical ninjutsu studies, and joined Kurenai and Raiton for Team 8's gathering. Their new team-leading Jonin, Nara Shiozu, warned them that they might have to sacrifice themselves in the war.

• Might Duy invited Genma to train with him, and Genma agreed to follow along.
• Genma trained by crushing stones with his self-created ninjutsu until his strength ran out and his hands were injured.
• Genma studied medical ninjutsu and considered using chakra to strike acupoints to stop bleeding, a technique his mother Riya had researched.
• Kurenai told Genma it was time to gather, and he joined her and Raiton at Team 8's assembly.
• Genma recognized the new team-leading Jonin, Nara Shiozu, and teased him before Nara Shiozu warned Team 8 to prepare for possible sacrifices in the war.

At the squad gathering, Might Duy was publicly rejected by a teammate, but Genma helped him up and called him Sensei, prompting Guy to reconsider his father’s worth. After the squads received their instructions, Genma learned they would depart for the battlefield the next day.

• Nara Shiozu’s harsh introduction unsettled the nearby squads, while Choza Akimichi began addressing his team.
• A teammate rejected Might Duy and left him kneeling; Genma helped Duy to his feet and addressed him as Sensei.
• Guy struggled with shame and confusion as the crowd discussed Duy and Genma, but Ebisu, Dieyewasi, and Choza praised Duy’s influence on him.
• Guy thanked them and began to accept their words, while Genma returned to his squad and listened to Nara Shiozu explain their duties.
• The gathering ended after a morning of introductions and instructions, and the teams learned they would depart the next day.

Tsunade organized Konohagakure’s forces and led them out of the village toward the front. After a day of travel, the force halted when smoke from cooking fires appeared in the distance.

• At the gates, Genma, Kurenai, and Raiton teased one another while the assembled ninja and Medical Ninja awaited orders from Tsunade.
• Tsunade called the jonin forward and arranged the force into adult ninja, medical, and younger ninja sections.
• Genma discussed sound-based illusion techniques with Kurenai, distracting her from her annoyance with him.
• Nara Shiozu led Genma, Kurenai, and Raiton into their assigned formation as the teams completed Tsunade’s arrangements.
• Tsunade led the force out of Konohagakure, and after a day of travel, she stopped and used binoculars to observe cooking-fire smoke in the distance.

Tsunade approached Minato’s team at the smoke signal and confirmed they could safely join her group. During the rest before lunch, Genma studied medical knowledge, Kurenai practiced genjutsu, and Raiton persuaded Ebisu to share a private picture book.

• Tsunade left Shizune and the others behind to check the smoke signal herself.
• Minato’s team recognized Tsunade, and she signaled for them to come over.
• Tsunade ordered everyone to rest while the mess squad prepared lunch.
• Genma read medical material, Kurenai studied genjutsu, and Might Guy exercised.
• Raiton and a nearby ninja persuaded Ebisu to let them read his picture-filled book with him.

Genma distracted Kurenai from Ebisu and the others by inventing explanations for their suggestive remarks. At lunch, Minato gave Tsunade a Flying Thunder God Kunai and arranged for Kōkichi to carry messages, then Tsunade asked how many people would die in the war.

• Kurenai noticed Raiton had disappeared, and Genma made up ninjutsu explanations to keep her from investigating what Ebisu and the others were looking at.
• Genma answered Kurenai's increasingly strange questions until they were told lunch was ready.
• Minato approached Tsunade during lunch and gave her a Flying Thunder God Kunai to enable rapid reinforcements between their forces.
• Tsunade requested a Contact Frog, so Minato summoned Kōkichi to relay messages between her, him, and Jiraiya.
• Tsunade ordered Shizune to take Kōkichi away, and Shizune carried him to the communications unit in a wooden cage.
• Tsunade asked Minato how many people he thought would die by the end of the war, and Minato wondered if she feared losing people she knew.

Minato discussed Shikaku’s plan to defeat Sunagakure with Tsunade and asked her to be ready to treat Chiyo’s poison. He later awarded Shiranui Genma a Special Chunin certificate for inspiring the coming battle plan, while warning that the plan’s secrecy mattered until it succeeded.

• Minato told Tsunade that Sunagakure had started the war and asked her to help treat Chiyo’s poison after Shikaku’s plan was carried out.
• Minato approached Shiranui Genma’s group and praised Nara Shiozu’s strategic abilities, saying Shikaku wanted his help.
• Minato credited Genma with inspiring the first battle plan and gave him a Special Chunin certificate.
• Nara Shiozu warned Genma not to publicize the certificate, and Genma explained that revealing the unfinished plan could expose it and cause trouble on the battlefield.

After joining Tsunade’s team at Orochimaru’s camp, Genma and his companions took transport missions and fought Kirigakure ninjas on the road. They continued these missions for half a year as the war shifted and Sunagakure left the conflict.

• After lunch, Minato and Tsunade split the group into two teams, and Genma was assigned to Tsunade’s team with Nara Shiozu.
• The group reached Orochimaru’s heavily guarded camp, where strict rules governed nighttime behavior and movement around the base.
• Genma’s team and Might Guy’s team accepted transport missions to Konohagakure and completed their first delivery without incident.
• On a later transport mission, Genma’s team fought Kirigakure ninjas in a misty forest and defeated them, suffering only minor injuries.
• For the next half year, the teams carried out occasional transport missions as Sunagakure exited the war and the remaining villages formed alliances.

After returning from a reconnaissance mission, Shiranui Genma treated his wounds outside the overwhelmed medical tent and encountered Kabuto Yakushi, who treated an injury on his back. Kabuto mentioned the poisoned casualties he had seen while serving with Jiraiya, leaving Genma curious about the young medic’s experience.

• Shiranui Genma returned from a difficult reconnaissance mission with serious wounds and found the medical tent too crowded to treat him.
• Shiranui Genma noticed the injured Orochimaru approaching the medical tent, then continued tending to his own arm in a secluded spot.
• Kabuto Yakushi emerged from behind the tent and offered to treat Shiranui Genma’s back wound.
• Shiranui Genma recognized Kabuto Yakushi and tested his medical skills by asking him to treat the injury.
• Kabuto Yakushi said he had recently arrived and recalled seeing many wounded, especially poisoned patients, while he was with Jiraiya.