Chapter Summaries

On graduation day in Year 49, students at the Konoha Ninja Academy waited for their ninjutsu assessments while classmates debated whether Uchiha Aozora could pass. Aozora entered the examination room and was told to demonstrate three techniques.

• Parents gathered outside the academy as Inuzuka Yū and a sword-bearing ninja discussed their children, Sai and Hayate.
• A Chunin examiner called ten students, including Uchiha Aozora, to the next classroom for the ninjutsu assessment.
• Inuzuka Aya argued that Hyūga Yō and several others would pass but doubted Aozora's abilities, prompting his classmates to defend him.
• Gekko Hayate watched Aozora and sensed that the class's seemingly unimpressive student was dangerous.
• Aozora entered the examination room, where chief examiner Yamanaka Seigetsu asked him to perform the Clone Technique, Substitution Technique, and Transformation Jutsu.

Uchiha Aozora passed the Ninja Academy graduation exam with an unconventional display of the Three Basic Techniques, then confronted his older brother Uchiha Shisui over his devotion to the village. Aozora left frustrated when Shisui stood by his beliefs.

• Yamanaka Seigetsu gave Uchiha Aozora a perfect ninjutsu score after explaining that he had cleverly performed all three basic techniques at once.
• Uchiha Aozora teased Inuzuka Aya outside the exam room and headed home with his forehead protector.
• Uchiha Shisui congratulated Uchiha Aozora, but Aozora rebuffed him for missing the graduation exam.
• Uchiha Aozora criticized Uchiha Shisui for sacrificing himself for Konoha despite the village and clan treating them with suspicion.
• Uchiha Shisui defended his service to Konoha, and Uchiha Aozora angrily gave up on changing his brother's mind.

Uchiha Aozora worried that his brother Shisui would die in the coming Uchiha crisis, and resolved to grow strong enough to protect him. He explained how the Heavenly Book’s cultivation method had strengthened his body and looked forward to using it to improve his ninjutsu.

• Aozora recalled Shisui’s likely fate and estimated that he had four to five years to gain enough power to protect them both.
• Aozora concluded that awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan would require Shisui’s death, so he turned to the Heavenly Book in his consciousness.
• Aozora described how the book taught him Guidance and Qi Cultivation, whose breathing and guidance practices tempered his body before chakra cultivation.
• Aozora said he had secretly practiced the guidance method since age five and had begun refining chakra only after his foundation had formed.
• Aozora visualized the Heavenly Book reorganizing his knowledge of several techniques and anticipated learning ninjutsu with its help.

After graduating from the Ninja Academy, Uchiha Aozora celebrated with his brother, Uchiha Shisui, and received a collection of ninjutsu scrolls. He chose several basic techniques to begin studying and opened his first scroll.

• Uchiha Aozora and Uchiha Shisui prepared and ate hot pot together at home.
• Uchiha Shisui asked about Uchiha Aozora's dream, and Aozora said he wanted to learn every ninjutsu in the Shinobi World.
• Uchiha Shisui gave Aozora a box containing twenty-three scrolls with thirty-three techniques and warned him to keep up with his training.
• Uchiha Aozora selected basic Fire Release, genjutsu, and shuriken techniques, hid the box, and opened one of the scrolls.

Uchiha Aozora practiced hand seals and successfully cast the Great Fireball Technique on his first attempt. Uchiha Shisui was stunned and asked how he had managed it, while Aozora wondered whether the technique was supposed to be difficult.

• Uchiha Aozora reviewed hand seals in the courtyard as he prepared to learn Ninjutsu from his scrolls.
• Uchiha Shisui watched Aozora practice and doubted that his younger brother could learn the Great Fireball Technique.
• Uchiha Aozora matched the hand seals to his Chakra transformations and began casting the technique.
• Uchiha Aozora produced a large fireball, leaving Uchiha Shisui shocked by his first-try success.
• Uchiha Shisui asked how Aozora had done it, and Aozora replied that he had cast it normally and asked whether it was hard.

Uchiha Aozora mastered and refined the Great Fireball Technique while Uchiha Shisui watched, then saw his brother leave for a mission to the Cloud Country border. As Aozora continued practicing, the Heavenly Book absorbed his scorching Chakra and revealed the words “True Fire of Samadhi.”

• Uchiha Aozora rested and performed the Great Fireball Technique again, controlling its power and keeping the Chakra in his body steady between hand seals.
• Uchiha Shisui praised Aozora's control, shared his understanding of the technique, and told him he was leaving for a mission to the Cloud Country border.
• After Shisui departed, Aozora vowed to prevent his brother from suffering the same fate as before and resumed training.
• Aozora adjusted the technique's power and range, then succeeded in performing it without hand seals.
• As Aozora practiced, the Heavenly Book absorbed his scorching Chakra and revealed four golden characters: “True Fire of Samadhi.”

Uchiha Aozora studied the Heavenly Book’s True Fire of Samadhi and learned its Qi Fire form before preparing for the academy’s class assignments. As students began leaving with their Jonin instructors, he worried about which team he would be assigned to.

• Uchiha Aozora realized the Heavenly Book’s abilities became more complete as their ancient characters deepened in color, then spent hours learning the Qi Fire portion of the True Fire of Samadhi.
• Uchiha Aozora studied the True Fire of Samadhi and the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique at home, but found that he still needed Spirit Fire and Essence Fire to complete the art.
• Uchiha Aozora arrived early for the class assignments, but Inuzuka Sai kept him from sleeping and lectured him about respecting his forehead protector.
• Aizawa Konan called Hyūga Yō, Yagyū Ichirō, and Kurama Saki to join her as their Jonin Instructor.
• Another ninja led away a second group of elite students, and Uchiha Aozora grew concerned about his own assignment.

Uchiha Aozora met his new team and instructor, Aburame Shibi, who tested them by making them find and attack him. The test left Inuzuka Aya injured, Gekko Hayate fighting at close range, and Aburame Shibi wary of Aozora’s ordinary Kunai.

• Aburame Shibi summoned Uchiha Aozora, Gekko Hayate, and Inuzuka Aya to Training Ground 6 and warned that he might disband Team 3 if they were too slow.
• Aburame Shibi vanished into a cloud of insects and ordered the team to find and attack him with intent to kill.
• Inuzuka Aya tracked Aburame Shibi to a decoy coat rigged with an Explosive Tag, and the blast wounded her.
• Aburame Shibi threw a Kunai at Inuzuka Aya, but someone knocked it aside before it could hit her.
• Gekko Hayate seized Aburame Shibi’s hesitation and attacked with his sword, while Uchiha Aozora watched with a Kunai ready.
• Aburame Shibi sensed danger from Aozora’s ordinary Kunai and turned his attention toward him.

Uchiha Aozora, Gekko Hayate, and Inuzuka Aya fought Aburame Shibi, with Aozora proving his skill by landing a powerful kunai throw against Shibi’s Shadow Clone. As Aozora’s second curving kunai also struck a clone, Shibi appeared behind him, ready to attack.

• Aburame Shibi’s Shadow Clone was struck by Uchiha Aozora’s kunai after Gekko Hayate retreated from their first exchange.
• Aburame Shibi praised the team, then told them to resume the battle with the intent to kill him.
• Gekko Hayate and Inuzuka Aya agreed to fight at close range while Uchiha Aozora attacked from a distance.
• Inuzuka Aya fed Little White Dog a pill, and the enlarged dog joined her and Gekko Hayate in attacking Aburame Shibi.
• As Little White tired and the team’s coordination faltered, Uchiha Aozora threw a kunai that curved around Shibi’s block and hit another Shadow Clone.
• Aburame Shibi appeared behind Uchiha Aozora.

Uchiha Aozora surrendered to Aburame Shibi’s Insect Dragon Tornado, ending Team 3’s first battle and introductions. Over lunch, Aburame Shibi reviewed the team’s strengths and weaknesses and encouraged Gekko Hayate and Inuzuka Aya to improve.

• Uchiha Aozora escaped Aburame Shibi’s attack with Henge, then surrendered when the Insect Dragon Tornado trapped him.
• Gekko Hayate and Inuzuka Aya also surrendered, ending the battle.
• Aburame Shibi introduced himself and learned about Uchiha Aozora, Gekko Hayate, Inuzuka Aya, and her partner Little White.
• Aburame Shibi took Team 3 to a barbecue restaurant and asked them to reflect on the battle.
• Gekko Hayate and Inuzuka Aya admitted their mistakes, and Aburame Shibi praised their strengths while urging them to address their weaknesses.

Team 3 ate together, registered as ninjas, and received their Ninja Registration Cards. Afterward, Sarutobi Hiruzen told Aburame Shibi to watch over the three genin, especially Uchiha Aozora, because of tensions between Konoha and the Uchiha.

• Aburame Shibi praised Uchiha Aozora’s combat skills, and Aozora’s modest response dampened Team 3’s first group meal.
• Aburame Shibi took Uchiha Aozora, Inuzuka Aya, and Gekko Hayate to register their ninja information and collect their cards.
• Uchiha Aozora read his card, whose profile listed his strengths in ninja tool throwing and Fire Release and his dislike of close combat; Inuzuka Aya vowed to surpass him.
• Aburame Shibi reported to Sarutobi Hiruzen that Inuzuka Aya had good combat awareness, Gekko Hayate had exceptional sword talent, and Uchiha Aozora was a genius at throwing weapons.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen assigned Team 3 to Aburame Shibi and instructed him to protect all three children, particularly Uchiha Aozora, whose brother Shisui was important amid strained relations with the Uchiha.

Uchiha Aozora investigated how to cultivate True Qi Fire and discovered the Horse hand seal was central to transforming Chakra into Fire Release. The next morning, he joined Gekko Hayate and Inuzuka Aya for their first mission, where they learned that newly graduated genin could only accept D-Rank missions.

• Uchiha Aozora learned that cultivating True Qi Fire required years of purification or the dangerous use of a Heaven and Earth Exotic Fire.
• Uchiha Aozora tested Chakra nature transformation and confirmed that the Horse seal was connected to Fire Release.
• Uchiha Aozora practiced the Guidance and Qi Cultivation method, slept, and woke early for morning exercises.
• Uchiha Aozora met Gekko Hayate and Inuzuka Aya at the Hokage Building, where Aburame Shibi led them to the mission hall.
• Uchiha Aozora explained the mission ranks to Inuzuka Aya, and Gekko Hayate clarified that their newly graduated genin team could only accept D-Rank missions.

Team 3 began its first D-Rank mission harvesting rice for an elderly client, and Uchiha Aozora studied and successfully performed the Shadow Clone Jutsu that evening. His new clone appeared and began speaking mysteriously.

• Aburame Shibi accepted a D-Rank mission for Team 3 to harvest rice, prompting Inuzuka Aya and Gekko Hayate to complain.
• Uchiha Aozora persuaded the team to complete the mission, and Aburame Shibi led them to the elderly client's fields.
• The old man demonstrated how to cut and bundle rice before Aburame Shibi left the three genin to work.
• Uchiha Aozora, Gekko Hayate, and Inuzuka Aya harvested rice through the day and finished their first day's work by sunset.
• After dinner, Uchiha Aozora studied the Shadow Clone Jutsu scroll and successfully created a clone, which began reciting, "At the end of the sea, the sky becomes the shore. At the end of the ninja way—"

Uchiha Aozora’s Shadow Clone Jutsu improved several Heavenly Book techniques, while revealing the incomplete Outer Body Incarnation. The next day, Team 3 raced to harvest the rice fields and finished their mission before sunset.

• Uchiha Aozora dispelled his Shadow Clone and saw the Heavenly Book upgrade Clone and Weapon Control while revealing the incomplete Outer Body Incarnation.
• Uchiha Aozora compared the entries and learned that Outer Body Incarnations were physical, independent clones, but found no way to cultivate them.
• Uchiha Aozora practiced the Shadow Clone Jutsu seals and kept his ability to use ninjutsu without seals secret.
• Uchiha Aozora and Inuzuka Aya bet a C-Rank-or-higher Ninjutsu Scroll on who would harvest more rice, with Gekko Hayate as referee.
• Inuzuka Aya used Beast Human Clone, while Uchiha Aozora sent two Shadow Clones to harvest rice and pulled ahead.
• Gekko Hayate and Uchiha Aozora joined the harvesting, and Team 3 completed its mission before sunset.

After finishing the rice harvest, Uchiha Aozora discovered a pale gold droplet on the Heavenly Book and found that it could improve the abilities recorded in it. The droplet enhanced Henge with new knowledge, leaving Aozora eager to discover what else it could perfect.

• Inuzuka Aya offered Uchiha Aozora a Ninjutsu Scroll after losing their bet, and he asked for something uncommon that was not Fire Release.
• The old man thanked the team for harvesting his rice and hoped they would return next year, prompting a pale gold droplet to appear on the Heavenly Book.
• Aburame Shibi dismissed the exhausted team for the night and told them to meet at the mission hall the next morning.
• Uchiha Aozora examined the droplet and felt it soothe his mind, then tested its effect by visualizing Henge.
• The droplet merged into Henge and granted Uchiha Aozora new knowledge of using Chakra to alter meridians and bones.

Uchiha Aozora wondered whether the water droplet came from the gratitude of the old man he had helped, then joined his team for another mission. The team was hired to look after a young boy named Hikari for several days, and Aozora offered him a pinwheel.

• Uchiha Aozora guessed that the water droplet might be merit or Wish Power earned from the old man's gratitude and decided to take more missions to investigate.
• Aburame Shibi led Uchiha Aozora, Inuzuka Aya, and Gekko Hayate to collect their first mission pay and then assigned them to care for a merchant's child.
• Inuzuka Aya complained that shinobi should not be housemaids, while Uchiha Aozora bought toys and snacks for the child.
• The team met the merchant and her quiet young son Hikari, who would be in their care while she traveled to a neighboring village.
• Uchiha Aozora gave Hikari a pinwheel as a gift.

Uchiha Aozora tried to help an elderly woman who had blocked an intersection, realizing she had amnesia and believed she was waiting for her Ninja Academy-aged son. He persuaded her to head home, leaving the Military Police Force to deal with the traffic and help her get back safely.

• After Team 3 completed its second mission, Aburame Shibi gave the team two days off, and Uchiha Aozora wondered why he had not received a Little Water Droplet.
• Uchiha Aozora heard that an elderly woman had caused a carriage to overturn and was blocking an intersection, so he joined the Uchiha Military Police Force members handling the situation.
• Uchiha Aozora learned the woman was waiting for her son, Ken, who she believed attended the Ninja Academy, and suspected she had amnesia.
• Uchiha Aozora praised Ken and suggested he might already be home, persuading the woman to leave the intersection and go home.

Uchiha Aozora helped an amnesiac old woman reunite with her son, then learned from Uchiha Sosuke about the clan’s divisions over how to respond to the village’s suspicion. He began considering saving the Uchiha Clan and went home exhausted, knowing he would need greater strength.

• Uchiha Aozora used the old woman’s memories of a large locust tree to identify where she lived and led her toward Kamikawa Ken’s residence with Uchiha Sosuke and Uchiha Yuichi.
• Kamikawa Ken found them, explained that his mother no longer recognized him, and coaxed her home after Sosuke warned him to care for her.
• Yuichi reacted with resentment when Aozora revealed that Uchiha Shisui was his brother, calling Shisui a traitor before Sosuke stopped him.
• Sosuke explained that the Uchiha Clan disagreed about how to face the village’s suspicion and told Aozora to observe the village and clan before choosing a path as a Chunin.
• Aozora reconsidered his assumptions about the Uchiha and began thinking about saving the clan, then went home and fell asleep.

Uchiha Aozora tested his evolved Weapon Control, considered the cost of nurturing a Spiritual Artifact, and received notice of a clan gathering called by the Clan Head. At the gathering, he reflected on the Uchiha and the reputation of the Sharingan.

• Uchiha Aozora controlled four Kunai at once to strike targets, but found the technique consumed too much Chakra.
• Uchiha Aozora decided to study genjutsu and continue converting Chakra rather than pursue an expensive Spiritual Artifact.
• Uchiha Itachi told Uchiha Aozora that the Clan Head had summoned the clan to a gathering at two o’clock.
• Uchiha Aozora studied genjutsu, then went to the Meeting Hall and listened to clan members talk.
• Uchiha Aozora rejected the idea that the Uchiha alone were changed by grief and blamed the Sharingan for making their suffering visible.

Uchiha Aozora attended a clan meeting where Uchiha Fugaku announced that the Uchiha would relocate near Mount Kaen and the Naka River. The clan erupted in anger, while Fugaku noticed Aozora’s unusual calm and formed an idea.

• Uchiha Sosuke welcomed Aozora to his first clan meeting, and Uchiha Yūichi treated him with disdain.
• Uchiha Fugaku announced Konoha’s Revitalization Plan and said the Military Police Force headquarters and Uchiha clan would move near Mount Kaen.
• Uchiha Yūichi, Uchiha Yashiro, and Uchiha Inabi condemned the relocation as a conspiracy to isolate the Uchiha, prompting the clan to demand that it be rejected.
• Uchiha Sosuke told Aozora that most village-supporting Uchiha were away reinforcing the Kumogakure Border, leaving the moderates without leaders.
• Aozora judged that Fugaku’s calm control would wear down the radicals, and Fugaku noticed Aozora’s composure and formed an idea.