Chapter Summaries

Kagura was summoned by Hiruzen Sarutobi and learned he would become the teacher of Team 7. He recognized Minato Namikaze and Uzumaki Kushina among his students, then felt fate tug as he read about the third.

• Tsunade woke Kagura and got him out of bed after reminding him that Hiruzen Sarutobi had summoned him.
• Kagura arrived at the Hokage Office Building and told Hiruzen Sarutobi he had been out training that morning.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned Kagura to teach a team starting the next day and handed him the class information.
• Kagura saw Minato Namikaze and Uzumaki Kushina listed as his first two students.
• Kagura turned to the third student's information and felt a pull from fate.

Kagura met his newly assigned Team 7—Namikaze Minato, Uzumaki Kushina, and Hyuga Hiashi—and asked them about their dreams. After hearing their answers, he produced two golden bells and proposed a game to test their abilities.

• Namikaze Minato celebrated being assigned to a team with Kushina, while she remained irritated by his attention and Hiashi waited quietly.
• Kagura arrived and told Minato and Kushina to call him Teacher instead of Kagura-aniki.
• Kagura recognized Hiashi as the Hyuga Clan's main-family heir and the future father of Hinata.
• Minato said he dreamed of becoming Hokage, Kushina hoped for lasting peace, and Hiashi wanted to make the Hyuga Clan the strongest.
• Kagura brought out two golden bells and proposed a game to assess his students' abilities.

Kagura began a Bell Game for Kushina, Minato, and Hiashi, and the students separated to search for him. Hiashi found Kagura’s Shadow Clone with his Byakugan but was knocked unconscious by the real Kagura, leaving Kushina and Minato as the remaining targets.

• Kagura explained the Bell Game rules and sent the three students to compete for his two bells.
• Hiashi and Kushina left separately, while Minato stayed behind, suspecting Kagura had set a trap.
• Kagura watched the students scatter and chose to pursue Hiashi first.
• Hiashi used his Byakugan to spot Kagura hiding underground and exposed him with an Earth Style technique.
• Hiashi attacked the exposed figure with Gentle Fist, but it was a Shadow Clone, and Kagura struck him unconscious from above.
• Kagura explained how a Byakugan user could mistake a Shadow Clone for the original, then turned his attention to Kushina and Minato.

Minato tried to steal a bell from Kagura with a series of tricks, but Kagura trapped him in a Sharingan illusion. As Kagura considered how to punish the grinning Minato, an attack suddenly came from behind him.

• Minato hid in the forest and planned to ambush Kagura for a bell.
• In Minato's illusion, his attacks failed, so he used a clone and a buried ambush before attempting Thousand Years of Death.
• Kagura revealed that he had used his Mangekyō Sharingan to place Minato in an illusion and had watched his imagined attack unfold.
• Kagura considered punishing Minato for using Thousand Years of Death against him, but heard an attack coming from behind.

Kagura defeated Minato, Kushina, and Hiashi in their training test and lectured them on teamwork. He left the three tied to wooden dummies overnight as punishment for losing.

• Kushina secretly followed Minato and ambushed Kagura, but he escaped with Flying Thunder God.
• Kushina charged Kagura with her Monster Strength, but he dodged and knocked her unconscious with a hand blade.
• Kagura tied Minato, Kushina, and Hiashi to wooden dummies and declared their result a total defeat.
• Kagura told the three that ninja had to trust and rely on their companions when facing stronger enemies.
• Kagura said they would go without dinner and remain tied up until deep night, warning them that snakes might be nearby.

Kagura returned home after testing Team 7, then told Tsunade that Minato and Kushina had impressed him while Hiashi’s easy defeat seemed suspicious. Reflecting on the Hyuga Clan’s history and secrecy, Kagura became convinced that Hiashi and the clan were hiding their true abilities from Konohagakure.

• Kagura returned home after leaving Team 7 tied up at the Training Ground and told Tsunade that he would release them after dinner.
• Kagura praised Minato and Kushina’s growth but hesitated when discussing Hiashi’s performance.
• Kagura recalled that Hiashi had graduated later than his classmates despite being older and a member of the Hyuga Clan.
• Kagura considered the Hyuga Clan’s secrecy, its Main Family and Branch Family system, and the Uchiha Clan’s fate.
• Kagura concluded that Hiashi had deliberately underperformed and that the Hyuga Clan was concealing its strength from Konohagakure.

Kagura gave Minato, Kushina, and Hiashi a brief squad-training manual, then left them to study and take their first D-rank mission while he slept. As the chapter ended, Kagura’s thoughts returned to the unresolved question of where the people from Akatsuki had gone.

• Kagura arrived late to meet Minato, Kushina, and Hiashi and handed them a manual on squad tactics and hand signals.
• Kagura told the three Genin to study on their own, then directed them to take D-rank missions at the Mission Center.
• Minato, Kushina, and Hiashi learned the manual’s basic formations and went to the Mission Center, where they received a mission to find an old lady’s cat.
• Kagura slept through the day, while the three Genin eventually found the cat and returned covered in leaves.
• Kagura sent the three to turn in the mission and told them to meet him again the next day.
• Kagura considered the purpose of Genin training and wondered where the people from Akatsuki had gone.

Kagura reflected on Konoha’s growth and the arrival of the Platinum Generation while remaining wary of Uchiha Madara and Akatsuki. As the chapter ended, a more immediate concern emerged: something seemed to be wrong with Orochimaru.

• Kagura considered how the postwar peace and prosperity concealed the unresolved threat of Uchiha Madara and Akatsuki.
• Jiraiya wrote that he had reached the Land of Rain and taken Yahiko and Konan as his disciples, while Nagato studied at Konoha’s Ninja Academy.
• Konoha welcomed children including Hatake Kakashi, Might Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, Nohara Rin, and Asuma Sarutobi.
• Kagura watched Uchiha Obito closely and attended Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto’s wedding, deciding not to interfere with their future family.
• Kagura concluded that Konoha’s changed circumstances made the Uchiha Clan Annihilation Plan unlikely, but became concerned that something had gone wrong with Orochimaru.

Kagura learned that Orochimaru’s research into transplanting Hashirama Cells and Kagura’s blood had stalled after every volunteer failed, leaving Orochimaru despondent. Remembering how this research led Orochimaru toward darkness in the original timeline, Kagura went to check on him and found the laboratory in disarray, with Orochimaru muttering to himself.

• Years of experiments with transplanted Hashirama Cells and Kagura Cells failed, and Hiruzen Sarutobi halted Orochimaru’s research after many volunteers died.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Kagura that Orochimaru was struggling, and Kagura feared the setback could repeat the events that once led Orochimaru to conduct secret experiments and defect from Konoha.
• Kagura went to Orochimaru’s house and entered his laboratory without knocking.
• Kagura found shattered glass and spilled liquids across the laboratory, then approached Orochimaru as he muttered to himself.

Kagura stopped Orochimaru from pursuing infant experiments to overcome the rejection of Hashirama Cells. He suggested creating an Artificial Human from the cells instead, giving Orochimaru a promising new research direction.

• Kagura entered Orochimaru's laboratory and heard him consider using infants as test subjects after his cell transplants failed.
• Kagura questioned Orochimaru, who admitted he had considered the idea and hoped Kagura would help analyze his research.
• Kagura warned that infant experiments would force Orochimaru to defect from Konoha and were unlikely to succeed because the cells' energy could overwhelm infants.
• Orochimaru asked whether he had to abandon years of research, and Kagura suggested creating an Artificial Human from the cells rather than transplanting them into someone else.
• Orochimaru's eyes lit up at Kagura's proposal, and he saw a new direction for his research.

Kagura redirected Orochimaru’s Hashirama Cells research toward cultivating artificial humans, and Orochimaru eagerly began planning the new project. Kagura also warned him about Shin and left, still worried about keeping Orochimaru from going down a dangerous path.

• Kagura suggested that Orochimaru cultivate artificial humans from Hashirama Cells instead of experimenting on infants, and Orochimaru became excited by the idea.
• Kagura advised Orochimaru to seek funding and permission to access the Forbidden Jutsu Base, and Orochimaru began drafting a new research plan.
• Kagura asked about Shin and warned Orochimaru not to give him Sharingan or Hashirama Cells, and Orochimaru agreed to study him cautiously.
• Orochimaru stayed in his laboratory to work through the night, while Kagura left alone and lamented how exhausting it was to be a good person.

Kagura spent a quiet month training Minato, Hiashi, and Kushina while considering the future of Orochimaru’s experiments and Kushina’s likely role as the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. After a bruising training session, Minato asked to sponge a meal at Kagura’s house.

• Kagura realized that Orochimaru abandoning the Infant Project meant Yamato might never be created, but he believed a new Wood Release artificial human could emerge from Orochimaru’s revised research.
• Kagura spent a month training Team 7, discovering Minato’s exceptional talent for ninjutsu and combat, Hiashi’s remarkable taijutsu ability, and focusing Kushina’s lessons on chakra control.
• Kagura considered Kushina the likely next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki as Uzumaki Mito’s health declined, while keeping his own Wood Release and the tailed beasts inside him secret.
• Kagura put Minato and Hiashi through practical combat training while Kushina watched without being hit.
• After training, Minato sat up and asked Kagura if Team 7 could sponge a meal at his house that night.

Minato suggested that Kagura invite him, Kushina, and Hiashi home for dinner, and Kagura agreed. At Kagura and Tsunade’s home, the three students enjoyed Kagura’s cooking, and Kagura began teaching Minato how to prepare it.

• Minato invited Kushina and Hiashi to eat at Kagura’s home, and Kagura agreed after the students looked to him expectantly.
• Tsunade greeted Kagura at the door and was surprised to find Minato, Kushina, and Hiashi with him.
• Kagura cooked dinner while Minato watched closely, and Kagura explained the steps to him.
• Minato, Kushina, and Hiashi eagerly ate Kagura’s food, with Hiashi becoming impressed by its taste.
• Kagura watched his satisfied students and felt that being a teacher did not seem so bad.

Kagura and Tsunade spent the night together before Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Kagura for a mission. Kagura learned that he would take the new Team 7 on its first mission outside the village.

• Kagura and Tsunade reminisced about their past after their disciples left, then Tsunade dragged Kagura into their room.
• Kagura woke up exhausted the next morning, and an Anbu arrived with Hiruzen Sarutobi's summons.
• Kagura went to the Hokage Office Building after breakfast, where Hiruzen Sarutobi asked why he looked so tired.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Kagura a simple mission and told him to take the new Team 7 outside the village.

Kagura led Minato, Kushina, and Hiashi on a peaceful mission to deliver a greeting letter from the Hokage to the Kazekage, and they camped for the night. When Hiashi asked about Kagura’s first mission, Kagura dodged part of the story before noticing Minato quietly reading a new book by Jiraiya.

• Kagura told Team 7 to pack and meet him at Konoha’s Main Gate an hour later.
• Kagura led Minato, Kushina, and Hiashi toward the Land of Wind to deliver Hiruzen’s greeting letter to the Third Kazekage.
• The group traveled all day without encountering any enemies and camped in a forest after dark.
• Kagura grilled meat for his students, and they ate it eagerly.
• Hiashi asked Kagura about his first mission, but Kagura trailed off when he remembered encountering Kinkaku.
• Kagura noticed Minato reading a new book by Jiraiya, and Minato admitted he had bought it out of curiosity.

Kagura traveled with Minato, Kushina, and Hiashi through the forest and into the war-scarred Land of Rain. As they reached the ruined countryside, cries nearby interrupted their search for shelter.

• Kagura showed Minato Jiraiya's novel, The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi, and encouraged him to read it.
• Hiashi witnessed Kagura's white animal companions emerge from his body and run into the forest.
• Kagura reflected on his slow progress and considered asking Jiraiya to help Minato contract with Mount Myōboku's toads.
• Kagura and his three disciples traveled through the forest and across the plains before entering the rainy Land of Rain.
• The group saw the devastation left by the war, and cries sounded nearby as they looked for an abandoned house to rest in.

Kagura and his disciples discovered three Sunagakure ninja robbing and beating a mother in an abandoned village, then debating whether to kill her and take her home. Kagura left the decision to his disciples but warned them that if they intervened, they would have to eliminate the Sunagakure ninja so none could report back.

• Kagura led Kushina, Minato, and their companion toward cries coming from a nearby house in the ruined village.
• They saw three Sunagakure ninja take the mother’s remaining food and beat her while her young child cried.
• The Sunagakure squad leader agreed with a companion’s suggestion to kill the mother and seize the house for the night.
• Kushina moved to intervene, but Kagura stopped the three disciples and reminded them they were heading to Sunagakure for a mission.
• Kagura told his disciples he would neither stop nor help them, and warned them to leave no survivors if they chose to act.
• Kagura asked them to state their choice.

Minato, Kushina, and Hiashi chose to rescue a woman and her child from three Sand Village Ninjas. They killed the attackers, while Kagura watched from outside and approved of his students’ strength.

• Minato declared that he wanted to become a Hokage who protected others, and he, Kushina, and Hiashi decided to attack.
• Kushina struck down the Ninja who tried to assault the woman, shattering his blade and crushing his chest.
• Hiashi used Gentle Fist to kill the second Ninja by shutting down his meridians.
• Minato slit the squad leader’s throat before he could complete his Hand Seals.
• Kagura watched the three defeat the attackers and judged them far stronger than their opponents.

Kagura forced Minato, Hiashi, and Kushina to confront killing for the first time after they defeated Sunagakure Genin in the Land of Rain. He left Kushina to calm the frightened woman they had rescued while Minato and Hiashi began cleaning up the bodies.

• Kagura reflected that his three students were talented but had never seen blood, so he had pushed them to choose to take lives themselves.
• After the fight, Minato, Hiashi, and Kushina dry-heaved, and Kagura told them that they would get used to killing.
• Kagura approached the rescued woman, but she recoiled and begged him to let her go, fearing all Ninja from the great nations.
• Kagura asked Kushina to comfort the woman, and Kushina agreed.
• Kagura ordered Minato and Hiashi to bury the three bodies, explaining that facing their fear would help them overcome it.

Kagura and his companions shared a meal with Riko and her son, Shintaro, and learned that she could not safely travel to Konoha alone. Before leaving, Kagura gave her food and a summoned creature to help her make the journey east, despite acting as if he did not care.

• Kagura finished cooking porridge, and Kushina shared it with Riko and Shintaro.
• After dinner, Kushina asked why Riko could not leave, and Minato realized that the journey to Konoha was too dangerous for a woman traveling with a child.
• Shintaro asked Kagura to teach him to cook so his mother would not go hungry, and Kagura listened without replying.
• The next morning, Minato, Hiashi, and Kushina gave Riko their food before setting off.
• Kagura gave Riko another bag of food and summoned a golden-furred creature to accompany her east toward Konoha.