Chapter Summaries

Mirai developed the carkcontrol technique by refining chakra, then completed practicing all twelve one-handed seals and discovered a possible upgrade direction for hand-seal techniques. He left the upgrade unconfirmed, eager to explore how his imagination could shape future techniques.

• Mirai refined chakra until he developed the carkcontrol technique, then stopped because he was exhausted.
• Mirai practiced the remaining hand seals and found that the technique had not upgraded.
• Mirai carefully formed all twelve hand seals with one hand and saw a prompt to explore the upgrade direction and master single-hand seals.
• Mirai reasoned that techniques might evolve according to the directions he imagined and wondered whether he could explore other ways to form seals.
• Mirai left the prompt unconfirmed and lay on his bed, fantasizing about improving his techniques.

Mirai discovered that his attribute panel improved his talent for techniques and became excited about practicing, though his late-night training left him exhausted. After Keiko warned him to limit chakra practice, she allowed him to go outside to test some new moves, provided he stayed careful and showed her what he learned.

• Mirai confirmed the upgrade to one-handed seals and realized the attribute panel enhanced his talent whenever he learned a technique.
• Mirai stayed awake practicing chakra control and counting dumplings, then woke with dark circles beneath his eyes.
• Keiko examined Mirai, warned him not to practice chakra for more than an hour, and got his promise to obey.
• Mirai asked to practice some new moves outside because the backyard was too small.
• Keiko allowed Mirai to go out but told him to stay nearby and show her his unique skill once he learned it.

Mirai trained in a safe grove, working on swordsmanship, martial arts, and tree climbing. He struggled to master the Five Elements Fist, switched to the simpler Mabō Fist, and made steady progress climbing trees.

• With Keiko's consent, Mirai took White Emperor to a safe grove near the mountain flower shop to train.
• Mirai tried practicing the Five Elements Fist but could not grasp its fundamentals, so he chose to start with the simpler Mabō Fist.
• Mirai practiced the Mabō Fist for nearly an hour, improving his bow stance and punches despite gaining no skill on his status panel.
• Mirai then practiced tree climbing and walked along three nearby sycamores in a little over ten minutes.

Mirai trained outside and discovered that Horse Stance Punch had become a skill with measurable proficiency. He returned home safely to Keiko, while Suzuki Taiga and Long Yan separately investigated the meeting site and left a coded message about the children in the Forest.

• Mirai climbed a plane tree to train while Suzuki Taiga watched the meeting site and then left.
• Long Yan arrived after Suzuki Taiga, deciphered his code, and read, "Investigate the children in the Forest."
• Mirai practiced Horse Stance Punches until his attribute panel showed the skill at 0.1% proficiency.
• Mirai stopped training when lunchtime approached and returned home with White Emperor.
• Keiko welcomed Mirai, checked his messy clothes and sweat, and prepared to feed him and care for Gou.

Mirai trained with the White Emperor, improved his skills, and taught the children at the secret base. He ended the day frightened by the old swing rope, then checked his gains at home.

• Mirai practiced swordsmanship, kicks, horse stance, and chakra tree-climbing, increasing his proficiency.
• A sturdy man who had appeared in the morning followed Mirai back to the flower shop and watched it before leaving.
• At the secret base, Mirai helped the children practice throwing and corrected Ao's bow stance footwork.
• Mirai played on the swing with the children, then returned home and checked his improved throwing and horse stance punch proficiency.

Suzuki planned to abduct Mirai for the Sound Village after watching the young orphan’s rapid training. Mirai sensed someone observing him but dismissed the feeling, unaware of the danger planned for the next day.

• Chikawa told Suzuki that Mirai was a three-year-old orphan adopted by Nakami and had been training under observation.
• Suzuki ordered his loyal men to prepare for an important mission in three days.
• Mirai spent the next days practicing techniques and playing with his younger brothers, unaware that someone was watching him.
• Suzuki watched Mirai practice and declared that the young genius would belong to the Sound Village after the next day.
• Mirai sensed an observer but assumed the Third Hokage was spying on him and trusted that he was safe in Konoha.

Suzuki Taiga met with Kawabata Yuri and Takakura Tomohito in a forest to plan the abduction of Mirai from Field Village. The chapter ended with Takakura questioning whether they had planned an evacuation route.

• Kawabata Yuri arrived at the meeting place in a secluded forest, guided by Suzuki Taiga's symbols.
• Takakura Tomohito arrived and was startled when Suzuki Taiga revealed himself from behind him.
• Suzuki Taiga explained that their mission was to take Mirai from Field Village and bring him to Kumogakure for training, unless pursuit made killing Mirai necessary.
• Suzuki Taiga outlined a plan to abduct Mirai during his morning training and asked for suggestions.
• Takakura Tomohito raised concerns about the lack of an evacuation route and the danger of Haya's patrols.

Suzuki Dagang’s team carried out their plan to kidnap Mirai while he trained in the Forest. They escaped into the woods with the unconscious boy in a basket.

• Suzuki Dagang ordered Jiangchuan Zhan and Gaochang to leave through the Forest, while Suzuki He prepared to assist them unseen.
• Mirai went to the Forest to train with the White Emperor, unaware of the planned attack.
• Suzuki He used Light Shield to disappear from view and from Gaochang’s perception.
• Gaochang attacked Mirai, who stabbed him with a bamboo sword before Gaochang pinned him down and injected him with a drug that made him lose consciousness.
• Gaochang and Jiangchuan Zhan placed Mirai in their basket, dealt with the scene, and headed deeper into the woods.

Baekje alerted Inuzuka Tsume that Mirai had disappeared with two unfamiliar scents, while Konoha learned that two Cloud ninjas were fleeing with a child. The Third Hokage dispatched Kakashi’s team to pursue them, and Inuzuka Tsume arrived to report Mirai’s apparent kidnapping and request a rescue mission.

• Baekje tracked Mirai’s scent into the forest, then ran to Inuzuka Tsume’s pet clinic when he found no one at the training ground.
• A patrol spotted two Cloud ninjas carrying a child and fleeing toward the village outskirts, and Daping Fugang ordered Tensu to report for support while he intercepted them.
• Daping Fugang sent Tensu ahead to lay traps, then moved to confront the Cloud ninjas alone.
• The Anbu reported the attempted escape to the Third Hokage, who ordered Kakashi’s team to pursue the kidnappers and bring the child back safely.
• Inuzuka Tsume and Baekje rushed to the Hokage’s office, where Tsume reported that Mirai appeared to have been kidnapped and asked to lead a rescue.

After learning that Mirai may have been abducted by Ian, Sarutobi sent Kakashi and Inuzuka Tsume to rescue him. Yamanaka Kai arrived and demanded to join the mission, but Sarutobi told him to wait for news.

• Sarutobi identified the child Ian abducted as Mirai and allowed Inuzuka Tsume to join Kakashi's rescue mission with Kuromaru.
• Sarutobi summoned Yamanaka Kai, and White Emperor recognized him and tried to lead him to Mirai.
• Yamanaka Kai realized Mirai was missing and grew furious when Sarutobi explained the likely kidnapping.
• Yamanaka Kai asked to lead a rescue party, but Sarutobi refused and told him to wait for Kakashi and Inuzuka Tsume's report.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped Yamanaka Kai from joining the rescue mission and rejected Danzo's attempt to punish the Uchiha Clan over Mirai's kidnapping. Meanwhile, Iwa ninja Gaochang Naoto and Jiangchuan Zhan ambushed Daping Fujiang and killed him.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi persuaded Yamanaka Kai to leave the rescue to Kakashi's team, warning that another attempt could endanger Mirai.
• Danzo and the Hokage advisors confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Danzo called for the Uchiha Clan to be punished for the kidnapping.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi refused to punish the Uchiha Clan, and Danzo agreed to wait until Mirai had been rescued.
• Gaochang Naoto sensed Daping Fujiang's ambush and warned Jiangchuan Zhan as the two Iwa ninja advanced.
• Jiangchuan Zhan charged Daping Fujiang while Gaochang Naoto identified the traps, and an unseen attacker cut Daping Fujiang's throat.

Hugh mourned Taihei Fuyue’s death and followed the enemy, laying traps that slowed Suzuki Taiga’s group as Wood ninjas closed in. Suzuki Taiga took the bamboo basket and left Takakura Naoto and Kawabata Yasunari behind to face the pursuers.

• Hugh saw Suzuki Taiga kill Taihei Fuyue and blamed himself for failing to spot the invisible attacker.
• Hugh chose to pursue the enemy and laid traps along their route to slow them down.
• Hugh spotted a group of Wood ninjas pursuing the enemy and went to report what he had learned.
• Takakura Naoto’s group struggled through Hugh’s traps as four pursuers drew closer.
• Suzuki Taiga took the bamboo basket and departed, leaving Takakura Naoto and Kawabata Yasunari behind.
• Takakura Naoto left alone, while Kawabata Yasunari remained expressionless.

Kakashi split his team to pursue the invisible ninja and confront the two enemies guarding the route. Asahi, Rock Lee, and their companions faced Gaochang and Jiangchuan Tian while Kakashi headed toward the Suzuki River.

• Hugh joined Kakashi's group and reported that an invisible ninja had escaped with the child while two others stayed behind.
• Kakashi assigned Asahi, Rock Lee, and their companions to fight the two enemies, while he and Sus pursued the invisible ninja.
• Kakashi and Mirai bypassed Gaochang and Jiangchuan Tian and headed toward the Suzuki River with Nikita guiding them.
• Asahi claimed Gaochang as his opponent, and Jiangchuan Tian charged at the Konoha ninja.
• Gaochang activated a trap as Rock Lee leapt into it.

Inoue and Kawasaki fought Takakura Naoto through his traps, while Moonlight Charlotte battled Jiangchuan despite her injuries. The fights remained unresolved as Takakura was driven toward more traps and Jiangchuan struggled to catch Charlotte.

• Takakura Naoto pushed Inoue into a cluster of traps, and Inoue used Kawasaki's Fire Release—Spiraling Flame Ring to block many of the hidden weapons, though he was left wounded and low on chakra.
• Moonlight Charlotte took Jiangchuan's punch while protecting Huiming, suffered internal injuries, and warned Liu Na not to approach him.
• Inoue and Kawasaki discarded their carelessness, drew their swords, and attacked Takakura Naoto while Kawasaki watched for traps and pressured him with wire-linked attacks.
• Inoue and Kawasaki steadily narrowed Takakura Naoto's room to move, forcing him toward increasingly dangerous traps.
• Moonlight Charlotte continued fighting Jiangchuan through the forest, evading him as his impatience grew.

Kakashi caught up with Suzuki Taiga, who had abducted Mirai, and confronted him in the forest. Their standoff continued as Mirai woke inside the bamboo basket and watched through a gap.

• Kakashi spotted Suzuki Taiga's concealed movement with his Sharingan and broke off his pursuit of Louis Peak to chase him.
• Suzuki Taiga set the bamboo basket holding Mirai beneath a tree and turned to face Kakashi.
• Kakashi guessed that Suzuki Taiga was a legendary Hidden Ninja from Cloud Village, confirming that he faced a powerful opponent.
• Suzuki Taiga considered killing Mirai if the boy was rescued, to prevent him from becoming a future threat.
• Mirai woke in the bamboo basket and watched Kakashi and Suzuki Taiga through a gap.

Mirai remained hidden in the bamboo basket while Kakashi confronted Suzuki He, hoping the Copy Ninja could defeat or hold off his captor. Suzuki He used his secret technique, Wall of Light, leaving Kakashi unsure what attack was coming next.

• Mirai woke in a bamboo basket and realized he was being transported, but his two training kunai were still with him.
• Mirai recognized Kakashi confronting Suzuki He and felt relieved that the skilled ninja had come to rescue him.
• Mirai chose to stay hidden and wait for an opening rather than risk attacking Suzuki He from behind.
• Suzuki He used Wall of Light to create an invisible sphere that blocked sight, sound, and smell.
• Kakashi used his Sharingan to glimpse the sphere and focused on guarding against Suzuki He's next attack.

Mirai grew closer to his family while practicing his skills and teaching Konoha children, drawing the Third Hokage’s attention. After observing Mirai’s teaching, the Third Hokage decided to speak with him but came to believe that Mirai’s bonds would keep him from repeating Oromo’s mistakes.

• Akita Yamanaka became more at ease around Mirai and tried to comfort him, believing he had recently learned of his father’s death.
• Mirai practiced the Mind Transfer Technique and began running to improve his Strength attribute as his Spirit increased faster.
• Mirai guided the growing group of children through their training after dinner.
• The Third Hokage watched Mirai teach and recognized his exceptional understanding of horse-stance punching as the reason the children were progressing quickly.
• The Third Hokage decided to talk with Mirai, then reassured himself that Mirai’s bonds in Konoha would keep him from becoming like Oromo.

Danzo asked to train Mirai as his successor, but Sarutobi Hiruzen revealed that he had chosen Mirai as his own disciple and intended him to become the next Huo Ying. Danzo left defeated and resentful, thinking of Tsuda Nobuki, whom he had assigned to watch Mirai.

• The Third Hokage decided to shape Mirai’s future before the secret division reported Danzo’s arrival.
• Danzo told Sarutobi Hiruzen that he wanted to train a successor and named Mirai as his choice.
• Danzo grew angry when Sarutobi Hiruzen said he had chosen Mirai as his disciple and future Huo Ying.
• Danzo left the Hokage Office in frustration after realizing he could not compete with Sarutobi Hiruzen for Mirai.
• Danzo resented Mirai and recalled Tsuda Nobuki, whom he had sent to protect and monitor him.

Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned Mirai and Tanaka to the Hokage Office and offered to take Mirai as his disciple. Mirai acted excitedly at the offer, and the chapter ended as he began responding to it.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen decided to summon Mirai and formally accept him as his disciple.
• Tanaka brought Mirai to the Hokage Office after receiving an order from the ANBU.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen asked Mirai about protecting Konoha and his friends, and Mirai spoke of training to become stronger.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen offered to teach Mirai as his disciple, and Mirai asked if he truly meant it.

Mirai became Sarutobi Hiruzen’s disciple and agreed to train with him at the Hokage Office. After Tanaka left, Mirai asked his new teacher to answer some questions.

• Mirai asked Tanaka for permission to study under Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Tanaka encouraged him to accept the rare opportunity.
• Mirai respectfully asked Sarutobi Hiruzen to take him as a disciple, and Sarutobi accepted.
• Sarutobi told Mirai to remember his promises to protect his loved ones, friends, and the Leaf.
• Tanaka left the Hokage Office after entrusting Mirai to Sarutobi.
• Sarutobi invited Mirai to train with him, and Mirai asked to discuss questions he had not figured out.