Recaps

Kurama Yakumo summoned a vast horde of monsters and confronted her former teacher, Yuhi Kurenai, while Ueno Kei prepared to fight beside her. As the monsters charged, Kurenai apologized for putting Kei in danger, and he told her he did not blame her.

• Kurama Yakumo bound the Kurama Yeqiong brothers with chains and summoned more than a thousand monsters around Yuhi Kurenai and Ueno Kei.
• Yakumo declared that she would avenge her parents by starting with Yuhi Kurenai, then unleashed chains that Kurenai shattered with a space-warping technique.
• The monsters charged, and Ueno Kei braced himself to fight alongside Kurenai rather than flee.
• Yuhi Kurenai apologized to Ueno Kei for failing to send him out of the space before the danger escalated.
• Ueno Kei told Kurenai he would not hold her responsible, easing her guilt as the monsters closed in.

Ueno Kei and Yuhi Kurenai struggled against Kurama Yakumo’s monsters inside an unknown space, while the Third Hokage and Nara Shikaku found themselves unable to reach them beyond a barrier. The Hokage chose to secure the area rather than risk breaking through and harming those trapped inside.

• Ueno Kei and Yuhi Kurenai killed the Double-Horned Monsters, but faster creatures and attacking birds began to overwhelm them.
• A Double-Horned Monster nearly struck Ueno Kei down, but he escaped with the Substitution Technique as several birds targeted him.
• Kurama Yakumo watched Kurenai struggle and urged the monsters to kill her.
• The Third Hokage met Nara Shikaku outside the gray barrier and learned that Kurenai and others had been trapped inside.
• The Third Hokage judged the barrier fragile but feared breaking it could endanger those within, so he ordered the Anbu to guard the area.

Ueno Kei used the Lingyu Blade’s barrier and a painful chakra-condensing method to survive the wraiths and reach Kurama Yakumo. As the monsters vanished and Yakumo screamed, Kei struck her with Starfall, splitting her body in two.

• Ueno Kei realized his fear of death had nearly cost him his life and prepared to make a final attack.
• Ueno Kei used the Lingyu Blade to form a barrier against the wraiths while he rapidly condensed chakra at the cost of his vital essence.
• Kurama Yakumo reacted in shock when she met Ueno Kei’s gaze, and the monsters began to vanish.
• Ueno Kei rushed to the platform, hesitated at the sight of Yakumo, then attacked with the Wind Wing Sword Technique, First Form: Starfall.
• Ueno Kei’s blade split Kurama Yakumo’s body in two as Yuhi Kurenai called out to stop him.

Kurama Yakumo succumbed to the murderous persona within her, while Ueno Kei and Yuhi Kurenai fought to survive. Ueno Kei killed Yakumo, leaving him shaken and Yuhi Kurenai grieving her former student.

• Kurama Yakumo struggled against a black-clad version of herself that urged her to kill Yuhi Kurenai and seek revenge.
• Yakumo resisted the urge to attack her teacher, but the black-clad girl pierced her chest and absorbed her consciousness.
• The black-clad girl emerged as a monstrous figure and prepared to continue her rampage.
• Ueno Kei reflected on killing for the first time after the battle ended, concluding that he had acted to survive.
• Yuhi Kurenai mourned Kurama Yakumo, and Ueno Kei felt a faint guilt toward her despite believing he had made the necessary choice.

After killing Kurama Yakumo, Ueno Kei and Yuhi Kurenai prepared to return to the village, but Ueno realized the illusion space remained active and Yakumo’s body had changed. He was ambushed and left gravely wounded.

• Yuhi Kurenai told Ueno Kei that he had done nothing wrong, though she mourned Kurama Yakumo and admitted through her hesitation that she felt guilty toward her former student.
• Yuhi Kurenai decided to check on the unconscious Kurama Yeqiong and Kurama Yewu before taking them back to the village, and found that their injuries were serious but not fatal.
• Ueno Kei sensed that something was wrong because the gray illusion space had not collapsed after Yakumo’s death.
• Ueno Kei saw that the body in Yakumo’s clothes had a face he did not recognize and shouted a warning to Yuhi Kurenai.
• An unknown tentacle slashed Ueno Kei across the back, leaving him gravely wounded and close to death.

Ueno Kei survived a surprise attack by Kurama Yakumo, but Yuhi Kurenai realized that the girl before them was actually Ido. Ido revealed that she had survived their earlier attempt to destroy her and turned her attention toward the wounded Ueno Kei.

• Ueno Kei used the Lingyu Blade to force his attacker back, and Yuhi Kurenai rushed to protect him.
• Ueno Kei swallowed a pill and used Hand Seals to stop the bleeding from his back wound.
• The girl claiming to be Kurama Yakumo taunted Ueno Kei and Yuhi Kurenai, while Ueno Kei sensed that she was a monster.
• Yuhi Kurenai attacked the girl with vines and a Kunai, then broke free after recognizing the exchange as a genjutsu.
• Yuhi Kurenai identified the girl as Ido, who admitted she had survived their earlier attempt to destroy her and declared that they could not defeat her now.

Ueno Kei and Kurenai fought the monster controlling Yakumo, and Kurenai managed to wound and restrain it. The monster remained bound as it weakened.

• Kurenai and Ueno Kei attacked the monster wearing Yakumo's body from opposite sides.
• The monster dodged Ueno Kei's blade, transformed her arm into a horn, and sent creatures to attack Kurenai.
• Ueno Kei blocked the horn strike with the Lingyu Blade but began to collapse from exhaustion.
• Kurenai stabbed the monster in the chest with a Kunai, weakening it and disrupting its control of Yakumo's body.
• Kurenai summoned rune-marked chains from the Kunai and bound the monster.

Yuhi Kurenai’s ambush failed when Ido broke free of the Illusion Seal Chain and transformed into a monster. Ido impaled Ueno Kei and Kurenai before a blast erased the space, while Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned his ape to force a way through the barrier.

• Yuhi Kurenai immobilized Ido with a drug-coated kunai and the Illusion Seal Chain after Ueno Kei drew its attention.
• Ido transformed into a monstrous form and broke the seal chain, then sent Kurenai flying and left her unable to rise.
• Ueno Kei and Kurenai were impaled by Ido’s tentacles as Ueno Kei thought of his family and Naruto.
• A burst of black light from Ido caused a deafening explosion that flattened the space within the barrier.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen decided to break the barrier by force and summoned his ape while Nara Shikaku stepped back.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Nara Shikaku broke through the barrier and entered its black vortex. Ueno Kei woke unharmed in a strange expanse and encountered Kurama Yakumo, who spoke to him playfully despite their recent fight.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned Enma as the Adamantine Staff and smashed through the barrier with Nara Shikaku.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen and Nara Shikaku entered the black vortex and disappeared.
• Ueno Kei woke in a pale, unfamiliar place, checked himself for injuries, and found his belongings and chakra intact.
• Ueno Kei recognized the barefoot girl as Kurama Yakumo, his recent enemy, but felt no hostility from her.
• Kurama Yakumo teased Ueno Kei about his surprise and laughed at his awkward response.
• Ueno Kei began to ask why Kurama Yakumo was treating him like a friend, but trailed off.

Kurama Yakumo tried to ease Ueno Kei’s suspicion, but her sudden illness and sorrowful confession revealed her pain and left him uncertain about their relationship. As she asked what people lived for, Kei silently felt himself draw closer to her.

• Kurama Yakumo told Ueno Kei that their near-fatal injuries had been illusions and claimed they were even, but Kei remained wary.
• Kurama Yakumo suffered a painful episode, collapsed to her knees, and slowly recovered with a sickly pallor.
• Kurama Yakumo asked Kei to call her by name and said she had never wanted to kill him or Teacher Kurenai.
• Kurama Yakumo spoke of fate and of her family and Teacher Kurenai before asking Kei what people lived for.
• Ueno Kei could not answer, but felt his heart draw a little closer to Kurama Yakumo.

Ueno Kei killed Kurama Yakumo at her request, ending the threat within her as the collapsing space forced Yuhi Kurenai to be rescued. Kei later woke in Konoha Hospital and vowed to survive.

• Kurama Yakumo asked Ueno Kei to end her suffering, and he reluctantly plunged the Lingyu Blade into her heart.
• The Lingyu Blade released black smoke from Yakumo, and she died in Kei's arms after saying goodbye and urging him to live.
• The space began to collapse, and Nara Shikaku caught Yuhi Kurenai as she staggered; Sarutobi Hiruzen promised to handle the remaining rescue.
• Yuhi Kurenai lost consciousness after asking Sarutobi Hiruzen to save Yakumo, the Kurama Clan head, and the other Konoha ninja.
• Ueno Kei woke in Konoha Hospital and vowed that he would survive.

Ueno Kei recovered in Konoha Hospital after his battle, and Naruto visited him, worried about his injuries. The Third Hokage came to see them and sent Naruto back to class, while Ueno Kei remained curious about Naruto’s unusual standing in the village.

• Naruto rushed to the hospital after learning Ueno Kei had been injured, and Ueno Kei reassured him that he would recover after resting.
• Ueno Kei kept the real cause of his injuries from Naruto and scolded him for joking about the accident.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived, and Ueno Kei wondered whether his visit concerned the recent events involving Kurama Yakumo or something else.
• Ueno Kei reprimanded Naruto for addressing the Third Hokage casually, but Sarutobi Hiruzen said he did not mind Naruto’s manner.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen told Naruto to stop skipping class, and Naruto left after promising to visit Ueno Kei again after school.

Ueno Kei spoke with the Third Hokage in his hospital room after the Kurama Clan incident. When the Hokage asked what he thought about what had happened, Kei chose to speak openly, leaving the Hokage curious about his reasons.

• After Naruto left, Ueno Kei offered to report what had happened with the Kurama Clan, but the Third Hokage changed the subject and asked about his recovery.
• Ueno Kei said he was nearly recovered and thanked the Hokage, who assured him that school had been informed and he should focus on resting.
• The Third Hokage asked Ueno Kei what he thought about the incident, and Kei wondered whether the question concerned the clan, Kurama Yakumo, or Konoha's response.
• The Third Hokage recalled what Yuhi Kurenai had told him and sought to learn why Ueno Kei had appeared beside Kurama Yakumo before killing her.
• Ueno Kei decided he could not hide what he knew and said that some things might be better discussed openly.
• The Third Hokage asked why Kei felt that way.

Ueno Kei told the Third Hokage how silence and misunderstanding had led to the tragedy involving Kurama Yakumo, while revealing his own guilt and uncertainty about life beyond revenge. The Third Hokage, reminded of a boy he had once failed to help, urged Kei to believe in trust and the Will of Fire.

• Ueno Kei explained that Ido and the Kurama Clan Head's actions had grown from unspoken fears and misunderstandings.
• Ueno Kei recounted his history with Kurama Yakumo, including her remorse and his own hesitation.
• The Third Hokage remembered a talented boy in white who had gone astray and resolved not to let Ueno Kei follow the same path.
• The Third Hokage told Ueno Kei that understanding and trust could overcome hostility between people.
• Ueno Kei reflected that revenge was his only purpose and that he had few connections in Konoha beyond Naruto.
• The Third Hokage explained the Will of Fire as the belief that people could eventually overcome barriers and learn to understand and trust one another.

The Third Hokage tried to guide Ueno Kei toward finding meaning beyond revenge, but Kei remained focused on avenging his parents. In the Hokage’s office, Shimura Danzō confronted him over protecting the Kurama Clan and demanded that they be destroyed.

• The Third Hokage spoke to Ueno Kei about the Will of Fire, and Kei reflected that he had little to protect beyond his desire for revenge.
• The Third Hokage comforted Kei, who thanked him and began to feel more hopeful about finding his own answer someday.
• Shimura Danzō appeared in the Hokage’s office and challenged the Third Hokage for concealing the Kurama Clan’s situation and letting its members go.
• The Third Hokage explained that he had treated the Kurama Clan’s actions as a misunderstanding and had arranged for the injured Kurama Yeqiong and his sibling to be taken to the hospital.
• Kurama Yeqiong secretly ordered the clan to return to its former base in the Land of Fire after speaking with the Third Hokage.
• Shimura Danzō called the Kurama Clan traitors and demanded their extermination, while the Third Hokage rejected his bloody methods.

The Third Hokage ordered Shimura Danzō to stop interfering with the Kurama Clan, and Danzō temporarily changed his plans while keeping the clan under surveillance. The next morning, Ueno Kei met the Third Hokage at Training Ground 2 to decide whether to become his fourth disciple.

• The Third Hokage forbade Shimura Danzō from interfering in the Kurama Clan matter, and Danzō left without arguing.
• Shimura Danzō returned to Root and ordered his officers to withdraw their people, abandon the original plan, continue watching the Kurama Clan, and end surveillance on Ueno Kei.
• Ueno Kei went alone to Training Ground 2 the next morning and knelt before the Third Hokage.
• The Third Hokage asked Ueno Kei whether he had decided to become his fourth disciple, after the offer had left Kei stunned the previous night.

Ueno Kei accepted the Third Hokage’s offer to become his student, though he still wondered why Sarutobi had chosen him. Sarutobi then told Kei he would graduate from the Ninja Academy early and join the Anbu, where he could develop his skills under his teacher’s guidance.

• Ueno Kei accepted the Third Hokage’s offer and agreed to call him Teacher Sarutobi.
• Sarutobi told Kei that he would graduate from the Ninja Academy the next day.
• Sarutobi explained that Kei had learned all he could at the Academy and should join the Anbu to temper himself.
• Sarutobi decided that the Anbu’s dangers were outweighed by its benefits and believed his guidance could help Kei become an outstanding ninja.

After Ueno Kei joined the Anbu on the Third Hokage’s orders, Akamatsu brought him to meet his new squad. Kei was assigned the codename Hawk and would face challenging missions intended to test and develop him.

• Ueno Kei accepted the Third Hokage’s arrangement to graduate early and join the Anbu, though the Hokage had misunderstood Kei’s outlook on life.
• Akamatsu escorted Ueno Kei through an underground Konoha facility to his squad’s room.
• Akamatsu introduced Ueno Kei to the three squad members as their new teammate, giving him the codename Hawk.
• The Anbu commander had assigned Kei to Akamatsu’s strong squad and ordered that he receive missions just beyond his abilities so he could be tested and trained.

Ueno Kei joined Akamatsu's Anbu team, whose members doubted that an ordinary Chunin with little experience could keep up. After meeting his team, Ueno Kei went to the Third Hokage's residence as instructed, where he was allowed through the guarded gate.

• Akamatsu learned from the Anbu chief that Ueno Kei's survival took priority and accepted him onto the team despite his ordinary Chunin strength.
• Akamatsu introduced Ueno Kei to the three team members, who greeted him but showed varying degrees of displeasure.
• Ueno Kei recognized the team's doubts and quietly accepted their greeting without trying to make conversation.
• Ueno Kei arrived at the Third Hokage's residence that night, and the hidden Anbu guards let him pass because Sarutobi Hiruzen had given them prior instructions.

Ueno Kei visited the Third Hokage, who tested his chakra nature with Chakra Nature Paper. The paper crumpled and burned, revealing that Kei had both Lightning and Fire chakra natures.

• Ueno Kei entered the Third Hokage's residence and waited quietly while Sarutobi finished his paperwork.
• The Third Hokage asked Kei about joining the Anbu and encouraged him to learn from Akamatsu.
• The Third Hokage gave Kei Chakra Nature Paper and instructed him to channel chakra into it.
• Kei's paper crumpled and burst into flames, and the Third Hokage identified his chakra natures as Lightning and Fire.

Ueno Kei learned that he possessed Lightning and Fire chakra natures, and the Third Hokage brought him to a guarded, sealed room filled with scrolls. Instead of choosing a technique scroll, the Hokage took out the Scroll of Sealing, leaving Ueno Kei startled.

• Ueno Kei realized that his Lightning and Fire chakra natures gave him an advantage against some opposing chakra styles.
• The Third Hokage led Ueno Kei to a room guarded by Anbu and protected by a barrier.
• Ueno Kei saw shelves of scrolls and reflected on his lack of combat experience and usable techniques.
• The Third Hokage took the Scroll of Sealing from a cabinet instead of selecting one of the scrolls on the shelves.

The Third Hokage reflected on why he had chosen to mentor Ueno Kei and how the boy could help strengthen Konoha’s next generation. He intended to train Ueno Kei as a future pillar of the village, while Naruto’s future had already been arranged with Hatake Kakashi.

• The Third Hokage recalled that he had considered taking Ueno Kei as a student since their first meeting but had delayed while handling Konoha’s affairs.
• For more than three years, the Third Hokage observed Ueno Kei with his Crystal Ball and received reports from Anbu, eventually deciding the boy was diligent, capable, and kind-hearted.
• The Third Hokage used the Kurama Clan incident as an opportunity to take Ueno Kei on as a student, though he had already planned to do so.
• As his health and strength declined, the Third Hokage resolved to cultivate promising young ninjas who could become pillars of Konoha.
• The Third Hokage arranged for Uzumaki Naruto to join Hatake Kakashi’s team after graduation, while Ueno Kei remained the only valued young ninja without an assigned instructor.

The Third Hokage gave Ueno Kei access to Konoha’s Scroll of Sealing as he prepared to take him on as a student. Kei was told to learn what he could before his first Anbu mission in three days.

• Academy staff asked the Third Hokage to decide whether Ueno Kei should be assigned to a jonin-led team after graduation, and he told them to leave it for now.
• The Third Hokage had already decided to take Ueno Kei as his student because the Academy could no longer teach him much.
• The Third Hokage showed Ueno Kei the Scroll of Sealing, and Kei reacted with astonishment at its value.
• The Third Hokage told Ueno Kei to train with the scroll for the next few days and warned him to know his limits before his first Anbu mission.
• Ueno Kei recalled that Akamatsu had said the team’s first Anbu mission would begin in three days.

The Third Hokage personally guided Ueno Kei, taught him the Summoning Technique’s hand seals, and gave him three days to study the Scroll of Sealing. Afterward, Ueno Kei joined Akamatsu’s squad for his first Anbu mission to destroy a bandit stronghold near the Land of Fire–Land of Water border and recover classified documents.

• The Third Hokage told Ueno Kei to attend regular training and advised him to gain field experience and learn practical ninjutsu.
• The Third Hokage demonstrated the Summoning Technique’s hand seals and explained that summoned creatures were partners who had to accept their summoner.
• Ueno Kei spent the next three days studying the unsealed Scroll of Sealing and focused on techniques he could use.
• Ueno Kei met Akamatsu’s Anbu squad in the forest for his first mission.
• Akamatsu ordered the squad to destroy a bandit stronghold near the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water, then meet Konoha ninja and retrieve classified documents.

Ueno Kei and Fox completed their mission in the Land of Stone and headed to regroup with Akamatsu. The chapter recounted how Kei’s years in the Anbu had deepened his attachment to Konoha while making him increasingly ruthless toward suspected enemies.

• Ueno Kei caught up with Fox after shaking off their pursuers, and Fox confirmed they had obtained the target item and eliminated Ye Yi.
• Ueno Kei recalled nearly dying on an S-rank mission in the Land of Lightning before Akamatsu helped him escape.
• The Third Hokage guided Ueno Kei’s training and outlook, hoping he would become a principled ninja rather than blindly loyal to Konoha.
• Ueno Kei grew to regard Konoha as home and the Hokage, Naruto, and his teammates as family and friends.
• Ueno Kei’s concern for his comrades led him to eliminate suspected enemies without hesitation, a tendency Akamatsu tolerated.