Chapter Summaries

Kirito Tonsaka learned that he needed to find tuition money to attend the Ninja Academy, while getting to know his clever friend Yakushi Nonō at the orphanage. After Nonō brought home fish for dinner, Kirito hoped to protect her from the grim fate he knew awaited her.

• Kirito Tonsaka learned that he had ninja aptitude but could not attend the Ninja Academy without paying one hundred thousand in annual tuition.
• Yakushi Nonō and two younger boys returned with fish caught using a trap she had made in shallow water.
• The orphanage children celebrated a rare dinner of grilled fish and fish soup.
• Kirito Tonsaka reflected on Yakushi Nonō's intelligence and worried that Danzo would eventually recruit her into Root and lead her toward tragedy.
• Yakushi Nonō drank her fish soup before Kirito could ask for it, and Kirito jokingly complained that she was not a reliable friend.

Kirito Tonsaka secretly cultivated Natural Energy and practiced stone throwing, gradually strengthening his body and senses. Yakushi Nonō helped him keep his nightly training hidden, and Kirito felt at home in the Orphanage.

• The old headmistress checked that the children were asleep, and Kirito slipped out of the Orphanage to meditate beneath the full moon.
• Kirito absorbed a small amount of Natural Energy, then lifted a heavy rock to test his growing strength.
• Kirito reflected on how he had learned to control his Sage Transformation and how a month of cultivation had improved his abilities.
• Kirito practiced throwing stones at a rock, using his improved strength and eyesight to sharpen his aim.
• Kirito returned to find Yakushi Nonō waiting with clean clothes; she reminded him to wash quietly before going back to sleep.

Kirito Tonsaka used his growing strength and hunting skills to earn money and qualify for the Ninja Academy, then set his sights on helping the orphanage children become ninja. At a meat bun shop, he defeated Choza Akimichi in their second eating contest while Shikaku Nara and Inoichi Yamanaka watched, and a White-Eyed Little Girl admired him.

• Kirito Tonsaka grew stronger through Natural Energy cultivation and hunted wild beasts to earn money.
• Kirito earned enough for tuition and qualified for the Ninja Academy with the old headmistress's recommendation and an entrance test.
• Kirito decided to help the other orphanage children become ninja so he could build a circle of companions.
• Kirito met Choza Akimichi at the Meat Bun Shop and challenged him to another eating contest as Shikaku Nara and Inoichi Yamanaka watched.
• Kirito ate sixteen meat buns while Choza threw up after his sixteenth, giving Kirito another victory.
• A White-Eyed Little Girl watched Kirito and quietly called him amazing.

Kirito joined the ninja clan children’s circle and met Nawaki, who dreamed of becoming Hokage. As Nawaki and Inuzuka Mao argued over who would claim the title, a contemptuous black-haired girl appeared and insulted them.

• Kirito followed Shikaku, Inoichi, and Choza to the children’s gathering and introduced himself to the group led by Inuzuka Mao.
• Nawaki proudly declared that he would become Hokage and welcomed Kirito, who agreed to be his subordinate.
• Inuzuka Mao challenged Nawaki’s Hokage ambition, and the two argued while the other children egged them on.
• Kirito suggested that Nawaki and Inuzuka Mao settle their rivalry by fighting, and they prepared to face off.
• A black-haired girl arrived on a tree branch, called Nawaki and Inuzuka Mao trash, and drew their angry attention.

Kirito and the others clashed with a black-haired Uchiha girl, who overwhelmed the children and then turned her attention to him. After Kirito countered her Senbon and struck her with a stone, she used the Substitution Technique and attacked him with a Great Fireball Jutsu.

• The Uchiha girl wounded Inuzuka Mao with a Kunai after he insulted her, and Nawaki charged at her but failed to catch her in the trees.
• Nawaki distracted the Uchiha girl long enough for Inuzuka Mao to use the Four Legs Technique, but she used her One-Tomoe Sharingan to knock him unconscious and kicked Kuromaru away.
• The Uchiha girl defeated the other children, including Shikaku and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, while leaving Kirito untouched.
• The Uchiha girl accused Kirito of striking her Senbon with a stone, then threw another Senbon at him; Kirito caught it and sent it back.
• Kirito hit the Uchiha girl with a stone, but she substituted a log and launched a Great Fireball Jutsu at him.

Kirito defeated Chizuru Uchiha in a brief fight before she collapsed from excessive Chakra use, while the Third Hokage watched and recognized Kirito’s talent. When Danzō asked to recruit orphans for Root, Hiruzen refused, determined not to let Kirito fall into Danzō’s hands.

• Kirito used Natural Energy to overpower Chizuru Uchiha, but a middle-aged man intervened before he could continue the fight.
• Chizuru collapsed unconscious, and Shikaku suggested that she had consumed too much Chakra.
• The Third Hokage watched the fight with the Scrying Jutsu and realized that Kirito was an orphan with exceptional potential.
• Danzō demanded reinforcements for Root, but Hiruzen refused and suggested he approach the major Ninja Clans instead.
• Danzō asked to take children from the Orphanage, but Hiruzen refused, declaring that he was the Hokage.

Kirito spent his Enhancement Point to raise Wisdom from 2 to 3, enduring intense pain as his memory and calculating ability improved. He left the library confident in his ability to learn and began studying medical texts and Sealing Jutsu.

• Kirito received an Enhancement Point for changing Yakushi Nonō's fate and considered using it to prevent Nawaki's death.
• Kirito used the point to raise his Wisdom from 2 to 3, then collapsed in the library as intense pain struck his brain.
• Kirito recovered with a clearer mind and an astonishing memory, recalling knowledge he had previously forgotten.
• Kirito read Tsunade's Medical Fundamentals and found he could quickly remember much of what he read.
• Kirito studied a basic Sealing Jutsu book and discovered that his mental arithmetic had greatly improved.
• Kirito resolved to study hard and eagerly continued reading.

After Chizuru Uchiha lost to Kirito, Homura Uchiha punished her and told her she had disgraced the clan, while Chizuru vowed to become stronger. At the Senju compound, Nawaki resolved to train harder, but Mito Uzumaki ordered him to resume studying Sealing Jutsu and admitted she was nearing the end of her strength.

• Homura Uchiha had Kari Uchiha whip Chizuru Uchiha and used his Sharingan to make her admit she was being punished for being too weak.
• Homura Uchiha revealed that Kirito was an orphan, and Chizuru vowed through her tears that she would not lose again.
• Homura Uchiha ordered Kari Uchiha to have Chizuru treated and continue her medicinal baths, then said she had to become the Uchiha Clan's pillar.
• Nawaki trained until he collapsed, ashamed of how weak he was compared with Kirito and Chizuru, and declared that he would become Hokage.
• Mito Uzumaki appeared, flicked Nawaki through a courtyard wall, and ordered him to resume Sealing Jutsu training the next day.
• Mito Uzumaki looked at the waning moon and told Hashirama that she would endure until the very end.

Danzo investigated Kirito and regretted that Hiruzen had already placed the talented orphan under protection. As Konoha faced growing wartime pressure, Kari Uchiha delivered Chizuru Uchiha’s challenge to Kirito, who resented being forced to accept it.

• Danzo learned that Kirito had defeated Chizuru Uchiha and suspected his recent illness had awakened a powerful bloodline.
• Danzo decided Kirito might eventually seek him out if darkness grew in the boy’s heart.
• The Third Hokage ordered two thousand reserve ninja to reinforce the Land of Fire’s border with the Land of Grass after receiving a message about Iwa ninja activity.
• The Third Hokage reviewed academy enrollment applications, worried about Konoha’s declining strength, and reaffirmed his teacher’s policy of supporting civilians and limiting clan power.
• Kari Uchiha appeared before Kirito, told him Chizuru Uchiha had issued a challenge, and threw him a scroll before vanishing.
• Kirito caught the challenge scroll and complained that the Uchiha had forced him to accept without asking.

After receiving a valuable training scroll from Kari Uchiha, Kirito learned Chakra cultivation and taught it to Yakushi Nonō, Heizo Yamazaki, and Taiga Noda. He accepted Yakushi Nonō’s decision to stay at the Orphanage and learned that she planned to sell food to help support it.

• Kirito read Kari Uchiha’s scroll, realized the Uchiha Clan intended to make him a whetstone for Chizuru Uchiha, and resolved to use their gift to defeat her next time.
• Kirito mastered the Chakra cultivation method and taught it to Yakushi Nonō, Heizo Yamazaki, and Taiga Noda in the Orphanage basement.
• Yakushi Nonō extracted Chakra after a few attempts, while Heizo Yamazaki and Taiga Noda struggled to concentrate.
• Kirito asked Yakushi Nonō why she had refused to attend the Ninja Academy, and she said she wanted to stay and care for the younger children.
• Yakushi Nonō told Kirito she planned to sell the foods she had learned to make and use the proceeds to support the Orphanage.

Kirito continued improving during Konoha’s peaceful month and met Mito Uzumaki at the Ninja Academy’s opening day. Mito offered to teach him Sealing Jutsu as she took Nawaki away.

• Kirito mastered the Three Basic Ninjutsu Techniques, grew stronger through Natural Energy training, and defeated Chizuru Uchiha again.
• Kirito arrived at the Ninja Academy with Heizo Yamazaki and Taiga Noda, where Nawaki soon joined him.
• Mito Uzumaki entered amid villagers’ greetings, and Kirito realized why Nawaki had said she walked slowly.
• Nawaki insulted Mito’s youthful appearance, so she repeatedly sent him flying until he apologized.
• Mito praised Kirito, encouraged his friendship with Nawaki, and invited him to visit if he wanted to learn Sealing Jutsu.

Mito took Kirito as her disciple and agreed to teach him Sealing Jutsu, thwarting the Third Hokage’s plan to recruit him. After the Ninja Academy welcoming ceremony, Mito asked Kirito to keep Nawaki in line as they began school.

• The Third Hokage realized Mito’s offer had secured Kirito for the Senju Clan, while Chizuru Uchiha vowed to defeat Kirito and asked Homura Uchiha to teach her Sealing Jutsu.
• Kirito accepted Mito’s offer and reflected that helping Nawaki with homework had already taught him foundational Sealing Jutsu.
• Mito took Kirito and Nawaki with her, and Kirito invited Heizo Yamazaki and Taiga Noda to join them.
• The Third Hokage delivered a shortened welcoming speech, and the student ceremony ended.
• Mito told Kirito to watch Nawaki at the Ninja Academy, and Nawaki reluctantly agreed to behave.

Kirito began academy life in Class A with Nawaki and Chizuru Uchiha, and quickly got caught up in their rivalry. He discovered that making Chizuru laugh could interrupt her anger, leaving the class in chaos when she tried to attack Nawaki.

• Kirito reassured Heizo Yamazaki and Taiga Noda after they were assigned to different classes, reminding them of the skills they had gained through training.
• Kirito and Nawaki joined Class A, where Chizuru Uchiha sat beside Kirito and rejected his friendly greeting.
• Nawaki challenged Chizuru, and Wasabi Mitarai sent all three students into the hallway and beat them for their disruption.
• During introductions, Kirito noticed Chizuru secretly laughing at him and made a pig face that made her laugh openly.
• Chizuru formed hand seals to attack Nawaki with a Great Fireball Jutsu, but Kirito distracted her with another silly face and the technique fizzled out.

After Nawaki proved he could stand up to Chizuru, Wasabi Mitarai punished him, Chizuru, and Kirito with frog jumps. Chizuru fell and hurt herself, but Kirito cheered her up and led her away from the punishment, leaving Nawaki hopping alone.

• Chizuru attacked Nawaki with a kunai after he laughed at her failed jutsu, and Nawaki held his ground until Wasabi Mitarai subdued them.
• Chizuru recognized Nawaki’s rapid improvement, while Kirito understood that Nawaki’s hard training and strong heritage had helped him grow.
• Wasabi ordered Kirito, Chizuru, and Nawaki to complete one hundred frog-jump laps; after threatening to expel Chizuru, she got her to comply.
• The three turned the punishment into a contest, and Nawaki took the lead as Chizuru fell behind and scraped her elbows and knees.
• Kirito made Chizuru laugh, offered to take her to the infirmary, and pulled her away with him; Nawaki turned around and found them gone.

After Kirito, Chizuru, and Nawaki finished cleaning Hokage Rock, Kirito invited Chizuru to join them for dumplings, and she went with them. Kari reported their outing to Homura, who allowed it but ordered Chizuru to finish her training afterward.

• Kirito, Chizuru, and Nawaki cleaned Hokage Rock as punishment while Wasabi secretly listened to their complaints and threatened harsher work next time.
• Kirito invited Nawaki to eat pan-fried dumplings, then persuaded Chizuru to come along and led the three toward Food Street.
• Nawaki agreed to treat them after Kirito appealed to his ambition to become Hokage.
• Kari watched Chizuru leave with Kirito and Nawaki, then reported the outing to Homura.
• Homura told Kari not to interfere but ordered him to ensure Chizuru completed her training after returning.

Kirito, Chizuru, and Nawaki ate at Nonō’s shop when a Uchiha Police Force member bullied Nonō and attacked a young waiter. Kirito kicked the man into the street, where he was surrounded by other Police Force members.

• Kirito and Chizuru ordered more food while Nawaki worried about the cost of treating them.
• A Uchiha Police Force member grabbed Nonō and demanded that she serve him ahead of the other customers.
• A boy rushed to protect Nonō, and Kirito, Chizuru, and Nawaki threw weapons to stop the man from kicking him.
• Chizuru confronted the Police Force member and condemned him for disgracing the Uchiha Clan.
• The man prepared to use Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu, but Kirito kicked him into the street and stomped him down.
• Other Police Force members appeared on nearby rooftops, and Kirito raised his hands to show he meant no harm.

Shin Uchiha tried to take Kirito into custody despite Chizuru’s orders, but Kari Uchiha intervened and freed him. As Kari used Genjutsu to interrogate Den Uchiha, Kirito considered whether an automatically triggered sealing technique could help him resist Genjutsu.

• Shin Uchiha ordered his guards to restrain Kirito and take him away, ignoring Chizuru’s command to release him.
• Nawaki, Heizo Yamazaki, and Taiga Noda defended Kirito, while Yakushi Nonō held back the other Orphanage children.
• Chizuru summoned Kari Uchiha, who appeared and freed Kirito before using his Sharingan Genjutsu on Den Uchiha.
• Den Uchiha revealed what had happened under Kari’s Genjutsu, and Kirito thought about using a seal to disrupt his own Chakra flow and break Genjutsu.

Chizuru accepted Kazuya’s fox mask after saving him from Den Uchiha, then attended Den’s punishment at Naka Shrine and killed him when he showed no remorse. She left the story grieving but certain she had no regrets.

• Shin Uchiha ordered his subordinates to take Den away and left, while villagers spread the story of the Uchiha’s public humiliation.
• Kirito and Yakushi Nonō thanked Chizuru for intervening, and Kazuya Konoe gave her his treasured fox mask as thanks.
• Chizuru accepted the mask and left with Kari Uchiha, while Kirito reminded Nawaki to pay the shop bill.
• That night, Homura Uchiha watched Den being whipped at Naka Shrine as Den begged for forgiveness.
• Chizuru asked Den what he would have done to Kazuya, then stabbed him with a Kunai and awakened a new tomoe in her Sharingan.

Kirito and Chizuru fought a sparring match that ended with Chizuru claiming victory, while their training continued to improve both of them. After Kirito fell asleep from exhaustion, the story shifted to Nawaki speaking with Mito about a Shadow Clone attending class.

• Kirito and Chizuru traded attacks, using their techniques to evade and counter each other until they called the first bout a draw.
• Chizuru rejected Kirito’s offer and resumed the spar, eventually winning after poisoning him with Senbon and injuring her arm.
• Chizuru ordered Sakura Uchiha to treat her first, while Kirito watched the Medical Ninjutsu before fainting from exhaustion.
• Sakura Uchiha confirmed that Kirito had only fallen asleep, and Chizuru realized he had fought her while exhausted.
• At Nawaki’s home, Nawaki told Mito that he had not known a Shadow Clone was attending class.

After learning that Kirito had been using Shadow Clones to train himself into exhaustion, Mito summoned him and treated him to restorative food while warning him not to leave class early again. Kirito agreed and changed his routine so his original body would study Sealing Jutsu with Mito each day.

• Nawaki told Mito that Kirito had learned the Shadow Clone Jutsu two weeks earlier, and Mito realized Kirito had been overworking himself with clones.
• Mito sent Momoka to find Kirito, who had fallen asleep at Chizuru's Home after his clones dispersed when his Chakra flow was disrupted by paralytic poison.
• Kirito woke at Nawaki's home, learned that Mito was angry, and was summoned to meet her.
• Mito served Kirito restorative medicinal cuisine and told him to eat with her every day and never leave class early again.
• Kirito promised to obey and adjusted his clone duties so his original body could study Sealing Jutsu with Mito, while the daily meals helped prevent exhaustion.