Recaps

Naruto Uzumaki rescued Hinata Hyuga from children who were bullying her in the snow. After the other children fled, Naruto introduced himself to Hinata, who thanked him.

• Naruto walked alone through the snowy village, avoiding passersby who treated him with hostility.
• Naruto saw several children surrounding Hinata and insulting her for her Byakugan.
• Naruto struck two bullies with snowballs, then used two Shadow Clones to frighten the children into running away.
• Naruto asked Hinata if she was hurt, and she thanked him with a deep bow.
• Naruto introduced himself and asked if she was Hinata from his class, and she confirmed her name.

Naruto comforted Hinata after children bullied her, promised to protect her, and invited her to Ichiraku Ramen. Hiruzen watched the encounter and, after noticing Naruto’s ill-fitting clothes, decided to increase his allowance and bring him new winter clothes.

• Naruto promised Hinata he would help if anyone bullied her and declared that protecting everyone was the Hokage’s job.
• Hinata accepted Naruto’s offer of help and felt warmed by his words.
• Naruto invited Hinata to Ichiraku Ramen and took her hand as they headed there.
• An ANBU member reported the encounter to Hiruzen, who had watched it with the Telescope Technique.
• Hiruzen noticed Naruto’s clothes were too small and decided to increase his allowance and personally bring him a properly fitting winter outfit.

Naruto and Hinata shared ramen at Ichiraku, while Hiruzen persuaded Hyuga Hiashi not to interrupt their time together. Naruto walked Hinata home, where they encountered Hiashi and another Hyuga clansman waiting for them.

• Naruto took Hinata to Ichiraku and ordered them both special Tonkotsu ramen.
• Hiashi arrived to take Hinata home, but Hiruzen stopped him and urged him to let the children become friends.
• Hiruzen ordered Hiashi to let Naruto and Hinata finish their ramen in peace, and Hiashi agreed.
• After dinner, Naruto offered to walk Hinata home, and she accepted.
• Naruto and Hinata reached the main road to the Hyuga Clan Compound and found Hiashi and another Hyuga clansman waiting for them.

After finding Hinata out late with Naruto, Hiashi thanked him for looking after his daughter instead of scolding them. He remembered Naruto’s resemblance to Minato and wanted to welcome him into the Hyuga home, but his duties as clan head and concern about Danzō’s scrutiny stopped him, and he took Hinata home.

• Hinata approached Hiashi guiltily, thinking about her loss to Hanabi and her father’s disappointment.
• Naruto worried Hiashi might think he had lured Hinata away, then reminded himself he had only helped and protected her.
• Hiashi thanked Naruto for looking after Hinata, and Naruto declared that he would become Hokage and protect the villagers.
• Hiashi saw Minato in Naruto and considered inviting him to the Hyuga home, but feared the suspicion that closeness to the jinchūriki could bring upon his clan.
• Hiashi hid his warm feelings, told Hinata it was time to go home, and left with her.

Naruto trained his chakra control before visiting Kurama in the Sealing Space and asking whether Wood Release could be a Kekkei Tōta. Kurama reacted with sudden excitement, eager to hear Naruto's theory.

• Naruto returned to his apartment and practiced finely controlling a strand of chakra.
• Naruto reflected on the threats awaiting him, including the Akatsuki, Black Zetsu, Obito Uchiha, and Madara Uchiha.
• Naruto entered the Sealing Space and greeted Kurama, with whom he had built a longstanding rapport through regular conversations.
• Naruto asked Kurama whether Wood Release might be a Kekkei Tōta rather than a Kekkei Genkai.
• Kurama sprang to his feet, his fur bristling as Naruto's question caught his attention.

Naruto explained to Kurama his theory that Hashirama Senju’s Wood Release was a kekkei tōta incorporating Yang Release, not a simple combination of earth and water. Their discussion was interrupted by Hiruzen Sarutobi’s visit, which ended with Hiruzen noticing how tight Naruto’s old undershirt had become.

• Naruto argued to Kurama that Wood Release’s life-giving power and lack of hereditary transmission suggested it was a kekkei tōta combining earth, water, and Yang Release.
• A knock interrupted Naruto and Kurama, and Naruto guessed that the Third had arrived before returning to the real world.
• Naruto opened the door and welcomed Hiruzen Sarutobi, who brought him new winter clothes and a package.
• Naruto eagerly tried on the new clothes, and Hiruzen’s smile faded when he saw Naruto’s undershirt stretched tight over his growing body.

Naruto told the Third about befriending Hinata Hyuga and received extra living allowance. Later, Danzo demanded that the Third hand Naruto and a Hyuga daughter over to Root, but the Third refused and asserted his authority as Hokage.

• Naruto thanked the Third for his warm clothes and received extra money for his living allowance.
• Naruto told the Third how he had protected Hinata Hyuga from bullies and become her friend.
• Danzo confronted the Third over Hiashi's contact with Naruto and demanded that Naruto be trained by Root.
• After the Third refused, Danzo asked to take Hiashi's second daughter for Root training, and the Third angrily rejected him.
• The Third declared, "I'm the Hokage!" and Danzo stormed out of the office.

Shimura Danzō privately obsessed over the Hokage robe he longed to wear, while Naruto began a more demanding training regimen under Might Guy, who disguised himself as Cheng Dai. Naruto accepted forty kilograms of leg weights and set off to run ten laps around Konoha.

• Shimura Danzō entered his private chamber, carefully cleaned his replica Hokage hat, and lamented that he could not openly wear the Hokage robe.
• Naruto put on the winter clothes sent by the Third, took some money from the envelope, and left the rest beneath his pillow.
• Naruto met Might Guy at the training clearing, where Guy appeared in disguise as the Taijutsu master Cheng Dai.
• Might Guy gave Naruto two leg weights totaling forty kilograms and explained that Naruto needed a greater challenge than basic fitness training.
• Naruto adjusted to the weights and followed Guy into a ten-lap run around Konoha.

Naruto visited the Yamanaka flower shop to buy a birthday bouquet for his teacher, covering his whisker marks with makeup so he could blend into the New Year crowds. Inoichi recognized Naruto’s resemblance to Minato, and Naruto’s friendly exchange with Ino left her surprised and curious.

• Naruto covered his whisker marks with makeup before going out for the New Year.
• Naruto entered the Yamanaka flower shop, where Inoichi was tending the counter and Ino was watering flowers.
• Inoichi froze when he saw Naruto’s resemblance to Minato, then composed himself and offered to recommend a bouquet.
• Naruto asked Inoichi to choose flowers for his teacher’s birthday the next day.
• Naruto noticed Ino watching him, smiled, and asked whether the shop belonged to her family.

Naruto visited the Yamanaka flower shop to buy a bouquet for Might Guy’s birthday, where Ino was startled by his changed appearance and Inoichi hurried him out of the store. Hiruzen watched Naruto leave with the flowers and felt reassured by his thoughtfulness.

• Ino recognized Naruto only after hearing his voice and was flustered by his changed appearance and clean-shaven face.
• Naruto introduced himself and explained that he had covered his whisker marks.
• Inoichi gave Naruto a bouquet for free and ushered him out of the flower shop, despite Ino’s protest.
• Naruto carried the bouquet away, intending it as a birthday gift for Might Guy.
• Hiruzen observed Naruto through the Telescope Technique and praised his gratitude and kindness.

Naruto visited Might Guy on his birthday with flowers and a cake, winning Guy’s heartfelt acceptance with a speech about youth and his dream of becoming Hokage. Guy left the money he had offered Naruto aside and vowed to train even harder, while Naruto believed he had secured a chance to learn the Eight Gates.

• Might Guy trained near his home during the New Year, avoiding crowded grounds and village security patrols.
• Naruto brought Guy flowers and a cake for his birthday, and Guy removed his fake mustache after learning the Third Hokage had revealed the date.
• Guy accepted Naruto’s gifts and embraced him, while Naruto silently concluded that Guy’s acceptance would help him obtain the Eight Gates.
• Guy offered Naruto money to repay him, but Naruto refused and explained that youth meant committing to his chosen path and striving to become Hokage to protect others.
• Guy accepted Naruto’s resolve and vowed to work harder so he would not fall behind his student.

After hearing Naruto’s speech about youth, Hiruzen Sarutobi credited Might Guy’s mentorship for the boy’s optimism and resolved to find a successor to the Hokage position. He ordered ANBU and Root to stop routine surveillance of Naruto, and Naruto learned through the Nine-Tails that the Third had finally eased his guard.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi reflected that Might Guy’s training had helped Naruto develop a strong Will of Fire and considered Guy a gifted teacher.
• Hiruzen weighed possible Hokage successors, concluding that Jiraiya or Tsunade were the strongest candidates and that Kakashi and Asuma were not yet suitable.
• Hiruzen ordered his ANBU to end routine surveillance of Naruto and threatened to punish Root members who watched him without permission.
• A silver-haired ANBU in a dog mask acknowledged the order and left using the Body Flicker Technique.
• The Nine-Tails told Naruto that the ANBU had withdrawn, and Naruto understood that Hiruzen had finally let his guard down.

After the Third eased his surveillance, Naruto began secretly developing Wood Release with Kurama’s guidance. After months of failures, Naruto finally grew a real twig with leaves, proving he had made Wood Release.

• Naruto decided to develop Wood Release now that the Third had relaxed his surveillance.
• Naruto reasoned that Wood Release might require fusing earth, water, and Yang Release chakra, and used Kurama’s Tailed Beast Bomb knowledge as a guide.
• Naruto trained in Taijutsu each morning and spent his afternoons experimenting with chakra fusion while Kurama instructed and scolded him.
• As winter turned to spring, Naruto continued his attempts despite failures and painful chakra disruptions.
• Naruto successfully fused the chakra and grew a small, leafy twig in his palm.

Naruto successfully created a small Wood Release sprout after combining his Asura heritage, Kurama’s help, and his understanding of the technique. Kurama began to believe Naruto might be the Child of Prophecy and resolved, despite his protests, to watch over him.

• Naruto showed Kurama the green sprout he had created through Wood Release.
• Kurama acknowledged that Naruto had reached the threshold of Wood Release remarkably quickly.
• Kurama recalled Naruto’s difficult experiments and recognized how his chakra had helped protect him from failed attempts.
• Kurama wondered whether Naruto was the Child of Prophecy destined to transform the Shinobi World and bring peace.
• Kurama insisted that he only wanted Naruto to survive so he would not die with him, then asked the Sage of Six Paths to watch over Naruto.

Naruto planned to claim he had suddenly awakened the Uzumaki Clan's Mind's Eye of the Kagura so he could ask the Third Hokage for sealing jutsu instruction. After arranging to use the Nine-Tails' malice-sensing ability, he rushed into the Hokage Building to make his discovery seem genuine.

• Naruto decided that revealing a rudimentary Uzumaki ability would give him a reasonable basis to request sealing jutsu lessons from the Third Hokage.
• Naruto ruled out learning Adamantine Sealing Chains and planned to present the Nine-Tails' malice perception as an awakening of Mind's Eye of the Kagura.
• Naruto discussed the plan with the Nine-Tails and agreed to use its sensing ability.
• Naruto hurried to the Hokage Building and called out for Grandpa Third as he ran upstairs.

Naruto's apparent awakening of the Mind's Eye of the Kagura led the Third Hokage to explain that the Nine-Tails was sealed inside him and that villagers' fear caused the malice he sensed. Naruto responded by asking to learn powerful Sealing Jutsu so he could keep the demon fox sealed and protect the village.

• Naruto panicked after sensing many people and their hostile feelings, then clung to the Third Hokage for help.
• The Third Hokage suspected Naruto had awakened the Uzumaki Clan's Mind's Eye of the Kagura and ordered the incident kept top secret.
• The Third Hokage told Naruto that the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox was sealed inside him and that villagers' fear of it caused the unpleasant emotions he sensed.
• Naruto accepted the burden and asked the Third Hokage to teach him Sealing Jutsu so the demon fox could never escape and harm the village.

Naruto received a scroll containing Konoha’s most powerful Sealing Jutsu and discovered that Kurama had memorized its contents but could not read. He offered to teach Kurama to read, and Kurama reluctantly agreed while urging Naruto to master the Sealing Space.

• Naruto reviewed the scroll from the Third and was stunned to find powerful techniques including the Gate of the Great God, Reverse Four Symbols Seal, and Reaper Death Seal.
• Kurama revealed that he had memorized every symbol on the scroll but could not read or recite it.
• Naruto offered to teach Kurama to read, and Kurama initially refused.
• Kurama relented, claiming he was learning only as a favor to Naruto.
• Kurama told Naruto to focus on learning Sealing Jutsu and gaining complete control over the Sealing Space.

Naruto returned to school while leaving four shadow clones at home to study a Sealing Jutsu scroll, and he reunited with Kiba Inuzuka, who had taught him the Shadow Clone Technique. Kiba revealed that he had arranged for stray dogs to chase Naruto’s barber after the barber mistreated him.

• Naruto sent four shadow clones home to study the Sealing Jutsu scroll while his real body attended school.
• Naruto recalled that Kiba Inuzuka had taught him the Shadow Clone Technique after losing a bet, though Naruto had since surpassed him at it.
• Kiba greeted Naruto in class and asked why he was growing his hair out.
• Naruto claimed he was following the hairstyle of past Hokage, and Kiba assumed the barber had refused to cut his hair.
• Kiba proudly admitted he had sent stray dogs to chase the barber as revenge for mistreating Naruto.

Ino watched Naruto grow closer to Kiba, Shino, Choji, and Shikamaru, then learned that he knew her father, Inoichi. The chapter ended with Ino accepting Naruto’s flower seeds for her father and resolving to get Naruto to cover his whisker marks.

• Ino and Sakura entered the classroom together, and Ino noticed Naruto chatting with Kiba and Shino.
• Naruto welcomed Choji and Shikamaru, gave Choji and Kiba bags of chips, and shared the snacks with Shino.
• Shikamaru called Ino and Sakura over, and they took the empty seats beside him and Choji.
• Naruto told Ino he had bought unusual flower seeds as a thank-you gift for Inoichi and asked her to pass them along.
• Ino accepted the seeds on her father’s behalf while Shikamaru and Sakura wondered how Naruto knew Inoichi.

Might Guy was assigned to teach practical combat at the Ninja Academy while trying to persuade Kakashi to become a jonin instructor. As Guy arrived to teach the students, he conceived a final technique for the Eighth Gate and named it Night Guy.

• Hinata watched Naruto chatting comfortably with his friends and admired him, while Sasuke restrained his desire for revenge against Itachi.
• Iruka introduced Might Guy as a teacher who would occasionally substitute for practical combat classes.
• The previous afternoon, the Third asked Guy to teach at the Ninja Academy and eventually lead a Genin team.
• Guy requested to teach students in Kakashi's graduating class, and the Third agreed to postpone Guy's team-leader appointment while Guy tried to persuade Kakashi to become an instructor.
• The Third required Guy to teach one month of practical combat classes each year, and Guy eagerly accepted.
• Guy arrived at the Academy and imagined a technique for the Eighth Gate, which he named Night Guy.

Might Guy arrived at the Ninja Academy as a temporary Combat Training Class teacher, surprising Naruto, who knew how powerful Guy truly was. Guy replaced the morning’s academic lessons with practical combat at Training Ground Three, and the students set off to watch.

• Umino Iruka introduced Might Guy as the jonin who would teach Combat Training Class for the next month.
• Naruto recognized Guy’s immense strength while his classmates doubted that Guy’s Taijutsu was impressive.
• Might Guy spotted Naruto and decided to demonstrate the results of his training through practical combat.
• Might Guy moved the class to Training Ground Three for combat practice, with Umino Iruka agreeing to the change.
• Kiba Inuzuka and the other students welcomed the change, while Shikamaru Nara reluctantly agreed to go after Choji reminded him that Guy was Naruto’s teacher.

Might Guy paired Naruto with Sasuke for a sparring match, and Naruto revealed how much stronger his Taijutsu was once Guy told him to stop holding back. The fight continued with Naruto easily defending against Sasuke’s furious attacks.

• Might Guy learned Sasuke had the best Combat Training Class grades and chose him to fight Naruto first.
• Naruto and Sasuke formed the Seal of Confrontation and began exchanging Taijutsu attacks as their classmates watched.
• Might Guy told Naruto to give the match everything he had, prompting Naruto to attack at full speed.
• Naruto struck Sasuke down with a Konoha Whirlwind, shocking Sasuke and the watching students.
• Sasuke sprang up and charged again, but Naruto calmly evaded and blocked his attacks with ease.

Naruto defeated Sasuke with a powerful throw, but Sasuke awakened a mismatched Sharingan and launched a fireball attack. The fight continued as Sasuke used his new visual abilities to block Naruto’s kick and regain his confidence.

• Naruto caught Sasuke’s punch, threw him to the ground, and offered to help him up, but Sasuke knocked his hand away.
• Sasuke’s eyes turned scarlet with one tomoe in one eye and two in the other, and he refused to admit defeat.
• Might Guy warned Naruto about Sasuke’s unstable chakra, but Sasuke used Great Fireball Technique and Naruto dodged it.
• Naruto’s Shadow Clone Technique failed, and he evaded Sasuke’s next punch before striking with Konoha Whirlwind.
• Sasuke used his Sharingan to block Naruto’s kick and became confident that he could read and defeat Naruto’s attacks.

Naruto defeated Sasuke in a Taijutsu match, and Might Guy praised both students before continuing his Combat Training Class. Third Hiruzen Sarutobi reviewed reports on the match and Guy’s teaching, valuing Naruto’s restraint and approving Guy’s practical instruction.

• Naruto followed up his blocked Konoha Whirlwind with a faster attack, pinned Sasuke to the ground, and won the match.
• The students reacted to Sasuke’s defeat, while Hinata and Ino admired Naruto; Sasuke refused Naruto’s offered hand before they made the Seal of Reconciliation under Might Guy’s direction.
• Might Guy praised Naruto and Sasuke’s Taijutsu and fighting spirit, noted Naruto’s ninjutsu needed work, and explained the value of Taijutsu in his class.
• Third Hiruzen Sarutobi read the ANBU report, recognized Sasuke’s Sharingan as impressive, and valued Naruto’s efforts to avoid seriously hurting his comrade.
• Third Hiruzen reviewed a report on Might Guy’s class and judged his practical combat instruction effective despite his limited theoretical teaching and exuberant shouting.

Naruto shared his homemade lunches with Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, and Shino on the rooftop, where Might Guy told him he would teach for only a month and planned to delay Kakashi’s team assignment until Naruto’s class graduated. Sasuke arrived seeking a quiet place, but left after finding Naruto and the others eating together.

• Naruto served lunch to Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, and Shino, giving Choji an especially large portion because he had paid more.
• Kiba paid Naruto in advance for food for his future ninja dog and declared he would surpass Naruto with the Inuzuka Clan’s techniques.
• Might Guy arrived, declined Naruto’s lunch, and said he would teach at the academy for one more month while trying to hold Kakashi back from becoming a team leader until Naruto’s class graduated.
• Naruto agreed that Guy could lead a team with Kakashi after their class became Genin.
• Sasuke entered the rooftop looking for solitude, saw Naruto and the others sharing lunch, and left without speaking.