Chapter Summaries

Kabuto fought a Root operative while Gua used his Sharingan to predict the operative’s moves and guide Kabuto through the battle. Gua also defeated a second attacker with one kick, then faced the last Root operative as he prepared to use Ninjutsu.

• Kabuto misread the first Root operative’s plan, but Gua called out his attacks and helped Kabuto block and counter them.
• Gua predicted the operative’s movements as Kabuto pressed him back and dodged his Fire Release attack.
• Kakashi watched Gua and Kabuto coordinate, impressed by the six-year-old’s unusually precise Sharingan predictions.
• A Root operative ambushed Gua from behind, but Gua turned and kicked him into a tree, leaving him badly injured.
• The last Root operative abandoned Taijutsu and pulled out a scroll, preparing to fight Gua with Ninjutsu.

Gua defeated one Root operative and then teamed up with Kabuto against the two remaining operatives. Gua chose to fight the sword-wielding Special Jōnin while Kabuto faced the other operative, and their battles continued.

• Gua evaded a barrage of summoned senbon and knocked a Root operative unconscious with a kick.
• Kabuto was sent flying after fighting two Root operatives but regrouped beside Gua.
• Gua gave Kabuto a kunai and told him to fight the operative without a sword while he faced the sword wielder.
• Gua and the sword-wielding Root operative clashed evenly as Kabuto fought the other operative.
• Kabuto's opponent used Water Release: Water Bullet.

Gua fought a sword-wielding Root operative who tried to recruit him, then switched to Ninjutsu when he could not defeat him with Taijutsu. Gua outmaneuvered him with a clone and killed him, leaving Kakashi stunned.

• Gua dodged the Root operative’s sword attacks and narrowly avoided being killed as they fought with Taijutsu.
• The Root operative offered Gua a place in Root, then used Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet when Gua refused to be swayed.
• Gua dodged the earth dragon and charged the Root operative, who drew his sword and struck what he thought was Gua.
• Gua’s struck figure vanished in smoke, revealing it was a clone, and he stabbed the Root operative through the throat with a Kunai.
• Gua killed the Root operative as Kakashi watched in shock.

Gua killed two Root operatives and had Kabuto finish off two more, while Kakashi challenged his choice to kill their Konoha comrades. Gua defended protecting the people he cared about and confronted Kakashi over his failure to stand by Hatake Sakumo, then walked away with Kabuto.

• Kakashi followed Gua and learned that Gua had killed a Root operative, while Gua told him to stop another Root operative fleeing from a tree.
• Gua surprised and killed the Root operative fighting Kabuto, while Kakashi let the fleeing operative escape.
• Gua moved to kill two wounded Root operatives, and when Kakashi tried to stop him, Kabuto stabbed both through the throat.
• Gua told Kakashi he would kill anyone who tried to kill him and argued that he could not rely on others to protect the people he cared about.
• Gua reminded Kakashi that the village had not saved Hatake Sakumo and accused Kakashi of failing to stand by him before walking away with Kabuto.

After Gua and Kabuto left him, Kakashi confronted his guilt over failing to support his father and disappointing Gua. He reported Gua’s clash with Root to the Third Hokage and was granted time away from Anbu to find his own Shinobi Way.

• Kakashi realized his silence had contributed to his father’s despair and recognized Gua’s disappointment when he had hesitated to stop the Root shinobi.
• Gua took Kabuto home, told him that he and Kakashi might no longer be friends, and Kabuto wondered what Gua meant.
• The Third Hokage grew uneasy about Gua’s repeated contact with Naruto and listened as Kakashi reported Gua’s recent activities.
• Kakashi told the Third Hokage that Gua and Kabuto had killed four of five Root shinobi, while one escaped after Kakashi hesitated to stop him.
• Kakashi asked for a break from Anbu duties, and the Third Hokage encouraged him to find his own Shinobi Way.

Danzo learned that Uchiha Gua had helped kill four Root operatives and warned Hiruzen that the six-year-old might become a major threat. Hiruzen agreed to secretly test Gua during an unannounced Academy combat exercise, while ordering Danzo to behave himself.

• Danzo furiously questioned the surviving Root operative, who reported that Uchiha Gua had killed special jōnin Shin after Kabuto Yakushi wore him down.
• Danzo concluded that Gua was a growing threat and went to confront Hiruzen at the Hokage Building.
• Danzo speculated that Gua might awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan, while Hiruzen demanded to know whether Danzo had ordered the attack.
• Hiruzen warned Danzo to avoid further misconduct and said he would send Anbu to test Gua during a surprise combat exercise for Academy students.
• Danzo accepted Hiruzen's plan and left the Hokage Office without further argument.

Orochimaru stayed with the Akatsuki while looking for news of Gua, and rumors of a Konoha rogue ninja returning home briefly made Konan suspect he might flee. Meanwhile, Jiraiya and Tsunade’s mission in the Land of Earth ended with them retreating from Ōnoki’s manhunt, and Deidara resolved to become a rogue ninja when he grew up.

• Orochimaru volunteered to recruit Kisame, Sasori, and an Immortal, but repeatedly lost before Pain or the Masked Man recruited them; Obito then ordered him to focus on research instead of pursuing Juzo Biwa.
• While eating ramen with Konan, Orochimaru heard that a Konoha rogue ninja had returned to the village, denied knowing who it was, and reassured Konan when she suspected he was trying to escape.
• Ōnoki learned that Jiraiya and Tsunade had infiltrated the Land of Earth and ordered their capture, triggering a countrywide manhunt.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade hid from the pursuing ninja before Tsunade insisted they leave, and they sneaked out of the Land of Earth without completing their mission.
• Ōnoki beat Deidara after the two Konoha Sannin escaped, and Deidara vowed to become a rogue ninja when he grew up.

Jiraiya and Tsunade learned that the rogue ninja they had been searching for had returned to Konoha, and they rushed back. Meanwhile, Gua sent Kabuto to work in Orochimaru’s laboratory, where he settled in with Anko, before the Ninja Academy term began.

• Jiraiya and Tsunade heard rumors in the Land of Grass that a rogue ninja had returned to Konoha and received a Glorious Family plaque.
• Jiraiya learned that the family they had sought had previously stayed in the Land of Grass, and he and Tsunade hurried back toward Konoha.
• Gua sent Kabuto to Orochimaru’s Laboratory to study science and keep Anko company, and Kabuto began handling the lab’s chores.
• Kabuto gradually stopped coming home as he became comfortable working with Anko, while Gua suspected their relationship might be turning romantic.
• Gua returned to the Ninja Academy when the new term began and reflected on how much his outlook had changed since his first day.

A staged attack at the Ninja Academy turns into a test that Gua mistakes for his chance to become a village hero. As Itachi and Izumi fight the black-clad attacker, Gua steps in to face him and orders them to escape.

• Gua, Itachi, and Izumi arrive at the academy, where a black-clad man stabs Ye Chuan Dahei in front of them.
• Itachi activates his two-tomoe Sharingan and fights alongside Izumi, while Gua realizes Ye Chuan Dahei’s apparent death may be staged.
• The Third Generation and Danzo watch the fight through a crystal ball as Danzo warns about the Uchiha students’ talent.
• Gua concludes that the attack is a village test and tells Itachi and Izumi to leave the attacker to him.
• The black-clad man throws Izumi aside and presses Itachi back, so Gua catches Izumi and charges in, telling Itachi to take her and go.

Gua defeated an Anbu during the Ninja Academy attack drill while Itachi and Izumi helped gather the surviving students. The Third and Danzo watched in shock as Gua let the disguised shinobi escape and headed outside to face the remaining attackers.

• Itachi pulled Izumi toward the exit, but they found black-clad shinobi killing students in the playground.
• Itachi and Izumi joined older students in gathering more than a hundred survivors, who formed a group surrounded by the attackers.
• The Third and Danzo watched the students through a crystal ball, then saw Gua overpower an Anbu with his strength and Sharingan.
• Gua avoided the Anbu’s fireball and stomped him into the ground, but the shinobi escaped with Earth Release.
• Gua recognized Ye Chuan Dahei’s apparent corpse as a disguise, then left the corridor without exposing it.
• Danzo questioned whether the attacker had really been an Anbu, and the Third confirmed that Genma was an Anbu who was not weak.

Gua confronted the black-clad Shinobi to protect his comrades, invoking the Will of Fire as he fought Kurenai Yuhi. As their battle continued, Itachi quietly began planning with Izumi to target Ebisu.

• Danzo criticized Gua for openly leaving the school, while the Third Generation defended him.
• Gua faced the black-clad Shinobi and told Kurenai Yuhi that never abandoning a comrade was reason enough to stand against them.
• Kurenai Yuhi accepted Gua’s challenge and charged at him.
• Gua and Kurenai Yuhi exchanged blows, and she was surprised by his perception and strength.
• Itachi whispered to Izumi that they should look for a chance to take down Ebisu.

Gua fought Kurenai Yuhi and revealed that his two-tomoe Sharingan could dispel her genjutsu. He knocked her back with a fast, deceptive punch, and Yama Aoba stepped forward to face him.

• Itachi and the upperclassmen chose Ebisu as their target for breaking through Gua's group.
• Kurenai Yuhi used Demonic Illusion: Binding Kill on Gua, but his two-tomoe Sharingan dispelled the illusion.
• Gua marveled at his Sharingan's ability to resist Kurenai Yuhi's genjutsu and charged back at her.
• Gua bypassed Kurenai Yuhi's block with a sudden change in his punch and struck her chin, sending her flying.
• Yama Aoba caught Kurenai Yuhi, then stepped forward to take over the fight against Gua.

Gua fought Aoba Yamashiro and nearly fell into a coordinated attack by Aoba and Namiashi Raidō, but he countered and charged at them. As Ebisu watched, Itachi and Izumi attacked him together, and Ebisu dodged and caught their hands before realizing something was wrong.

• Gua dodged Aoba Yamashiro’s Great Fireball by predicting his hand seals, then avoided being pinned down by Aoba’s summoned crows.
• Aoba charged through the flock with a kunai, but Gua prepared a Great Fireball; Namiashi Raidō’s clone appeared to attack, and Gua hit the clone while the real Raidō rescued Aoba.
• Gua charged at Aoba and Namiashi Raidō, drawing the attention of the surrounding shinobi as Itachi and Izumi launched a coordinated attack on Ebisu.
• Ebisu sensed the attacks, dodged Itachi’s kunai, resisted Izumi’s genjutsu, and caught both of their weapon hands before trailing off after calling it a false alarm.

Ebisu fought Itachi and Izumi while Gua struggled to hold off Aoba Yamashiro and Namiashi Raidō as the academy students were overwhelmed by the black-clad shinobi. Watching the fight, Danzo agreed to stop targeting Gua, but back at the academy the students were nearly defeated and Ebisu knocked Itachi and Izumi into the crowd.

• Ebisu exchanged kunai blows with Itachi and Izumi while Gua fought Aoba Yamashiro and Namiashi Raidō without gaining an advantage.
• Kurenai Yuhi charged at the academy students to control the situation instead of joining Gua's fight.
• The Third Hokage mocked Danzo for expecting Gua to flee, and Danzo agreed to stop making moves against Gua and let Kabuto Yakushi do as he pleased.
• Gua realized the black-clad shinobi were using blood packs and a sedative to stage the students' apparent injuries, but the students' counterattack failed and most were taken down.
• Ebisu defeated Gua and Izumi, then punched Itachi and kicked Izumi back into the crowd of students.

Gua, exhausted and cornered during the attack on the Ninja Academy, stood between the black-clad shinobi and the surviving students, declaring that the Will of Fire never died. Aoba Yamashiro struck him down as Izumi joined his defense, and Gua lost consciousness while she cried out for him not to die.

• Gua ran out of chakra and was driven back by Aoba Yamashiro and Namiashi Raidō until he stood among the battered surviving students.
• As Kurenai Yuhi and the black-clad shinobi advanced, Gua stepped in front of the students and vowed they would have to step over his corpse to kill them.
• Gua declared that the Will of Fire never died, startling the Third Generation and Danzo as the students and attackers watched.
• When Aoba Yamashiro prepared to kill Gua, Izumi came to stand beside him and said she would stay with him.
• Aoba Yamashiro struck Gua in the chest, and Gua collapsed as Izumi cried for him not to die.

Aoba Yamashiro and Kurenai Yuhi completed the exercise, while Itachi’s three tomoe shocked the Hokage and Danzo. At Konoha’s edge, Kakashi sat in despair until Orochimaru arrived and mocked him.

• Izumi fell after Aoba Yamashiro struck her, and Itachi emerged from underground to confront him.
• Itachi trapped Aoba Yamashiro in a genjutsu, but Aoba broke free and Itachi collapsed from his wound.
• Kurenai Yuhi defeated the remaining Ninja Academy students, ending the exercise.
• The Third and Danzo watched Itachi’s three tomoe on the crystal ball and marveled at his talent.
• Kakashi sat alone at the edge of Konoha, questioning the Will of Fire and wanting to leave the village.
• Orochimaru found Kakashi and mocked him as a potential homeless stray, but Kakashi stayed silent.

Jiraiya helped Kakashi confront his guilt over Hatake Sakumo’s death and encouraged him to leave Konoha to see the world. As Kakashi departed, Orochimaru rushed to find Gua, who was unconscious at the Ninja Academy after a training exercise.

• Jiraiya sat with Kakashi and asked whether he had lost faith in the will of fire.
• Kakashi admitted he believed his wavering between his father and the will of fire had contributed to Hatake Sakumo’s death.
• Jiraiya recalled Kakashi’s resolute expression at his father’s funeral and told him it might have broken Sakumo’s heart, prompting Kakashi to weep.
• Jiraiya gave Kakashi Icha Icha Paradise and told him to travel beyond Konoha; Kakashi left, and Jiraiya informed the Third Generation.
• Orochimaru returned to Konoha, learned from Uchiha Oyama that Gua was at school, and hurried to the Ninja Academy.
• Gua lay unconscious with a bloodstained chest after the students’ special training as Orochimaru headed toward him, eager to discuss their laboratory.

Orochimaru returned to the Ninja Academy, mistook the unconscious Gua for dead, and abducted him to an old laboratory to preserve his soul with Impure World Reincarnation. Gua woke briefly and proved he was alive, leaving Orochimaru overjoyed and confused about what had happened.

• Orochimaru found Gua lying among the unconscious students and attacked Ebisu when he demanded to know who had killed him.
• Ebisu pointed Orochimaru toward Aoba Yamashiro, whom Orochimaru seized and accused of killing Gua before smashing him into the ground.
• Orochimaru decided not to confront Hiruzen Sarutobi and carried Gua away, while Kurenai Yuhi explained that Gua was only unconscious and would wake soon.
• Orochimaru took Gua to an abandoned laboratory, blamed himself for choosing the fifty million over returning sooner, and planned to use Impure World Reincarnation.
• Gua moved and raised a hand, and Orochimaru checked that he was breathing and had a heartbeat before Gua's hand fell back as he drifted into unconsciousness.

Gua woke in Orochimaru’s old experimental facility after surviving the attack at the Ninja Academy, while Orochimaru explained how he had brought him there. Gua realized the situation was real, not a dream, and learned that Orochimaru had feared him dead and was prepared to turn against Konoha to protect him.

• Orochimaru confirmed Gua was breathing, found no injuries beneath the blood on his clothes, and waited beside him to wake.
• In a white dream, Gua argued with Kakashi about the Will of Fire and pure feelings before Kakashi left to search for his own answers.
• Gua woke on an operating table, mistook the scene for a dream, and confirmed it was real by biting his hand.
• Gua told Orochimaru he did not know what had happened at the Ninja Academy, and Orochimaru did not press him.
• Gua recognized the old experimental facility and listened as Orochimaru recounted taking Akatsuki’s fifty million, finding Gua amid the corpses, and bringing him somewhere secluded.

After Orochimaru returned with Gua from the academy drill, the Third Generation learned that the Uchiha students had excelled and worried about their growing talent. At the academy, Orochimaru questioned Ebisu while Gua reassured Izumi that she would not die before he did.

• Orochimaru took the sleeping Gua from the pile of corpses and ran off, leaving Aoba Yamashiro to report the incident to the Third Generation.
• Aoba Yamashiro told the Third Generation that the students had awakened and praised Gua, Itachi, and Izumi for their performance in the drill.
• The Third Generation reflected on the Uchiha's talent and considered whether the child who believed in the Will of Fire could bridge the village and the Uchiha.
• Kurenai Yuhi told the Third Generation that Orochimaru had returned to the Ninja Academy, where he questioned Ebisu about the drill.
• Izumi told Gua that she had feared he was dead, and Gua promised she would not die before him.