Chapter Summaries

Eight-year-old Chihane Hatake failed the Academy’s Clone Technique test and worried that his weak chakra would leave him helpless in the coming Third Shinobi World War. He left class to train taijutsu in the hills, determined to become strong enough to survive.

• Chihane failed twice at the Clone Technique while Makoto Uchiha scored ninety-seven points.
• Obito Uchiha earned a passing score on his third attempt, then boasted until the instructor ordered him back to his seat.
• Chihane reflected on his poor ninjutsu skills, limited time before the war, and Obito’s future transformation after Rin Nohara’s death.
• Chihane ignored classmates who mocked him for being Kakashi Hatake’s underachieving older brother and went to the hills to train.
• Chihane completed punching, kicking, push-up, and squat exercises in the grove, planning to run home after a short rest.

After unlocking a swordsmanship system by touching White Fang's sword, Chihane Hatake claimed Zoro's legacy and began training to become stronger before the Third Shinobi World War. He completed an exhausting daily regimen and woke to find his body recovered and his strength slightly increased.

• Chihane touched White Fang's White Light Chakra Sabre and unlocked the Strongest Three-Sword Style Great Swordsman Training System.
• The system gave Chihane Zoro's green bandana, One-Sword Style: Iai-Lion's Song, and Zoro's physique as a beginner's gift.
• Chihane tested Iai-Lion's Song and cut through a wooden training post with one swing.
• The system assigned Chihane 5,000 sword draws and 5,000 sword swings per day, with Wado Ichimonji as the reward.
• Chihane pushed through exhaustion to complete the sword training, then did squats until he collapsed into bed.
• Chihane woke without soreness and felt that his strength had increased after breaking through his limits.

Chihane Hatake attended the Ninja Academy’s combat assessment with a wooden sword and faced the class’s second-strongest student, Hyuga Namikaze. As Kurenai Yuhi warned him that the matchup seemed deliberately unfair, Chihane was left to decide whether to fight or forfeit.

• Chihane skipped his morning training, brought a wooden sword to school, and told Kurenai Yuhi that he meant to carry on the Hatake Clan’s swordsmanship tradition.
• The chunin teacher led the students to the Training Ground and began the combat assessment using blunted practice weapons.
• Makoto Uchiha defeated his opponent in a few moves and drew loud cheers from the students.
• The chunin teacher paired Chihane Hatake with Hyuga Namikaze, the class’s second-strongest student.
• Kurenai Yuhi protested the matchup and urged Chihane to forfeit rather than risk being hurt by Hyuga Namikaze’s Gentle Fist.

Chihane defeated Hyuga Namikaze with a powerful sword strike, earning his first victory and a delayed system reward. At home, he completed his weekly training goals and received the famous sword Wado Ichimonji, while the system assigned him Three-Sword Style practice for the next week.

• Chihane refused to forfeit and faced Hyuga Namikaze in the practical assessment.
• Chihane struck Hyuga Namikaze with One-Sword Style: Iai-Lion's Song, winning the match and earning the achievement reward One Sword Style-Thirty-Six Pound Phoenixes, which the system postponed until he mastered Flying Slash.
• Chihane Hatake became the talk of the Ninja Academy, and Chihane explained that he had been training in swordsmanship.
• Chihane trained at the Hatake Compound and completed his weekly goals of drawing and swinging his sword five thousand times.
• Chihane received Wado Ichimonji from the system and tested its sharpness by splitting a wooden post.
• The system set Three-Sword Style swordsmanship as Chihane's goal for the following week.

Chihane welcomed Kakashi home and learned that his younger brother would soon leave on a long mission. As he prepared to cook for Kakashi, Chihane resolved to protect him from the village leadership’s political schemes.

• Chihane reviewed his status and upcoming Three-Sword Style training reward before Kakashi returned to the courtyard.
• Kakashi noticed Chihane’s new confidence and training progress, then told him he would leave on another mission the next day.
• Chihane urged Kakashi to stay careful on the mission and offered to cook him a feast before he left.
• Chihane recalled his suspicions that Konoha’s leadership had caused their father’s death and might target Kakashi.
• Chihane brought Kakashi inside to help wash vegetables and vowed to keep him from becoming a victim of political scheming.

Chihane improved his swordsmanship and physique, bought training weights, and secretly learned from Might Duy’s intense workouts. When he visited Duy’s training grove again, he found Duy and Might Guy standing solemnly together.

• Chihane checked his status and decided his training had reached a plateau, so he went to buy weights.
• Chihane met Might Duy at the Ninja Tool Shop and heard him explain that he trained to protect the people around him.
• Chihane bought a fifty-kilogram set of weights and commissioned unusual weights for strength and teeth training.
• Chihane followed Duy to a grove, watched his workout, and memorized his training methods.
• Over the next month, Chihane trained with weights and visited Duy’s grove, hoping to see him practice the Eight Gates of Death.
• Chihane arrived at the grove and saw Might Duy and Might Guy standing solemnly together.

Chihane asked Might Duy to teach him taijutsu, and Duy demonstrated the Eight Gates of Death. Chihane agreed to learn the dangerous technique, and Duy’s excitement turned solemn.

• Might Duy noticed Chihane watching his training and welcomed him, while he and Might Guy celebrated Chihane’s interest in taijutsu.
• Chihane told Might Duy that he lacked talent for ninjutsu and genjutsu and wanted to become the world’s strongest swordsman.
• Might Duy opened the Fifth Gate and shattered a boulder, showing Chihane the power of the Eight Gates of Death.
• Might Duy explained that opening all eight gates could rival the Hokage’s power but would burn away the user’s life.
• Chihane agreed to learn the Eight Gates of Death, and Might Duy’s joyful expression turned solemn.

Chihane learned the Eight Gates from Might Duy and began considering how his powerful body and secret Armament Haki might help him withstand the technique. A month later, he showed Kurenai his Three-Sword Style training and shared grilled fish with her beside a stream.

• Might Duy warned Chihane that opening all eight gates would cost him his life, then taught him the training method and answered his questions.
• Chihane considered using his unusually strong body and Armament Haki to protect his heart and survive opening the Gate of Death.
• A month later, Kurenai Yuhi confronted Chihane about disappearing after school, and he persuaded her to follow him to the back mountain with a milk candy and a promise to show his training.
• Chihane used Three-Sword Style: Tiger Hunt to carve tiger-like marks into a thick tree, impressing Kurenai.
• Chihane grilled fish by the stream with Kurenai and asked her how she liked his cooking.

Chihane and Kurenai Yuhi were ambushed near Konoha by the Kirigakure scout Matsuhito Tōichirō. Chihane defeated him with a swift sword strike, leaving the two children safe after the fight.

• Chihane heard someone approaching and hid with Kurenai Yuhi behind a boulder.
• Matsuhito Tōichirō attacked them with shuriken, revealing himself as a Kirigakure scout and Chunin.
• Chihane fought Matsuhito Tōichirō, activated the Gate of Healing, and drew Wado Ichimonji after his wooden sword broke.
• Matsuhito Tōichirō fired Water Release: Water Bullet Barrage Technique, and Chihane pulled Kurenai Yuhi behind him while taking several hits.
• As Matsuhito Tōichirō tried to retreat, Chihane struck him down with One-Sword Style: Iai-Lion's Song.

Chihane killed the Mist Ninja scout Matsuhito Tōichirō and left the scene with Kurenai Yuhi. Konoha’s Anbu mistook the scout’s swordsmanship for Kakashi’s, and Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Kakashi, who denied being at the hills.

• Chihane killed Matsuhito Tōichirō, earned the rewards Yubashiri and Three Thousand Worlds, and persuaded Kurenai Yuhi to keep the incident secret.
• Konoha’s Anbu found the body and identified the dead man as a Mist Ninja scout killed by a single sword stroke.
• The Anbu reported to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who suspected Kakashi had used Sakumo’s swordsmanship and ordered him to the Hokage’s office.
• Hiruzen praised Kakashi’s supposed hidden strength and asked about the battle by the stream.
• Kakashi told Hiruzen he had spent the day training with Minato and had not visited the hills.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze confirmed Kakashi had been training with Minato and had not killed the Mist Ninja scout, while Hiruzen tasked Danzo with warning the Mist Ninja. At home, Chihane revealed to Kakashi that he had killed the Mist Ninja and continued preparing for the coming war.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze questioned Kakashi and confirmed he had trained with Minato all afternoon and had not killed the Mist Ninja scout.
• Shimura Danzō asked Hiruzen Sarutobi to assign Kakashi to him, but Hiruzen refused and ordered Danzo to warn the Mist Ninja.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi reflected on Sakumo's death and resolved to protect Kakashi from Danzo's control.
• Chihane completed his daily sword-swing goal, received Two-Sword Style: Iai: Rashomon, and checked his status panel.
• Kakashi confronted Chihane about the Mist Ninja Chunin, and Chihane admitted killing him and said he was stronger than a Chunin of that level.

Chihane won his class’s ranking matches and advanced to the year’s finals, where he defeated his first opponent by making the student surrender. The next round was set to pit him against Okita Kibe while Makoto Uchiha faced Izuna Hyuga.

• Ibiki Morino defeated his opponent with a combination of taijutsu and Wind Release.
• Chihane disarmed Jiro Ibe with his wooden sword and won their match, then won several more to advance alongside Makoto Uchiha.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi addressed the finalists and students, praising the Will of Fire before the overall ranking tournament began.
• Chihane’s first opponent in the finals surrendered after seeing him draw three wooden swords, so the examiner declared Chihane the winner.
• The next round was scheduled as Chihane versus Okita Kibe and Makoto Uchiha versus Izuna Hyuga.

Chihane defeated Okita Kibe and became the first student to qualify for the Finals, surprising the spectators who had expected Makoto Uchiha to lead. Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Sannin took an interest in Chihane as he waited for his final match.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi began the assessment as Jiraiya predicted Makoto Uchiha would take first place, while Orochimaru hinted that another student might surprise them.
• Okita Kibe attacked Chihane with Wind Release, but Chihane cut through the technique with his wooden sword and defeated him with Three-Sword Style: Oni Giri.
• The instructor announced Chihane as the winner, while Makoto Uchiha was still chasing Izuna Hyuga and had not yet qualified.
• Orochimaru praised Chihane's swordsmanship, composure, and intelligence, prompting Hiruzen Sarutobi to consider keeping the promising student away from Danzo.
• Chihane entered the Finals arena and calmly faced the attention of Hiruzen Sarutobi, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru, and the other Jonin.

Chihane Hatake faced Makoto Uchiha in the final arena and overwhelmed him with his swordsmanship, ultimately forcing the Chunin Instructor to intervene against his Flame Sword Aura. Chihane won the match, while Hiruzen Sarutobi rejected Danzo’s request to train him.

• Makoto Uchiha rested for thirty minutes before beginning his match against Chihane Hatake.
• Makoto Uchiha attacked with eight shuriken, but Chihane used Two-Sword Style, Iai: Rashomon to knock them all aside.
• Chihane charged and battered Makoto Uchiha, whose Sharingan and kunai failed to stop the three-sword assault.
• Makoto Uchiha escaped with the Substitution Technique and launched Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique, but Chihane countered with Three-Sword Style: Burning Oni Giri.
• The Chunin Instructor blocked Chihane’s Flame Sword Aura with Water Release: Water Formation Wall and declared Chihane Hatake the winner.
• Danzo asked Hiruzen Sarutobi to train Chihane, but Hiruzen refused.

Chihane defeated Makoto Uchiha to take first place in the combat ranking assessment, earning recognition as the Academy’s newest genius. After Kurenai Yuhi tearfully congratulated him and accidentally revealed her feelings, Shinku Yuhi glared at Chihane and threatened to teach him a lesson in genjutsu.

• Chihane received Observation Haki and Armament Haki training methods as his reward for earning the top-of-the-grade achievement.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi refused Danzo’s request to take Kakashi Hatake and Chihane Hatake into Root, and Danzo angrily left.
• Makoto Uchiha conceded defeat to Chihane and challenged him to keep winning until Makoto could defeat him.
• The chief examiner announced Chihane Hatake as first place, and the crowd celebrated his victory over Makoto Uchiha.
• Chihane comforted Kurenai Yuhi, who denied worrying about him, cried with happiness, and blurted that he still had a long way to go to win her over before fleeing in embarrassment.
• Shinku Yuhi watched Chihane with hostility and muttered that he would teach him a proper lesson in genjutsu.

After defeating Makoto Uchiha and taking first place, Chihane fled home to avoid Shinku Yuhi and began a month of training with Might Duy. Kakashi was left trapped in Shinku’s genjutsu, while Makoto was ordered to graduate early and join the Konoha Military Police Force as the Uchiha Clan shifted its support to Shisui Uchiha.

• Chihane defeated Makoto Uchiha in the Ninja Academy combat ranking assessment and became famous across Konoha as a genius.
• Chihane left Kakashi a letter and fled the Hatake home, while Kakashi returned expecting a celebratory meal and found the house empty.
• Shinku Yuhi trapped Kakashi in the Fox in the Heart Technique while searching for Chihane, then left without realizing Kakashi was still caught in the genjutsu.
• Chihane asked Might Duy for a month of special training and stayed at his house.
• Uchiha Hanshan rebuked Makoto for losing to Chihane and ordered him to apply for early graduation and join the Konoha Military Police Force.
• Uchiha Hanshan told Makoto that the clan would now focus its resources on Shisui Uchiha, and Makoto accepted the decision.

Chihane trained his swordsmanship and Haki before ANBU summoned him to meet Hiruzen Sarutobi. Hiruzen praised Chihane’s talent and dedication and encouraged him to uphold the Hatake Clan’s legacy.

• Chihane smashed a boulder with an Armament Haki-coated wooden sword but remained unable to cut steel.
• An ANBU member summoned Chihane to the Hokage Building, impressed by the evidence of his intense training.
• Chihane met Hiruzen Sarutobi, who compared him to Sakumo and recalled holding him as a baby.
• Chihane praised Hiruzen and pledged that he and Kakashi would carry on the Will of Fire.
• Hiruzen praised Chihane and urged him to train diligently, promising that Konoha would support him.

Chihane escaped Shinku Yuhi after the system erased Shinku’s genjutsu, discovering that he might be immune to genjutsu. Hiruzen Sarutobi decided how to assign Chihane and the other graduating students, then considered Konoha’s growing conflict with other villages and prepared for the possibility of war.

• Chihane fled from Shinku Yuhi, whose genjutsu the system detected as a virus and removed.
• Shinku Yuhi wondered why his genjutsu had failed and considered testing it on Kakashi.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi selected Asuma, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara for Minato Namikaze’s team, while planning to assign Chihane to Orochimaru and Asuma and Kurenai Yuhi to Shinku.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi reflected on the mounting tensions between Konoha and the other villages and resolved that Konoha would fight if war became inevitable.

Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned Chihane to Orochimaru, while revealing that he planned for Orochimaru to succeed him as Hokage. He then summoned Minato and said he intended to entrust Obito to him, hoping Minato would eventually become Hokage and gain the Uchiha Clan’s support.

• At the Barbecue Restaurant, Jiraiya and Tsunade argued over Chihane while Orochimaru discussed the boy’s strength, until an ANBU summoned Orochimaru to Hiruzen.
• Hiruzen told Orochimaru that Danzo wanted Chihane, then asked Orochimaru to take the boy as his student and train him.
• Orochimaru agreed, and Hiruzen revealed that he valued him most among his students and intended him to succeed as Hokage, partly to distance him from Danzo.
• Hiruzen summoned Minato and said he planned to assign him graduates, including Obito Uchiha, so Minato would have the Uchiha Clan’s support when he became Hokage.

Hiruzen Sarutobi reassured Minato Namikaze that he could become Hokage after gaining more experience, while quietly planning to manage his other key figures. As graduation approached, Orochimaru attacked Chihane during training, and Chihane countered his techniques with swordsmanship and the Eight Gates.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Minato Namikaze he was not yet ready to become Hokage but promised to support him as he built experience, then summoned Jonin Shinku Yuhi to discuss plans for Asuma.
• Danzo left for the Mist Ninja border, Makoto Uchiha graduated early after defeating a genin, and Asuma remained hospitalized after being struck by a carriage.
• Chihane sensed Orochimaru watching him in a grove and prepared to defend himself when Orochimaru attacked with shuriken.
• Chihane parried Orochimaru’s shuriken and exchanged sword strikes with him before cutting down his summoned snakes with Three-Sword Style: Tornado.
• Chihane opened the third and fourth gates and charged with Bull Needle, while Orochimaru used the Hell Viewing Technique and Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique.
• Chihane proved immune to genjutsu, deflected the shuriken, and counterattacked Orochimaru with Oni Giri.