Chapter Summaries

On his first day at Konoha’s Ninja Academy, Uchiha Aokiji introduced himself as someone who wanted to live without working, while privately planning to keep a low profile and eventually make himself Hokage to protect the Uchiha Clan. He noticed Tsunade and Orochimaru among his classmates and left the story resolved to pursue Tsunade as part of his political plans.

• Tsunade introduced herself and said she dreamed of becoming Hokage like her grandfather, the First Hokage.
• Aokiji introduced himself as Uchiha Aokiji and explained that his dream was to live like a plant, prompting laughter from the class.
• Aokiji returned to his seat and reflected that he wanted to appear harmless, avoid being sent to war, and eventually become Hokage to protect the Uchiha Clan.
• Aokiji considered his potential as a wielder of Uchiha abilities and his late mother's Ice Release Kekkei Genkai.
• Orochimaru introduced himself, exchanged a glance with Aokiji, and caught Aokiji's interest.
• Aokiji decided that gaining Tsunade's favor could help unite the Senju and Uchiha and advance his political ambitions.

Aokiji kept his friendship with Tsunade cautious while hiding his Sharingan and training in secret. After a night of practice, he discovered that he could use Ice Release.

• Aokiji decided not to pursue Tsunade too actively until he reached Kage-level strength, and the two exchanged a few words at school.
• Aokiji slept through the rest of the school day, then left the empty classroom after dismissal.
• Two Uchiha men discussed how Aokiji had withdrawn after his grandmother died and the clan sent him to the Ninja Academy to help him recover.
• Aokiji checked his home for intruders and secretly used his Sharingan, which he had awakened at age five but concealed from the clan.
• Aokiji trained through the night using his grandmother's notes, then formed the Ram Seal and produced ice on his palm, revealing his Ice Release.

After awakening Ice Release, Aokiji trained to control water with Chakra and considered ways to develop the rare ability without exposing his Sharingan. His ideas about adapting snow-based techniques were interrupted when his teacher caught him lying down in the corridor.

• Aokiji decided to focus on developing Ice Release and trained by cooling, lifting, and reshaping water, gradually improving his control despite the heavy Chakra cost.
• After training until ten o’clock, Aokiji went late to the Ninja Academy with a pillow in his backpack and theatrically accepted punishment from his teacher.
• While lying in the corridor, Aokiji worried that he lacked examples for learning Ice Release and considered seeking knowledge from the Land of Snow or studying how Gaara controlled sand.
• Aokiji imagined storing Chakra-infused snow in a gourd to use in battle, then heard the classroom door slide open and turned to find his furious teacher staring at him.

Aokiji slept through much of the school day and kept his distance from classmates, while planning to make money through a food business. Jiraiya mistook him for a reader of dirty books, and Tsunade overheard their exchange and judged him a pervert.

• Aokiji returned to class with a pillow and slept alongside his childhood friend Nara Kashio.
• Aokiji bought rice balls for lunch, rejected an invitation to play, and reflected that he avoided befriending classmates who might die on missions.
• Jiraiya approached Aokiji and claimed he knew what Aokiji did at night, then accused him of reading dirty books.
• Aokiji and Jiraiya traded opinions about attractive outfits, and Tsunade overheard Aokiji's remark and called him a pervert.
• Aokiji denied reading dirty books, then grabbed Jiraiya by the collar and demanded that he restore his innocence.

Aokiji impressed his classmates with his shuriken skills while carefully managing the appearance of his declining abilities. On the weekend, Tsunade visited Mito and revealed that she wanted to become a great ninja, then reassured herself that she would not grow too large to fight.

• Aokiji's scandal made the girls avoid him, while Jiraiya failed to win their admiration with shuriken and accidentally hit another student's target.
• Aokiji demonstrated outstanding shuriken accuracy, drawing praise from the girls and interest from Orochimaru, while Tsunade reluctantly acknowledged his skill.
• Aokiji reasoned that he needed to appear talented before gradually letting his performance decline, and wondered about the confusing timeline of Jiraiya and Tsunade's academy years.
• Tsunade visited Mito, listened to stories about Hashirama, and ate the snacks Mito had prepared for her.
• Tsunade said she wanted to become a great ninja and worried that growing larger would hinder her combat skills, then concluded that her small mother and Mito meant she would stay small.

Tsunade told Mito that Aokiji slept in class and secretly read dirty books, while Mito worried about his grief over his grandmother. On his way home, Aokiji questioned the circumstances of her death, then got caught holding Jiraiya’s dirty books and was punched by Tsunade.

• Tsunade asked Mito to arrange for Orochimaru to join her team after graduation, but Mito refused to use her influence.
• Tsunade told Mito that Aokiji slept in class, read dirty books, and had beaten her in a shuriken test.
• Aokiji wondered whether his grandmother had been killed in battle or betrayed, and decided to keep disguising his strength with laziness.
• Jiraiya apologized to Aokiji for causing a misunderstanding and tried to give him a bag of dirty books.
• The books spilled onto the ground, and Tsunade found Aokiji picking them up and punched him, leaving him with a black eye.

Aokiji befriended Jiraiya, fought Tsunade during Combat Class, and later went fishing to practice calming his mind. Tsunade appeared from hiding and asked whether he had held back during their match.

• Aokiji agreed to teach Jiraiya shuriken techniques, and Jiraiya treated him to ramen afterward.
• Jiraiya gave Aokiji dirty magazines, leaving Aokiji exhausted and regretful the next morning.
• Tsunade knocked Jiraiya down after he insulted her, then challenged Aokiji to a future fight.
• Months later, Tsunade attacked Aokiji during Combat Class, but he dodged, took a hit, and surrendered.
• Aokiji went fishing by the lake to practice calming his mind, and Tsunade emerged from hiding to ask if he had held back.

Aokiji and Tsunade fought, struggled to land an enormous fish, and gradually eased their relationship as they headed home. Meanwhile, Uchiha Itachi discussed Madara’s possible survival and agreed to guide Uchiha Raiha’s grandson Fugaku.

• Tsunade attacked Aokiji, who threw her into a lake, and she slapped him after he pointed out her soaked clothes.
• Aokiji and Tsunade hauled a huge fish onto shore, thanked each other, and talked about why Aokiji had held back in practical class.
• Aokiji and Tsunade parted at the road fork, and Aokiji returned to the Uchiha Clan Compound with the fish for a guest.
• Uchiha Raiha asked Uchiha Itachi whether Aokiji should be allowed to avoid becoming a ninja, and Itachi said they would observe him for a few more years.
• Uchiha Itachi told Uchiha Raiha that Madara might have survived by using Izanagi, though he admitted the body could simply have been stolen.
• Uchiha Itachi learned that Uchiha Raiha’s grandson was named Fugaku and offered to guide him when he was older.

Aokiji invited Tsunade to his home to repay her for helping him catch a fish, then ran into Jiraiya and Orochimaru while shopping for ingredients. He invited Orochimaru to join them for dinner, while Jiraiya was left behind after provoking Tsunade.

• Tsunade visited Aokiji’s messy home, learned that he lived alone, and accepted his teasing instead of taking offense at his brief silence about his family.
• Aokiji began preparing Pickled Cabbage Fish for Tsunade and went with her to buy seasonings.
• Jiraiya spotted Aokiji and Tsunade together, joked that they were on a date, and was struck by Tsunade before she grabbed and beat him.
• Aokiji spoke with Orochimaru, explained that they discussed ideas such as the world being round and human evolution, and invited him to dinner.
• Orochimaru accepted Aokiji’s invitation, while Jiraiya called after the three as they left him behind.

Aokiji hosted Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru for dinner, explained that he planned to avoid becoming a ninja and pursue wealth through business, and provoked Tsunade with his views on marriage. Tsunade later invited him over to repay the meal with a dish she had cooked, leaving Aokiji staring uneasily at her ominous-looking food.

• Aokiji cooked Pickled Cabbage Fish for Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru, and they praised the meal.
• Aokiji told the others he planned to open a restaurant after graduation and wanted money rather than a dangerous ninja career.
• Aokiji described his plans to marry multiple wives, prompting Jiraiya to boast about wanting seven and Tsunade to punch him before storming out.
• Orochimaru agreed with Aokiji that being a ninja was simply a job, while Tsunade returned to say she would repay him for dinner.
• Tsunade invited Aokiji to her home and presented him with a dark dish she had prepared after asking Grandma Mito for cooking advice.

During Konoha's wartime graduation season, Tobirama appointed Sarutobi Hiruzen to train Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade as his chosen successor's disciples. Aokiji avoided graduation and ninja duties, but after Hiruzen saw his friends praise his hidden talent, the new Instructor Jonin resolved to keep an eye on him and guide him toward serving the village.

• Tobirama reassigned Sarutobi Hiruzen as an Instructor Jonin and entrusted him with Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade, intending to prepare him as Hokage successor.
• Kagami Uchiha delivered documents to Tobirama, who considered him an excellent potential successor but ruled him out because of his clan and Uchiha Setsuna's recent agitation.
• Aokiji congratulated his graduating friends and said he would stay at the Academy rather than become a ninja, angering Tsunade.
• At the training ground, Hiruzen trained the three graduates while Tsunade taunted the tied-up Jiraiya; Aokiji arrived and playfully fled when Tsunade threatened him.
• Orochimaru told Hiruzen that Aokiji might have surpassed him if he had trained seriously, and Hiruzen decided to guide Aokiji toward helping Konoha.

Sarutobi Hiruzen introduced Jiraiya to the Summoning Jutsu, prompting Jiraiya to train and then teach its basics to Aokiji. When Aokiji tried the technique alone, he succeeded on his first attempt but was transported to a snowy, freezing place.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned Enma and explained that the Summoning Jutsu required a blood contract, more Chakra, and knowledge of hand seals.
• Jiraiya trained to learn the technique, but his attempt failed because he had not made a contract with a Summoned Beast.
• Aokiji persuaded Jiraiya to teach him the Summoning Jutsu so he could use a Summoned Beast to handle chores.
• Aokiji trained at night and received a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan from the system for checking in for one year in the world of Naruto.
• Aokiji practiced the hand seals and successfully used the Summoning Jutsu, only to find himself in a snow-covered, freezing world.

Aokiji was stranded in a frozen land after using the Summoning Jutsu and searched for a way to survive and find his way home. He discovered a polar bear, but after it attacked him, he prepared to use the Great Fireball Jutsu.

• Aokiji realized he had been transported somewhere other than Mount Myōboku and feared he would freeze before finding a way back to Konoha.
• Aokiji climbed an ice peak using chakra on his feet and surveyed the surrounding islands and ocean with his Sharingan.
• Aokiji followed a polar bear as it hunted and killed a seal, hoping to learn whether the creature could speak.
• Aokiji greeted the polar bear, but it only roared and lunged at him.
• Aokiji formed hand seals and began using the Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu.

Aokiji cooked a seal with his newly learned Great Fireball Jutsu and caught a talking White Fox while she scavenged the leftovers. He questioned her and learned her name was Fox Spirit.

• Aokiji drove off a polar bear with a Great Fireball Jutsu and roasted a seal for food.
• Aokiji reflected on his Uchiha bloodline, gifted body, and advantages in learning and developing ninjutsu.
• Aokiji spotted a White Fox scavenging the cooked seal and captured her.
• Aokiji promised to spare the White Fox and share the seal meat if she answered his questions.
• The White Fox mistook Aokiji’s petting for affection, hoped to make him her meal ticket, and told him her name was Fox Spirit.

Aokiji learned that the Snow Emperor on Ice Island might be his only way home, but reaching it meant facing dangerous ocean monsters. He watched a group of orcas torment seals at the shore and recognized them as Killer Whales.

• Aokiji asked Fox Spirit about the Aurora Ice Domain and learned that the Snow Emperor was its most powerful being.
• Fox Spirit explained that the Snow Emperor stayed on Ice Island, which could only be reached by crossing the territory of huge, group-hunting ocean monsters.
• Aokiji decided to see the monsters for himself, and Fox Spirit finished eating before guiding him to the shore.
• Aokiji and Fox Spirit waited near a group of seals until the monsters emerged from the sea.
• The monsters tossed a seal between them and battered it with their tails, leading Aokiji to identify them as orcas, also called Killer Whales.

Aokiji befriended a family of talking orcas and accepted a ride to Ice Island, where Snow Emperor might know how he could leave the summoning realm. Along the way, he tried to recruit Fat Tiger as a Summoned Beast, while Fox Spirit offered herself after learning the journey might explain why she was different from other foxes.

• Aokiji approached the orcas and learned from Orca Mother that they could speak Human Language and were friendly toward creatures they could communicate with.
• Orca Mother said Snow Emperor might know how Aokiji could leave and offered to take him to Ice Island, while Fox Spirit warned him the orcas might be dangerous.
• Orca Mother suggested Fox Spirit might learn why she differed from other foxes on the journey, so Fox Spirit overcame her fear and joined Aokiji on Fat Tiger's back.
• Aokiji befriended Fat Tiger during the ride and asked him to become his Summoned Beast, but Fat Tiger showed little interest.
• Fox Spirit offered to become Aokiji's Summoned Beast, and Aokiji rejected her until she insisted she could serve as a mount.

Aokiji arrived at the Aurora Ice Domain and learned that it lay beyond the continent he knew. He met the Snow Emperor and Baosi, who showed an unexpectedly playful side, and his visit began under the Snow Emperor’s watch.

• Fox Spirit asked Aokiji to make her his Summoned Beast, but he explained that a mount had to be large enough to ride.
• Orca Mother told Aokiji that the creatures frozen as ice sculptures had failed their Sage Art training, then revealed that her former master had crossed the seas to reach Aokiji’s continent.
• Aokiji followed Penguin Mani through the ice cave and encountered the Snow Emperor, a massive blue Ice Phoenix.
• Baosi approached Aokiji flirtatiously, and Penguin Mani rebuked her for behaving improperly toward a child.
• The Snow Emperor spoke to Aokiji, and Baosi and Penguin Mani stopped arguing in her presence.

Uchiha Aokiji learned how to return from the Aurora Ice Domain and asked to study its Sage Art. He signed a contract and became Penguin Mani’s student by taking on a ten-million-ryō debt, but Sage Art lessons required additional fees.

• The Snow Emperor told Uchiha Aokiji that exhausting his Chakra would send him back, though returning to the Aurora Ice Domain would be difficult.
• Uchiha Aokiji asked to learn Sage Art, and the Snow Emperor gave him permission to sign a contract with the Aurora Ice Domain.
• Penguin Mani explained that Aokiji had to pay ten million ryō as a trial, then demonstrated his Money Release: Equivalent Exchange Jutsu.
• Penguin Mani agreed to let Aokiji owe the fee and called him his student after Aokiji accepted him as his teacher.
• Penguin Mani revealed that the ten-million-ryō fee only covered becoming his student and that Sage Art lessons would cost extra.

After Aokiji unexpectedly paid close attention to Biwako’s Medical Ninjutsu lecture, he claimed he wanted to become a medical ninja to avoid the battlefield and prepare for a future alongside Tsunade. Biwako praised him to his teacher, who doubted her impression and invited her to see Aokiji’s usual classroom behavior for herself.

• Aokiji woke up after sleeping through most of the school day and followed his deskmate to Biwako’s lecture on Medical Ninjutsu.
• While the other students showed little interest, Aokiji answered Biwako’s questions, and she learned that he was Uchiha Aokiji.
• Aokiji told his classmates he was considering Medical Ninjutsu because he feared dying on the battlefield and wanted a safer path, while privately hoping to connect with Tsunade.
• Aokiji argued with his classmates about talent and hard work, then complained that he was lonely at the top.
• Biwako told Aokiji’s teacher that he had listened attentively, but the teacher said Aokiji usually slept through class and suggested she observe him during another lesson.

Sarutobi Hiruzen learned that Uchiha Aokiji had shown interest in Medical Ninjutsu and asked his disciples about him. Orochimaru concluded that Aokiji was not interested in becoming a medical ninja but in “lying low.”

• Jiraiya teased Sarutobi Hiruzen about Biwako, then suggested that Tsunade date him, prompting her to destroy a rock with a punch.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen and Biwako discussed their search for students interested in Medical Ninjutsu and identified Uchiha Aokiji as the one interested student.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen asked Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru how they had become friends with Aokiji.
• Tsunade explained that Aokiji had become lazy and uninterested in being a ninja after his grandmother died.
• Orochimaru suggested that Aokiji was interested in “lying low,” not in becoming a medical ninja.