Recaps

Ruri and Uchiha Itachi fought after Itachi accepted Ruri’s challenge, and Ruri quickly showed that he was far stronger than the other academy students. After Ruri countered Itachi’s shuriken volley, Itachi charged with Ruowu as Ruri began a Konoha Whirlwind.

• Uchiha Itachi attacked Ruri, but Ruri blocked his strikes and overpowered him in their close-range exchange.
• Ruri activated his Byakugan, surprising Itachi and prompting him to take the fight seriously.
• Uchiha Itachi threw eight shuriken from multiple directions, but Ruri knocked them all down with his own shuriken.
• Uchiha Itachi drew Ruowu and rushed at Ruri, who began using Konoha Whirlwind.

Ruri used the Konoha Whirlwind to knock Ruowu from Uchiha Itachi’s hand and kick Itachi, only to learn he had struck a substitute. As Itachi unleashed a Great Fireball Technique, Ruri prepared to counter with Eight Trigrams Palms: Heavenly Spin, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Ruri used the Konoha Whirlwind to kick Ruowu away and strike Uchiha Itachi in the jaw.
• Uchiha Itachi’s struck body turned out to be a substitute, and Ruri praised his opponent’s skill.
• Uchiha Itachi used the Great Fireball Technique while Ruri watched him through his Byakugan.
• Momokusa Harukawa worried about Ruri, while Linghua expressed confidence that he would be all right.
• Ruri declared the fight should end and began Eight Trigrams Palms: Heavenly Spin as the spectators feared for him.

Ruri used the Hyuga Clan’s Eight Trigrams techniques to overwhelm Uchiha Itachi in their fight. He trapped Itachi in the Eight Trigrams Field and began striking him with Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.

• Ruri deflected Uchiha Itachi’s Great Fireball Technique with Eight Trigrams Palms: Heavenly Spin.
• Ruri warned Uchiha Itachi not to let his guard down and assumed a strange stance as Itachi stood dazed.
• Ruri revealed that Itachi was trapped in the Eight Trigrams Field, with his chakra points locked and his body immobilized.
• Ruri rushed at Itachi and began landing the strikes of Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.

Ruri Hyuga defeated Uchiha Itachi at the academy with the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, establishing his reputation as a young genius in Konoha. After Ruri left with his friends, the Fourth Hokage noted the remarkable talents emerging that year.

• Ruri struck Uchiha Itachi with all sixty-four palms, sealing his chakra points and knocking him from the Eight Trigrams Field.
• Ruri told the Uchiha children that Itachi would recover and declared himself stronger than Itachi at the academy.
• Ruri invited the two Hyuga children, Reika Hyuga, and Momokusa Harukawa to return to the compound with him.
• Ruri's victory spread through Konoha, earning him a reputation as a genius.
• The Fourth Hokage watched the academy playground and remarked on the talents of Ruri Hyuga and Uchiha Itachi.

Ruri returned to the Hyuga Clan Compound after helping two Hyuga Clan children escape Uchiha Itachi, then entered the Ring to begin a training session. The session set him against a gray clone with the same strength, which opened their fight with a Rasengan.

• Two Hyuga Clan children thanked Ruri for saving them from Uchiha Itachi and said their injuries were minor.
• Reika Hyuga and Momokusa Harukawa said goodbye to Ruri and planned to visit him the next day.
• Ruri went home, used the Ring, and selected training mode.
• The Ring created an arena and a gray clone as strong as Ruri, setting the objective of defeating it.
• The gray clone charged at Ruri and attacked with a Rasengan.

Ruri defeated the gray clone in his training and received a chakra recovery pill. The next morning, he met Reika Hyuga and Momokusa Harukawa for their planned meal, and they set out to find Akagimaru and choose a place to eat.

• Ruri used the Rasengan, Eight Trigrams One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms, and Fire Fist to defeat the gray clone and earn a chakra recovery pill.
• Ruri returned to the real world, washed up, and went to sleep after his exhausting training and fight with Uchiha Itachi.
• Ruri got up early the next morning and waited for Reika Hyuga and Momokusa Harukawa before their meal together.
• Reika Hyuga and Momokusa Harukawa suggested wandering around town to find Akagimaru and decide where to eat.

Ruri took Akagimaru and their friends to the Konoha Barbecue Restaurant, where Reika Hyuga’s huge appetite turned their meal into a feast. After the four finished fifty plates of meat, Ruri ordered twenty more because Reika was still hungry.

• Ruri led Momokusa Harukawa and Linghua Hyuga to Akagimaru’s house, where Akagimaru greeted him by asking to become his underling.
• Ruri suggested the Konoha Barbecue Restaurant, and the group agreed to eat there together.
• At the restaurant, Reika Hyuga ordered fifty plates of meat, surprising Ruri and Akagimaru.
• The four ate all fifty plates, but Reika said she was still hungry.
• Ruri called the owner and ordered another twenty plates of meat.

Akagimaru asked Ruri to teach him Taijutsu so he could become strong enough to protect his mother and others. Later, Mei Ling Hyuga and Neji stayed at Ruri’s house while Hizashi was away on a mission.

• Akagimaru told Ruri that he wanted to grow strong despite lacking talent and asked to become his younger brother and learn Taijutsu.
• Ruri agreed to teach Akagimaru, warning him that training would take hard work.
• Ruri, Akagimaru, Reika Hyuga, and Momokusa Harukawa ate at Konoha’s barbecue restaurant until afternoon, then went home.
• Mei Ling Hyuga arrived at Ruri’s house with Neji Hyuga and said she wanted to stay while Hizashi was on a mission.
• Ruri welcomed Mei Ling and Neji, and they spent the night at his house, with Ruri sleeping on the sofa.

Ruri woke early, ate breakfast prepared by Mei Ling Hyuga, and went to school tired after a restless night caring for Neji. At school, his classmates encouraged one another to work hard and become strong ninjas while Ruri struggled to stay awake.

• Ruri woke to Mei Ling Hyuga cooking breakfast and hurried to wash up after feeling awkward around her.
• Mei Ling Hyuga served Ruri breakfast and sent him off before he could help clean up.
• Ruri arrived at school last and asked Momokusa Harukawa why everyone else had come so early.
• Reika Hyuga said she wanted to study hard and become as amazing as Tsunade, while Akagimaru joined Ruri in promising to become the strongest ninja.
• Ruri explained that Neji had cried during the night after Uncle Hizashi left on a mission, and Momokusa Harukawa let the exhausted Ruri sleep.

Asuma Sarutobi warned the class about the dangers of being a ninja and taught them about chakra. Most students ignored him, but Ruri and a few others listened as the lesson continued through the morning.

• Harukawa woke Ruri when Asuma Sarutobi arrived, and Ruri thanked her.
• Asuma Sarutobi warned the students that ninja faced real danger and urged them to take his lessons seriously.
• Asuma Sarutobi began teaching how to extract chakra, but most students remained distracted.
• Asuma Sarutobi told students with chakra not to disturb those listening, and the classroom quieted down.
• Asuma Sarutobi spent the morning explaining chakra.

Ruri attended afternoon throwing practice at the Training Ground, where Asuma Sarutobi and Uchiha Itachi demonstrated accurate throws at forty-five meters. Ruri stepped forward to try, leaving the class watching to see whether he had improved.

• Ruri ate the lunch Meiling had prepared before the afternoon lessons began.
• Asuma Sarutobi demonstrated a perfect ten with a Ruowu throw at forty-five meters.
• Uchiha Itachi threw three Ruowu at once and scored a ten with each, earning the students' admiration.
• Momokusa Harukawa encouraged Ruri to keep practicing, and Ruri told her he wanted to grow stronger to protect her.
• Ruri walked up to try the exercise, and the students wondered if he had improved since his last perfect score.

Ruri stunned his classmates and Asuma Sarutobi by throwing a Ruowu with tremendous speed and force, then teased Harukawa about teaching her. After the class practiced throwing Ruowu, Ruri, Harukawa, and Linghua headed home.

• Ruri threw a Ruowu through a wooden target and embedded it in the wall, shocking Asuma Sarutobi and the students.
• Harukawa praised Ruri, while Reika Hyuga, Akagimaru, and Uchiha Itachi marveled at how much stronger he had become.
• Asuma Sarutobi resumed the lesson by teaching the class Ruowu throwing techniques.
• Ruri teased Harukawa by offering to teach her at his house, and Hyuga Lianhua scolded him for flirting.
• Class Five practiced throwing Ruowu for the afternoon, then Ruri, Harukawa, and Linghua went home.

Ruri trained before dawn, confirmed his mastery of Eight Trigrams One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms, and considered how to improve his ranged combat. He completed the Ring’s physical training and earned Lightning Blade.

• Ruri quietly practiced Eight Trigrams One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms and concluded he had mastered it.
• Ruri formed a Rasengan and decided he needed ranged ninjutsu for battles against distant opponents.
• Ruri entered the Ring and began a demanding physical training session.
• Ruri completed all the exercises in less than an hour and received Lightning Blade as his reward.

Ruri learned that he had acquired the lightning attribute and gained the S-rank Lightning Blade technique. He tested channeling lightning chakra into a Ruowu, then ended his training as dawn broke.

• Ruri sensed the lightning attribute in his chakra and realized he could use Lightning Blade.
• Ruri considered using a Ruowu as a conduit to extend Lightning Blade's piercing attack to long range.
• Ruri infused a Ruowu with Lightning Release chakra and threw it at a distant Peach Blossom Tree.
• The Ruowu smashed through four trees and lodged in the fifth, impressing Ruri with its power.
• Ruri noticed the sky brightening and exited the Ring.

After training, Ruri made breakfast for Mei Ling Hyuga and Neji Hyuga before heading to school. On the way, he met Akagimaru, and the two walked to school together.

• Ruri returned from training, saw Mei Ling Hyuga and Neji Hyuga asleep, and made them breakfast.
• Mei Ling Hyuga woke up and praised Ruri's cooking as she ate.
• Ruri finished washing up, said goodbye to Mei Ling Hyuga, and headed for school.
• Ruri met Akagimaru on the road, and they walked to school together.

Ruri arrived at school and learned that Asuma Sarutobi had scheduled ninja sparring practice instead of a classroom lecture. He headed to the playground with Momokusa Harukawa, who said she had been diligently practicing her Ninjutsu.

• Ruri greeted Momokusa Harukawa at school and asked whether she knew what class they would have.
• Asuma Sarutobi announced that the class would practice ninja sparring and led the students to the playground.
• Students said Ruri Hyuga and Uchiha Itachi were expected to stand out, while Ruri's classmates discussed his past victories.
• Momokusa Harukawa told Ruri she had practiced her Ninjutsu diligently and ran ahead to the playground.
• Ruri followed Momokusa Harukawa, curious to see what her training had accomplished.

Asuma Sarutobi explained the sparring tournament rules, and Uchiha Itachi quickly defeated Shan Yan in the first match. Ruri was proved right about the outcome, while Momokusa Harukawa acknowledged Shan Yan’s courage.

• Asuma Sarutobi laid out the five-round tournament rules and told the students to choose their opponents.
• Shan Yan challenged Uchiha Itachi, hoping that losing to a genius would spare him criticism from his parents.
• Ruri predicted Shan Yan would lose, while Momokusa Harukawa said challenging a stronger opponent took courage.
• Uchiha Itachi pinned Shan Yan and held a Ruowu to his neck, and Asuma Sarutobi declared Itachi the winner.
• Shan Yan returned to the crowd trembling, and Ruri reminded Momokusa Harukawa that he had predicted the result.

Ruri advanced straight to the next round after drawing the shortest stick, then watched Reika Hyuga defeat Akagimaru. After the match, Momokusa Harukawa asked Ruri to teach her Wind Release ninjutsu the next day, and he agreed.

• Asuma Sarutobi had the fifteen winners draw lots, and Ruri Hyuga drew the shortest stick to advance automatically.
• Reika Hyuga challenged Akagimaru, and Asuma Sarutobi announced their match.
• Ruri activated his Byakugan and watched Reika and Akagimaru fight, noting her excellent chakra control.
• Reika overwhelmed Akagimaru and won their sparring match.
• Momokusa Harukawa asked Ruri to teach her Wind Release ninjutsu the next day, and Ruri agreed.

After lunch, Class Five rested before the afternoon sparring matches, which would narrow eight classmates down to four. Asuma Sarutobi gathered the students and began announcing the matchups, starting with Ruri Hyuga, Momokusa Harukawa, Reika Hyuga, and Uchiha Itachi.

• Momokusa Harukawa invited Ruri to try the braised ribs she had made, and Reika Hyuga praised them after tasting some.
• The exhausted Class Five students ate lunch and rested at their desks after their morning drills.
• Asuma Sarutobi called the students to the playground for the afternoon matches.
• Momokusa Harukawa woke Ruri, who had slept through Asuma's announcement.
• Asuma Sarutobi began reading the next-round matchups, naming Ruri Hyuga, Momokusa Harukawa, Reika Hyuga, and Uchiha Itachi.

Momokusa Harukawa faced Reika Hyuga in the final sparring bouts, but lost after Reika exploited her concern for an apparently injured opponent. Reika won, and Harukawa accepted the result because Reika was unharmed.

• Asuma Sarutobi announced Momokusa Harukawa's match, and she chose Reika Hyuga as her opponent.
• Momokusa Harukawa and Reika Hyuga exchanged close-range attacks until they were nearing their limits.
• Momokusa Harukawa threw three Ruowu fitted with Explosive Tags, and Reika Hyuga blocked them with a piece of wood before the tags exploded.
• Momokusa Harukawa ran to check on Reika Hyuga, who revealed that she had held a Ruowu against Harukawa's stomach and declared her defeated.
• Asuma Sarutobi declared Reika Hyuga the winner, and Harukawa helped her back to Ruri Hyuga.

Ruri and his classmates finished their combat matches, with Ruri placing first, and Ruri discussed his ambition to become Konoha’s strongest ninja with Reika Hyuga. After returning home, he went to sleep so he would be ready to teach Momokusa Harukawa ninjutsu the next day.

• Ruri told Momokusa Harukawa that her softheartedness could be dangerous in battle, and Reika Hyuga explained that Harukawa had weakened her Explosive Tags because she feared hurting her.
• Asuma Sarutobi announced the final match rankings: Ruri took first place, Uchiha Itachi second, Reika Hyuga third, and Momokusa Harukawa fourth.
• After class, Momokusa Harukawa went to her mother’s workplace, while Reika Hyuga asked Ruri about his goals.
• Ruri said he planned to become the strongest person in Konoha, and Reika Hyuga named several famous ninja she considered truly strong.
• Ruri returned home, greeted Mei Ling Hyuga, and went to sleep in preparation for teaching Momokusa Harukawa ninjutsu the next day.

Ruri chose ninjutsu to teach Momokusa Harukawa and went to meet her for training. He was struck by her appearance and invited her to breakfast at Ichiraku Ramen.

• Ruri entered the Ring and reviewed wind-nature ninjutsu, choosing Wind Release: Wind Blade for Harukawa.
• Ruri decided to teach Harukawa the Rasengan before Wind Release: Wind Blade.
• Ruri ate bread, went to Momokusa Harukawa's home, and called for her.
• Momokusa Harukawa came outside in a blue tracksuit, and Ruri told her she looked especially beautiful.
• Ruri and Momokusa Harukawa headed to Ichiraku Ramen to have breakfast.

Ruri took Momokusa Harukawa to Ichiraku Ramen for her first meal there. Harukawa enjoyed the Tonkotsu Chashu Ramen, and they continued eating together.

• Ruri invited Momokusa Harukawa to try Ichiraku Ramen, and they walked there together.
• Teuchi greeted them and took their orders for Tonkotsu Chashu Ramen, with Harukawa requesting no cilantro.
• Ruri told Harukawa that Teuchi's daughter Pu Chang was probably still asleep at home.
• Teuchi served their ramen, and Harukawa praised its broth, chashu, and chewy noodles.
• Ruri and Harukawa began enjoying their ramen together.

Ruri took Momokusa Harukawa to his secluded training spot to teach her ninjutsu. He demonstrated the Rasengan and explained how it worked, leaving Harukawa eager to learn it.

• After eating at Ichiraku Ramen, Ruri and Momokusa Harukawa left for his usual training spot.
• Ruri showed Harukawa the quiet hill and river where he trained.
• Ruri formed a Rasengan in his palm and explained its destructive power and how to create it.
• Momokusa Harukawa eagerly agreed to learn the Rasengan.

Ruri taught Momokusa Harukawa the first two stages of Rasengan training, and she mastered the basics remarkably quickly. The chapter ended with her practicing to burst water-filled balloons faster before moving on to the next stage.

• Ruri instructed Momokusa Harukawa to gather chakra in her palm, and she learned to do so within minutes.
• Ruri explained the water-balloon exercise and placed a filled balloon in Momokusa Harukawa's palm.
• Momokusa Harukawa moved chakra inside the balloon until it burst, impressing Ruri with her talent.
• Ruri told Momokusa Harukawa to burst another water-filled balloon in less time, and she began practicing again.