Chapter Summaries

Ruri quickly killed two ninjas with his Rasengan, astonishing Uchiha Itachi and the others watching. The two surviving attackers charged him, while Akagimaru grew suspicious of the unmoving ninja who seemed to lead them.

• Ruri vanished and reappeared in front of the four ninjas, striking two with his Rasengan and killing them.
• Uchiha Itachi and Uzuki Yugao watched Ruri's strength with surprise and admiration.
• The two remaining ninjas charged Ruri with their short swords, hoping to defeat him in one attack.
• Uchiha Itachi, Reika Hyuga, and Momokusa Harukawa criticized the attackers' decision to fight Ruri head-on.
• Akagimaru questioned why the apparent leader had not moved or reacted to his subordinates' deaths.

Ruri defeated the remaining two ninjas with Lightning Blade, killing them before they could react. The last ninja praised Ruri for killing all four of his men and prepared to face him.

• Ruri mocked the two ninjas as he fought them with their short swords.
• Ruri used Lightning Blade and dismissed their claim that Earth Release would protect them.
• Ruri used Body Flicker to appear before the two ninjas and plunged his hand into both of their hearts.
• Ruri pulled his blood-covered hand free as the three girls covered their eyes.
• The last ninja praised Ruri for killing all four of his men and smiled eerily at him.

Ruri condemned the ninja for treating his dead subordinates as disposable dogs and vowed to avenge them. When Ruri attacked with a Rasengan, the ninja vanished and reappeared behind him, leaving Ruri unable to locate him.

• Ruri angrily challenged the ninja for showing no compassion toward his dead subordinates, whom the ninja called dogs he had kept.
• Akagimaru and Momokusa Harukawa condemned the ninja’s words as they watched from nearby.
• Ruri vowed to avenge the dead subordinates and charged at the ninja with a Rasengan.
• The ninja vanished as Ruri’s Rasengan touched him, causing Ruri’s attack to hit empty air.
• The ninja appeared behind Ruri, then disappeared again as Ruri leaped away and demanded a direct fight.

Ruri survived an attack by a mysterious ninja, but the encounter left him shaken and confused about the enemy’s powers and intentions. Momokusa Harukawa and the others gathered around him as he remained unresponsive.

• A mysterious ninja told Ruri he was not strong enough to face him and promised to return when Ruri could challenge him, declaring that their next meeting would be the day Ruri died.
• Dozens of kunai appeared overhead and pursued Ruri as he dodged, prompting him to activate his Byakugan.
• Ruri froze after seeing his own chakra on the kunai, and Uchiha Itachi pulled him aside and blocked them all.
• Ruri wondered how the ninja had evaded his Rasengan, recognized its name, and sent kunai marked with his chakra after him.
• Momokusa Harukawa and the others rushed to Ruri, and Momokusa Harukawa shook him when he failed to respond.

Ruri recovered after freezing when he saw kunai that he believed carried his chakra. He explained that the kunai had followed his movements, leaving the others unable to understand how they could track him without showing any chakra.

• Uchiha Itachi blocked the kunai while Ruri stood frozen and unable to move.
• Ruri regained his composure and thanked Uchiha Itachi for intervening.
• Ruri told the others that he had seen his own chakra on the kunai.
• Momokusa Harukawa and Uzuki Yugao doubted Ruri because they had found no chakra on the kunai.
• Ruri said the kunai had followed him when he moved, as if they were tracking him.

After the Masked Man attacked Ruri and left him alive, Ruri and his friends resolved to grow stronger and face him together. They shared confidence in their future as an Anbu squad, while Ruri remained determined to kill his mysterious enemy.

• Uchiha Itachi wondered why the Masked Man had targeted Ruri, and Ruri said he had only fought the Cloud Ninja recently.
• Linghua Hyuga panicked at the possibility that the Masked Man wanted something from Ruri, so Ruri ended the speculation and vowed to kill him.
• Momokusa Harukawa urged the others to become stronger so they could support Ruri, and Uzuki Yugao agreed that they should work together as a future Anbu squad.
• Ruri invited everyone to roast their fish and encouraged them to work toward a future where none of them died on the battlefield.
• Uchiha Itachi declared that they would overcome any enemy, showing how close he had grown to Ruri and the others.

After encouraging the others to recover their confidence, Ruri led them to the river and grilled the fish they had caught. As the group gathered around the fire, Uzuki Yugao wondered about Ruri’s many skills and his life before.

• Ruri encouraged the others not to dwell on the battle and led them back to the river.
• Momokusa Harukawa was surprised by the piles of fish, while Akagimaru bragged about his fishing and Ruri teased him.
• Ruri asked everyone to prepare the fish and firewood, and Momokusa Harukawa asked him to grill the fish.
• Ruri used the Flame-Flame Fruit to light the wood, prompting Uzuki Yugao to remark on how convenient his Fire Release was.
• Ruri explained that he had learned everyday skills because he used to live alone, leaving Uzuki Yugao wondering about his past.

Ruri grilled fish while Momokusa Harukawa invited Uzuki Yugao and Reika Hyuga to play a game as they waited. Distracted by worries about his strength and Konoha’s future, Ruri burned one fish and continued grilling another.

• Momokusa Harukawa asked Ruri how long the fish would take, then left him to grill them while she gathered the others.
• Momokusa Harukawa suggested that Uzuki Yugao and Reika Hyuga play a game while they waited, and the two agreed.
• Ruri thought that he needed to improve his training so he could become strong enough to protect others.
• Ruri became distracted and burned a fish, set it aside to eat himself, and put a fresh one on the grill.
• Ruri thought about how Naruto and the other members of Konoha’s new generation would soon grow up and how uncertain the future was.

Ruri watched the children play and reflected on Uchiha Itachi’s tragic relationships with Shisui Uchiha and Uchiha Izumi. He recalled how Itachi later killed Izumi and wondered whether eating her favorite tricolor dango had been his way of mourning her.

• Ruri cooked fish while thinking about the children and characters from Hokage.
• Ruri recalled how Shisui Uchiha had trained Itachi and become his close friend and confidant.
• Ruri remembered Shisui’s plan to use Kotoamatsukami, Danzo taking his Mangekyō Sharingan, and Shisui entrusting his eye and the village to Itachi before his death.
• Ruri recalled that Uchiha Izumi was Itachi’s friend and girlfriend, and that she especially loved tricolor dango.
• Ruri remembered that Itachi used Tsukuyomi to let Izumi die in a happy illusion, then later ate tricolor dango with Kisame Hoshigaki.

Ruri reflected on how his presence had changed Uchiha Itachi’s path into the Anbu and considered the people who later became Itachi’s closest friends. The chapter ended with Ruri recalling Itachi’s bonds with Kakashi, Juzo, and Kisame.

• Ruri realized that Itachi had joined the Anbu because of him and had become its second member under Kakashi instead of the first.
• Itachi grew close to Kakashi, worked with him on missions, and later entrusted Sasuke to him.
• After joining the Akatsuki, Itachi befriended Juzo, who urged him to escape while dying during the Three-Tails mission.
• Kisame became Itachi’s next partner, admired him as “Big Brother Itachi,” and remembered his words about life before Kisame died.

Ruri reflected on Might Guy’s Taijutsu and remembered how he had secretly learned the Konoha Whirlwind by watching him train. As the grilled fish were ready, Ruri watched the others play and wondered about his old life, whether he could return to it, and what the talented ninjas of their generation might become.

• Ruri remembered secretly learning the Konoha Whirlwind by watching Might Guy train at the Training Ground.
• Ruri finished grilling the fish and left the others to keep playing their game.
• Ruri looked at the blue sky and regretted not spending more time with his parents in his previous life.
• Ruri wondered whether he could return to his original world and worried that Konoha’s generation of talented ninjas could bring major changes.

Ruri served grilled fish to the others after they finished playing, and Akagimaru choked when he ate too quickly. The group enjoyed the meal together, while Ruri reflected on his cooking and wondered whether he might someday become a rogue ninja.

• Ruri recognized Uchiha Itachi and worried that several talented ninja might become powerful rogue ninja in the future.
• Ruri called the others over after finishing the grilled fish, and Momokusa Harukawa gathered them to eat.
• Uzuki Yugao and Reika Hyuga discussed trying Ruri's grilled fish as they walked over.
• Ruri handed out the fish, and Akagimaru ate too quickly and choked.
• Reika Hyuga scolded Akagimaru, who blamed the fish's delicious flavor, and the group laughed.

Ruri spent a carefree day with his friends and realized how much he valued having them by his side. As the group headed home, they agreed to meet again and asked Ruri to grill fish for them next time.

• Ruri told Momokusa Harukawa and the others that he used to be lonely and was happy to have friends now.
• Akagimaru ate a great many of Ruri's grilled fish, and Reika Hyuga scolded her for overindulging.
• Ruri noticed it was getting late and suggested that everyone head home and meet again another time.
• The group put out the campfire, packed their equipment, and walked down the mountain together.
• Uchiha Itachi and Akagimaru asked Ruri to grill fish for them next time, and Ruri agreed.

Ruri returned to Mei Ling Hyuga's house after a fun day with his friends, though he remained troubled by the mysterious man whose strength overwhelmed him. He reunited with Neji and happily played with him, leaving his worries aside for the moment.

• Ruri worried about the mysterious man's identity and resolved to grow stronger and learn Modern Mode.
• Ruri arrived at Mei Ling Hyuga's house and reassured her that he had eaten lunch and enjoyed the day with his friends.
• Mei Ling Hyuga said she was happy that Ruri had made friends after keeping to himself as a child.
• Ruri went inside and found Neji Hyuga playing with toys.
• Neji greeted Ruri, who picked him up and asked whether he had missed his big brother.

Ruri spent the evening with Mei Ling Hyuga and Neji Hyuga, helping with dinner cleanup before returning to his room. Though he told Mei Ling Hyuga he was tired, he entered the Ring and began training.

• Ruri played with Neji Hyuga and planned to use the Ring for more training after dinner.
• Mei Ling Hyuga called Ruri and Neji Hyuga to a meal of braised lion's head meatballs and sweet-and-sour pork ribs.
• Ruri ate with Mei Ling Hyuga and Neji Hyuga, then cleared the dishes while Mei Ling Hyuga played with Neji.
• Ruri told Mei Ling Hyuga he was going to rest, went into his room, and entered the Ring to train.

After completing his training inside the Ring, Ruri received Space-Time Ninjutsu-Intangibility and Big Ball Rasengan as rewards. He returned to the real world and went to sleep, planning to practice the two techniques the next day.

• Ruri completed an hour of training inside the Ring and exceeded his goal for the day.
• Ruri received Space-Time Ninjutsu-Intangibility as a training reward and Big Ball Rasengan for completing a hidden mission.
• Ruri considered the abilities of the two Ninjutsu and celebrated his good fortune.
• Ruri left the Ring, returned to the real world, and went to sleep.

Ruri woke early and went to the woods above Hokage Rock to train. He began practicing the Big Ball Rasengan and enlarged a Rasengan with extra chakra before testing it against a tree.

• Ruri woke at six thirty, dressed, and quietly left Mei Ling Hyuga and Neji Hyuga's home.
• Ruri walked to the woods above Hokage Rock, washed his face, meditated, and warmed up.
• Ruri decided to practice the Big Ball Rasengan and formed a Rasengan in his right hand.
• Ruri fed most of his chakra into the Rasengan until it grew noticeably larger.
• Ruri charged toward a large tree to test the enlarged Rasengan's power.

Ruri tested the Big Ball Rasengan, discovering its immense power and heavy chakra cost, then began practicing the Space-Time Ninjutsu Intangibility. After emerging in a river by mistake, he continued training to control where he appeared.

• Ruri destroyed a large tree with the Big Ball Rasengan and marveled at its power.
• Ruri realized one use of the Big Ball Rasengan consumed a third of his chakra, so he rested to recover.
• Ruri recalled that he had also obtained Intangibility and decided to practice it.
• Ruri activated Intangibility, emerged above the Small River, and fell into the water.
• Ruri climbed out of the river and resumed practicing to control his destination.

Ruri mastered Intangibility and tested using it alongside a Rasengan, then startled a girl who had approached while he replenished his chakra. The girl recognized him and warned him not to scare her again.

• Ruri mastered Intangibility and discovered he could use it nearly a hundred times with his current chakra reserves.
• Ruri combined Intangibility with a Rasengan and destroyed a tree by appearing beside it and striking it.
• Ruri sat by the tree to replenish his chakra for half an hour.
• Ruri approached a girl from behind and patted her shoulder, frightening her into turning around with two kunai in hand.
• The girl recognized Ruri, put away her kunai, and told him not to scare her again.

Ruri apologized to Uzuki Yugao for making her wait, and she told him to report to the Anbu the next day to welcome Uchiha Itachi as a new squad member. After Yugao left, Ruri looked forward to working with Itachi and imagined other recruits joining them the following year.

• Ruri apologized to Uzuki Yugao for leaving her waiting, and Yugao explained she had not wanted to wake him.
• Uzuki Yugao told Ruri to report to the Anbu the next day because Uchiha Itachi was joining their squad.
• Ruri boasted that Itachi would not surpass him, and Yugao teased him before leaving to complete her missions.
• Uzuki Yugao departed using the Body Flicker Technique, while Ruri imagined working with Itachi and forming a squad with other recruits next year.