Chapter Summaries

Ruri ran with Kakashi and the others while thinking about Harukawa, his past life, and his college regrets. He realized the group had pulled ahead, caught up with them, and reassured himself that he had not fallen behind.

• Ruri worried about whether Momokusa Harukawa had practiced the ninjutsu he taught her.
• Ruri reflected on his college years and regretted wasting them before dying and arriving in the world of Hokage Ninja.
• Ruri noticed Kakashi and the others had moved far ahead and hurried to catch up.
• Uzuki Yugao asked Ruri why he had been spacing out and said she thought they would leave him behind.

Ruri and Uzuki Yugao caught up with Kakashi's group as they traveled toward the front line after several days of enemy attacks. Ruri remained unusually tired and hoped they were close to their destination so he could rest after the mission.

• Ruri reassured Uzuki Yugao that he had only been distracted by thoughts of the past.
• Uzuki Yugao urged Ruri to hurry so they could complete the mission and return home.
• Ruri and Uzuki Yugao quickened their pace and caught up with Kakashi and the others.
• Ruri reflected on the group's nearly three days of travel and the attacks they had overcome along the way.
• Ruri decided he needed proper rest after the mission and estimated they were less than twenty minutes from their destination.

Ruri and the others traveled toward the front, exhausted from the journey, and stopped briefly to rest and prepare their equipment. As they resumed their approach, Ruri worried about what enemies awaited them, especially the jinchuriki Killer B.

• Ruri told Uzuki Yugao that they were about 20 minutes from their destination.
• Kakashi stopped the group and called for a 10-minute rest to sort out their equipment.
• Uchiha Itachi joked with Ruri about being tired, and Ruri admitted his legs were exhausted too.
• Ruri massaged his legs to recover his strength before reaching the battlefield.
• Ruri thought about the enemies ahead and hoped he would not encounter Killer B again.

Ruri and Uchiha Itachi discussed the coming enemy attack and the importance of delivering the mysterious scroll to their teammates on the front line. They realized they could not settle on a delivery plan without knowing the situation there.

• Uchiha Itachi asked Ruri what kind of attack and how many enemies the front line would face.
• Ruri predicted the enemy would be prepared and said they would underestimate him.
• Ruri said the mysterious scroll had to reach their front-line teammates, even at the cost of their lives.
• Uchiha Itachi agreed that the scroll could decide the battle and would be disastrous if captured.
• Ruri and Uchiha Itachi recognized that they lacked information about the front line and could not judge whether their delivery plan would work.

Kakashi’s team traveled to the front line, where they paused at the forest’s edge to assess the situation before approaching their teammates. They saw a fifty-person enemy vanguard ahead and more enemy reinforcements in the distance.

• Ruri and Uchiha Itachi agreed to wait until they reached the area before deciding what to do.
• After resting and organizing their equipment for ten minutes, Kakashi led the team onward.
• Ruri ran beside Uzuki Yugao and promised to accompany her to the front line.
• Kakashi’s team reached the forest’s edge and stopped to observe the enemy forces from a distance.
• The team saw a fifty-person enemy vanguard near their teammates and additional reinforcements farther away.

Ruri explained that the team could estimate the enemy’s reinforcements by watching the expressions of the fifty-person vanguard. The group waited to see whether the vanguard looked confident, but the chapter ended before they observed their reactions.

• Kakashi, Ruri, Uchiha Itachi, and Uzuki Yugao discussed the enemy’s large vanguard and their team’s inability to move or assess the enemy’s full numbers.
• Ruri proposed using the vanguard’s expressions to estimate how many reinforcements the enemy had.
• Ruri explained that a confident vanguard would suggest the enemy had enough troops to send immediate reinforcements.
• The others gathered around Ruri and waited to observe the vanguard’s expressions.

Ruri used his Byakugan to check the area and found no enemy chakra nearby, leaving the group to estimate the enemy force from the expressions of the fifty captured enemies. Kakashi agreed that this was their only option, and Ruri prepared to investigate them.

• Kakashi warned that the group did not know how many enemies were nearby or where their reinforcements were.
• Ruri activated his Byakugan and found no enemy chakra within range.
• Kakashi concluded that the reinforcements were far away and that they would have to judge the enemy force by the fifty enemies’ expressions.
• Ruri offered to investigate the fifty enemies, and Kakashi told him to be careful not to be spotted.

Ruri assessed the fifty enemies and found that most appeared confident and were of similar strength, while a small number seemed weak and afraid. He returned to Kakashi and reported that the enemy’s confidence might point to powerful reinforcements.

• Ruri told Kakashi that the fifty enemies seemed average, though their Forbidden Techniques and banned drugs could make the fight difficult.
• Ruri approached to observe the enemies’ expressions and used his Byakugan to assess their strength.
• Ruri judged that a few weak enemies looked afraid, while most were confident and similar in strength.
• Ruri returned to Kakashi and shared his observations.

Ruri, Kakashi, Uzuki Yugao, and Yamato discussed how confident the fifty enemies seemed and what that might mean about enemy reinforcements. Kakashi found a safe route to the front-line teammates’ camp, and the group prepared to meet them to learn more.

• Kakashi wondered why most of the fifty enemies seemed confident they could win.
• Uzuki Yugao and Ruri warned that the group’s situation was dangerous because the number of reinforcements was unknown.
• Ruri suggested the enemies’ confidence might come from believing few of their opponents remained on the front line, or from having stronger fighters in reserve.
• Kakashi reported that no enemies were behind the front-line camp and proposed sneaking in from the rear to meet their teammates.
• Ruri and Yamato agreed that meeting the teammates would provide more information, and the group looked to Kakashi for the final order.

Kakashi led Ruri and the others toward their teammates on the front line, stopping to eliminate two enemies along the way. After hiding the bodies, Ruri worried that the other enemies might have noticed.

• Kakashi told the group to regroup with their teammates on the front line and discuss their next plan.
• Kakashi led the group through the rear of the camp and warned them that enemies were nearby.
• Ruri spotted two enemies ahead, and Kakashi told everyone else to wait while he and Ruri attacked.
• Ruri and Kakashi silently killed the two enemies from behind and hid their bodies.
• Ruri asked Kakashi whether the other enemies had noticed them.

Kakashi and his team reached the tent after dealing with nearby enemies and entered to meet their allies. Ruri recognized the ninja who had challenged Kakashi as his Uncle Hizashi.

• Kakashi told Ruri that they had dealt with the enemies quietly and returned to their teammates.
• Kakashi led the team to the back of the tent and entered through its rear doorway.
• A ninja inside pointed a weapon at Kakashi and asked who had arrived.
• Kakashi identified himself and his team, and the ninja lowered his weapon and welcomed them.
• Kakashi explained that enemies and other delays had slowed their journey.
• Ruri recognized the ninja as Uncle Hizashi and asked what he was doing there.

Ruri reunited with his uncle Hizashi Hyuga, who had arrived as reinforcements after most of their comrades had been killed. The group learned that the enemy’s main force remained hidden, leaving them unsure where it was.

• Ruri recognized the armed man as his uncle, Hizashi Hyuga, and explained that he had arrived on a mission with Kakashi and his teammates.
• Hizashi Hyuga said he had come as reinforcements two days earlier and that nearly all their people had already been killed.
• Hizashi Hyuga invited Kakashi and the others inside and served them water.
• Hizashi Hyuga told Ruri and the others that the enemy sent out vanguard troops but their main force’s location was unknown.

Hizashi Hyuga explained his plan to withdraw the remaining Konoha teammates while keeping casualties low, but worried that the enemy might block their retreat. Ruri learned that Hizashi knew the enemy’s exact numbers, including their reinforcements, and asked him to share the figure.

• Kakashi asked Hizashi Hyuga whether he had a plan, and Hizashi said uncertainty about the enemy’s location had kept him from acting on one.
• Ruri told Hizashi that his group had also struggled to plan without knowing the enemy’s strength or location.
• Hizashi said the group had dwindled from fewer than a hundred teammates to about sixty as enemy squads kept attacking them.
• Hizashi proposed sending twenty of their strongest teammates to hold off the enemy while the others withdrew toward Back Mountain, then having the remaining twenty retreat afterward.
• Hizashi warned that the enemy’s main force might block their assignment route, but revealed that they had learned the enemy’s exact numbers, including reinforcements.
• Ruri asked Hizashi to tell them the precise number of enemies.

Ruri and the others learned that the enemy had committed hundreds of ordinary ninja to the front, with no Jinchūriki and no fighters stronger than Special Jōnin. Ruri concluded that their own forces could easily crush the remaining enemies.

• Hizashi Hyuga told Ruri that about three hundred enemies remained after the Konoha forces killed many in repeated squads of fifty.
• Ruri, Kakashi, Uchiha Itachi, and Uzuki Yugao wondered why the enemy had sent so many people to fight them.
• Ruri asked Hizashi Hyuga about the enemies’ strongest fighters and whether any Jinchūriki were among them.
• Hizashi Hyuga said there were no Jinchūriki and that the strongest enemies were only Special Jōnin, with many weaker than that.
• Ruri told Kakashi that their strength was enough to completely crush the enemy.

Kakashi, Ruri, and the others discussed the enemy force and decided to rest while they waited to learn its location. Ruri realized that Hizashi Hyuga had already explained he was summoned to the area on urgent orders.

• Kakashi and Hizashi Hyuga agreed that they could not act rashly because they did not know where the enemy troops were.
• Ruri noted that the enemy had no Jinchūriki and no fighters stronger than her group.
• Hizashi Hyuga arranged food for the weary visitors and left the tent.
• Ruri suggested that Kakashi's group rest before deciding what to do next.
• Uchiha Itachi asked Ruri why Hizashi was there, and Uzuki Yugao reminded them that he had been summoned on urgent orders.
• Ruri remembered that Hizashi had already explained how he arrived.

Ruri and Kakashi planned to attack the fifty enemy vanguard troops to draw out the enemy main force and discover its location. Kakashi agreed to the plan, but Ruri urged everyone to rest and eat before setting out.

• Uzuki Yugao teased Ruri for forgetting what Uncle Hizashi had said, and Ruri blamed his forgetfulness on being tired.
• Kakashi asked Ruri how they could find the enemy main force when they knew its numbers but not its location.
• Ruri proposed attacking the fifty enemy vanguard troops to provoke a response.
• Kakashi suggested watching where enemy reinforcements came from, and Ruri agreed that this could reveal the main force's location.
• Kakashi approved the plan, but Ruri made him sit back down so they could rest and eat before attacking.

Kakashi's group rested before preparing to attack fifty enemies, while Ruri and Uchiha Itachi joked about how they would handle the fight. The group waited for Uncle Hizashi to return so Uzuki Yugao could hand him the scroll.

• Kakashi agreed to let everyone rest and eat before they attacked the fifty enemies.
• Uchiha Itachi asked Ruri how they would defeat such a large group, and Ruri reminded him that their teammates could help.
• Ruri and Uchiha Itachi joked that they could defeat all fifty enemies even without their teammates, until Kakashi told them to rest and save their strength.
• Kakashi asked Uzuki Yugao about the scroll, and she confirmed it was safe and that she would give it to Uncle Hizashi when he returned.

Ruri and Uchiha Itachi talked about adjusting to long missions away from home, while Uzuki Yugao agreed that everyone went through the same experience. They continued their journey with Itachi already joking about getting used to mission life.

• Uchiha Itachi told Ruri he felt lucky to have received a long mission soon after joining the Anbu.
• Ruri teased Itachi about being away from home for so many days on his first mission.
• Ruri explained that it took time to adjust to long missions, and Itachi joked that he had adapted almost immediately.
• Uzuki Yugao teased Ruri and Itachi for laughing, then agreed with Ruri that everyone went through missing home and getting used to life on missions.

Ruri, Uchiha Itachi, and Yamato estimated how long their team would need to finish the mission and return home. Uchiha Itachi worried about being sent on another long mission soon, but Kakashi assured him they would have a break after they got home.

• Ruri said that the team had all struggled to adjust to life on missions.
• Ruri and Uchiha Itachi estimated that they might need several days to return home after finishing the fighting.
• Yamato warned that unexpected circumstances could extend their journey home to four or five days.
• Uchiha Yao said he missed home after being away for so long.
• Ruri reassured Uchiha Itachi that they would likely have no distant missions for a while after returning home.
• Kakashi promised Uchiha Itachi that the team would not receive new missions for a while.

Ruri and the others joked about getting Ichiraku Ramen together after they returned, while Ruri teased Kakashi about his masked face. The group waited for Uncle Hizashi, and Ruri complained that he was hungry again.

• Uchiha Itachi told Kakashi he would gradually adjust to taking missions, and Ruri changed the subject.
• Ruri, Uzuki Yugao, Yamato, Uchiha Itachi, and Kakashi agreed to eat at Ichiraku Ramen together when they returned.
• Ruri asked whether Kakashi kept his mask on while eating ramen, and Kakashi said he had his own way of eating.
• Ruri wondered why Uncle Hizashi had not returned yet and said his stomach was growling, prompting Uzuki Yugao to tease him about getting hungry so soon.