Chapter Summaries

Shihōin Naraku faced Shimura Danzō, who revealed that Hiruzen Sarutobi had considered Naraku as a candidate for Fifth Hokage. The news unsettled Naraku and left him weighing his options as he prepared to return with Yamanaka Tsuki.

• Yamanaka Tsuki and the ANBU members stood with Shihōin Naraku as Shimura Danzō ordered Yamanaka Fū and Aburame Torune to stand down.
• After their subordinates left, Shihōin Naraku reacted sharply when Shimura Danzō touched his bandaged right eye, fearing he would use Kotoamatsukami.
• Shimura Danzō told Shihōin Naraku that Hiruzen Sarutobi had discussed him as a candidate for Fifth Hokage alongside Kakashi Hatake.
• Shimura Danzō left, intending to spur Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake into competing for the Hokage position.
• Shihōin Naraku hesitated over the unexpected news, then joined Yamanaka Tsuki to head back.

Shihōin Naraku weighed the costs of becoming Hokage and decided to stick with his plan to pursue promotions instead. Hiruzen Sarutobi then assigned Naraku and Kakashi Hatake to watch Naruto Uzumaki, leaving Naraku to wonder whether the Hyuga Clan knew Hinata liked Naruto.

• Shihōin Naraku considered how becoming Hokage could disrupt his plans to gain strength and lottery chances, and decided to let Kakashi Hatake become Naruto Uzumaki's instructor while he pursued other promotions.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Shihōin Naraku to guard Naruto Uzumaki, and Naraku hurried toward the Hokage Building to question the assignment.
• Kakashi Hatake caught up with Naraku and revealed that he had received the same mission, easing Naraku's fear that Hiruzen had already chosen him as Hokage.
• Naraku and Kakashi watched Naruto Uzumaki, Shikamaru Nara, and Choji Akimichi doze and snack in the hallway after Umino Iruka punished them.
• Tenzo checked in with Naraku and Kakashi, then returned to his squad, while Naraku speculated that the Hyuga Clan might know Hinata Hyuga liked Naruto.

Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake watched Naruto Uzumaki endure the village’s rejection and discovered how poorly he was living. Naraku confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi over Naruto’s treatment, leaving the three in silence.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi observed Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake and worried that neither was fit to supervise Naruto Uzumaki.
• Shihōin Naraku interrupted Kakashi Hatake’s brooding and followed Naruto Uzumaki after the Academy dismissed for the day.
• Naruto Uzumaki went hungry at a street stall, returned to his lonely home for instant noodles, and then left again.
• Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake entered Naruto Uzumaki’s messy home and found that the milk in his refrigerator had expired.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi entered and defended Naruto Uzumaki’s living conditions as necessary for the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, while Shihōin Naraku insisted that the Fourth Hokage’s son deserved better.

Shihōin Naraku challenged Hiruzen Sarutobi over Naruto Uzumaki’s neglect, then approached Naruto while he tried to cook a fish in the hills behind Konoha. Naruto welcomed the first friendly stranger he had met in a long time and watched eagerly as Shihōin Naraku showed him a flame.

• Shihōin Naraku told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Naruto Uzumaki was being treated poorly, but Hiruzen Sarutobi insisted that his decisions stood.
• Shihōin Naraku warned Kakashi Hatake that Naruto would eventually learn the truth, then left with him to find Naruto.
• Shihōin Naraku stepped out of hiding and approached Naruto as Naruto struggled to light a fire, surprising Kakashi Hatake and the hidden surveillance team.
• Naruto offered Shihōin Naraku the fish he had caught, and Shihōin Naraku claimed it and lit the fire for cooking.
• Naruto called Shihōin Naraku a big brother and excitedly watched him summon a flame in his palm.

Shihōin Naraku befriended Naruto Uzumaki while they shared grilled fish, then had Kakashi Hatake arrange a feast for them. Naraku boasted that he could defeat Hiruzen Sarutobi with a surprise attack, leaving everyone shocked and Kakashi wondering why Naraku was acting strangely.

• Shihōin Naraku and Naruto Uzumaki ate grilled fish together while Kakashi Hatake watched from behind a tree.
• Shihōin Naraku spotted Kakashi Hatake and sent him to buy food, prompting Kakashi Hatake to delegate the errand through Tenzo to Elephant Transformation.
• Kakashi Hatake brought the food back, and Shihōin Naraku invited Naruto Uzumaki to eat, claiming he was rich because he was a Konoha Jonin.
• Shihōin Naraku told Naruto Uzumaki that he was stronger than Hiruzen Sarutobi and could defeat him with a surprise attack.
• Kakashi Hatake defended Hiruzen Sarutobi, while Hiruzen Sarutobi heard Naraku's boast through his crystal ball and grew angry.

Shihōin Naraku encouraged Naruto Uzumaki by telling him how Might Guy overcame his weaknesses through relentless training, inspiring Naruto to vow never to give up. Naruto then demonstrated his original Sexy Jutsu, and Shihōin Naraku kicked him into the bushes.

• Naruto Uzumaki asked Shihōin Naraku whether he could become a strong ninja, and Naraku told him he had the potential despite being the dead last at school.
• Shihōin Naraku described how Might Guy became a powerful taijutsu ninja through hard work and perseverance, with Kakashi Hatake confirming Guy’s strength.
• Naruto Uzumaki regained his confidence and vowed to keep training until he became a ninja.
• Naruto Uzumaki showed Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake his Sexy Jutsu, then Shihōin Naraku kicked him into a patch of bushes.

Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake discovered that Naruto Uzumaki’s chakra control made the Clone Technique a poor fit, so Kakashi taught him tree-climbing practice instead. As Naruto kept trying despite repeated falls, Shihōin Naraku told Kakashi Hatake that he was not suited to the ANBU, leaving Kakashi to reflect on his future.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi reacted to Naruto Uzumaki’s Sexy Jutsu and decided Naruto should stop using it.
• Naruto Uzumaki failed the Clone Technique, and Kakashi Hatake explained that the Nine-Tails’ chakra disrupted his control while the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique suited his large reserves.
• Naruto Uzumaki worried that he would fail the graduation exam, so Shihōin Naraku prompted Kakashi Hatake to demonstrate tree-climbing chakra control.
• Kakashi Hatake taught Naruto Uzumaki how to practice walking up a tree, and Naruto repeatedly fell but refused to quit.
• Shihōin Naraku told Kakashi Hatake that he was not suited to the ANBU, prompting Kakashi to silently consider his inner turmoil and what he could do next.

Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake observed Naruto Uzumaki’s training and recovery, then watched him go to school excited by what he had learned. Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned them to assess Naruto, and Kakashi concluded that Naruto had the potential to become an outstanding ninja but needed careful training.

• Naruto Uzumaki fell asleep from exhaustion after practicing tree climbing, and Tenzo carried him back to rest.
• Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake noticed Naruto’s bruises fading quickly and discussed his recovery ability.
• Naruto Uzumaki arrived at school full of confidence and told Shikamaru Nara and Choji Akimichi that he had learned something amazing.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake to discuss Naruto Uzumaki.
• Kakashi Hatake told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Naruto had poor fundamentals and was sensitive to others’ judgments, but could become an outstanding ninja with careful training.

Hiruzen Sarutobi heard Kakashi Hatake and Shihōin Naraku assess Naruto Uzumaki, then dismissed them while worrying over the village’s younger generation. On the walk back, Naraku defended his belief that Naruto could someday match Hashirama Senju, insisting that the future belonged to the young.

• Kakashi Hatake said Naruto Uzumaki’s perseverance during tree-climbing practice had earned his respect.
• Shihōin Naraku predicted Naruto would become the strongest ninja, then said Naruto shared qualities with Hashirama Senju and was the true Child of the Prophecy.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi accused Jiraiya of influencing Naraku and dismissed Naraku and Kakashi from his office.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi reflected on Minato Namikaze, his former students, and his worries about Naraku and Kakashi.
• Kakashi Hatake warned Naraku that comparing Naruto to Hashirama would not help Naruto, but Naraku argued that young people could surpass their predecessors.

Naruto Uzumaki trained in tree walking while waiting for Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake, and Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived to encourage and teach him. Later, Umino Iruka began ninja sparring at the Academy, pairing Sasuke Uchiha with Shikamaru Nara.

• Naruto Uzumaki ran to the forest to train, but Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake were absent, so he practiced tree walking alone.
• Naruto Uzumaki caught and roasted a fish, then Hiruzen Sarutobi joined him and shared a meal after chatting with him.
• Naruto Uzumaki showed Hiruzen Sarutobi his progress, and Hiruzen praised him and offered advice as he continued practicing.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi eventually left, while Naruto Uzumaki kept training by himself.
• Umino Iruka organized ninja sparring at the Academy and announced Sasuke Uchiha and Shikamaru Nara as the first pair.
• Someone shoved Shikamaru Nara out of line, and Naruto Uzumaki urged him to beat Sasuke Uchiha.

Umino Iruka held sparring matches at the Ninja Academy while Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake watched and reminisced about their own school days. Naruto Uzumaki was paired with Hinata Hyuga, who fainted from embarrassment before their match could begin.

• Sasuke Uchiha defeated Shikamaru Nara in their spar, and Naruto Uzumaki declared that he would beat Sasuke.
• Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake recalled their Academy sparring record and argued over how many times Naraku had beaten Kakashi.
• Umino Iruka paired Naruto Uzumaki with Hinata Hyuga for a spar, and Naraku joked that Iruka was arranging a future romance.
• Naruto Uzumaki formed the Seal of Confrontation and waited, while Hinata Hyuga blushed and struggled to face him.
• Naruto Uzumaki moved closer to look at Hinata Hyuga, and she fainted from embarrassment.

Naruto Uzumaki surprised his classmates by using his new chakra control to hold his own against Sasuke Uchiha in a sparring match. As their fight reached a stalemate, a Mysterious Masked Man and a strange half-white, half-black figure appeared unnoticed on the Academy rooftop and watched Kakashi Hatake.

• Naruto Uzumaki defeated a classmate with a sudden burst of speed, impressing Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake.
• Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha began their sparring match, and Naruto used chakra beneath his feet to rush at Sasuke.
• Naruto and Sasuke traded strikes until they caught each other's fists and became locked in a stalemate, shocking their classmates.
• Shihōin Naraku praised Naruto's combat instincts while Kakashi Hatake watched and remembered his comrade Obito.
• A Mysterious Masked Man appeared on the rooftop and focused on Kakashi Hatake as a strange half-white, half-black figure emerged beside him.

Obito Uchiha and Zetsu monitored Kakashi Hatake and discussed Orochimaru’s alliance with Sunagakure, while Shihōin Naraku sensed their presence and confirmed Obito had visited Rin Nohara’s grave. After several days guarding Naruto Uzumaki, Naraku approached Hiruzen Sarutobi with a request.

• Obito Uchiha ordered Zetsu to let Orochimaru and Sunagakure’s plan against Konoha proceed, then pass the information to Uchiha Itachi.
• Shihōin Naraku sensed malice near the Ninja Academy, searched the area with ANBU, and suspected Obito Uchiha and Zetsu had been there.
• Naruto Uzumaki lost his sparring match to Sasuke Uchiha, then went to the forest and resumed tree-climbing practice.
• Shihōin Naraku found fresh flowers at Rin Nohara’s grave and confirmed that Obito Uchiha had visited and replaced Kakashi Hatake’s bouquet.
• Shihōin Naraku returned to the forest and told Hiruzen Sarutobi that he wanted to become Medical Department Director.

Shihōin Naraku secured the Head of Konoha's Medical Department position to help divide the Medical Emergency Response Unit, while Hiruzen Sarutobi mistook his request and distance from Naruto Uzumaki for a refusal to become a Hokage candidate. Hiruzen chose Kakashi Hatake to supervise Naruto, who mastered Tree-Climbing Practice but learned he still had to pass the Ninja Academy's Clone Technique exam.

• Shihōin Naraku asked Hiruzen Sarutobi to make him Head of Konoha's Medical Department, and Hiruzen agreed, earning Naraku five prize draws from the system.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi noticed that Shihōin Naraku had stopped visiting Naruto Uzumaki and concluded that Naraku was avoiding consideration as a Hokage candidate.
• After reflecting on Naraku's apparent refusal, Hiruzen Sarutobi decided Kakashi Hatake could become Naruto Uzumaki's supervising teacher and instructed the ANBU to look after Naruto's meals.
• Naruto Uzumaki successfully completed Tree-Climbing Practice and asked Hiruzen Sarutobi if he could now become a ninja.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Naruto Uzumaki he still had to pass the Ninja Academy's Clone Technique exam, so Naruto resolved to keep practicing.

Shihōin Naraku exploited a loophole in the system to earn draws through self-appointments, then created a legitimate ANBU logistics position to reach ten draws. His second ten-pull gave him a range of rewards, including Tensa Zangetsu, which he inspected with satisfaction.

• Shihōin Naraku appointed himself director of the Medical Emergency Response Unit's Disassembly Group and earned two draws before the system patched the loophole with new restrictions.
• Shihōin Naraku established an ANBU Logistics Squad, secured Kakashi Hatake and Hiruzen Sarutobi's approval, and earned the draw that brought his total to ten.
• Shihōin Naraku returned home and used his second ten-pull.
• Shihōin Naraku received ten rewards, including Fire Release: Garuda Technique, Sun Breathing, Observation Haki, Tensa Zangetsu, Explosive Tags, and ten thousand ryō.
• Shihōin Naraku drew Tensa Zangetsu and admired its black blade and distinctive hilt.

Shihōin Naraku renamed Tensa Zangetsu as Kurikara, awakening new abilities that strengthened him and allowed the blade to devour other Zanpakutō. He examined the remaining draw rewards and tested his Observation Haki, which he hoped to develop further.

• Shihōin Naraku asked the system about Tensa Zangetsu and learned that renaming it would make it his Zanpakutō while preserving its original abilities.
• Shihōin Naraku meditated with Tensa Zangetsu and named it Kurikara, transforming its appearance into a black blade with a dragon-decorated scabbard.
• Shihōin Naraku learned that Kurikara restored his stamina and chakra, strengthened his Ninjutsu, protected him from snakes and dragons, and could devour other Zanpakutō.
• Shihōin Naraku discovered that Kurikara appeared at his waist when he touched it and vanished when he let go, then inspected his other rewards, including expired Ichiraku Ramen coupons and Observation Haki.
• Shihōin Naraku tested Observation Haki, experienced his surroundings with heightened senses, and wondered whether training could teach him its advanced abilities.

Shihōin Naraku mastered new abilities, strengthened himself over several months, and judged his power to have reached Kage level. When he visited Naruto Uzumaki, he heard Naruto and Sasuke Uchiha arguing after a contest.

• Shihōin Naraku examined his rewards and gained Super Sonic Vibration Lightning Blade, Hand Seals Master, and Sun Breathing with twelve sword forms.
• Shihōin Naraku trained in Sun Breathing for months, eventually maintaining Total Concentration even while sleeping and gradually improving his constitution.
• Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha began tree-climbing practice together, trading taunts and tips while their friendship deepened through frequent fights.
• Shihōin Naraku demolished another training ground and estimated that his strength had reached Kage level.
• Shihōin Naraku went to the Forest Behind the Mountain and heard Naruto Uzumaki gloating that Sasuke Uchiha had lost.

Shihōin Naraku watched Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha train before Kakashi Hatake asked him to spar, prompted by the news that he might soon leave the ANBU. Naraku agreed to fight him at Training Ground Nineteen, while Naruto and Sasuke secretly followed them.

• Shihōin Naraku interrupted Naruto Uzumaki and urged him to resume training, and Sasuke Uchiha joined him.
• Kakashi Hatake appeared and challenged Shihōin Naraku to a spar after saying Lord Third Hokage had discussed his possible departure from the ANBU.
• Shihōin Naraku agreed and chose Training Ground Nineteen so they would not damage the woods.
• Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha secretly followed Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake toward the training ground.
• Shihōin Naraku asked whether Kakashi Hatake needed to retrieve any ninja tools, and Kakashi said he was already prepared.

Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake prepared to spar at Training Ground 19, and Might Guy brought his students to watch. Kakashi revealed his scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan, leaving Sasuke Uchiha stunned as the fight was about to begin.

• Shihōin Naraku invited Might Guy to join the spar, and Guy rushed to turn in his mission with Neji Hyuga, Tenten, and Rock Lee.
• Might Guy told his students that Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake would fight, and they hurried to Training Ground 19.
• Might Guy warned Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha to stay clear, while Rock Lee challenged Naruto before Guy called him back.
• Might Guy described the coming match as a battle between Konohagakure's strongest jonin, prompting Sasuke to consider seeking one of them as a teacher.
• Kakashi Hatake opened his eyes, lifted his forehead protector, and revealed his scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan, shocking everyone except Might Guy and Naruto Uzumaki.

Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake began a fierce fight at Training Ground 19, drawing the attention of their allies and observers. Kakashi’s fire and wind techniques failed to hurt Naraku, who struck back and sent him flying.

• Sasuke Uchiha was stunned to see Kakashi Hatake’s Sharingan, and Rock Lee explained that it was the Uchiha Clan’s kekkei genkai.
• Shimura Danzō learned that Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake had gone to Training Ground 19 and hurried there with two subordinates, hoping to use their fight against them.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the two through a crystal ball and believed their fight might help Kakashi Hatake overcome his reservations.
• Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake collided with enough force to crack the ground and knock Naruto Uzumaki and the other spectators off balance.
• Kakashi Hatake combined his Great Fireball Technique with his Great Breakthrough Technique, but Shihōin Naraku emerged unharmed from the flames.
• Shihōin Naraku suddenly appeared beside Kakashi Hatake and kicked him flying.