Chapter Summaries

Sasuke missed school, so Naruto and Hinata planned to visit him that evening while their classmates wondered why he was absent. The chapter ended with Fugaku asking Sasuke at a barbecue restaurant what Itachi had wanted with him.

• Karin noticed Sasuke was absent, and Naruto admitted he did not know why; Hinata suggested visiting Sasuke that night, and Naruto agreed.
• Naruto played cards during class while Minato watched, and Kushina played Ninja Duel with Hashirama as Kurama helped her game.
• At lunch, Naruto told Ino that he and Hinata planned to check on Sasuke, while Karin argued with Ino over sitting in Sasuke's seat.
• Shikamaru suggested that Karin take Sasuke's seat after Ino left, and he shared his steak with Choji.
• Fugaku brought Sasuke to a barbecue restaurant and asked what Itachi had wanted with him.

Sasuke avoided telling Fugaku about the strange events involving Itachi, then skipped school and trained with his father. Fugaku covered up his failure to retrieve Sasuke’s school bag, while Sasuke agreed to go along with the lie.

• Sasuke hesitated to tell Fugaku about the ancestor who resembled him and the white-haired man inside Itachi, and Fugaku assumed it was a Root secret.
• Fugaku admitted he had not asked the school for Sasuke’s leave, so Sasuke decided to stay home that afternoon and train.
• Fugaku pushed Sasuke through an intense sword spar, while Mikoto watched and reminded them that Sasuke needed to keep getting along with his classmates.
• Mikoto asked Fugaku to retrieve Sasuke’s school bag, and Fugaku secretly substituted a steak into the empty bag he had hidden at home.
• Fugaku returned home pretending he had fetched the bag, and Sasuke agreed to explain his absence to the school the next day.

Sasuke invited Naruto to dinner after asking him to cover for his absence from school, and Mikoto warmly welcomed him. Meanwhile, Tobi joined the Akatsuki as an intern and was assigned to Deidara.

• Izuna praised Sasuke’s talent and sent him to dinner after their training.
• Naruto came to check on Sasuke, and Sasuke asked him to tell Mikoto he had attended school that morning.
• Sasuke invited Naruto to dinner, where Mikoto shared stories about Naruto’s parents and Fugaku quietly celebrated his plan for a third child.
• Kushina remembered the masked man responsible for the Nine-Tails’ Attack, and Minato promised they would catch him when Naruto grew up.
• Konan introduced Tobi to the Akatsuki as an intern, and Pain assigned Deidara to look after him.

Kurama explained the rules for the five-person racing competition and introduced the standardized chakra-powered mounts. After the racers chose their assigned units, Kurama transformed his mount with golden chakra and prepared to race.

• Kurama presented the new mounts and explained that racers could use ninjutsu to accelerate but could not use space-time ninjutsu to go directly to the finish.
• Kurama recalled exposing Hashirama's unfair track design and Minato's hidden Flying Thunder God mark, then scolding both of them.
• Hashirama, Minato, Kushina, Naruto, and Kurama boarded their assigned mounts, each decorated or equipped with special features.
• Kurama leaped onto Unit One, spread golden chakra across it, and declared himself the coolest and fastest racer.

Kurama, Kushina, and Hashirama raced their custom units, using increasingly extravagant powers to overtake one another. After Kurama and Hashirama damaged their mounts in a beam clash, Kushina took the lead.

• Kurama jumped the starting signal and sped ahead on Unit One, while Kushina pursued him with chains from Unit Three.
• Kushina lashed at Kurama as Naruto followed with Minato and Hashirama, relying on his riding skills.
• Hashirama transformed Unit Two into a wooden Sky Dragon and flew ahead, charging a Thunderforce blast.
• Kurama answered with a Tailed Beast Bomb, and the attacks collided in a massive explosion that damaged Unit One and tore off one of the Sky Dragon's wings.
• With Kurama and Hashirama slowed by their damaged mounts, Kushina surged into the lead.

Naruto activated Machine Five’s rampage mode and overtook Minato and Kushina, who pursued him until he launched the Hashirama Number One Missile at his mother. The missile exploded against Kushina’s chains, threatening to destroy her mount as a golden flash appeared beside her.

• Hashirama and Kurama repaired their damaged machines while Minato and Naruto passed them.
• Minato used the Flying Thunder God Technique to propel Machine Four toward Kushina.
• Naruto activated Machine Five’s Rampage Mode and sped past his parents.
• Kushina chased Naruto and attacked him with her Adamantine Sealing Chains, prompting him to activate the Hashirama Number One Missile.
• The Wood Dragon missile became stuck to Kushina’s chains and exploded, and a golden flash appeared beside Kushina.

During the mech race, Naruto resonated with Kurama’s chakra and awakened a golden Tailed Beast Cloak, then won first place while Kushina finished second. The childhood stage ended, and the story moved on to the graduation stage.

• Minato rescued Kushina from the Wood Dragon’s explosion, but she took his Number Four Mech and continued racing while he headed for the finish line.
• Hashirama and Kurama abandoned the race to wrestle after Kurama caught Hashirama trying to lend chakra to his mech.
• Naruto dodged Kushina’s attack with Minato’s Flying Thunder God innovation, while Minato recalled his plans to find the masked man when Naruto was older.
• Naruto heard Kurama’s heartbeat, entered the chakra Kurama had prepared, and awakened a golden Tailed Beast Cloak.
• Naruto used his new power to win the race, with Kushina in second place and Minato having withdrawn; the graduation stage began.

Naruto and Hinata congratulated Neji on graduating and learned that Might Guy would mentor him. The chapter ended with Hizashi asking Hiruzen to persuade Might Guy not to make Neji wear his green training suit.

• Naruto and Hinata congratulated Neji after he graduated alongside Tenten and Rock Lee.
• Neji told Hinata he would train before having dinner with his friends, then left with Tenten and Rock Lee.
• The Hyuga elders objected to Neji studying Strong Fist under Might Guy, but Hiashi, Hizashi, and Hiruzen backed Neji's choice.
• Hiashi and Hizashi accepted Might Guy as Neji's mentor and asked Hiruzen to request that Neji not be made to wear Guy's green training suit.

Hiashi rejected the idea of marrying Hinata to Naruto, though he hoped the younger generation could change the Hyuga clan. Naruto left the Academy during lunch to visit the Third Hokage, then took Konohamaru up a tree toward the office window.

• Hiashi reassured Hizashi that Neji and Hinata might change the Hyuga clan, but emphatically rejected marrying Hinata to Naruto.
• Naruto told Hinata he would ask Grandpa about putting them on the same team, and decided to include Boar Slayer as well.
• Naruto asked Iruka for permission to leave the Academy and visit the Third Hokage, then exited through the gates.
• Mikoto and Fugaku spotted Naruto heading toward the Hokage Building and agreed to ask Sasuke about it later.
• Naruto met Konohamaru near the Hokage Building and took him up a tree toward the office window while Ebisu was away buying food.

Ebisu searched for Konohamaru while Kakashi explained his retirement from ANBU and discussed the students graduating that year. The chapter ended with Naruto and Konohamaru climbing through a tree and crashing into the Third Hokage’s office.

• Ebisu returned to the Hokage Building with ramen for Konohamaru and learned from Kakashi that the boy had gone with Naruto to see the Third Hokage.
• Kakashi told Ebisu that he had retired from ANBU because he was tired, and that he had declined to lead his previous Genin team because the students had not earned his approval.
• Kakashi said the Third Hokage had called him to discuss assigning him a team of graduating students, including Naruto.
• Kakashi explained that Karin had spotted him watching Naruto from a distance, while Ebisu asked how long Konohamaru had been upstairs.
• Ebisu and Kakashi saw Naruto and Konohamaru climbing a tree outside the window, and the pair burst through the Hokage’s office window.

Naruto and Konohamaru visited Sarutobi to ask about Naruto’s future team assignment, and Sarutobi reassured him before taking the boys out for barbecue. As they ate, Naruto shared his dream of becoming Hokage, while Sarutobi privately reflected on the burdens of his office and how long he could continue serving.

• Naruto and Konohamaru startled Sarutobi by breaking into his office, then asked whether Naruto could be assigned to a team with Sasuke and Hinata.
• Sarutobi promised to arrange Naruto’s team assignment and invited both boys to lunch at the Akimichi BBQ Restaurant.
• On the way out, Sarutobi told Ebisu to enjoy his lunch, while Kakashi watched Naruto and went to clean up the broken window.
• At the restaurant, Sarutobi asked Naruto about his dreams, and Naruto said he wanted to become Hokage.
• Konohamaru said he believed Naruto would become Hokage, and Naruto happily continued eating with him and Sarutobi.

With the graduation exam approaching, the students left the Academy and walked home in small groups. Ino reconsidered her feelings for Sasuke and worried about Sakura, while Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji headed home together before the exam.

• Ino invited Shikamaru to walk home with her after Sakura left with her parents, and Shikamaru agreed to wait for the classroom to empty.
• Naruto left with Hinata, while Sasuke went home with Karin.
• Shikamaru asked Ino whether she really liked Sasuke, and Ino insisted she did as Choji agreed.
• Ino reflected that Sakura had little chance with Sasuke and wondered what team assignments would mean for her friend.
• Shikamaru and Choji waited for Ino, then the three walked home together as they anticipated the graduation exam.

Naruto and Karin went to Naruto’s graduation exam, where Karin used her golden chain to pull Konohamaru out of a crowd. Tobirama recognized Karin as a child of the Uzumaki Clan and reflected on Mito’s return, while Itachi watched Sasuke from the shadows.

• Kushina woke Naruto for his graduation exam, and Naruto headed to school with Karin.
• Naruto and Karin arrived at the school gates, where Konohamaru got stuck in the crowd while trying to greet Naruto.
• Karin used her golden chain to lift Konohamaru out of the crowd as Ebisu and nearby parents watched in alarm.
• Tobirama recognized Karin as a child of the Uzumaki Clan and recalled learning from Hashirama that Mito had come to Konoha and left again.
• Tobirama considered Karin’s connection to Mito and Sasuke, while Itachi watched Sasuke from the shadows.

Naruto took the theoretical portion of his graduation exam and wrote an essay on the Will of Fire using things he had heard from his Hokage relatives. The essay left the teacher grading it unsure how to respond, since Naruto’s claims were all true.

• Hinata, Hiashi, and Neji watched Naruto arrive for his exam, while Konohamaru came to cheer him on and Ebisu took charge of him.
• Naruto met Sasuke and Hinata at school before the teachers led the students into their exam rooms.
• Naruto found the theory exam easy and wrote his essay on the Will of Fire using quotations and stories from Hiruzen, Minato, Hashirama, and Tobirama.
• Sasuke and Hinata also found the exam easy, and Iruka’s students finished without looking worried.
• A teacher grading Naruto’s essay struggled to mark it because its claims about Naruto’s family and Hokage relatives were true.

Iruka and Shizuko assessed Naruto and Sasuke’s Ninjutsu before graduation. Naruto amazed them by transforming into Minato and demonstrating the Three Basic Techniques, while Sasuke completed the assessment normally.

• Iruka and Shizuko reviewed the students’ files and called Naruto in for his Ninjutsu assessment.
• Naruto refused Iruka’s offer to pass him and transformed into Minato, using a kunai and a midair switch to demonstrate the Substitution Technique.
• Kushina and Minato discussed whether Naruto should learn the Flying Thunder God, while Kurama imagined how powerful Naruto might become.
• Iruka ruffled Naruto’s hair after he changed back and told him not to use his father’s face for stunts.
• Sasuke chose to take the assessment and demonstrated the Clone, Transformation, and Substitution Techniques.

After passing the graduation exam, Naruto and his classmates waited for their Forehead Protectors by playing cards, with Naruto persuading Sasuke to join. Iruka arrived to hand out the protectors and found the class engrossed in gambling, leaving him exasperated by how Naruto had led them astray.

• Naruto confirmed that his classmates had passed the exam, and Shikamaru explained that they were waiting for Iruka to bring their Forehead Protectors.
• Naruto started a game of Fight the Landlord, then persuaded Sasuke to join after Sasuke insisted he would play only if Naruto begged him.
• The students played cards for an hour while Iruka and the other teachers finished tallying the results.
• Iruka entered with the Forehead Protectors and found the students gathered in card-playing groups, including an excited Sasuke.
• Naruto stopped the game when Iruka began handing out the Forehead Protectors, frustrating Sasuke just as Sasuke was about to end his losing streak.
• Iruka scolded the class and privately blamed Naruto for leading so many classmates astray.

Naruto and his classmates graduated from the Academy, while Kakashi and Sarutobi watched Naruto’s exams and prepared to assign his team. Kakashi accepted that he would become Naruto’s teacher and visited Rin’s and Obito’s graves to tell them about Minato’s son.

• Iruka gave Naruto, Hinata, and Sasuke their forehead protectors and sent the graduating students on to have their ID photos taken.
• Kakashi and Sarutobi watched Naruto’s written and ninjutsu exams through a crystal ball, and Naruto impressed them with his writing and a display that reminded Kakashi of the Fourth Hokage.
• Kakashi confessed to Sarutobi that he did not know how to face Naruto, and Sarutobi reassured him that he should focus on teaching him well.
• Kakashi visited Rin’s and Obito’s graves, told them he would become Naruto Uzumaki’s teacher, and promised to keep them informed about Naruto as he grew up.

The graduating students took a group photo, received their Ninja Identity Files, and celebrated becoming Genin. Naruto wondered what came next and asked who would lead his team, but Minato kept his guess to himself as Naruto went to sleep expecting an exciting day.

• Ino suggested a graduation photo, and Iruka arranged the students for the picture as Naruto, Hinata, and Sasuke stood at the center.
• The students took their ID photos and added them to their Ninja Identity Files, becoming Genin of Konoha.
• Naruto and the others shared dinner and celebrated until late that evening.
• At home, Naruto asked Hashirama and Minato what he should do after graduation, and Minato explained how team assignments and promotions worked.
• Naruto asked who his team leader would be, and Minato guessed it would be Kakashi but told him to wait until tomorrow to find out.

As the other teams left with their instructors, Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, and Karin waited all day for Kakashi, who remained at the cemetery. Karin revealed that she had persuaded Sarutobi to put her on Naruto’s team, and the children decided to prepare a grand gift for their late instructor.

• Asuma stopped Naruto from calling him “Gorilla Uncle” in public, while Sasuke wondered what nickname Naruto had given him.
• Kurenai called Kiba Inuzuka, Sakura Haruno, and Shino Aburame to join her team, and Naruto considered whether genjutsu might suit Sakura.
• Karin recalled that she had convinced Sarutobi to let her join Naruto’s team by threatening to tell Grandma he was bullying her.
• Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, and Karin waited until afternoon for Kakashi, while Minato sensed him at the cemetery.
• Karin proposed giving Kakashi a grand gift, and Naruto and Sasuke agreed as Hinata hesitantly went along.

Kakashi arrived late to meet his new team at the Ninja Academy, where he discovered Karin had joined Naruto, Hinata, and Sasuke. After dodging their traps and deflecting their teasing about riding a black cat to school, he led them to the rooftop and began introductions.

• Kakashi visited the Ninja Academy and found that his students had set a trap behind the classroom door, which he evaded with the Substitution Technique.
• Karin recognized Kakashi as “Lonely Wolf” and explained that Sarutobi had promised she could join the team with Naruto and the others.
• Naruto and Sasuke questioned Kakashi about his lateness, and Sasuke joked that Kakashi must have ridden a black cat to school.
• Kakashi corrected the students about his name, led them to the rooftop, and introduced himself with an answer about liking black cats.
• Naruto stepped forward to introduce himself to Kakashi.