Chapter Summaries

Uka Senju and his teammates learned that Kurama Shimei, Inuzuka Sawa, Hatake Kobun, and their teacher were traveling nearby with a convoy. The friends prepared to reunite, while Senju Fukami reminded his students not to lose sight of their mission.

• Inuzuka Furin reported that Brown and White recognized the chakra and scents of Shimei, Sawa, and Kafumi, and Aburame Kaun used his insects to confirm their route.
• A ninja dog warned Kurama Shimei, Hatake Kobun, Senju Fukami, and Inuzuka Sawa that someone was approaching, prompting the convoy guards to ready their weapons.
• Inuzuka Sawa identified Uka and the others as the approaching group, and Shimei and Kobun reacted happily at the chance to see their old friends.
• Sawa confirmed that Uka's group was waiting ahead and that the convoy would reach them in about twenty minutes.
• Senju Fukami told Shimei, Sawa, and Kobun they could go meet their friends before the convoy arrived, but reminded them to keep the mission in mind.

Kurama Shimei, Hatake Kobun, and Inuzuka Sawa reunited with their friends after Senju Fukami let them leave the convoy temporarily. The convoy continued under Fukami’s protection, while the friends welcomed the three arrivals with a meal of roasted sheep.

• Senju Fukami told Kurama Shimei, Hatake Kobun, and Inuzuka Sawa to go ahead and reunite, while he watched over the convoy.
• The three students left, and a masked Senju appeared beside Fukami as the samurai continued along the road.
• The masked Senju explained that the area was secure and that the three students had already figured out the guard squad’s presence.
• Uka Senju, Aburame Kaun, and Inuzuka Furin prepared roasted sheep and welcomed Kurama Shimei, Hatake Kobun, Inuzuka Sawa, and Black Wolf.
• Aburame Kaun hugged the arrivals, and Inuzuka Furin greeted them while seasoning the mutton.

Uka Senju reunited with Hatake Kobun, Inuzuka Sawa, and Kurama Shimei at their camp, where they caught up over food and discussed the friends’ first missions. The reunion continued as Uka asked Shimei about their Jonin instructor, Senju Fukami.

• Uka Senju welcomed his reunited friends to the camp, and Hatake Kobun took over roasting the lamb after teasing him about burning it.
• Uka tugged Kobun’s ponytail and ran off; Kobun started after him, but Furin held her back and the two friends resumed their private conversation.
• Uka asked Sawa and Shimei about their six missions; Sawa complained they had mostly fought ordinary people, while Shimei said the missions had taught them a lot.
• Uka advised Sawa not to let his guard down and to follow Shimei’s battlefield decisions, and Sawa agreed to practice tactics.
• Uka asked whether Shimei had learned any special techniques from their instructor, veteran Jonin Senju Fukami.

Kurama Shimei and his friends reunited briefly with Uka Senju before their teams continued their missions. In the fourth carriage, the employer sensed that nearby corpses had lost their life energy and wondered whether someone among the Konoha ninja had a new power or a Ten-Tails.

• Kurama Shimei explained that Senju Fukami had tailored and refined techniques for his students, and the friends shared stories around a campfire.
• Senju Fukami met Uka Senju and encouraged him to stay alert and learn from his missions before departing with his students.
• Uka Senju and his teammates watched the caravan leave, then packed up and continued toward their objective.
• Senju Tsukika reflected that the gathering had eased her students’ mental fatigue and noted that she had arranged help during their mission.
• The employer in the fourth carriage sensed that the nearby corpses had lost their life energy and speculated that a Konoha ninja might possess a new method or a Ten-Tails.

Jigen ordered Tsukidera to collect the bodies left in the forest after the Wood Release attack so he could examine them. After Tsukidera retrieved and reassembled the remains, Jigen inspected an intact body and reacted with surprise.

• Jigen decided against capturing and interrogating the people in the forest because doing so could expose his location and jeopardize his weakened body.
• Jigen told his maid to order Tsukidera to collect every body in the forest and bring them back that night.
• Tsukidera waited until the convoy had left the Jonin's sensory range, then gathered the bodies and their scattered parts despite his disgust.
• Tsukidera returned with the bodies and reported that he had completed the task.
• Jigen examined an intact body using the power of the Ōtsutsuki, then opened his eyes in surprise.

Uka Senju, Inuzuka Furin, Aburame Kaun, and their teacher Senju Tsukika returned to Konoha after a month away on missions. At the Mission Center, Uka wondered how they would turn in their missions after noticing no clan members at the counters.

• Senju Tsukika and her three students arrived at Konoha's gates, where a young ninja welcomed them and opened the gate.
• Uka Senju, Inuzuka Furin, and Aburame Kaun discussed how long their teacher might let them rest after their demanding month away.
• The students followed Senju Tsukika through Konoha and entered the Mission Center for the first time.
• Uka examined the mission counters and wondered whether they would submit their C- to A-rank missions at the ordinary counters or receive special treatment at a Senju counter.

Uka Senju and his teammates learned how to submit missions at the Senju Mission Center and collected payment for their completed work. Senju Tsukika donated the family mission bounty to the Jiyang Institute, divided the village’s payment among the three boys, and sent them off on vacation.

• Senju Tsukika brought Uka Senju, Furin, Kaun, and Brown and White upstairs to hand in their mission scroll at Senju Yusuke’s office.
• Uka Senju read the Mission Center handbook and learned that the Senju handled nearly all important mission administration upstairs.
• Senju Yusuke confirmed that the team had completed 16 missions and that the village owed them 2,045,000 ryō.
• Senju Tsukika donated the bounty from the family missions to the Jiyang Institute and split the village payment in a 4:4:2 ratio, giving Uka two shares.
• Senju Tsukika told the boys to meet at the public Training Ground at 9 a.m. on the 8th, then left before Kaun could question her decision.
• Outside the Mission Center, Kaun asked Uka why the payment had not been divided equally among the three teammates.

Uka Senju split the mission money with Aburame Kaun and Inuzuka Furin, then walked Furin home. When Furin confessed that her feelings for him had not changed, Uka accepted her affection despite recognizing his existing engagements, leaving their relationship newly acknowledged.

• Uka Senju insisted that Aburame Kaun and Inuzuka Furin keep their shares of the mission money, then arranged to meet on the third and discuss a group meal.
• Aburame Kaun agreed to check with Yoshino and the two Kurama brothers before heading home, while Uka said he would contact Hatake and Harumi.
• Uka Senju and Inuzuka Furin walked together toward their clan compounds, both growing quiet and awkward along the way.
• Near the Inuzuka Clan compound, Uka told Furin to rest, and Furin told him her feelings had not changed despite knowing his situation.
• Uka Senju acknowledged Furin's feelings and ruffled her hair, while Furin smiled at his response.

Inuzuka Furin fled after Brown and White interrupted her and Uka Senju getting close, leaving Uka to suspect the dog would spread rumors about them. Uka returned home and found money and a letter from Chiharu, who had left for a mission on the front line.

• Brown and White barked, interrupting Furin and Uka as they drew closer, and an Inuzuka guard laughed at what he saw.
• Furin hurriedly told Uka she was going home and used the Body Flicker Technique to flee, while Brown and White chased after her.
• Uka heard the guard and dog making a commotion, suspected they would spread word about him and Furin, and rushed back to the Senju Clan Compound.
• Uka entered his empty home, washed, and found money and a letter beside his pillow.
• Uka read Chiharu's letter explaining that she had gone to the front line and had arranged his clothes, laundry help, and seasoning.

Uka Senju read Senju Chiharu’s heavily redacted letter and tried to conceal how deeply its words affected him. Chiharu was promoted to vice-captain of the Sixth Large Unit and received orders to take charge of defenses at Akifuku Castle, along with another important mission.

• Uka Senju read Chiharu’s letter, deciphered her hidden expressions of concern and longing, and put it away before lying down awake.
• Senju Chiharu reported to Sawagen Senju that she had eliminated the opposition in the Nagatama matter.
• Sawagen Senju praised Chiharu and appointed her vice-captain of the Sixth Large Unit.
• Chiharu accepted the position, understanding that her aunt intended her to build influence in the Soratate Branch.
• Sawagen Senju ordered Chiharu to take the Sixth Large Unit to Akifuku Castle in three days and assume responsibility for its defenses and part of the border.
• Sawagen Senju began explaining that Chiharu had another important mission beyond her defensive duties.

Senju Sawagen assigned Senju Chiharu to gather detailed intelligence on the Land of Bears within a year without alerting the enemy, giving her both the Sixth Large Unit and her Middle Unit. On her way to gather her new forces, she met Tsunade and her teammates Hatake Sakumo and Might Duy, who learned about her connection to Tsunade’s fiancé.

• Senju Sawagen told Senju Chiharu to collect comprehensive intelligence on the Land of Bears within the year and keep the mission secret.
• Senju Chiharu accepted the mission and planned to bring her Middle Unit to meet the Sixth Large Unit and speed up their cooperation.
• Senju Chiharu met Tsunade, Hatake Sakumo, and Might Duy outside Ihyo Castle.
• Tsunade introduced Senju Chiharu as her fiancé’s fiancée and named Hatake Sakumo and Might Duy as her teammates.
• Hatake Sakumo and Might Duy were surprised by Tsunade’s relationship with Senju Chiharu, and Might Duy decided to ask Tsunade to introduce him to her fiancé.

Senju Chiharu told Tsunade she could not return to the village until the end of the year and gave her a scroll of cooking notes for Maki to use. Her careful instructions about caring for her fiancé left Might Duy envious and made Hatake Sakumo reconsider whether affection might be worth the trouble.

• Senju Chiharu greeted Tsunade and explained that her mission would keep her in Ihyo Castle, while Tsunade said she was heading back to the village.
• Tsunade’s mention of Chiharu’s fiancé reminded Chiharu that he would be returning to the village, and she worried that she would not see him until the end of the year.
• Chiharu gave Tsunade a scroll of cooking notes for Maki and explained where to find more ingredients and how to prepare for her fiancé’s needs.
• Tsunade asked to copy the notes so she could cook for her grandmother, and Chiharu also asked her and Maki to help buy the boy winter clothes.
• Might Duy resolved to befriend Chiharu’s fiancé and learn his ways, while Hatake Sakumo wondered whether having someone care for him might not be so troublesome.

Senju Chiharu left Ihyo Castle with her Middle Unit and took command of the Sixth Large Unit, preparing them for a difficult mission to infiltrate an entire country. She briefed the three Senju Middle Unit Commanders and asked for their support as she began leading the larger unit.

• Senju Chiharu ordered her twenty-nine Middle Unit members to pack and assemble, then led them to the Sixth Large Unit's camp.
• Senju Chiharu presented her appointment Scroll and ordered the Sixth Large Unit to assemble at the Training Ground.
• Senju Chiharu addressed the assembled 126 people, read her appointment notice, and announced the mission schedule.
• Senju Chiharu met with the three Senju Middle Unit Commanders and gave them the Scroll outlining the two missions.
• Senju Chiharu told the three commanders that the mission was difficult and asked for their support over the coming year.

Senju Chiharu organized her unit’s two missions, persuading Senju Junichi to accept the demanding requirements and outlining how the four companies would divide the work. The commanders approved her plan but considered the challenge of operating as independent squads.

• Senju Junichi questioned the missions’ strict deadline and secrecy requirements and asked Chiharu to seek more leeway from Lord Sawagen.
• Chiharu refused to request changes, appealed to Junichi’s loyalty to the Senju clan, and promised to report his contributions when the results were reviewed.
• Junichi agreed to complete both missions as required, then asked Chiharu how she planned to distribute the work.
• Chiharu designated Akifuku Castle as headquarters, assigned one company to remain there and another to patrol their border section, and planned to rotate the remaining two companies through the second mission.
• Chiharu divided the second mission into broad information gathering followed by deeper investigation, and proposed sending independent squads to assigned areas and objectives.
• The three commanders approved the two-stage approach but considered the difficulties of having squads work independently.

Senju Chiharu settled the mission plan and assigned the first phase and border duties after addressing concerns about casualties among the independent squads. Meanwhile, Tsunade discussed the route home with Hatake Sakumo and Might Duy, who urged her to avoid the wilderness route.

• Senju Kazuki warned Senju Chiharu that heavy casualties among independent squads would be difficult to explain to the clans.
• Senju Chiharu proposed combining squads or assigning Jonin combat support during the more dangerous second phase, and the three commanders agreed.
• Senju Junichi asked Senju Chiharu to decide who would go first, go later, or stay throughout the mission.
• Senju Chiharu assigned Senju Kazuki and Senju Junichi to the first phase, Senju Nobutada to hold the border, and postponed the decision about who would stay afterward.
• Senju Kazuki wondered whether Senju Chiharu had seen through his act and thought resentfully about a letter from his superior.
• Hatake Sakumo and Might Duy urged Tsunade to take the second route home rather than spend extra time in the wilderness.

Tsunade lost her temper when Hatake Sakumo and Might Duy kept teasing her about Uka Senju, while Sakumo privately grew eager to seek Uka’s guidance. Later, Senju Toka finished work at the Senju Clan Compound and headed home, where she confirmed Uka had returned.

• Tsunade snapped her chopsticks and smashed Might Duy through the private room’s window after he suggested her choice of route was because of Uka Senju.
• Hatake Sakumo placated Tsunade and agreed to take the first route, while she insisted she wanted to return because she missed her grandmother.
• Sakumo reminded Tsunade to arrange a meeting with her fiancé, then privately wished for his mother to arrange another meeting for him by the next evening.
• Tsunade flared up again, and Hatake Sakumo reacted as blue chakra lit up in the private room.
• Senju Toka walked through the administrative hall as the workday ended and told Tanio that Uka had already returned home.

Senju Toka returned home to find Senju Maki cooking eagerly for Uka Senju, who had slept through the evening. After Uka insulted his aunt when she dragged him from bed, Senju Toka began beating him and caught him when he tried to escape with Wood Release: Substitution Technique.

• Senju Toka walked through the Senju Clan Compound and returned home, where Senju Maki told her she was preparing dinner for Uka Senju.
• Senju Maki said Uka was still asleep upstairs, so Senju Toka went to wake him.
• Uka cursed at Senju Toka when she pulled him from bed, and she struck him with a belt.
• Senju Toka continued lashing Uka over his conduct toward Maki, Chiharu, and other girls.
• Uka used Wood Release: Substitution Technique to switch places with a piece of wood, but Senju Toka seized his collar again.

Senju Toka continued spanking Uka Senju, foiling his attempts to dodge and forcing him to guess what he had done wrong. When Senju Maki rushed in to protect him, Toka stopped, while Maki quietly asked her to let Uka off.

• Senju Toka caught Uka Senju after he used the Substitution Technique and struck him despite his Wood Release defenses.
• Uka tried to turn the wooden belt into armor, but Toka disrupted his chakra and hit him again.
• Uka guessed Toka was punishing him over the matter with Furin and cooperating with her to settle things with Chiharu and the others.
• Uka cried out as Senju Maki approached, and Toka struck him hard before Maki entered the room.
• Senju Maki shielded Uka and pleaded with Senju Toka to stop hitting him and let him off this once.

Senju Toka beat Senju Uka, then left him in Senju Maki’s care after Maki pleaded for her to stop. Maki treated Uka’s injuries without asking why he had been punished, and the two were left blushing over the awkwardness of her tending to him.

• Senju Toka realized Senju Maki’s plea could make her look cruel if she kept hitting Uka, and she thought about the lively future his relationships might bring.
• Senju Toka left the room, and Senju Maki helped Uka onto the bed and offered to examine his injuries.
• Uka agreed to let Maki treat him, and she used Healing Jutsu to heal the bruises while wondering what had provoked Toka.
• Maki decided not to question Uka, and he was relieved she had not asked him to explain.
• After the injuries healed, Maki struggled to pull up Uka’s pajama pants, so he blushingly told her he would do it himself.

Senju Uka spent his first days back in the village with Senju Maki, received advice from Senju Toka and Great-Uncle Kofu about developing a specialized fighting style, and began reflecting on Wood Release as his focus. He then met Maki after work and discreetly helped Senju Nobuhiko avoid being caught leaving a bar.

• Senju Maki fled downstairs after accidentally seeing Uka undressed, then served him and Senju Toka a dinner she had cooked for him.
• Senju Toka advised Uka to rest, review his recent battles, and choose a focused fighting style before pursuing Jonin-level training; Uka decided to specialize in Wood Release.
• Uka and Maki kissed after dinner, and the next day Uka learned that Maki had started teaching first graders at the Ninja Academy.
• Uka visited Great-Uncle Kofu, who teased him about his romantic life before giving him advice drawn from his experience as an old Senju ninja.
• Uka waited outside the Academy to meet Maki, bought her juice from a bar, and blocked her view of Senju Nobuhiko as he slipped out unseen.