Chapter Summaries

Shira and Rock Lee walked through Konoha at night and recognized each other as fellow underdogs who relied on Taijutsu. They parted with renewed determination as comrades pursuing their own ninja paths.

• Shira told Rock Lee that he knew about Lee's reputation for relying on Taijutsu and training relentlessly.
• Shira explained that he was also considered a dead last in Sunagakure and could not use Ninjutsu or Genjutsu.
• Shira called Rock Lee a comrade, moving Lee with the recognition of his hard work.
• Rock Lee declared that they were comrades and vowed to forge his own ninja way through Taijutsu.
• Shira agreed with Rock Lee, and the two smiled together in the moonlit street.

Shira met Rock Lee for an intense morning training session after Lee skipped school to make the most of Shira’s brief stay in Konoha. Lee defended prioritizing Taijutsu over theory, and the two set off running together.

• Shira arrived at the training ground and found Rock Lee waiting for him.
• Lee told Shira he had skipped school to train with him every day that week.
• Shira questioned whether Lee should neglect theoretical studies, and Lee insisted that physical training mattered more to him right now.
• Shira accepted Lee’s reasoning, and the two began running through the morning mist.

Shira and Rock Lee trained together, pushing through hundreds of push-ups and duck walks. During their seventeenth lap, they encountered a young Naruto Uzumaki, who mistook their exercise for a game.

• Shira completed 729 push-ups while Rock Lee reached 599 before collapsing.
• Shira helped Lee up, and the two stretched and discussed training and stamina.
• Shira encouraged Lee to focus on proper effort rather than comparing their push-up counts.
• Shira and Lee began twenty laps of duck walks and reached their seventeenth lap.
• Naruto Uzumaki stumbled out of a grove, and Lee checked if he was all right.
• Naruto looked at their poses and asked if they were playing a game.

Shira and Rock Lee met Naruto Uzumaki while recovering from strenuous training in a Konoha training ground. Naruto grew curious about their exercise and learned that Shira was visiting from Sunagakure.

• Naruto appeared at the training ground, and Shira recognized him as the young future Hokage.
• Naruto mistook Shira and Rock Lee's duck-walk training for a game and asked whether they were competing to sweat.
• Shira and Rock Lee straightened their aching legs, and Shira explained that they had been training.
• Naruto eagerly asked whether they were ninjas, and Rock Lee introduced himself as a Konoha Ninja Academy student and Shira as a visitor from Sunagakure.

Naruto met Shira and Rock Lee at a training ground and learned that hard work in Taijutsu could make someone strong even without Ninjutsu. After Naruto asked to watch them train, a Konoha Anbu monitored the encounter and reported that Naruto was safe and showed no abnormalities.

• Naruto excitedly asked Shira and Rock Lee about learning Ninjutsu, and Shira and Rock Lee told him they trained only in Taijutsu.
• Rock Lee encouraged Naruto by saying effort and Taijutsu could make someone an outstanding ninja, and Shira added that there were different ways to become stronger.
• Naruto asked to watch them train, and Shira agreed after telling him to sit at a safe distance while they rested.
• A Konoha Anbu identified Shira as a Sunagakure Genin and watched Naruto speak with him and Rock Lee.
• The Anbu sent his superiors an encrypted report that Naruto was safe, emotionally stable, and showed no sign of manipulation or danger.

Shira and Rock Lee walked Naruto back through the village, where villagers openly shunned and called him the demon fox. Naruto tried to hide his hurt, and the chapter ended with him offering a little boy his fallen candy despite the boy’s mother pulling him away.

• Shira called Rock Lee away from training, and Naruto asked if he could watch them train again sometime; Shira agreed.
• Shira, Rock Lee, and Naruto walked toward the village center while Rock Lee answered Naruto’s questions about Taijutsu.
• Several old women whispered that Naruto was the demon fox, and Rock Lee stopped to ask what they meant before Shira urged him to keep walking.
• Villagers crossed the street with their children and warned them to stay away from Naruto, who fell silent and hugged himself.
• When a little boy’s candy fell near him, Naruto picked it up and reached out to return it despite the boy’s mother pulling him away.

After a mother rejected Naruto for trying to return a child’s candy, Rock Lee and Shira comforted him and affirmed that he was Naruto Uzumaki, not a monster. The three continued through Konoha together, with Naruto walking a little more confidently as Shira wondered if he could help make the boy’s life less painful.

• A mother pulled her child away and insulted Naruto when he tried to return the child’s candy, leaving him hurt and withdrawn.
• Rock Lee angrily defended Naruto and told him he had done nothing wrong.
• Naruto said that everyone called him a demon fox and that nobody wanted to play with him.
• Rock Lee promised to play with Naruto, and Shira affirmed that he was Naruto Uzumaki, not a monster.
• Naruto brightened and walked between Rock Lee and Shira, standing a little straighter despite the continued hostile looks and whispers.
• Shira silently resolved that, if possible, he would try to make Naruto’s shadow a little lighter.

Shira reflected on Naruto’s isolation and the villagers’ hatred, recognizing how grief and rumor had turned an innocent child into a target. Unable to change Konoha’s beliefs, he resolved to offer Naruto genuine kindness as they continued down the road.

• Shira considered how the villagers’ grief over the Nine-Tails’ Attack had been redirected into hatred of Naruto.
• He watched Naruto envy other children’s toys and brighten when Rock Lee acknowledged him.
• Shira concluded that he lacked the strength to change the villagers’ beliefs or reveal the truth without causing greater hostility.
• Shira decided he could at least refuse to join the prejudice and show Naruto kindness.
• Shira, Naruto, and Rock Lee walked on together as their shadows stretched across the road.

Shira, Rock Lee, and Naruto trained together at dawn, with Shira helping Naruto manage his breathing as they ran. Hidden nearby, Anbu operative Owl observed them and judged that their companionship was benefiting Naruto, while continuing surveillance under Hiruzen Sarutobi’s orders.

• Rock Lee, Shira, and Naruto ran laps together, and Naruto pushed through his exhaustion to keep up with them.
• Shira dropped back beside Naruto and coached him to breathe more slowly and deeply in rhythm with his steps.
• Rock Lee charged up an uphill stretch, and Shira urged Naruto to keep up before accelerating after him.
• Owl watched the boys and recalled Hiruzen Sarutobi’s orders to monitor Shira and intervene if the contact negatively affected Naruto or threatened the seal.
• Owl concluded that the training was improving Naruto’s mood and fitness, though he continued his surveillance after Shira briefly glanced toward his hiding place.

After training, Shira, Naruto, and Rock Lee went to Ichiraku Ramen for lunch and refueled with steaming bowls of ramen. They finished their meal satisfied, with Naruto praising Uncle Teuchi’s ramen.

• Naruto, Rock Lee, and Shira left the training ground exhausted and hungry.
• Shira suggested they eat at Ichiraku Ramen, and Naruto eagerly led the way.
• Uncle Teuchi welcomed the boys, and Naruto ordered his usual miso ramen with chashu.
• The three boys ate their ramen and recovered from their training fatigue.
• Shira praised the satisfying lunch, and Naruto declared Uncle Teuchi’s ramen the best in the world.

Naruto and Lee shared that they had grown up without their parents, while Shira described the family waiting for him in Sunagakure. Shira kept the truth about Naruto’s father to himself, and the boys left the ramen shop ready to continue training together.

• Naruto asked Lee about his family, and Lee said his parents had died on a mission when he was very young.
• Naruto told Lee that he had never met his parents and lived alone as an orphan.
• Shira saw the Fourth Hokage’s face on Hokage Rock and silently realized Naruto did not know Minato Namikaze was his father.
• Lee encouraged Naruto to work hard and live well despite their loss, and Naruto felt understood.
• Shira told Naruto and Lee about his parents, Rira and Shiya, who ran a general store in Sunagakure.
• Shira offered Naruto water, and Naruto and Lee said they were ready to return to training.

Naruto, Shira, and Rock Lee returned to the training ground after lunch, where Rock Lee challenged Shira to a sparring match. Shira took his place opposite Rock Lee, and the fight was about to begin.

• Naruto walked through Konoha with Shira and Rock Lee, handling the villagers’ hostile stares better while talking with his friends.
• Rock Lee encouraged Naruto to ignore the stares and grow stronger through training, and Naruto agreed.
• The three returned to the training ground, where Rock Lee asked Shira to show him Sunagakure’s Taijutsu.
• Shira removed his coat and settled into a restrained fighting stance as Rock Lee sensed his hardened presence.
• Rock Lee called out, “Here I come, Shira!”

Rock Lee and Shira sparred, with Shira calmly countering Lee’s attacks until Lee’s persistence convinced him to stop holding back. Shira launched a powerful attack, and Lee charged straight at him to meet it.

• Rock Lee opened with a fast punch, but Shira evaded it and nearly struck his throat with a counterattack.
• Rock Lee attacked from multiple angles, while Shira repeatedly dodged and redirected his strikes without tiring.
• Rock Lee grew frustrated but remained determined to test the gap between them and prove his resolve.
• Shira recognized Lee’s persistence and warned him to be careful before launching a direct, overwhelming attack.
• Rock Lee charged head-on at Shira, putting all his strength and fighting spirit into the clash.

Shira sparred with Rock Lee, easily countering his attacks while holding back and demonstrating precise Taijutsu. Lee kept getting back up to challenge him, while Owl of the Anbu watched and assessed Shira as a powerful, potentially significant presence.

• Shira charged Rock Lee and overwhelmed his defense with a fast sequence of punches and kicks.
• Rock Lee changed tactics and attacked Shira with a feint followed by a rising close-range kick.
• Shira trapped Lee’s ankle, disrupted his balance, and pressed an elbow lightly against his chest, then briefly explained that the move relied on balance and timing.
• Rock Lee demanded another round and threw every technique he knew at Shira, but Shira repeatedly saw through and countered him.
• Owl of the Anbu observed the spar, judged Shira’s Taijutsu and potential worthy of attention, and continued watching as Lee repeatedly rose to fight again.

Shira treated Rock Lee’s scraped arm after their spar and reflected on how Lee’s resolve might fare in a world where battles grew beyond ordinary Taijutsu. The three parted at sunset, with Shira hoping Lee’s determination would not be extinguished too soon.

• Shira bandaged Lee’s injured arm and warned him that losing his composure had made his final attacks reckless.
• Lee told Naruto that his classmates looked down on him for relying on Taijutsu, and vowed to prove he could become an excellent ninja through hard work.
• Naruto encouraged Lee, and the two boys affirmed their determination to show their classmates what Taijutsu could do.
• Shira recalled Lee’s future fame and gradual retreat from the spotlight as the world’s battles escalated, and wondered whether effort could overcome that changing power scale.
• Shira sent Lee and Naruto home as evening fell, while Lee and Naruto agreed to meet again after Lee’s arm healed.

Uzumaki Kei and Karin settled into a peaceful life in Sunagakure, where Kei taught practical sealing techniques to village ninja. As Maki neared mastery of an advanced technique and young shinobi trained to keep pace with Shira, Chiyo quietly remembered her grandson Sasori and thought of Shira in Konoha.

• Karin studied with her mother, while Uzumaki Kei began teaching practical Uzumaki sealing formulas to Sunagakure ninja with Chiyo's permission.
• Maki used a sealing formula to calm simulated disordered Chakra, impressing Uzumaki Kei with her talent and progress toward mastering the Evil Sealing Method.
• Ameno trained her Water Release, while Saya practiced with her Curse Puppet and Sana watched and gathered Chakra, each driven to keep up with Shira.
• Chiyo looked at an old photograph of Sasori, then thought of Shira in Konoha and murmured about the troublesome young talents around her.

Shira, Rock Lee, and Naruto trained together until a figure in a green suit appeared at the edge of the training ground doing handstand push-ups. Shira recognized the newcomer as Might Guy, leaving the group stunned by his arrival.

• Rock Lee improved his combat timing and technique while sparring with Shira, who corrected his movements.
• Naruto supported the training and practiced his own basic moves with help from Shira and Rock Lee.
• After an exhausting sparring session, the three boys heard a steady thudding sound from the woods.
• Might Guy appeared upside down at the training ground’s edge, performing powerful handstand push-ups.
• Shira recognized Might Guy as the Blue Beast of the Hidden Leaf.

Might Guy recognized Shira from Sunagakure at the training ground and sensed that Shira had changed since their last meeting. Guy asked whether Shira had become a ninja.

• Rock Lee, Naruto, and Shira watched Might Guy finish a set of handstand push-ups and flip to his feet.
• Guy greeted the three young men, and Rock Lee eagerly told him they were training in taijutsu.
• Guy recognized Shira as someone he had met in Sunagakure and examined him closely.
• Guy sensed a new chill in Shira’s presence, which he associated with surviving real combat and taking lives.
• Guy asked Shira whether he had already become a ninja.

Shira confirmed to Might Guy that he had killed enemies, prompting Guy to recall a mission where Kakashi and Itachi killed surrendered captives. Guy returned to the training ground and asked Shira about it again, leaving the question hanging.

• Shira quietly confirmed to Guy that he had killed enemies.
• Guy remembered a mission with Kakashi and Itachi in which their opponents surrendered.
• Kakashi and Itachi killed two of the surrendered captives, and Guy challenged Kakashi's actions.
• Kakashi explained that killing the captives was the safest choice for the mission.
• Guy returned to the training ground and asked Shira, a Sunagakure boy, whether he had killed enemies.

Shira explained to Guy that he had killed a bandit to protect his comrades and civilians, and to temper himself for the difficult path of Taijutsu. Guy accepted his reasons but warned him not to let combat harden his heart, leaving Shira resolved to remember that balance.

• Guy asked Shira whether the person he had killed was an enemy, and Shira confirmed the man was a bandit who had raided merchant caravans.
• Shira explained that killing the bandit had protected his teammates and civilians and helped him grow through real combat.
• Shira said that, because he could not use Ninjutsu, he had to forge his Taijutsu and will through hardship, even if that meant killing an enemy.
• Rock Lee listened in shock while Naruto struggled to understand Shira's reasoning.
• Guy accepted Shira's reasons but warned him not to let bloodshed freeze his heart, and Shira solemnly promised to remember.