Recaps

After sparring and exchanging techniques with Little A, Araki returned to the lodging and told Jiraiya, Minato, and Kushina that he had learned Kumogakure's nintaijutsu. Jiraiya learned that Araki had traded principles of Chakra Enhanced Strength for instruction, and the chapter ended with Jiraiya asking Araki to demonstrate his new skills.

• Little A and Araki agreed that their exchange had helped both of them improve, then parted with the expectation that they might meet as enemies on a future battlefield.
• Araki returned to the lodging before the Chunin Ninja Exams and reassured Minato that he was uninjured.
• Araki told Jiraiya, Minato, and Kushina that he had learned Kumogakure's nintaijutsu from Little A, the Third Raikage's son.
• Araki explained that he had shared principles of Chakra Enhanced Strength in return for answers about nintaijutsu and offered to retrieve the information if Tsunade considered it a leak.
• Araki said he would kill Little A if necessary to retrieve the technique, leaving the room stunned.
• Jiraiya set the dispute aside and asked Araki to demonstrate nintaijutsu by attacking him with his full strength.

Araki demonstrated his Nintaijutsu to Jiraiya and proved that his speed and Chakra Enhanced Strength could overwhelm his teacher. The next morning, Araki, Minato, and Kushina arrived at Kumogakure’s Chunin Ninja Exams, where chief examiner Nankain introduced himself.

• Araki used Nintaijutsu to charge Jiraiya and struck him hard enough to numb his arms and force him backward.
• Jiraiya praised Araki’s strength, ended the spar, and told him, Minato, and Kushina to rest for the exams.
• The next morning, Jiraiya led the three students to the exam hall, where he saw them off at the entrance.
• Araki, Minato, and Kushina entered the hall and noticed that many participants were Kumogakure ninja and that others were watching the Konoha team.
• Nankain entered with several Kumogakure ninja, identified himself as the chief examiner, and said he had set the exam rules.

Nankain announced that the Chunin Ninja Exams would test strength through a deadly team round, and he defended giving Kumogakure squads an unfair advantage with the special kunai. The exam rules remained in place as he began to explain his second reason, while Araki watched quietly.

• Nankain canceled the written test and declared that teams must survive seven days with a special kunai to qualify for the third round.
• Nankain explained that only ten kunai would be given to Kumogakure's twenty squads, and teams without one or with an incapacitated or dead member would be eliminated.
• Nankain acknowledged the contestants' concerns about fairness and said they could withdraw or accept Kumogakure's rules.
• Nankain argued that strength, rather than fairness, let ninja overcome unequal circumstances, and the intimidated contestants remained silent.
• Araki assessed Nankain's contempt for the weak and stayed inconspicuous as Nankain began explaining his second reason.

Nankain led the candidates to the second exam site in the Valley of Clouds and Lightning, where they would have to survive for seven days amid scarce supplies, dangerous beasts, traps, and rival teams. He then required everyone to sign a waiver absolving Kumogakure of responsibility for any injuries or deaths, leaving the candidates to face the choice of signing or withdrawing.

• Nankain explained that the special kunai given to some Kumogakure teams would make those teams targets, and argued that the exam would still reward the strongest candidates.
• Minato, Araki, and Kushina followed the others toward the exam site, while Kushina stayed alert to the possibility that Kumogakure might target her.
• Nankain brought the candidates to a mist-covered area behind the Valley of Clouds and Lightning and described the seven-day survival test, including its traps and wild beasts.
• Nankain's assistants distributed forms stating that any accident, including death, would be the candidate's own responsibility and unrelated to Kumogakure.
• Nankain told the candidates that signing was mandatory for participation, while anyone unwilling to sign could withdraw.

Nankain forced the participants to sign life-and-death waivers before entering the Chunin Ninja Exams, while Kumogakure ninja faced stricter deadlines and drew lots for special Kunai. Minato, Araki, and Kushina entered the vast exam grounds through a separate entrance, where teams would compete for seven days to obtain a special Kunai by any means.

• Nankain gave the ninja ten minutes to sign waivers or lose their eligibility, and his assistants gave Kumogakure ninja only three minutes.
• Kushina and Araki signed their forms, and Minato signed his after accepting his role as their team captain.
• More than ninety percent of the participants signed the waivers, while some withdrew from the exam.
• Kumogakure teams drew lots for special Kunai, which made their holders potential targets for the other ninja.
• An exam official explained to Minato that teams would enter through separate entrances and could use any method to possess a special Kunai when the seven-day exam ended.
• Minato led Araki and Kushina through their assigned entrance, and the official shut the gate behind them.

Araki, Minato, and Kushina were ambushed by Kumogakure ninja as part of a plot to abduct Kushina, and Minato recognized the attackers’ leader as Nankain. As the battle began, Araki powered up and sent Minato to protect Kushina, leaving the confrontation to himself.

• Araki sensed several groups approaching and realized they had been led to an ambush, but he withheld his warning to keep his sensory ability secret.
• About a dozen Kumogakure ninja appeared and targeted Kushina, while Minato and Araki understood that they had fallen into a trap.
• Minato recognized the attackers’ leader as Nankain, the chief examiner, after hearing his voice.
• Araki told Minato to protect Kushina and explained that Minato’s Flying Thunder God Technique made him best suited to guard her.
• Araki activated a green chakra armor that strengthened his body and regenerative ability as the Kumogakure ninja charged.

Araki defeated Nankain and the Kumogakure ninjas by spreading knockout drug through the dust from Nankain’s attack. With the group unable to fight, Araki began killing them at the Chunin Ninja Exams site.

• Araki knocked several charging Kumogakure ninjas out of the fight with powerful punches while Minato stayed beside Kushina.
• Nankain attacked Araki with Lightning Release Chakra Mode, but Araki evaded the blow and let the dust carry knockout drug into the Kumogakure group.
• Nankain collapsed, and Araki appeared behind him and slit his throat with a kunai.
• Araki explained that the drug had spread through the dust and that the Kumogakure ninjas would soon lose control of their bodies.
• Araki killed a Chunin who challenged him as the rest of the Kumogakure group became unable to resist.

Araki killed the Kumogakure ninjas who had tried to capture Kushina, then explained to Minato that he had suspected the attack because of earlier attempts to abduct her. Minato began to suspect a mole had helped Kumogakure infiltrate Konoha.

• Araki killed the remaining Kumogakure ninjas while Minato and Kushina watched.
• Araki, Minato, and Kushina looted the bodies, and Araki used Corpse-Dissolving Water to dispose of them.
• Minato realized Araki and Kushina had suspected Kumogakure would target Kushina and confronted them about keeping it from him.
• Kushina explained that they had only shared a suspicion, and Araki said he had connected the danger to earlier Kumogakure intruders at the Ninja Academy.
• Araki recounted Kumogakure's past attempts to abduct Kushina for the Nine-Tails, and Minato suspected a mole had helped the attackers breach Konoha's barrier.

Araki, Minato, and Kushina concluded that Konoha and Sunagakure might be involved in a conspiracy to hand Kushina over to Kumogakure, so they turned the Chunin Ninja Exams grounds into a trap for the kidnappers. After waiting more than six hours without another attack, they remained prepared for Kumogakure to send more ninja.

• Minato connected Kushina’s past abduction attempts and the current exam to a possible conspiracy involving Konoha’s leaders and Kumogakure.
• Araki suggested Sunagakure and Kumogakure might be cooperating, and Minato suspected a Konoha insider was using Kushina as a bargaining chip.
• Minato and Araki agreed to stay in the exam grounds and hunt the Kumogakure ninja instead of withdrawing.
• Minato, Araki, and Kushina laid physical, poison, and sealing traps, then waited for the attackers to return.
• After more than six hours passed without an attack, Araki expected Kumogakure to send another group.

Minato, Kushina, and Araki trapped and killed three Iwagakure genin who tried to take their special kunai. Afterward, Araki realized that the Uzumaki Clan still lived in Uzushiogakure in this timeline and wondered what had changed that outcome.

• Three Iwagakure ninja approached Minato, Kushina, and Araki and demanded that they hand over their special kunai.
• Minato refused, and the Iwagakure ninja advanced toward the Konoha team.
• One Iwagakure ninja triggered Kushina’s sealing trap, which enclosed all three inside a barrier.
• Explosive tags detonated within the barrier and killed the three Iwagakure ninja.
• Minato praised Kushina’s sealing jutsu, while Araki considered the Uzumaki Clan’s unexpected survival in this timeline.

Araki, Minato, and Kushina faced a new Kumogakure squad that entered the Chunin Ninja Exams grounds to capture Kushina, and the squad triggered Minato’s trap. After the trap wounded them, Araki and Minato prepared to fight, with Araki choosing to confront their female leader.

• Araki, Minato, and Kushina discussed the Kumogakure ninja’s search for a special kunai before sensing more people approaching.
• A Kumogakure squad entered the exam grounds illegally, identified Kushina, and charged to take her away.
• One of the attackers triggered Minato’s trap, and kunai wounded several Kumogakure ninja.
• The injured attackers grew angry and ordered their squad to kill everyone except Kushina.
• Araki left the rest of the squad to Minato and moved to face the female Kumogakure leader.

Araki confronted the Kumogakure squad, confirmed that more enemies would come after them, and revealed that Nankain was dead. He activated his green chakra as the Kumogakure ninja reacted in shock, preparing to fight.

• Araki killed a Kumogakure ninja who triggered his poison trap, then approached the female ninja while she ordered her subordinates to focus on Kushina and Minato.
• Araki asked whether reinforcements would arrive, and the female ninja confirmed that Kumogakure had ordered Kushina's capture under the Third Raikage.
• Araki told the female ninja that Nankain was already dead, leaving her and the other Kumogakure ninja stunned.
• Araki enveloped himself in green chakra and declared that it was their turn.

Araki, Minato, and Kushina decided to secure every special kunai so they alone would pass the second round, drawing public attention and limiting Kumogakure’s ability to target them. They waited through a quiet night after Kumogakure revised its plans, with the next wave of attackers still expected.

• Araki defeated the Kumogakure commander with Jade Chakra Mode, while Minato used the distraction to kill the other Kumogakure ninja.
• After resetting their traps, Araki, Minato, and Kushina discussed whether to pass the exam and how to handle Kumogakure’s likely schemes.
• Araki proposed taking all the special kunai so only their team could pass the second round and attract attention from the exam’s observers.
• Araki said they would wait until after the next Kumogakure attack before hunting for the kunai, and Minato agreed.
• Kumogakure held an overnight meeting to revise its plans, while Kushina and Araki monitored their surroundings and the trio passed a peaceful night.

Araki, Minato, and Kushina defeated and killed the Kumogakure force with poison, then set out to gather special kunai and become the only team to pass the Chunin Ninja Exams. After sensing a hidden team, Araki led his companions toward them, suspecting they might already have a special kunai.

• Araki triggered Kushina's seals, releasing poison that incapacitated the approaching Kumogakure ninja.
• Araki, Minato, and Kushina killed the unconscious Kumogakure ninja and collected their equipment.
• Araki explained that they should avoid hostile teams but not make enemies of other villages unnecessarily; Minato agreed, while remaining determined to kill Kumogakure ninja.
• The trio left to hunt Kumogakure teams and obtain the remaining special kunai.
• Araki sensed three concealed people and led Minato and Kushina toward them, suspecting they might have already obtained a special kunai.

Araki and his teammates found two hidden teams carrying special kunai during the second round of the Chunin Ninja Exams, and Araki killed both teams with ease. With two of the ten kunai secured, Araki began hunting for more, while suspecting Kumogakure had arranged the exam to conceal a larger scheme.

• Araki, Minato, and Kushina surprised three hidden Kirigakure ninja, and Araki killed them with close-range punches.
• Araki found a special kunai among the Kirigakure ninja, but told Minato and Kushina they should keep searching.
• Two hours later, the team found three hidden Kumogakure ninja after Minato identified a promising hiding place.
• Araki questioned whether Kumogakure had planned where teams with special kunai would hide, then killed the three Kumogakure ninja before they could answer.
• Araki took a second special kunai and declared that the hunt would continue.

Minato, Araki, and Kushina emerged from the second round of the Chunin Ninja Exams as the only team to qualify, revealing that they had collected nine special kunai. Their feat drew the attention and anger of the gathered villages and disrupted Tereyin’s plans, while Jiraiya realized his students had made themselves targets.

• Araki, Minato, and Kushina hunted for special kunai inside the exam grounds while Kumogakure’s Third Raikage demanded answers about the missing teams.
• Tereyin told the Third Raikage he had prepared to trap the contestants during the third round or target them when they left Kumogakure.
• Jiraiya and the other gathered observers waited as Araki, Minato, and Kushina emerged from the exam grounds with Konoha qualifying marks.
• Minato announced that his team was the only one to leave and displayed nine special kunai, convincing the observers that no other team could pass.
• Tereyin realized the Konoha team’s success had disrupted his mission and made his next move difficult.
• Jiraiya’s excitement faded as he understood that Minato, Araki, and Kushina had become targets of the ninja world.

Minato demanded that Kumogakure promote the three Konoha contestants rather than invent a new third-round format, and Tereyin postponed the decision while reporting to the Third Raikage. Back at their lodgings, Minato joined hands with Jiraiya and Kushina as Araki prepared to carry out their next plan.

• Tereyin named himself chief examiner and announced that Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, and Araki had passed the second round.
• Minato argued that the three should pass the exams outright, and Jiraiya supported him while invoking the Hokage's authority.
• Tereyin delayed the decision, agreed not to disturb the Konoha team, and hurried to report to the Third Raikage.
• Minato led Jiraiya, Kushina, and Araki back to their lodgings before Jiraiya could question Tereyin further.
• Minato took Jiraiya's and Kushina's hands while Araki pressed his hands to Minato's back, and Araki assured Minato there would be no problem.

Minato used Araki’s chakra to test whether the Flying Thunder God Technique could transport others, then brought himself, Araki, Kushina, and Jiraiya from Kumogakure to the Land of Fire’s border. The group arrived safely, leaving Minato astonished by Araki’s chakra reserves.

• Araki supplied Minato with chakra, and the two teleported from Kumogakure to a grove near Konoha to test the technique.
• Minato and Araki returned to the Chunin Ninja Exams arena, confirming that Araki’s chakra could support the teleportation.
• The team decided to conceal their escape plan and leave Kumogakure without revealing its attacks or endangering Jiraiya.
• Minato used a Flying Thunder God Formula near the Land of Fire’s border to teleport himself, Araki, Kushina, and Jiraiya away from Kumogakure.
• The four arrived in a forest, and Minato felt relieved at the successful journey and shocked by Araki’s chakra reserves.

Minato told Jiraiya how Kumogakure’s Chunin Ninja Exams had turned into an attack on Kushina, and Jiraiya agreed they needed to report the incident to the Third Lord Hokage because it could spark a war. As the group headed for Konoha, Black Zetsu sensed a familiar chakra at the teleportation site, while Araki remained alert to nearby presences.

• Jiraiya reacted angrily when Minato explained that Kumogakure had sent Genin after Kushina and that Araki had killed the Jonin Nankain.
• Minato suspected a Konoha mole linked the attack to the earlier border incident, but Jiraiya withheld his own suspect because he had no evidence.
• Jiraiya said he would report the attack and Nankain’s death to the Third Lord Hokage, warning that mishandling the incident could lead to war between the villages.
• Black Zetsu emerged from the tree where Minato had used the Flying Thunder God Technique, sensed familiar chakra, and decided to watch Konoha more closely.
• Araki heightened his sensory ability as the group traveled and detected no one tracking them.

After returning to Konoha, Araki gathered Jiraiya, Minato, and Kushina at Jiraiya’s house to discuss what had happened before Jiraiya reported to the Third Lord Hokage. Araki suspected Black Zetsu had followed them and began connecting the village barrier to Kushina’s earlier attack, but the chapter ended before he explained further.

• Araki sensed a mysterious presence following the group into Konoha and insisted they talk before Jiraiya met the Third Lord Hokage.
• Jiraiya led Araki, Minato, and Kushina to his house, where Araki, Kushina, and Minato cleaned the dining room.
• Araki asked Jiraiya about Konoha’s barrier and learned that the Third Lord Hokage had established it with help from the Uzumaki Clan.
• Araki said the barrier question was connected to their recent events and revealed that shinobi from Kumogakure had once attacked Kushina inside Konoha, shocking Jiraiya.

Araki recounted a fabricated version of Kushina’s past attacks to Jiraiya and Minato, then argued that Konoha’s leadership might know about the conspiracies against her. After learning Tsunade knew where the First Hokage’s cells were stored, Araki hurried to her home while Minato left to train.

• Araki told Jiraiya and Minato that Kumogakure had targeted Kushina and suggested a Konoha mole had helped the attacks.
• Araki claimed the Third Hokage might know about the plot, and Jiraiya decided to report the matter to him.
• Araki asked about the First Hokage’s cells and learned that Tsunade knew where they were stored.
• Araki left Kushina and Minato and hurried to Tsunade’s residence.
• Minato said Araki had surpassed him and left to train, while Araki knocked on Tsunade’s door.

Araki visited Tsunade and learned that repeated rejections of her medical-nin reforms had driven her to drink. He explained how to frame reforms around the Third Hokage’s priorities and proposed specialized Ninja Academy tracks, leaving Tsunade considering how to turn the idea into a workable proposal.

• Araki found Tsunade drinking alone while Nawaki was away on a mission, and she told him the Third Hokage had repeatedly rejected her proposals for medical-nin reforms.
• Tsunade described her plan to assign a medical-nin to every squad, and Araki suggested that the village’s shortage of qualified medical-nin and the Hokage’s political priorities explained the rejections.
• Araki advised Tsunade to present reforms in a way that met the Third Hokage’s needs, rather than directly asking him to approve her original plan.
• Araki proposed adding Medical Ninjutsu and other specialized tracks to the Ninja Academy, giving students alternatives to becoming ordinary ninja or leaving the academy.
• Tsunade became hopeful about the proposal, but Araki clarified that Academy medical studies were a goal rather than a complete proposal, and she still needed to work out the next steps.

Araki persuaded Tsunade to pursue a broad Ninja Academy reform that would train medical-nin from childhood, then learned that Hashirama’s surviving cells were sealed beneath the Hokage’s office. He went there that night to obtain them and found only two guards near the entrance.

• Araki explained that Konoha’s shortage of medical-nin came from the time and difficulty required to train them, and proposed adding specialized courses to the Ninja Academy.
• Tsunade agreed to work with Araki on a wider academy reform and use her connection to the First Hokage to help advance it.
• Araki asked where Hashirama’s surviving cells were, and Tsunade said they were sealed underground beneath the Hokage’s office.
• After leaving Tsunade, Araki used his sensory ability to survey the Hokage’s office and found two presences near its entrance.
• Araki headed for the Hokage’s office at night while two Chunin kept watch among the branches by the entrance.

Araki entered the Hokage Office Building to find the Hashirama cells stored beneath the Hokage’s office. After uncovering them with Wood Release, he began absorbing them, causing the building and surrounding area to shake as he feared the Anbu would notice.

• Araki used Wood Release clones to drug the two guards unconscious, took their keys, and entered the building.
• He searched the floors and realized the secret chamber was hidden within the wall near the entrance, with its opening inside the Hokage’s office.
• Araki used Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence to break into the hidden chamber and sensed Hashirama cells within it.
• Araki began absorbing the cells, and the Hokage Office Building and nearby buildings started trembling.
• Araki sensed many people nearby, possibly at the Anbu headquarters, but continued absorbing the cells as the rumbling intensified.

Araki’s connection to the Hashirama cells intensified, causing bottles to emerge from the earth and a terrifying chakra presence to erupt inside the Hokage office building. Konoha’s Anbu and leaders gathered outside the cracked entrance, while the Third and Danzō recognized the presence as the aura of Hashirama cells.

• Araki felt the Hashirama cells respond to his calls, and transparent bottles containing agitated green liquid rose from the ground.
• Violent shaking woke the Anbu in their dormitory, and their squad leader traced the disturbance to the Hokage office building.
• The Anbu found the guards alive but saw that the building’s entrance was cracked and felt a terrifying chakra pressure behind it.
• The Third arrived, followed by Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura, as the presence inside intensified.
• The Third identified the aura as that of Hashirama cells, and Danzō suspected someone was conducting experiments.
• Jiraiya arrived and sensed something familiar in the chakra, but stayed with the others outside the building.