Recaps

Araki asked Teacher Ibuki about Sora Hyuga’s disappearance and learned that the Hyuga Clan had shown little concern while the Uchiha Clan had begun investigating. Teacher Ibuki finished drinking and prepared to take Araki to the medical class, while Araki believed the matter would eventually fade away.

• Araki told Teacher Ibuki he was worried about Sora Hyuga, and Teacher Ibuki shared that Sora had been missing for three and a half days.
• Teacher Ibuki said the Hyuga Clan had not noticed Sora’s absence until he visited, and the clan head dismissed the disappearance as unimportant.
• Teacher Ibuki explained that Sora’s parents had died protecting the clan head, and Araki concluded that Sora had been abandoned by the clan.
• Teacher Ibuki said the Uchiha Clan had taken Sora’s disappearance seriously and begun investigating, contrary to his expectations.
• Teacher Ibuki finished the bottle of sake, stood up unsteadily, and told Araki they were leaving for the medical class.

Araki brought the drunken Ibuki-sensei to Konoha Hospital for his Medical Team interview, where a young nurse took him inside. The chapter left Araki meeting Nawaki at the hospital.

• Ibuki-sensei insisted on going to the Medical Team interview despite being drunk, then fell asleep in Araki's arms at Konoha Hospital's entrance.
• Nurses rushed out and mistook Ibuki-sensei's drunken sleep for a medical emergency, while Araki explained that he had drunk too much.
• A young nurse teased Araki about being little and took him to the interview, leaving Ibuki-sensei with the other nurses.
• Nawaki greeted the nurse, whom he called Sister China, as Araki stood beside her.

Araki discovered that the boy accompanying him was Nawaki, Tsunade's younger brother, and worried about the danger surrounding him. Nawaki brought Araki to his interview and introduced him to Tsunade, who was waiting at the interview table.

• Araki recognized Nawaki and the First Hokage's necklace around his neck, and privately feared Nawaki might die soon.
• China asked Nawaki to escort Araki to his interview, then hurried away to avoid getting in trouble for leaving her duties.
• Nawaki introduced himself to Araki and warned him that Tsunade was a difficult interviewer.
• Nawaki moved Araki ahead in the interview line and brought him into the meeting room.
• Araki entered the interview area and saw Tsunade seated at the center of the table.

Araki entered the medical-nin interview and declared that he wanted to study medicine for Konoha’s rise, startling Tsunade, Nawaki, and the other examiners. The room fell silent as everyone reacted to his unexpected answer.

• Nawaki encouraged Araki before he entered the interview area.
• Tsunade and the two elderly examiners privately decided Araki was too young to accept, then asked why he wanted to become a medical-nin.
• Araki considered several possible answers and realized he could connect his ambitions to Tsunade’s dream of protecting Konoha’s ninja.
• Araki declared, “I want to study medicine for Konoha's rise!” and everyone present froze in surprise.

Araki used Water Release: Water Prison Technique to keep the summoned fish alive during Tsunade’s medical-nin interview assessment. The fish began swimming inside the water prison, surprising Tsunade and the other interviewers.

• Araki told Tsunade he hoped to make Konoha the Shinobi World's great medical village, and insisted he could succeed through hard work.
• Tsunade explained that Araki had to keep a summoned fish alive for ten minutes to pass the interview assessment.
• Araki summoned a fish, which flopped on the scroll after being brought out of the water.
• Araki used Water Release: Water Prison Technique to enclose the fish in water.
• The fish began swimming inside the water prison, and Tsunade and the other interviewers exchanged shocked looks.

Araki kept a summoned fish alive inside a Water Release water prison for ten minutes, but Tsunade refused to pass him because she believed he should remain at the Ninja Academy. Nawaki challenged her decision, while Araki tried to withdraw to avoid drawing attention to himself and his Wood Release.

• Araki maintained the water prison for ten minutes until the summoning ended and the fish vanished.
• Tsunade accused Araki of cheating because he had not used Medical Ninjutsu, but praised his unconventional way of saving a life.
• Tsunade refused to let Araki become a medical-nin, saying he was too young and should return to the Ninja Academy.
• Nawaki confronted Tsunade and argued that Araki had earned the opportunity by completing the assessment.
• Araki offered to withdraw, fearing that attention from the dispute could expose his Wood Release and attract dangerous interest from Danzo or Orochimaru.

Araki tried to leave after Tsunade refused to take him as a medical-nin, but Nawaki insisted that she honor his passing test and treated him as a friend. When the First Hokage’s Necklace glowed at Araki’s touch, Tsunade took it as her grandfather’s approval and asked Araki to become her disciple.

• Araki turned to leave, but Nawaki grabbed his hand and refused to let him go without Tsunade honoring his test results.
• Nawaki argued that Araki’s dedication to Konoha showed maturity and supported his dream of surpassing Tsunade as a medical-nin.
• Nawaki tried to give Araki the First Hokage’s Necklace, but Araki refused because he feared its curse and its attention-drawing reputation.
• The necklace glowed green when Araki touched its crystal, and Araki claimed it was acknowledging Nawaki so he could avoid revealing his Wood Release.
• Tsunade realized the glow had begun when Araki touched the necklace, reassessed him, apologized, and asked if he was willing to become her disciple.

Araki became Tsunade’s disciple after she was moved by his resolve and the First Hokage’s Necklace glowing. As Nawaki celebrated with him, Araki worried that Nawaki was heading toward the mission that would kill him and asked whether he had to go out.

• Araki immediately agreed to become Tsunade’s disciple, and Tsunade set strict training and study requirements for him.
• Nawaki took Araki out to celebrate before leaving on a mission the next day.
• Araki asked where Ibuki-sensei was and learned that trainee medical-nin had taken him away after he drank too much.
• Araki worried that Nawaki would die in an Explosive Tag trap and considered how he could intervene.
• At the dango shop, Araki asked Nawaki whether he had to go out on the mission.

Araki tried to stop Nawaki from going to the battlefield by urging him to study Medical Ninjutsu and visit Tsunade. The chapter ended with Araki asking whether Nawaki truly considered him a friend, as their stalemate continued into the evening.

• Nawaki insisted he would go to the battlefield and accept death if necessary for Konoha.
• Araki asked Nawaki to study Medical Ninjutsu with him and go see Teacher Tsunade that night.
• Nawaki refused to go or learn Medical Ninjutsu, and he and Araki argued for most of the afternoon.
• As evening fell, Araki asked Nawaki whether he really thought of him as a friend.

Araki persuaded Nawaki to take him to Tsunade’s home, where he tried to speak with her about something important. The chapter ended as Araki began explaining, still struggling with his stutter.

• Araki insisted that Nawaki take him to see Tsunade, and Nawaki agreed.
• Nawaki led Araki to Tsunade’s home, where she welcomed them inside.
• Tsunade asked what they needed, and Nawaki told her Araki had insisted on visiting.
• Araki calmed himself and began trying to explain what he wanted to tell Tsunade.

Araki claimed the First Hokage’s Necklace showed him a future in which Nawaki died among explosive tags, and he tried to convince Tsunade and Nawaki that the vision was real. When he touched the necklace again, its chakra crystal glowed green, leaving the siblings believing his warning.

• Araki told Tsunade and Nawaki that touching the necklace had shown him Nawaki dying among explosive tags.
• Araki explained that a powerful mental will from the necklace had formed the vision and warned that it would happen in the near future.
• Tsunade asked Araki to touch the necklace again while Nawaki watched anxiously.
• Araki touched the chakra crystal, which trembled and emitted a soft green light.
• Tsunade and Nawaki believed Araki after witnessing the necklace react.

Araki discovered that touching the First Hokage's Necklace sent powerful, restorative chakra into his body, then pretended the necklace had healed his speech to conceal his Wood Release. Tsunade examined him but found nothing wrong with his vocal cords, leaving the cause of his recovery unexplained.

• Tsunade and Nawaki reacted to the necklace's glow, with Tsunade believing Hashirama's chakra had been protecting her and Nawaki fearing Araki had foreseen his death.
• Araki realized the crystal's pulses matched his own heartbeat and that it was sending potent chakra into his body, rapidly revitalizing him.
• Araki decided not to wear the necklace and planned to keep it on Nawaki so he could secretly touch it for more chakra.
• Araki claimed he had seen Nawaki die in an Explosive Tag trap while wearing the necklace, then pretended to notice that he could speak normally again.
• Araki asked Tsunade to explain his recovery, and she examined his throat before concluding his vocal cords were normal.

Tsunade tested the First Hokage's Necklace and found that its Chakra crystal only glowed and affected Araki when he held it. When she asked what he saw, Araki claimed he saw nothing, leaving Tsunade and Nawaki confused about why the necklace had stopped showing visions.

• Tsunade told Araki to keep the day's events secret and said she would study the necklace and run tests.
• Nawaki silently struggled with learning about his own future death while Tsunade instructed Araki to say she had cured his speech problem.
• Tsunade tested the First Hokage's Necklace in her own and Nawaki's hands, but its Chakra crystal did not react.
• The necklace glowed green and sent refreshing power through Araki when he held it, then went dim as soon as Tsunade took it back.
• Tsunade asked what Araki had seen, but he said he had seen nothing, prompting her to wonder whether the necklace had stopped working.

Araki used the First Hokage's Necklace to claim he could see the future, telling Tsunade and Nawaki that Nawaki would die in a forest and Tsunade would find his body. Nawaki was left shaken by the prediction, while Araki kept his true motives hidden.

• Nawaki put the First Hokage's Necklace on himself, and Araki claimed to see him die in an explosive tag trap in a forest.
• Nawaki put the necklace on Tsunade, and Araki described her finding Nawaki's body and developing a fear of blood.
• Nawaki sighed when Araki said he still died, and his mood darkened as he contemplated his coming death.

Araki persuaded Tsunade to keep Nawaki out of frontline missions by having him study Medical Ninjutsu, using the danger revealed by the First Hokage's Necklace to secure their trust and protect Nawaki. Tsunade began explaining the rules of medical-nin to Nawaki and Araki, hinting that she would train Nawaki beyond the usual three rules.

• Araki urged Tsunade to transfer Nawaki to the Medical Team so he could avoid frontline danger while learning Medical Ninjutsu.
• Tsunade returned the First Hokage's Necklace to Nawaki and said Araki could use it to check for dangers threatening him.
• Tsunade agreed to keep Nawaki in Konoha, stop sending him on missions, and have him study with Araki.
• Tsunade told Nawaki to prioritize preserving his own life and accept the restrictions of being a medical-nin.
• When Nawaki grew discouraged, Tsunade promised to train him in a fourth point beyond the three great rules and invited Araki to listen.

Tsunade explained the rules for medical-nin and the technique that allowed its users to break them, but Araki declined to pursue it and chose a medical-nin path suited to his fear of war. After leaving Tsunade’s home, he headed home exhausted, wondering whether to skip his nightly training.

• Tsunade taught Araki and Nawaki the three cardinal rules for medical-nin and explained that mastering Creation Rebirth-Strength of a Hundred Technique allowed them to break those rules.
• Tsunade told Nawaki that he could master the technique through her training, and Nawaki invited Araki to learn alongside him.
• Araki refused, saying he preferred the medical-nin rules and admitted that he feared war because his parents had died on the battlefield.
• Tsunade accepted that medical-nin suited Araki, while she kept Nawaki at her home out of fear for his safety.
• Araki left Tsunade’s home and headed toward his own, tired after the day’s events and considering whether to skip training.

Araki encountered Might Duy training in the park and asked him to teach him Taijutsu, persuading him with an impassioned speech about hard work and youth. The chapter ended with Might Duy hearing Araki’s plea.

• Araki heard someone counting in the park and found Might Duy doing one-finger push-ups.
• Araki watched Might Duy finish three thousand push-ups on his right hand and set himself the next challenge.
• Might Duy noticed Araki and asked whether he needed help.
• Araki asked Might Duy to teach him Taijutsu, explaining that the Academy could not teach him what he wanted.
• Araki declared that hard work, pushing past his limits, and training while young would help him live without regrets.

Araki persuaded Might Duy to take him as a disciple and began learning the principles behind Taijutsu training. Might Duy explained that physical power came from the core, and Araki started connecting that lesson to Duy’s push-ups.

• Araki asked Might Duy to teach him Taijutsu, and Might Duy enthusiastically accepted him as a disciple.
• Araki introduced himself, and Might Duy promised that they would train together.
• Might Duy taught Araki that Taijutsu depended on physical conditioning and that the body’s foundation was its core.
• Might Duy explained that speed, strength, endurance, and explosive power all relied on the core.
• Araki asked whether Might Duy had used his core while doing push-ups, and Might Duy confirmed that his fingers and arms served mainly as supports.

Araki began core-focused push-up training under Might Duy and discovered that the green Chakra absorbed from the First Hokage's Necklace surged through his body when he neared his limits. Might Duy was astonished by Araki's perseverance and accepted his resolve, while Araki continued training with the Chakra sustaining him.

• Might Duy explained how core strength drove proper push-ups and set Araki a challenge of three hundred repetitions or three hundred laps.
• Araki struggled through the precise push-ups until the green Chakra stored in his heart surged through his Chakra pathways and eased his fatigue.
• Might Duy watched Araki persist and realized his form and determination exceeded his expectations.
• Might Duy cheered Araki on and fully acknowledged his commitment to training.
• Araki continued pushing through mounting exertion, marveling at the training Might Guy had endured.

Araki finished two hundred push-ups while trying to keep his performance merely above average, but Might Duy mistook his effort and recovery for extraordinary Taijutsu talent. The chapter ended with Araki volunteering to run laps, unaware that his score-control strategy was further impressing his new teacher.

• Araki counted his push-ups until he reached two hundred, then collapsed from exhaustion and apologized to Might Duy for not completing the exercise.
• Might Duy praised Araki and wondered at his talent and perseverance after seeing the boy's effort.
• Araki's green chakra rapidly restored his strength, and he wondered whether it was connected to Hashirama Senju.
• Araki offered to run three hundred laps with Might Duy, planning to stop after two hundred and continue managing his results.
• Might Duy was stunned that Araki seemed ready to run after his exhausting push-ups.

Araki trained through the night with Might Duy, discovering how to use his green chakra more effectively and leaving his teacher stunned by his effort. He asked Duy to keep their training secret so he could improve before revealing himself, and headed to the Ninja Academy while wondering about Kushina.

• Araki followed Might Duy's training routine but failed to finish three hundred laps, so he completed push-ups instead.
• After training through the night, Araki thanked Might Duy and explained that he wanted to keep their training private until he could impress everyone in Konoha.
• Might Duy feared Araki was embarrassed to be his disciple, but Araki reassured him that he wanted to avoid embarrassing his teacher before he improved.
• Might Duy accepted Araki's explanation and promised to meet him at the park that night.
• Araki picked up his schoolbag and went to the Ninja Academy, wondering how Kushina was doing.

Araki reflected on the green chakra that had kept him energized through the night before meeting Ibuki-sensei at the Ninja Academy. He told Ibuki-sensei he had passed the medical interview and become Tsunade’s disciple, leaving his former teacher stunned.

• Might Duy reflected on his passionate night with Araki and headed home to rest before their next meeting.
• Araki considered how the green chakra from his heart seemed to regenerate his body and erase his fatigue.
• Ibuki-sensei met Araki at the Ninja Academy and asked how his interview had gone.
• Araki explained that Ibuki-sensei had passed out at Konoha Hospital while Araki completed the assessment.
• Araki told Ibuki-sensei that Tsunade had accepted him as her disciple, and Ibuki-sensei reacted with shock.

Araki told Ibuki-sensei that Tsunade had taken him as her disciple and cured his voice, then asked him to keep the news secret and excuse his afternoon absences. At school, Kushina tried to catch Araki to ask about the previous night, but her classmates crowded around her and he left before she could reach him.

• Araki told Ibuki-sensei he would study medical ninjutsu with Tsunade each afternoon and asked for time off.
• Araki asked Ibuki-sensei to keep his apprenticeship secret and explained that Tsunade had cured his voice.
• Ibuki-sensei granted Araki leave and urged him to focus on morning lessons and graduate from the Ninja Academy.
• Araki attended class while Ibuki-sensei watched him closely, then left at lunchtime for Tsunade's house.
• Kushina tried to catch Araki to ask what had happened the previous night, but her classmates surrounded her with lunch invitations and Araki slipped away.

Araki went to Tsunade’s home for lunch and prepared to begin his medical-nin training. Tsunade gave him study materials and said she would teach him basic medical theory for about a year.

• Kushina bumped into Uchiha Mikoto, and the two introduced themselves and went to eat tricolor dango together.
• The boys in Kushina’s class watched her leave with Mikoto, while Minato wondered privately whether he could have invited her to lunch.
• Araki arrived at Tsunade’s home for the lunch she had arranged and worried about how much of his Medical Ninjutsu ability to show.
• Tsunade told Araki that Nawaki had handled both their transfers to the Medical Team, then brought him a book, notebook, and pens.
• Tsunade began Araki’s lessons by explaining that she would teach him basic medical theory for about a year.

Tsunade began Araki’s demanding medical training and gave him her unique notes on poisons and antidotes. When Nawaki returned, Tsunade asked Araki to check whether he was still in danger, and Araki used the First Hokage’s Necklace to absorb chakra while pretending to focus on the check.

• Tsunade gave Araki a thick medical textbook and explained that medical-nin needed extensive theoretical knowledge before learning Medical Ninjutsu.
• Tsunade showed Araki her handwritten poison and antidote notes, which she had made after facing Chiyo of Sunagakure.
• Araki thanked Tsunade and began studying medicine seriously under her instruction.
• Nawaki returned after completing the paperwork to join the Medical Team, and Tsunade called him over for a lesson.
• Tsunade asked Araki to check whether Nawaki was out of danger, and Araki touched the First Hokage’s Necklace to draw chakra into himself.