Chapter Summaries

Kushina arrived in Konoha with Biwako Sarutobi, who arranged for her to share a bedroom in Araki’s house and described him as a troubled, isolated boy. Araki finished another day at the Ninja Academy and headed home, unaware that Kushina was coming to stay.

• Biwako Sarutobi escorted Kushina toward Konoha and told her the village would be her new home.
• Biwako explained that Kushina would stay in a bedroom at Araki’s house and described Araki as hard of hearing, withdrawn, and rarely home at night.
• Kushina learned the homeowner’s name was Araki and grew curious about meeting him.
• Kushina entered Konoha with Biwako, who planned to take her to Araki’s house before she reported to the Ninja Academy.
• Araki slept through the end of class, concealed his familiarity with the textbooks, and headed home.

Araki returned home to find Biwako Sarutobi had arranged for Kushina Uzumaki to live with him, disrupting his plan to keep his distance from Konoha’s dangers. Kushina introduced herself and declared that they would be friends, while Araki silently considered how to handle his new roommate.

• Araki approached his home and saw that the door was ajar, so he became wary of a possible intruder.
• Biwako Sarutobi told Araki she had found a tenant for his house and claimed he had asked her to rent it out.
• Biwako introduced Kushina Uzumaki and said she had paid ten years of rent, then left Kushina to stay with Araki.
• Araki recognized Kushina and worried that living with her would pull him into events involving Minato Namikaze and the Nine-Tails.
• Kushina greeted Araki, introduced herself, and told him they would be friends.

Araki struggled to keep his Wood Release hidden and his withdrawn persona intact after Kushina Uzumaki moved into his home. Kushina waited for him the next morning and insisted they go to the Ninja Academy together, leaving Araki wary of her intentions.

• Kushina introduced herself to Araki as his new roommate, and he reluctantly shook her hand before leaving the house.
• Araki reflected on Kushina’s dangerous future and resolved to keep a low profile while secretly strengthening his body.
• Araki ran through the night in a grove and returned home exhausted at sunrise.
• Kushina waited outside Araki’s door with his schoolbag and told him it was time to go to class.
• Kushina explained that she was a transfer student and that they were classmates and roommates, while Araki wondered why Biwako had told her so much.

Araki tried to set boundaries with Kushina after she declared them friends, hoping to keep their shared home and relationship private. Kushina rejected his request to act like strangers outside, and Araki began explaining his second condition before they headed to the Ninja Academy.

• Kushina promised to protect Araki because she considered him her friend.
• Araki invited Kushina inside and told her he had three conditions for their friendship.
• Araki asked Kushina to keep their living arrangement and relationship secret and act as though they did not know each other outside.
• Kushina refused to pretend they were strangers but agreed they could act like ordinary friends in public.
• Araki began asking Kushina not to draw attention to herself or make enemies in Konoha.

Araki made Kushina agree to keep his private affairs and abilities secret, while Kushina mistakenly believed his caution stemmed from trauma over his parents’ deaths. They headed to the Ninja Academy together, where Kushina entered their shared classroom excitedly.

• Kushina accepted Araki’s request not to discuss his dream of becoming Hokage, privately deciding to help him feel safer.
• Araki asked Kushina to keep anything she learned about him secret, and she readily agreed.
• Araki and Kushina left for the Ninja Academy, keeping some distance between them as they walked.
• Kushina admired the Ninja Academy grounds and followed Araki into their shared classroom.

Kushina joined Araki’s classroom and followed his advice to avoid standing out, introducing herself and saying she wanted to be friends with everyone. Araki watched her settle in without incident, while Ibuki’s lesson left the class considering their dreams.

• Kushina chose a seat across the classroom from Araki and ignored her classmates’ remarks about her red hair.
• Ibuki introduced Kushina and asked her to share her dream with the class.
• Kushina remembered Araki’s advice and said she wanted to be friends with everyone.
• The students felt apologetic after Kushina’s answer, and Araki silently approved of how she handled the introduction.
• Araki considered how Kushina’s presence in his home might bring trouble once his classmates found out.

Minato Namikaze declared that he wanted to become Hokage, impressing his classmates and making Kushina see him as a rival. When Teacher Ibuki asked Araki about his dream, Araki said he wanted to become a medical-nin, leaving Ibuki surprised and Kushina intrigued.

• Minato Namikaze said his dream was to become a Hokage acknowledged by the village, and his classmates reacted with admiration.
• Kushina regarded Minato as a competitor for the Hokage position and compared his showiness unfavorably with Araki's composure.
• Teacher Ibuki called on Araki to share his dream while Kushina watched eagerly.
• Araki carefully claimed that he wanted to become a medical-nin, speaking haltingly to preserve his unremarkable image.
• Teacher Ibuki asked Araki why he wanted to become a medical-nin, and Araki began to answer.

Araki explained that he wanted to become a medical-nin so fewer people would lose their parents, changing how Kushina viewed him. After seeing Kushina make friends with her classmates, Araki recognized that events were diverging from the history he knew and decided to train harder.

• Araki told Teacher Ibuki that he wanted to become a medical-nin to prevent others from suffering the loss of their parents.
• Kushina interpreted Araki's words as proof that he cared about her and wanted her to have friends.
• After class, Araki saw students warmly introducing themselves to Kushina and realized that her changed behavior had altered events.
• Araki left for the forest and began training harder because he feared unexpected changes could leave him unprepared.
• Kushina returned to her lodgings, grumbling that Araki had left her behind despite feeling no real dislike toward him.

Danzo abducted Kushina and took her to learn that she was meant to become the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, leaving her emotionally shattered. Araki recognized the reason for her distress but chose not to comfort her, believing the transfer was necessary to prevent the Nine-Tails from escaping.

• Danzo introduced himself to Kushina and forcibly took her away from Araki’s home.
• Araki trained in the woods, unaware that Danzo had abducted Kushina and glad to avoid being noticed by him.
• Kushina waited outside Araki’s home until morning, then broke down and clung to him in terror and despair.
• Araki understood that Kushina had learned she was to succeed Mito as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Araki cut off Kushina’s sobbing and sent her to class, accepting the transfer as necessary to keep the Nine-Tails contained.

Araki tried to distance himself from Kushina by refusing to comfort her and keeping ahead of her on the way to school. Kushina remained determined to befriend him and followed him into the Ninja Academy.

• Araki pulled away from Kushina and decided that acting cold would help widen the distance between them.
• Kushina wiped away her tears, accepted that she could not change her situation, and asked Araki to show more concern.
• Araki walked ahead while matching Kushina's pace, and she struggled to catch up after a sleepless night.
• Kushina resolved to keep pursuing Araki until he acknowledged her, while Araki worried about attracting trouble before he could safely reveal his Wood Release.
• Araki took his usual seat at the Ninja Academy, and Kushina arrived panting and glared at him from the classroom doorway.

Kushina’s arrival made Araki the target of his classmates’ jealousy after they mistook her resentment for sadness caused by him. Teacher Ibuki announced mock battles, and several students seemed eager to face Araki.

• Kushina restrained her anger when her classmates insulted Araki, remembering his advice not to get into conflicts.
• The students misunderstood Kushina’s mood and turned hostile looks toward Araki, believing he had offended her.
• Teacher Ibuki arrived and told the class to gather on the training field for mock battles.
• Several students glanced at Araki as if they hoped to be paired with him, while he planned to keep his usual middle-of-the-class record.

Inoichi Yamanaka and Shikaku Nara staged an evenly matched mock battle until Ibuki called it a draw. Ibuki then chose Araki for the next bout and searched for an opponent, while many students eagerly hoped to face him.

• Ibuki paired Inoichi Yamanaka and Shikaku Nara for the first mock battle, and the classmates watched with curiosity.
• Inoichi Yamanaka and Shikaku Nara traded Taijutsu and Shuriken attacks without using their clan techniques, while Ibuki suspected they were putting on an act.
• Ibuki declared the bout a draw, and the two boys exchanged the Seal of Reconciliation.
• Ibuki decided not to pair close friends together again, called Araki forward, and noticed many students signaling that they wanted to be his opponent.

Mr. Ibuki paired Araki with Sora Hyuga for a mock match, expecting Araki to lose with dignity, but Araki conceded before the fight began. The class was left stunned, and Sora Hyuga stood bewildered after losing his chance to challenge Araki.

• Mr. Ibuki chose Sora Hyuga, one of the class's strongest students, to face Araki.
• Sora Hyuga stepped forward, eager to teach Araki a lesson and show off before Kushina Uzumaki.
• Araki skipped the opening seal and formed the Seal of Reconciliation with Sora Hyuga.
• Araki calmly said, "I lost," then returned to the line without showing shame or disappointment.
• The students, Kushina Uzumaki, Mr. Ibuki, and Sora Hyuga were stunned by Araki's unexpected concession.

After Sora Hyuga tried to punch Araki from behind, Mr. Ibuki stopped him and ordered him to apologize. Sora apologized but threatened Araki in private, while Araki revealed to himself that he had sensed Sora’s approach.

• Sora Hyuga rushed at Araki from behind after the mock duel had ended.
• Mr. Ibuki caught Sora Hyuga’s wrist and reprimanded him for attacking a classmate.
• Mr. Ibuki ordered Sora Hyuga to apologize, and Sora reluctantly complied.
• Sora Hyuga quietly told Araki that he would have been knocked down if Mr. Ibuki had not intervened.
• Araki remained calm and recalled sensing the air movement behind him as Sora charged.

Araki reflected on Sora Hyuga’s provocation and observed Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki during their mock battles. That night, he sensed someone following him into the forest, and the pursuer finally closed in as he worried about who might have discovered his secret Wood Release.

• Araki returned to the line after Teacher Ibuki stopped his confrontation with Sora Hyuga, keeping his strength hidden.
• Araki watched Minato Namikaze easily defeat his opponent and saw Kushina Uzumaki overwhelm hers with wild, forceful attacks.
• After school, Araki went to train in the forest and sensed someone following him at a steady distance.
• Araki tested the pursuer by stopping and changing pace, then continued deeper into the forest as night fell.
• The pursuer suddenly sped up and closed the gap, while Araki feared it might be Orochimaru, Kumogakure ninja, or one of the Third’s people.

Araki confronted Sora Hyuga in the forest after Sora followed him to demand another fight and threatened to expose his nighttime outings. Sora demanded a public apology for the next day, and Araki stayed silent rather than agree.

• Sora Hyuga confronted Araki in the forest and demanded they resume their practice match.
• Araki said their previous match was over and that Sora had won, but Sora insisted on fighting again because Araki had embarrassed him in class.
• Araki tried to leave, and Sora threatened to tell the village about his nighttime outings to make him stop.
• Araki turned back and asked whether fighting would settle the matter, but Sora demanded that he apologize in front of the class the next day.
• Araki refused to answer because a public apology would draw attention to him.

Araki lured Sora Hyuga deep into the forest, killed him, and began disposing of the evidence. The chapter left Araki preparing to use explosive tags after realizing he had not been ready for the encounter.

• Araki fled through the forest, drawing Sora Hyuga into a long chase until Sora was exhausted and lost in thick mist.
• Araki appeared beside Sora and seized him by the throat, refusing his pleas for mercy.
• Araki explained that Sora had mistaken the hunter for prey, then crushed Sora's throat and killed him.
• Araki took Sora's ninja tools and money, then stabbed out his eyes to prevent the Byakugan from becoming a concern.
• Araki took out two explosive tags and reflected that he had not been prepared enough.

Araki disposed of Sora Hyuga’s body and erased the evidence after killing him. He returned toward his usual training ground, believing his precautions would prevent the disappearance from leading back to him.

• Araki used an Explosive Tag inside a Water Prison to destroy Sora Hyuga’s body, then buried the remains with an Earth Release technique.
• Araki burned Sora Hyuga’s clothes and spread ground pepper over the area to mask the scent.
• Araki recalled that he had trained in Water Release at night and used the Hidden Mist Technique to obstruct the Telescope Technique.
• Araki headed back toward his usual training ground and considered how the Hyuga Clan and Konoha Military Police Force might investigate Sora Hyuga’s disappearance.
• Araki reasoned that his low profile, the lack of evidence, and his apparent weakness in their practice match would keep suspicion away from him.

Araki returned home after training and found a note from Kushina explaining that she would be away for several days, possibly risking her life. Her concern deepened their bond, and Araki went to the Ninja Academy, where Kushina was still absent.

• Araki used pepper powder to confuse any trail before returning to his forest training grounds and training through the night.
• Araki found his schoolbag, house key, and a note from Kushina saying she would be away for several days and might not return.
• Araki felt warmed by Kushina's concern, recognized that their bond had changed, and kept her note and his key in his ninja tool pouch.
• Araki went to the Ninja Academy, where the students noticed Kushina's empty seat and Teacher Ibuki began class.

Teacher Ibuki became concerned when Sora Hyuga missed three days of school and went to the Hyuga Clan to investigate. Araki remained confident that Sora’s disappearance would not lead back to him, but Kushina’s return revealed that she had become the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, prompting Araki to fear what Konoha might do if it discovered his Wood Release.

• Teacher Ibuki noticed Sora Hyuga was absent and, after three days without seeing him or hearing from the Hyuga Clan, questioned the class.
• The students said they had not seen Sora Hyuga, so Teacher Ibuki dismissed them and hurried to the Hyuga Clan’s grounds to investigate.
• Araki believed Sora Hyuga would remain missing because he had concealed the body and erased its scent, and he decided not to seek corpse-dissolving fluid yet.
• Araki returned home and found Kushina, whose red, swollen eyes and subdued demeanor showed him that she had become the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Araki reflected that Konoha might force him to serve the village if it learned he had Wood Release, and he resolved to become strong enough to protect himself.