Chapter Summaries

Araki reassured Kushina that they were friends even if she became a monster, and promised to stand by her side. He left for training, while Kushina was left crying at the door.

• Kushina asked Araki whether they were friends and whether he would still accept her if she became a monster.
• Araki recognized Kushina's fear and told her they would remain friends even if she turned into a terrifying monster.
• Kushina urged Araki to stay away if she ever lost control because she did not want to hurt him.
• Araki told Kushina she was his only friend and that he would fight by her side regardless.
• Kushina asked why he would stand with a monster, and Araki replied that he was standing with his friend before leaving.

Araki overheard three young Uchiha searching the woods for the missing Sora Hyuga and realized their leader was Uchiha Fugaku and their companion was Uchiha Mikoto. They continued searching without knowing Sora was already dead, while Araki watched from hiding.

• Kushina thanked Araki for comforting her, then returned to her room to rest.
• Araki trained in the woods and sensed three people approaching, so he hid in a treetop.
• Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Mikoto, and another young Uchiha searched the woods for Sora Hyuga, hoping to earn a chance to join the Konoha Military Police Force.
• Araki recognized Fugaku and Mikoto and concluded that the missing Sora was the person they sought.
• The three Uchiha continued deeper into the forest, and Araki noted that they would not find Sora.

Araki continued hiding his role in Sora Hyuga’s disappearance as the Military Police Force questioned students at the Ninja Academy. He told Uchiha Nanagen'u that Sora had challenged him to a sparring match in the grove, then claimed he had run away and knew nothing more.

• Araki decided to move his training to the lake and add weights after noticing how swimming had improved his control and agility.
• Araki found his schoolbag waiting at his lodgings and noticed that Kushina was keeping more distance from him.
• Mr. Ibuki entered the classroom with two members of the Military Police Force, and Uchiha Nanagen'u took charge of questioning the students.
• Uchiha Nanagen'u asked the students when they had last seen Sora Hyuga while his partner watched their expressions with a Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
• Araki stammered that Sora Hyuga had asked him to spar in the grove, that he had run because he was no match for Sora, and that he knew nothing afterward.

After the Konoha Military Police questioned Araki and the class about Sora Hyuga’s disappearance, Teacher Ibuki privately revealed that he had arranged an interview for Araki with the Konoha Medical Corps. Araki accepted the unexpected news as Teacher Ibuki explained that he had acted to help him pursue his dream of becoming a medical-nin.

• Teacher Ibuki explained Araki’s behavior during the mock duel, and Uchiha Nanagen'u accepted Araki’s denial that he had pursued Sora Hyuga.
• The Konoha Military Police left the classroom, and Teacher Ibuki resumed the lesson while Araki reflected on the Uchiha Clan’s conduct.
• After class, Teacher Ibuki asked Araki to stay and told him he had arranged an interview with the Konoha Medical Corps.
• Teacher Ibuki explained that he had signed Araki up after learning that Araki wanted to become a medical-nin.

Ibuki-sensei signed Araki up for an interview with the Medical Team and encouraged him to pursue his dream of becoming a medical-nin. Araki welcomed the opportunity because it could give him a convincing reason to explain when he began speaking normally, and he followed Ibuki-sensei to the Medical Team after they ate sushi together.

• Ibuki-sensei told Araki he had registered him for a Medical Team interview and reassured him that the team’s quiet environment might suit him.
• Araki realized that training as a medical-nin could provide a legitimate explanation for regaining his ability to speak normally.
• Araki thanked Ibuki-sensei, who excused him from class and offered to take him to the Medical Team for an interview.
• Ibuki-sensei took Araki to a sushi restaurant and ordered them matching set meals.
• Araki tried the sushi and told Ibuki-sensei it was good.

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.