Chapter Summaries

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.

Araki convinced Tsunade that his visions showed Nawaki was safest at home, and Tsunade ordered Nawaki to stay inside for a year unless Araki approved him going out. After leaving Tsunade’s house, Araki studied a poison manuscript and worried about affording ingredients, then headed home before his appointment with Might Duy.

• Araki told Tsunade and Nawaki that his vision showed Nawaki safe at home studying Medical Ninjutsu, and Tsunade ordered Nawaki to stay home for a year unless Araki approved an outing.
• Nawaki initially objected, but Araki stepped on his foot and signaled him to agree, so Nawaki accepted the restriction.
• Araki finished his lesson with Tsunade and told Nawaki privately that going out was up to him, though he had no intention of approving it.
• Araki read a manuscript on poisons and worried that he lacked the money to buy the medicinal ingredients needed to practice.
• Araki left for home instead of going straight to his appointment with Might Duy, hoping to learn more about the household’s finances.

Araki returned home and unexpectedly walked in on Kushina and Uchiha Mikoto changing into matching outfits, then recognized Mikoto from his earlier encounter in the woods. Mikoto misunderstood Kushina’s living arrangement with Araki and teased her, while Kushina struggled to explain.

• Araki arrived home and heard Kushina and a guest laughing inside.
• He opened the door while Kushina and Uchiha Mikoto were changing clothes, and the girls yelled at him and threw a dress over his head.
• Kushina scolded Araki for not knocking, while Mikoto reacted with shock that Kushina was living with a boy.
• Araki recognized Mikoto as the girl he had seen in the woods and wondered why she was visiting Kushina.
• Mikoto teased Kushina about living with Araki, and Kushina's attempts to explain only made the misunderstanding worse.

Araki left Kushina and Mikoto at home and went to meet Might Duy for training. Duy offered him a bright green training suit, but Araki refused and urged him to save it for his future son.

• Araki fled the house while Kushina Uzumaki and Uchiha Mikoto talked, leaving them confused before they teased each other and grew closer.
• Araki decided to meet Might Duy for training after considering how to earn money and wondering why Mikoto had visited Kushina.
• Araki arrived at the park and joined Might Duy, who proposed buying him a green training suit for their next session.
• Araki rejected the outfit, explaining that he wanted to train in secret and telling Duy to save the suit for his son.

Araki spent half a year studying medicine with Tsunade and training with Might Duy, becoming proficient in medical theory while Nawaki remained confined at home. Tsunade told Araki he would take a final assessment the next day, and Nawaki begged in vain for permission to go outside.

• Araki refused to wear Might Duy's training outfit but agreed to begin two hundred laps of high-knee running.
• Araki kept up his daily routine of Academy studies, medical lessons with Tsunade and Nawaki, and night training with Might Duy as his energy and learning improved.
• The inquiry into Sora Hyuga faded without further news after Uchiha Nanagen'u questioned him.
• Tsunade told Araki that he would take a final assessment the next day and could begin studying Medical Ninjutsu if he passed.
• Nawaki begged Araki to ask Tsunade to let him go out, but Araki refused and left for training with Might Duy.

Araki returned home and found three men restraining Kushina and preparing to abduct her. The intruders turned on him, while Kushina begged him to escape.

• Nawaki angrily vowed to confine Araki when he became Hokage, then dismissed the thought of Araki marrying his sister.
• Araki arrived home and heard Kushina struggling and calling for help inside.
• Araki rushed through the door and saw three men tying up Kushina.
• Kushina pleaded with Araki to save her, and the scar-faced leader revealed that the men had come to take her away.
• Two intruders advanced on Araki with kunai as Kushina tearfully urged him to run.

Araki confronted the Kumogakure ninja who had come to kidnap Kushina and tested his Taijutsu training against them. After killing two attackers with speed and precision, he prepared to face the scar-faced ninja.

• Araki recognized the intruders as Kumogakure ninja and locked the door to keep them inside.
• Araki took a fighting stance, reassuring Kushina and surprising her with his concealed strength.
• Araki rushed the right-hand ninja and knocked him unconscious with a powerful punch.
• Araki dodged the left-hand ninja's kunai, disarmed him, and slit his throat.
• Araki stabbed the unconscious right-hand ninja through the heart, then turned to face the scar-faced ninja.

Araki faced a scar-faced Kumogakure ninja who held Kushina hostage and offered to trade her for Araki. Araki agreed to approach Kushina, leaving the confrontation poised for the switch.

• The scar-faced ninja used Kushina to block Araki and proposed taking Araki as a hostage in exchange for releasing her.
• He threatened Kushina with a kunai and struck the back of her head when she urged Araki to flee.
• Araki agreed to the deal and calmly walked toward Kushina, while Kushina shouted at him not to put himself in danger.
• The scar-faced ninja praised Araki for agreeing and said he only wanted to leave safely.

Araki rescued Kushina from the scar-faced Kumogakure ninja by using a Wood Clone to deceive him and secretly attack. After freeing Kushina, Araki comforted her as she clung to him and cried.

• Araki pretended to surrender so the scar-faced man would tie up his Wood Clone while Araki's real body stayed hidden.
• The scar-faced man revealed he would not release Kushina and tried to stab Araki.
• Araki's hidden real body paralyzed the scar-faced man, who collapsed and never woke again.
• Araki untied Kushina and explained that the bound Araki had been a Wood Clone.
• Kushina hugged Araki, and he comforted her as she sobbed.

Araki comforted Kushina after rescuing her, then killed the unconscious scar-faced kidnapper and concealed how he had used poison to incapacitate him. He disposed of the three bodies and cleaned the bathroom, leaving Kushina wondering where they had gone.

• Kushina bit Araki's shoulder and scolded him through tears for risking himself to save her.
• Kushina kissed Araki's cheek, and Araki killed the unconscious scar-faced man with a kunai.
• Araki told Kushina he had used a medical anesthetic, while privately keeping the contact poison and his methods secret.
• Araki refused to report the deaths to the Konoha Military Police Force and told Kushina to keep quiet while he handled the bodies.
• Araki looted the three bodies and disposed of them in the bathroom, then cleaned away every trace.
• Kushina looked into the spotless, empty bathroom and asked Araki where the three men had gone.

Araki protected Kushina after killing the Kumogakure intruders, then followed clues on their map toward Konoha’s outskirts, suspecting a mole had helped them enter the village. He left Kushina with a wooden ball and instructions for defending herself, and headed to investigate the marked exit route.

• Araki told Kushina that he had dissolved the intruders’ bodies and replaced the bloodstained bathroom floorboards.
• Araki gave Kushina a wooden ball and a green pill, instructing her how to incapacitate and kill any enemies who appeared.
• Araki left Kushina at home and sent a Wood Clone to tell Might Duy he would miss training.
• Araki studied a map taken from the scar-faced intruder and saw marks showing Kushina’s home and an exit at Konoha’s barrier.
• Araki suspected a mole had guided the Kumogakure ninja into the village and hurried toward the marked barrier.