Chapter Summaries

Araki returned home and asked Kushina for the method to make scrolls, while Mikoto admired the many skills he was pursuing. The chapter left Kushina retrieving her clan’s sealing notes and Araki agreeing that his energy was limitless.

• Araki reflected that he had heard nothing about Dan Katō’s death because information in Konoha was tightly controlled.
• Araki returned home, where Kushina gave him a bag of blank tags she had exchanged for cash.
• Araki asked Kushina whether she knew how to make scrolls, and Kushina went to find the Uzumaki sealing notes despite worrying about sharing her clan’s secrets.
• Mikoto asked why Araki had not thanked her for exchanging the tags, and Araki replied that he had asked Kushina.
• Mikoto listed Araki’s many pursuits and wondered whether his energy was limitless, and Araki calmly agreed.

Araki studied a scroll about storing and releasing ninjutsu, then realized sealing tags could hold jutsu other than sealing techniques. He rushed off to experiment, while Mikoto wondered whether his recent behavior was meant to attract her attention.

• Araki teased Mikoto about his limitless energy before Kushina brought him a scroll.
• Araki spent about an hour and a half studying the scroll and learned how scrolls used activation and sealing jutsu.
• Araki reread Kushina’s scroll about paper tags and discovered that sealing tags could contain other kinds of jutsu.
• Araki packed both scrolls and his blank tags, then rushed out without explaining his discovery to Kushina or Mikoto.
• Mikoto speculated that Araki was acting strangely to get her attention and worried that Kushina liked him.
• Araki raced toward a grove to stimulate the green chakra in his heart and replenish the chakra he had spent learning the Mystical Palm Technique.

Araki studied how sealing formulas could store and renew ninjutsu in tags and scrolls, then sensed a group approaching in the woods. Uchiha Nanagen'u and the Konoha Military Police Force questioned him and searched his bag, finding a scroll containing a Sealing Jutsu.

• Araki reasoned that different ninjutsu could be sealed into paper tags and worked out the five layers that made scrolls reusable.
• Araki sensed several people approaching and found Uchiha Nanagen'u and members of the Konoha Military Police Force in the clearing.
• Uchiha Nanagen'u questioned Araki about training at night and demanded to inspect his backpack.
• Araki handed over the backpack without resisting, and Uchiha Nanagen'u found two scrolls, two brushes, and a pouch inside.
• Uchiha Nanagen'u opened one scroll, recognized the Sealing Jutsu written on it, and rolled it back up.

Araki deflected Uchiha Nanagen'u’s questions about his talisman supplies and his whereabouts by linking himself to Uchiha Mikoto and Tsunade. Nanagen'u let him go, while the Konoha Military Police Force continued investigating Dan Katō’s disappearance and questioned their captain’s decision.

• Uchiha Nanagen'u searched Araki’s pouch and questioned him about the blank talisman papers and money.
• Araki claimed Kushina Uzumaki had given him a Sealing Jutsu scroll and Uchiha Mikoto had bought his supplies, adding that Mikoto had been staying at his house.
• Araki said he had taken his exams, visited Tsunade-sensei, and trained in the grove, where he saw Mikoto; Nanagen'u considered the pair’s alibis and found no reason to detain him.
• Nanagen'u advised Araki to train in the central park, then asked why Mikoto was staying at his house; Araki said he did not know.
• After Araki left, a member of the Konoha Military Police Force asked Uchiha Nanagen'u why he had let him go.

Araki focused on making explosive tags and developing poison, then prepared Purple Blood and went into the woods to test it on a wild animal. He encountered a towering bear, which roared and rose up before him.

• Araki suppressed his urge to experiment with special tags and returned to training so he could keep funding his poison research.
• After another week, Araki assessed his lack of a safe place to work and prepared Purple Blood poison using crude equipment.
• Araki coated a kunai with Purple Blood and headed into the woods to find an animal to test it on.
• Araki considered why Konoha allowed wild beasts to remain near the village, reasoning that they provided genin with training opportunities.
• A huge black bear roared and stood upright in front of Araki.

Araki fought a black bear in the woods to assess his strength, then tested his Purple Blood poison on it. He watched the wounded bear walk deeper into the forest, waiting to see whether the poison would kill it.

• Araki charged the black bear and knocked it to the ground with one powerful punch, gauging his physical strength.
• The bear attacked again, but Araki evaded its swipes and struck its back with a kunai coated in Purple Blood poison.
• Araki withdrew to a tree branch and watched as the bear's wound and blood began turning purple.
• The wounded bear left deeper into the woods, while Araki waited to learn whether the poison would prove fatal.

Araki confirmed that his Purple Blood poison could keep a wound bleeding until its victim died, then returned home and declined Kushina and Mikoto’s invitation to go shopping that afternoon. He agreed to take them out the next day, leaving both girls excited to spend time with him.

• Araki watched the poisoned black bear bleed for hours and confirmed that Purple Blood was effective.
• Araki returned home, where Kushina and Mikoto invited him to go shopping with them.
• Araki refused because he planned to study Medical Ninjutsu with Tsunade-sensei that afternoon.
• Araki suggested going out with Kushina and Mikoto the next day, and both girls celebrated.

Araki learned that Tsunade had an urgent village matter and postponed his lesson, while she asked him to watch over Nawaki. He decided to put off shopping with Kushina and Mikoto and stayed with Nawaki, who was troubled by Tsunade’s absence.

• Mikoto realized that the Uchiha Clan had discovered Araki owned Kushina’s house and decided she would have to leave after the next day.
• Araki went to Tsunade’s house for his lesson, but Tsunade left in a hurry and said she could not teach him the next day.
• Tsunade asked Araki to come by the next day because she was worried about Nawaki, and Araki agreed to stay with him.
• Araki suspected Dan Katō’s disappearance had caused the village’s unrest and worried that an attack on Nawaki could be blamed on him.
• Araki chose to postpone shopping with Kushina and Mikoto rather than risk exposing his Wood Clone.
• Nawaki called Araki “brother-in-law” to tease him, then grew quiet and curled up in worry.

Araki and Nawaki joked about romance before Araki redirected their conversation to medical ninjutsu and spent the afternoon teaching Nawaki. Araki left with a deeper understanding of medical theory, while Nawaki lay exhausted and complained about his nonstop talking.

• Nawaki complained that his older sister was unlikely to marry, and Araki questioned his harsh view of her.
• Nawaki pressed Araki to name someone he liked, and Araki casually named Nawaki’s sister.
• Nawaki suspected Araki was serious about liking his sister and teased him about being a good match for her.
• Araki changed the subject to medical ninjutsu, and Nawaki groaned at the thought of studying more theory.
• Araki spent the afternoon teaching Nawaki medical theory, improving his own understanding in the process.
• After Araki left, Nawaki collapsed onto the tatami and complained that Araki’s voice was still echoing in his head.

Tsunade discovered that Nawaki had learned medical theory from Araki and decided Araki should keep teaching him, leaving Nawaki terrified of both siblings. Araki returned home and found Uchiha Mikoto and Kushina flushed and unsteady, with the smell of alcohol coming from the bedroom.

• Tsunade found Nawaki lying on the tatami and asked what was wrong.
• Nawaki recited the medical knowledge Araki had taught him, convincing Tsunade that he had learned it.
• Tsunade arranged for Araki to teach Nawaki basic medical knowledge starting the next day, and Nawaki complained that she and Araki were devils.
• Tsunade struck the tatami hard enough to shake the floor after Nawaki said Araki would be a frightening brother-in-law.
• Araki returned home, where Uchiha Mikoto and Kushina appeared flustered and unsteady, and he smelled alcohol from the bedroom.

Araki caught Kushina and Mikoto drinking illegally, then stayed with them while they ate and continued drinking. As the alcohol loosened Mikoto’s tongue, she asked Kushina outright whether she liked Araki, leaving Kushina embarrassed and Araki speechless.

• Araki confronted Kushina and Mikoto after realizing they had been drinking, and Mikoto admitted she had brought the sake.
• Mikoto laid out the food she had prepared, and Araki agreed to eat but refused to drink.
• Mikoto and Kushina continued drinking sake while Araki watched over them.
• Mikoto asked Kushina whether she liked Araki, and Kushina blushed and struggled to answer.
• Mikoto reflected on her growing fascination with Araki and compared her feelings with her familiar relationship with Uchiha Fugaku.

Mikoto and Kushina drank with Araki and agreed to play truth or dare after he explained the rules. Araki refused to join, but the girls tried to persuade him by offering to cancel their shopping plans for the next day.

• Mikoto offered Araki sake, but he declined and continued eating rice balls.
• Mikoto proposed a question-and-drink game, and Araki explained truth or dare, including the penalty for refusing or failing a challenge.
• Mikoto and Kushina agreed to play while Araki served as referee.
• Mikoto and Kushina invited Araki to join, but he refused and said he would watch.
• Mikoto offered to cancel their shopping trip with Araki the next day if he played, and Kushina agreed.

Araki agreed to play truth or dare with Kushina and Mikoto, hoping the game would help him avoid shopping with them. The spoon picked Araki first, and Kushina asked whether he had ever thought about becoming Hokage.

• Araki agreed to play truth or dare with Kushina and Mikoto and set rules that required the chosen player to answer questions from both girls.
• Araki spun the spoon, which passed Kushina and Mikoto before stopping in Araki's section.
• Kushina and Mikoto celebrated that Araki had been picked, while Araki reluctantly prepared for his turn.
• Araki chose truth and let Kushina ask the first question.
• Kushina asked Araki whether he had ever thought about becoming Hokage.

Araki, Kushina, and Mikoto continued playing truth or dare, and Mikoto nervously chose a dare from Araki. The chapter left her facing a half bowl of vinegar that Araki told her to drink.

• Kushina asked Araki whether he had ever thought about becoming Hokage, and he said he had.
• Mikoto asked to claim her dare in advance, and Araki agreed to carry her back to bed if she got drunk and fell asleep.
• Araki spun the spoon, and it stopped in front of Mikoto.
• Mikoto chose dare, and Araki brought her half a bowl of vinegar to drink.
• Mikoto protested that Araki was a devil when she saw the vinegar.

During a truth-or-dare game, Mikoto admitted she liked someone but became unsure whether she still liked Fugaku or had developed feelings for Araki. Araki spun the spoon for the next round, then sensed four people approaching.

• Araki hosted the game and made Mikoto choose between drinking liquor and vinegar; she chose liquor.
• Kushina asked Mikoto whether she liked a boy, and Mikoto said she did.
• Mikoto thought of Fugaku and Araki, leaving herself uncertain about her feelings.
• Araki spun the spoon to begin the next round and sensed four people approaching.

Araki sensed a squad approaching while playing truth or dare with Kushina and Mikoto, so he sent out disguised Wood Clones to investigate. The clones identified the intruders as Kumogakure ninja, and Araki’s suspicion that they were connected to his previous encounter with the village remained unresolved.

• Araki opened the door and sent out two Wood Clones disguised first as himself and then as Uchiha Ueki.
• Araki returned to the table, where Kushina asked about his teachers and he named Ibuki-sensei.
• Mikoto asked Araki how strong he was at the Ninja Academy, while the Wood Clones moved to observe the approaching figures.
• The Wood Clones spotted three sneaking figures and a fourth person farther away, then recognized the three as Kumogakure ninja.
• Araki’s Wood Clones suspected the squad had come because the Kumogakure ninja he had previously dealt with had failed to report back.

Araki’s Wood Clones discovered another Kumogakure squad and lured its four ninja into the forest by disguising one clone as Kushina. Meanwhile, Araki kept playing a question game with Kushina and Mikoto, unaware of how the ambush would unfold.

• Araki’s two Wood Clones decided to eliminate the Kumogakure ninja and chose a plan to concentrate the power of their Explosive Tags.
• One Wood Clone transformed into Kushina and walked out to draw the four Kumogakure ninja after it.
• The disguised clone led the Kumogakure ninja toward the forest while Araki’s other clone followed behind, waiting for a chance to attack.
• At home, Mikoto asked Araki to assess his strength, and he claimed he might rank among the top five in their class at practice matches.
• Araki continued the game with Kushina and Mikoto while monitoring how long his Wood Clones had been away.

Araki used a Wood Clone disguised as Kushina to lure three Kumogakure ninja into a trap, poisoning and binding them with his Wood Release. As he prepared to eliminate them before they could report his ability, the squad leader rushed in and heard vines coming from behind him too.

• Araki continued playing a spoon-spinning truth-or-dare game with Kushina and Mikoto while his Wood Clones remained away.
• Three Kumogakure ninja trapped Araki's Wood Clone disguised as Kushina in a net as their squad leader watched from a distance.
• Araki's clone waited until the three ninja approached, then revealed its Wood Release and bound them with thorny vines.
• The vines cut the three Kumogakure ninja, and Araki poisoned them with Purple Blood, but he decided he still needed to kill them before they could report his Wood Release.
• The squad leader charged toward the bound ninja, then heard vines shooting through the air behind him as well as in front.

Araki’s Wood Clones trapped four Kumogakure ninja and detonated Explosive Tags, while Araki, Kushina, and Mikoto played a drinking game. The chapter ended as Araki suddenly felt his head grow heavy and strange thoughts flood his mind.

• Araki’s Wood Clones bound the Kumogakure squad and his three companions, then detonated their Explosive Tags and held them in the flames.
• Araki’s Wood Clones kept the burning area contained, planning to dispel themselves when Konoha ninja arrived.
• Kushina chose Mikoto’s dare to drink the vinegar, but instead drank her sake and then chose truth with Araki.
• Araki asked Kushina whether she would keep his secrets, and Kushina promised she would.
• As Araki reached for the spoon to begin the next round, his head grew heavy and intense thoughts flooded his mind.

An explosion and fire erupted in Konoha while Araki was with Kushina and Mikoto, leaving the three of them to wonder what had happened. Araki advised the girls not to investigate, and they asked him what he thought the cause might be.

• Kushina and Mikoto were startled by an explosion and fell on top of Araki, then quickly got up after realizing their awkward position.
• Mikoto and Kushina asked what had caused the blast, while Araki said he did not know and noted that they had been together the whole time.
• Mikoto saw flames and smoke outside and worried that people might need help.
• Araki told Kushina and Mikoto not to rush toward the fire because Jonin would handle the danger and the girls were not yet Genin.
• Kushina and Mikoto asked Araki what might have happened, with Kushina privately fearing another invasion.