Chapter Summaries

Araki and Kushina began the new term at the Ninja Academy, where they checked the class list and confirmed they had both passed. Minato Namikaze watched their closeness from a distance, still unable to bring himself to speak to Kushina.

• Araki and Kushina walked to the Ninja Academy while Minato Namikaze followed them unnoticed.
• Kushina asked Araki about future three-person teams, but neither had chosen teammates.
• Kushina found Araki and her own names on the class list and thanked him for helping her pass.
• Kushina spotted Maemoto Takashi at the bottom of the list and learned he had been held back.
• Minato Namikaze entered the classroom after watching Araki and Kushina go inside, relieved when they sat apart but still preoccupied with Kushina.

Ibuki-sensei called Araki to his office and hinted that he knew about something impressive Araki had done, but Araki stayed silent and waited for him to explain. Ibuki-sensei finally gave up trying to draw it out of him and began to reveal why he had called Araki in.

• Ibuki-sensei introduced Maemoto Takashi and two other students who had failed the final exam and been held back.
• Maemoto Takashi chose a seat near Araki and watched him, while Araki dismissed his attention as pointless.
• Ibuki-sensei summoned Araki to his office at lunchtime, drawing the class's curiosity and leaving Maemoto Takashi waiting for another chance to speak with him.
• Ibuki-sensei praised Araki, but Araki wondered whether he meant Araki's exam score or his earlier encounter with Maemoto Takashi.
• Ibuki-sensei joked that Araki was good at keeping his composure, then admitted he could not outlast him and began explaining why he had called him in.

Araki learned that Ibuki-sensei had arranged for him to continue advanced Medical Ninjutsu training with Tsunade while keeping up with schoolwork. After several days of training and teaching Nawaki, Araki’s class began mock battles, and Maemoto Takashi called out to him.

• Ibuki-sensei congratulated Araki on his operation and approved his afternoon leave to study Medical Ninjutsu with Tsunade.
• Araki thanked Ibuki-sensei for opening the path that led him to Tsunade and promised to keep up with his studies.
• Araki went to Tsunade’s house, where he found Nawaki and resumed teaching him medical knowledge.
• Maemoto Takashi noticed Araki’s absence from afternoon classes and became wary of provoking him.
• Over the next three days, Araki attended morning lessons, trained Nawaki in the afternoons, and practiced taijutsu and made Explosive Tags at night.
• On the fifth day of term, Ibuki-sensei announced mock battles, and Maemoto Takashi called out to Araki in front of the class.

Maemoto Takashi announced that Boji, a Genin from the Pale Yellow School, would challenge Araki, framing the contest as one between schools. Araki accepted that he might have to defend the Azure Blue School’s reputation, and the students gathered on the field as Ibuki-sensei arrived to begin their sparring assessment.

• Maemoto Takashi confronted Araki and announced that Boji would challenge him on behalf of the Pale Yellow School, but Araki said he was busy and walked away.
• Maemoto Takashi followed Araki and went to notify Boji, who was waiting near the Ninja Academy field.
• Boji arrived at the field in his pale yellow training outfit, and the students recognized him as a Genin who intended to challenge Araki.
• Maemoto Takashi watched Araki and considered his father’s repeated requests that he apologize, but decided to put that matter off.
• Araki noticed Boji watching him and concluded that he might need to accept the challenge to protect the reputation of Might Duy and the Azure Blue School.
• Ibuki-sensei arrived as the students lined up for their post-holiday sparring assessment.

Boji challenged Araki in front of the class, but Ibuki-sensei tried to stop him because class was in session. Araki accepted the Genin’s challenge, leaving the students watching to see what would happen.

• Boji interrupted the class and challenged Araki on behalf of the Pale Yellow School, saying refusal would count as a victory for his side.
• Ibuki-sensei told Boji to wait until class ended, but Boji taunted Araki and threatened to return after class if he refused.
• Araki stepped out of formation, called Boji’s provocation clumsy, and accepted the challenge.
• Boji smiled, pleased that his plan to provoke Araki in front of the assembled students had worked.

Araki accepted Boji’s formal challenge on behalf of the Azure Blue School, after confirming that defeating Boji would end the Pale Yellow School’s challenges. Araki rushed in with a punch, and Boji moved to intercept his wrist as the class watched, unaware of what would happen next.

• Ibuki-sensei told Araki to ignore Boji, but Araki agreed to face him.
• Araki asked whether anyone else would challenge him after Boji, and Boji promised that beating him would settle the matter.
• Kushina watched Araki with confidence, while Minato Namikaze grew curious about his strength.
• Araki charged at Boji and threw a punch, but Boji judged his speed ordinary and reached to catch his wrist.

Araki defeated Boji in an instant during a mock duel, shocking the Ninja Academy students and revealing how much stronger he had become. Ibuki-sensei then selected Araki to participate first in the day's mock duels.

• Araki vanished behind Boji and knocked him unconscious with a swift kick, leaving him badly injured after he crashed face-first into the ground.
• Maemoto Takashi took the unconscious Boji to the hospital and conceded the mock duel, while Araki told Ibuki-sensei it had been quick.
• The students and Minato Namikaze were stunned by Araki's strength, while Ibuki-sensei concealed his own shock.
• Ibuki-sensei checked whether Araki was hurt and able to continue, then announced that Araki would take part in the mock duels first.

Ibuki-sensei paired Araki with Minato Namikaze after Araki defeated Boji, and Minato asked Araki to use his full strength. The mock battle began with the students eager to see which of the two would prevail.

• Araki’s defeat of Boji made the students fear being chosen to face him in a mock battle.
• Ibuki-sensei called Minato Namikaze as Araki’s opponent, exciting the students with the unexpected matchup.
• Minato stepped forward, formed the Seal of Confrontation, and asked Araki to go all out.
• Ibuki-sensei started the battle and watched eagerly to see how Araki and Minato compared.
• Kushina watched with curiosity, having long known that Araki was strong.

Araki accepted Minato Namikaze’s challenge and decided to use much of his strength despite the attention victory would bring. The spar began with Minato revealing that he had prepared the field with Flying Thunder God Kunai.

• Kushina said Araki could defeat Minato if he chose to, while the students eagerly awaited their match.
• Araki weighed the benefits and drawbacks of winning, then decided to stop worrying about attracting attention and fight seriously without using his trump cards.
• Minato thanked Araki, stepped back to begin the spar, and said he would give it his all.
• Minato threw twelve unusual kunai across the training field and held two more, while Araki recognized them as Flying Thunder God Kunai bearing teleportation formulas.
• Araki realized Minato had positioned the kunai to cover his possible movements and praised Minato’s preparation.

Araki recognized the danger of Minato Namikaze’s Flying Thunder God Technique and began destroying the marked kunai instead of attacking Minato directly. The duel continued as Araki targeted another kunai, while Minato watched and tried to determine how much Araki had understood.

• Araki retreated beyond the area covered by Minato Namikaze’s Flying Thunder God Kunai and planned to keep the fight in front of him.
• Minato Namikaze realized Araki had avoided the kunai formation, but hesitated to pursue because he could use the technique only three times.
• Araki charged diagonally toward a Flying Thunder God Kunai and cut its paper tag, destroying its formula.
• Minato Namikaze recognized that he had lost access to that kunai’s position and wondered whether Araki had seen through his technique.
• Araki rushed toward another Flying Thunder God Kunai and struck it with his ordinary kunai.

Araki tried to destroy Minato Namikaze’s Flying Thunder God Kunai and limit his teleportation options, but Minato forced a close-range exchange. Araki destroyed the formula on Minato’s thrown kunai at the cost of a cut to his cheek, then lunged at Minato with his right hand.

• Araki destroyed two Flying Thunder God Kunai and moved to target more, while Minato threw a kunai to force him to change course.
• Araki dodged the thrown kunai and destroyed another formula, while Minato picked up the kunai Araki had abandoned.
• Minato used the Flying Thunder God Technique to appear beside Araki and threw another kunai at his face.
• Araki slashed the formula from the incoming kunai, which grazed his cheek, and closed in on Minato.
• Araki reached toward Minato with his right hand, fingers spread like a claw.

Araki and Minato Namikaze fought a tense exchange of speed and tactics, with Araki removing Minato’s marked kunai to limit the Flying Thunder God Technique. Ibuki-sensei explained Minato’s S-rank space-time ninjutsu to the stunned students, while Araki and Minato remained poised across the training ground.

• Minato Namikaze used a Flying Thunder God Kunai to counter Araki’s attack, but Araki’s confident expression made Minato suspect a trap.
• Araki kicked toward Minato, who escaped with the Flying Thunder God Technique and reappeared farther away before both fighters paused.
• The students debated the exchange and marveled at Araki’s speed, while Ibuki-sensei identified Minato’s technique as the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Ibuki-sensei explained that Minato’s marked kunai formed teleportation points and realized Araki had been removing them to blunt the technique’s advantage.
• The students and Ibuki-sensei watched Araki and Minato face each other across the training ground, while Kushina kept her gaze on Araki.

Araki ended his practice match with Minato Namikaze after recognizing that Minato’s Flying Thunder God Technique made him too dangerous to defeat publicly. The two accepted the match’s end and left open the possibility of fighting again.

• Minato Namikaze realized Araki’s speed threatened him, but he had only enough chakra for one more use of the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Araki declared Minato the winner, explaining that Minato’s teleportation gave him an unbeatable position and that he did not want to draw attention by defeating him.
• Minato Namikaze objected that Araki had promised to fight at full strength, while Araki claimed his stamina was exhausted and he could no longer remove Minato’s sealing formulas.
• Araki asked Ibuki-sensei to end the match, and Minato Namikaze agreed after Araki promised to train for a rematch.

Araki and Minato Namikaze ended their spar without a clear winner, and Araki drew attention at the Ninja Academy for his speed and combat instincts. After Maemoto Takashi apologized and invited him to dinner, Araki refused and left.

• Minato Namikaze asked Araki to call their spar a draw, then asked how Araki had countered the Flying Thunder God Formula; Araki said his work with explosive tags and sealing techniques had taught him to target the marked kunai.
• Araki and Minato returned to the ranks, leaving the students unsure who was stronger, and the Ninja Academy assessment continued until noon.
• After Ibuki-sensei dismissed the students, many gathered around Araki to ask about his physique and taijutsu training, while Minato Namikaze asked how he found time to make explosive tags.
• Maemoto Takashi came to the training ground, bowed to Araki, apologized for his earlier behavior, and invited him to his family’s house for dinner.
• Araki rejected the invitation and left the academy, while Maemoto Takashi decided not to follow him.

Araki’s draw with Minato and his accomplishments at Konoha Hospital spread through the Ninja Academy and the hospital, increasing interest in him. On his way home from teaching Nawaki, Araki met Maemoto Takashi’s father, who invited him over to apologize.

• Students at the Ninja Academy praised Araki’s careful tactics against Minato, while Kushina told Mikoto about the battle and privately viewed Araki as stronger than the rumors suggested.
• Sarutobi Karen Kaede wondered how Araki had fought Minato to a draw, performed Might Duy’s surgery, and apparently made explosive tags, while also questioning whether he was connected to Dan Katō’s disappearance.
• Senior staff at the Ninja Academy and nurses at Konoha Hospital discussed Araki’s achievements as news of his battle and surgery reached both places.
• Araki taught Nawaki basic medical theory at Tsunade’s house, then encountered Maemoto Ichiro on his way home.
• Maemoto Ichiro introduced himself as Maemoto Takashi’s father and invited Araki to his home so he could apologize in person, but Araki said there was no need.

Maemoto Ichiro apologized to Araki on Might Duy’s behalf and invited him to learn the Maemoto Clan’s forging techniques. Araki accepted and followed Ichiro to the clan compound, where he learned about its past and its decline from renowned weaponsmiths.

• Araki tried to leave, but Maemoto Ichiro stopped him and apologized for Maemoto Takashi insulting Might Duy.
• Maemoto Ichiro explained that Might Duy had asked him to apologize to Araki and teach him to forge ninja tools.
• Araki accepted the invitation, reasoning that his green chakra could help him endure the physical strain of forging.
• Araki and Maemoto Ichiro went to the Maemoto Clan compound, where Ichiro described the clan’s history and its weapons, including the Thunder God Sword and White Light Chakra Sabre.
• Araki noticed the clan’s diminished status and guessed that Maemoto Ichiro held a senior position within it.

Araki visited Maemoto Ichiro and became more interested in the Maemoto Clan’s forging techniques after considering the importance of the White Light Chakra Sabre. Ichiro made Takashi apologize sincerely to Araki, then invited him to a lavish meal.

• Araki reflected on how the Maemoto Clan’s chakra-conducting weapons could strengthen shinobi such as Hatake Sakumo.
• Maemoto Ichiro welcomed Araki into his home, where Takashi saw him and recalled how Araki had defeated him and Boji.
• Ichiro ordered Takashi to apologize to Araki for troubling him, insulting Might Duy, and asking Boji to fight him.
• After Ichiro pressed him to admit his apology had been insincere, Takashi listed his wrongs and bowed deeply to Araki.
• Ichiro also bowed and asked Araki to forgive his failure to raise Takashi properly, and Araki forgave them both.
• Ichiro invited Araki inside for a lavish meal.

Araki reflected on his growing connection to the Maemoto Clan and eagerly began learning its forging techniques from Maemoto Ichiro. The chapter ended with Araki realizing that Ichiro’s physical strength might rival Might Teacher Duy’s.

• Araki considered how learning the Maemoto Clan’s forging techniques could bring him closer to the clan despite his unresolved conflict with Maemoto Takashi.
• Maemoto Ichiro explained that forging relied on core strength and could severely exhaust the body, even though many Konoha-Style Strong Fist practitioners knew the basics.
• Araki thanked Maemoto Ichiro for honestly explaining the risks before teaching him.
• Maemoto Ichiro demonstrated how to plant his stance and generate power while forging, then invited Araki to push him.
• Araki pushed Maemoto Ichiro with half his strength, but Ichiro remained completely unmoved without using chakra.
• Araki recognized that Maemoto Ichiro’s physical strength might be no less than Might Teacher Duy’s.

Araki learned the fundamentals of forging from Maemoto Ichiro and used his green chakra to hammer red-hot iron into a thin sheet on his first try. The chapter ended with Araki asking Maemoto Ichiro whether his posture was correct.

• Maemoto Ichiro taught Araki how to stabilize his lower body and generate hammering power through his core and back.
• Maemoto Ichiro demonstrated the forging technique, and Araki recognized its similarity to the Konoha-Style Strong Fist.
• Araki took the hammer and tongs, used his green chakra to connect his body and sustain his strength, and copied Maemoto Ichiro's stance.
• Araki repeatedly struck the iron, shocking Maemoto Ichiro and Maemoto Takashi as he flattened it into a thin sheet.
• Araki asked Maemoto Ichiro whether his posture was right.

Araki studied Maemoto forging and asked Maemoto Ichiro how to add Chakra to the hammering technique. After reading an old scroll, Araki recognized Chakra pathways in the diagrams and realized the lines he had felt might be Chakra Threads.

• Maemoto Ichiro told Araki he had mastered the basic forging method and offered to teach him further techniques.
• Araki asked about using Chakra in forging, and Maemoto Ichiro agreed to show him an old scroll explaining the method.
• Maemoto Takashi asked whether Araki had considered becoming a smith, but Araki said he only wanted to forge tools as a side job.
• Maemoto Ichiro brought the scroll, and Araki studied its diagrams of Chakra lines crossing the body during hammering.
• Araki described the lines he had felt while swinging the hammer, but Maemoto Ichiro did not understand and wondered if Araki had strained a tendon.