Recaps

Naoki Senju told Tsunade that Konoha’s intelligence ninja had taken the bait, prompting her to return to the casino while Konoha investigated Chiriku’s memories. Inoichi Yamanaka concealed the truth about the Senju suspect and reported that mysterious ninjas in black cloud-patterned robes were responsible, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi and Kakashi to investigate further.

• Naoki Senju spotted a Konoha intelligence ninja watching them and told Tsunade that Konoha had taken the bait.
• Tsunade returned to the casino to gamble, while the dealer worried over the casino’s enormous losses.
• Inoichi Yamanaka struggled to read Chiriku’s memories, then told Kakashi and Hiruzen Sarutobi that Kazuma had been a scapegoat for mysterious ninjas in black cloud-patterned robes.
• Inoichi Yamanaka left after concealing the memory of a Senju suspect using Wood Release and heeding Tsunade’s warning to keep silent.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Kakashi to accompany him to see Asuma.

Naoki Senju and Tsunade used Asuma’s injury to arrange Tsunade’s return to Konoha, while Naoki prepared for future conflict with Danzo. In the Land of Rice Fields, Orochimaru read reports about the Land of Fire and recognized that events were beginning to shift.

• Tsunade questioned two Konoha Anbu who came to request her help treating the gravely injured Asuma, then agreed to return to Konoha in a few days.
• Naoki noted that he and Danzo were already enemies and intended to be ready before Orochimaru’s Konoha Crush Plan began.
• Tsunade agreed to move her casino to Konoha if she obtained a license signed by the Third Hokage, then slipped away from Naoki as they playfully chased each other.
• An Anbu keeping watch on Tsunade lost track of her again and recorded the failure in his notebook.
• Orochimaru read intelligence from the Land of Fire, assumed Naoki had killed the daimyo, and sensed that the Shinobi World was entering a new period of upheaval.

Tsunade’s party arrived in Konoha, where Hiruzen learned about Guren and Naoki Senju and the village held a welcome ceremony for Tsunade. Naoki began cultivating a connection with Hana Inuzuka after she challenged him over how he knew about ninja dogs.

• An Anbu ninja reported to Hiruzen that Tsunade’s party had reached Konoha, describing Guren’s Crystal Release and Naoki’s strength and sensory abilities.
• Tsunade, Shizune, Guren, and Naoki entered Konoha as villagers gathered to welcome Tsunade back.
• Naoki viewed the villagers’ cheers for Hiruzen and the Will of Fire as resembling a pyramid scheme.
• Hana Inuzuka grew suspicious when Naoki asked about her ninja dogs and threatened him with her claws.
• Naoki explained that he had kept pet dogs and treated them like family, easing Hana’s suspicion and earning her interest.

Naoki Senju befriended Hana Inuzuka before Tsunade led him and the others to the abandoned Senju Clan Compound. As Naoki prepared to take responsibility for the clan’s former residence, the Third Hokage sent Guren’s appointment and Naoki’s Chunin Ninja Exams application.

• Naoki Senju discussed ninja dogs with Hana Inuzuka, who became friendly with him and decided to tell her clan that a Senju remained.
• Naoki Senju, Shizune, and Guren met Tsunade, who said the Third Hokage was anxious to hurry them along.
• Tsunade led the group through the overgrown Senju Clan Compound, where Naoki Senju chose to move into the clan leader’s residence.
• An Anbu delivered a paper bag from the Third Hokage containing Guren’s Konoha Special Jōnin appointment and Naoki Senju’s Chunin Ninja Exams application.

Naoki Senju signed up for the Chunin Ninja Exams, where Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned him Neji Hyuga and Rock Lee as teammates. Tsunade began operating on Asuma while Hiruzen worried that Danzo might be manipulating events behind the scenes.

• Tsunade suggested Hiruzen wanted Naoki to build stronger bonds with Konoha through the Chunin Ninja Exams, and Naoki signed the application.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi secretly used the Telescope Technique to spy on the women's baths before noticing Naoki's name alongside Neji Hyuga and Rock Lee on the exam documents.
• Tsunade took Shizune and Naoki to Konoha Hospital to operate on Asuma, with Naoki tasked with removing the Wood Release chakra in his body.
• The hospital director and medical-nin welcomed Tsunade, who allowed young medical-nin to observe the surgery.
• Hiruzen watched the start of Asuma's surgery and wondered whether Danzo was behind the suspicious events, warning that Root would have no reason to exist if he was.

Naoki Senju submitted his Chunin Ninja Exams application and met the team Hiruzen Sarutobi had chosen for him. The chapter ended with Naoki watching Might Guy and Rock Lee celebrate their contest of youth and wondering why Hiruzen had assigned him to them.

• Naoki Senju tricked Asuma into believing that surgery had removed his penis, then left Shizune to care for him.
• Naoki Senju went to the Hokage Building, where Kakashi Hatake escorted him to meet Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Naoki Senju recognized Kakashi Hatake's Icha Icha Paradise, embarrassing Kakashi before he led Naoki upstairs.
• Naoki Senju submitted his Chunin Ninja Exams application and met Might Guy, Rock Lee, Neji Hyuga, and Tenten.
• Might Guy challenged Naoki Senju to a contest of youth, and Rock Lee joined in before Naoki looked to Hiruzen Sarutobi in disbelief.

Naoki Senju officially became a Konoha Genin and joined Guy’s team, where he quickly befriended Tenten. Hiruzen Sarutobi told Guy that Naoki was likely descended from the Second Hokage and ordered him to watch over Naoki’s views on Konoha.

• Naoki Senju received his forehead protector and introduced himself to Tenten, who asked him about the countries he had visited.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned Team 3 a preliminarily C-rank mission for the next day, and Neji Hyuga took Rock Lee from the Hokage’s office.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Might Guy that Naoki Senju was likely a descendant of the Second Hokage and instructed him to help Naoki integrate into Konoha and report anything unusual.
• Might Guy left the office walking on his hands, and Rock Lee joined him after startling Neji Hyuga with his strength.
• Naoki Senju had his Genin photo taken while Tenten asked him to keep describing the Land of Water.

Naoki Senju joined Team Guy and accepted Neji Hyuga’s challenge to a fight. As the team ate together and introduced themselves, a blond boy known as the demon fox brat raced past after taking food from a shopkeeper.

• Naoki Senju finished his Genin information, and Might Guy returned with Rock Lee before racing ahead to the barbecue restaurant.
• Neji Hyuga challenged Naoki Senju to a full-strength match, and Naoki accepted.
• Naoki Senju, Neji Hyuga, and Tenten joined Might Guy and Rock Lee at the restaurant, where Guy announced Team Guy was becoming Konoha’s first five-person team.
• Might Guy, Rock Lee, Tenten, and Naoki Senju introduced themselves and shared their interests and goals.
• A blond boy fled past the restaurant after taking food from a shopkeeper, who kept the boy’s crumpled payment despite calling him the demon fox brat.

Naoki Senju bonded with his teammates over a meal and offered Tenten a chance to meet Tsunade, while Might Guy’s drunken antics sparked a challenge between Rock Lee and Neji. The chapter ended with Hiruzen Sarutobi watching a lonely yellow-haired child forage and cook in a dangerous forest.

• Naoki Senju told Tenten he could introduce her to Tsunade and invited her to visit the Senju Clan Compound.
• Neji Hyuga, Naoki Senju, and the others introduced themselves during a barbecue meal, and Might Guy praised the team’s growing closeness.
• Might Guy drunkenly shouted for Kakashi to have another showdown, prompting Rock Lee to challenge Neji, who dodged him and fled into the crowd.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the scene through his crystal ball, then observed a yellow-haired child gathering mushrooms and cooking in the forest.

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Naruto Uzumaki an official ninja intelligence mission, while Naoki Senju prepared to leave Konoha on his first C-rank mission. Tsunade warned Naoki to watch out for Danzo, and Naoki met his teammates at the village gate.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi approached Naruto Uzumaki and entrusted him with an intelligence mission reserved for official ninja.
• Shizune woke Tsunade so she could see Naoki Senju off on his first mission.
• Tsunade hugged Naoki, warned him to watch out for Danzo, and urged him to put his safety first.
• Naoki left Tsunade, Shizune, and Guren and headed to the Konoha Gate.
• Naoki met Tenten, Rock Lee, and Might Guy at the gate, and Neji emerged from a nearby grove.

Might Guy led Team 3 out of Konoha on a mission that included a visit to the Land of Fire's capital, while the Third Hokage also used the mission to probe Naoki Senju's identity. After reaching their campsite, Naoki's refusal to accept Neji Hyuga's challenge drove Neji to prepare to fight.

• Might Guy presented the Hokage-signed exit permit, and Kotetsu Hagane stamped it to authorize Team 3's departure.
• Might Guy and Rock Lee raced ahead and told Neji, Tenten, and Naoki Senju to catch up before they discussed the mission.
• Neji challenged Naoki Senju to show his true strength, but Naoki continued toward the campsite with Tenten instead.
• Naoki Senju and Tenten arrived near noon to find Might Guy and Rock Lee preparing curry at their campsite, while Neji was still exhausted from chasing them.
• Neji demanded that Naoki accept his challenge and took the opening stance of the Hyuga Style Gentle Fist.

Might Guy stopped Neji from attacking Naoki, then explained Team Guy’s C-rank mission to deliver a letter to Shikaku Nara and apologize to the Fire Temple. The team prepared to travel through the night, while Neji and Rock Lee headed into the woods together.

• Neji activated his Byakugan and struck at Naoki, but Might Guy seized his arm and stopped the attack.
• Tenten checked on Naoki, and the team ate Might Guy’s extra-spicy curry before Naoki and Tenten washed the dishes.
• Might Guy explained that the team would travel to the Land of Fire’s capital to deliver the Hokage’s letter to Shikaku Nara and apologize to the Fire Temple.
• Neji asked why Konoha needed to apologize, and Might Guy said the apology was meant to appease the temple after Master Chiriku suffered psychological trauma during questioning.
• The team planned to leave under cover of night, and Naoki and Tenten shared a sleeping bag while Neji and Rock Lee went into the woods.

Rock Lee lost to Neji, but Might Guy helped him regain his resolve by teaching him that effort was meant to protect loved ones, not simply defeat geniuses. After the group ate fish and continued their journey, Neji showed new concern for Lee, suggesting he was beginning to accept him.

• Neji defeated Rock Lee by reading his movements with the Byakugan and striking his chakra points, leaving Lee dejected.
• Might Guy encouraged Lee to train to protect those important to him, then joined him in doing push-ups as punishment and motivation.
• Naoki Senju teased Neji about envying Lee and suggested that Neji also wanted to defy fate.
• Naoki Senju shared Tenten’s tent, and the group later woke to find the camp’s grass and trees badly damaged by Guy and Lee’s training.
• Guy and Lee returned with fish, and Naoki Senju cooked them a meal before the group packed up and traveled onward.
• Neji asked Lee if his injuries were all right, then kept his distance, though he had begun to accept Lee.

Team Guy delivered Hiruzen Sarutobi’s letter to Shikaku Nara in the Land of Fire’s capital, where Shikaku quietly assessed Naoki Senju and suspected a larger conspiracy involving Orochimaru, Tsunade, and the Senju Clan. After Team Guy left for the Fire Temple, Danzo received a report and ordered Sai to replace Shin as the Fire Hunt Plan began.

• Might Guy brought Team Guy to the capital and gave Shikaku Nara a letter from Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Shikaku privately asked Might Guy about Naoki Senju, then destroyed the letter and considered who was orchestrating the political turmoil.
• Team Guy spent a day in the capital, while Naoki avoided acting familiar with the city so Shikaku’s test would reveal nothing.
• Tenten sent her purchases back to Konoha, and Team Guy departed for the Fire Temple as a Root ninja reported their movements to Danzo.
• Danzo ordered Sai to replace Shin on the mission and announced that the Fire Hunt Plan had begun.

Naoki Senju’s planned rest stop became an ambush by Danzo’s Root, while Might Guy and his students faced attackers elsewhere. As the fighting broke out, Guy opened four of the Eight Gates to protect his team.

• Naoki Senju waited for Root to attack, trapped one assassin in a Water Prison Technique, and faced Sai’s ink-drawn lions.
• Two Root ninja took Tenten hostage and ordered Might Guy to cooperate, claiming they were carrying out a classified mission.
• Might Guy realized the Root ninja’s explanation was suspicious and refused to let them prevent him from reaching his students.
• Neji and Lee fought Root ninja, with Neji activating his Byakugan and Lee using the Konoha Whirlwind.
• Might Guy opened the first four of the Eight Gates, revealing a tremendous surge in chakra.

Naoki Senju fought Sai and Danzo’s Root forces, surviving a massive explosive-tag attack with Katsuyu’s help. He unleashed the Three-Tails’ chakra to combine two Water Release techniques, breaking Root’s defenses and sweeping their fighters into a vortex.

• Sai used Super Beast Imitating Drawing to summon an ink goshawk, then sent eight Root ninja to reinforce two battlefields while three captured Might Guy’s former genin teammates.
• Root ninja used Earth Flow River to unbalance Naoki Senju, but he killed the ninja maintaining the Water Prison Technique by crushing his throat.
• Root attacked Naoki with dozens of explosive tags, but Katsuyu shielded him from the blast and returned to Shikkotsu Forest to heal.
• Naoki used Great Waterfall Technique, which four Root Earth Release ninja blocked with layered walls.
• Naoki drew out the Three-Tails’ chakra and used Great Vortex Technique, shattering Root’s defenses and sweeping the Root ninja into the water.

Naoki Senju and Might Guy defeated a Root attack, though the surviving Root ninja could not reveal their secrets. After Rock Lee and Neji woke, Lee declared his determination to protect Neji, leaving Neji embarrassed and insisting he needed no protection.

• The Root ninja used Earth Release to break Naoki Senju’s vortex, but Sai abandoned his aerial view to approach the unconscious Neji and Rock Lee.
• Might Guy knocked Sai from his ink hawk, checked his students, and confronted him, but Sai remained silent because of Root’s Cursed Seal of the Tongue.
• Naoki Senju arrived unharmed with two captured Root ninja and explained that Root had tried to assassinate him again; he confirmed that Tenten was safe.
• Rock Lee woke at sunset, asked Might Guy to teach him the power of youth, and vowed to protect Neji when they were in danger.
• Neji woke after hearing Lee’s declaration, rejected the idea that Lee should protect him, and became embarrassed as Naoki Senju snickered.

After their fight with Root, Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten killed their first opponents under Might Guy’s instruction. Neji then learned that Naoki had already killed an enemy, and began planning to challenge him.

• Might Guy ordered the injured students to kill the unconscious Root ninja who had attacked them.
• Neji killed one Root ninja with the Gentle Fist, and Rock Lee killed another with a brutal barrage of punches.
• Tenten hesitated to kill Sai until Naoki promised Tsunade would teach her Medical Ninjutsu; she then cut Sai’s throat with her kunai.
• Might Guy praised the students and raised the mission rank to B-rank, then explained that Naoki had already killed an enemy during the battle.
• Neji resolved to challenge Naoki and prove the Hyuga Clan’s strength, while Rock Lee grew jealous of Neji’s attention shifting to another rival.

After Root's attack on Might Guy's squad, Hiruzen Sarutobi weighed Naoki Senju's dangerous secrets and confronted Danzo at Root's base. Meanwhile, Tenten began Medical Ninjutsu practice under Shizune, and Naoki and Tsunade left the Senju compound for their own errands.

• Might Guy reported the Root ambush and Naoki Senju's skills and loyalty to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who dismissed him after weighing what he knew about Naoki.
• Tsunade watched Tenten's failed Medical Ninjutsu practice and had Naoki arrange for Shizune to train her in chakra control.
• Tsunade left to visit her casino, while Naoki Senju went out intending to provoke Danzo.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived at Root's base with Anbu and accused Danzo of attacking fellow Konoha ninja.
• Danzo emerged from the base and accused Hiruzen of giving Root its opportunity and secretly having Anbu watch them.

Hiruzen Sarutobi imposed a mild punishment on Danzo and Root after their assassination attempt, while Naoki Senju arranged to exploit Guren’s Crystal Release by having her make jewelry. Guren began producing it so she could earn a chance to leave Konoha and contact Orochimaru, who was secretly planning the Konoha Crush Plan.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi blamed Root’s failed oversight for the attempted assassination and confined Shimura Danzō for three months while ordering an internal investigation.
• Tsunade and Naoki Senju scoffed at the punishment after learning about it.
• Guren asked Naoki Senju to help her contact Orochimaru and leave Konoha, but he initially refused.
• Naoki Senju persuaded Guren to make crystal jewelry, claiming he would use the proceeds to arrange a mission that let her leave the village.
• Guren reluctantly began making jewelry from Naoki Senju’s crude sketches, while Orochimaru devised the Konoha Crush Plan.

Might Guy demonstrated the Eight Gates Released Formation to Team Guy, inspiring Rock Lee to ask to learn it. Neji, Tenten, and Naoki Senju declined, leaving Rock Lee as the only one to accept Guy’s training.

• Might Guy took Rock Lee, Neji, Tenten, and Naoki Senju to Training Ground Three and opened the First Gate to demonstrate the Eight Gates Released Formation.
• Might Guy opened the Seventh Gate, Granny Lee knocks at the door-open, and showed the team its overwhelming power.
• Rock Lee knelt and asked Might Guy to teach him the Eight Gates Released Formation, promising to train even harder.
• Tenten declined because she wanted to study Medical Ninjutsu, and Neji refused because the technique conflicted with the Hyuga Clan’s Gentle Fist.
• Naoki Senju declined, saying he was already practicing Tsunade’s Monster Strength Fist, and Might Guy accepted that only Rock Lee would train with him.

After school, Naruto and Sasuke left the Ninja Academy alone, each avoiding the cruelty of the village in his own way. Naoki Senju decided to test Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō by taking both boys with him, and Sasuke demanded to know where he was going as Naoki carried him upside down.

• Shikamaru Nara invited Naruto to join Choji and the others for barbecue, but Naruto declined and agreed to meet them in the forest behind Hokage Rock the next day.
• Sasuke left through the back gate to avoid the villagers and practice his Shuriken Technique, while Naruto followed the same route out of the academy.
• Naoki Senju watched Naruto and Sasuke leave and resolved to test Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō using the Three-Tails' chakra.
• Naoki Senju summoned a crow carrying Uchiha Itachi's genjutsu and spoke with Itachi, who explained that only people with a genjutsu seed could see him.
• Naoki Senju evaded an Anbu guard and caught up with Naruto and Sasuke, then grabbed both boys and carried them away.
• Sasuke tried to attack Naoki Senju, but Naoki caught his leg and warned him to stay quiet if he wanted news about that man; Sasuke asked where Naoki was taking them.

Naoki Senju took Naruto and Sasuke to Ichiraku Ramen, where he told Sasuke that Uchiha Itachi had joined the Akatsuki and revealed that Naruto’s seal contained chakra Naoki could control. When Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived, Naoki demanded that Naruto be placed in the Senju Clan’s care, backing his demand by drawing Nine-Tails Chakra from Naruto.

• Naoki Senju brought Naruto and Sasuke to Ichiraku Ramen and ordered food for them.
• Sasuke asked about Uchiha Itachi, and Naoki told him that Itachi was a core member of the Akatsuki; Sasuke left determined to kill him.
• Kurama sensed Isobu’s chakra sealed inside Naruto and recognized how heavily Naoki Senju had suppressed Isobu.
• Naruto ate until he vomited, then returned to his seat and continued eating until Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi praised Naruto and offered Naoki a place in the Anbu, but Naoki refused and asked to oversee Root instead.
• Naoki told Hiruzen to keep others away from Naruto and demanded that the Senju Clan take charge of him, then pulled a strand of Nine-Tails Chakra from Naruto to demonstrate his control.

Naoki Senju negotiated with Hiruzen Sarutobi to make the Senju Clan Naruto Uzumaki’s guardian, then entered Naruto’s seal and subdued the Nine-Tails with Wood Release. He left with the Nine-Tails’ chakra and planned to collect the remaining tailed beasts before the Akatsuki.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi refused to give Naoki Senju control of Naruto Uzumaki but agreed to make the Senju Clan Naruto’s guardian while Anbu continued to monitor him.
• Naoki Senju entered Naruto’s sealed space and tried to persuade the Nine-Tails to cooperate, while the Three-Tails argued with the fox and was driven away.
• Naoki Senju flooded Naruto with chakra and used Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique to bind the Nine-Tails.
• The Nine-Tails recognized Naoki Senju’s Wood Release as Hashirama Senju’s legacy, and Naoki drained the fox’s chakra until it was weakened.
• Naoki Senju listed the remaining tailed beasts he intended to collect and set his goal of beating the Akatsuki to them.

Naoki Senju temporarily removed much of the Nine-Tails’ chakra from Naruto, then led three Root ninja into an ambush in Konoha’s outskirts. He repelled their opening Explosive Tag attack, leaving the assassination attempt underway.

• Naoki Senju extracted Nine-Tails chakra from Naruto, weakening the fox and temporarily allowing Naruto to use his own chakra without interference.
• Naoki Senju encouraged Naruto to train harder, paid for hundreds of ramen bowls, and left Naruto determined to surpass Sasuke.
• Naoki Senju noticed three Root ninja following him and deliberately walked toward a sparsely populated forest.
• Danzo sent Hyūga Hoheto, Ryūhei Akimichi, and O Inuzuka to kill Naoki while arranging to keep Konoha’s strongest potential rescuers occupied.
• The Root ninja triggered linked Explosive Tags, but Naoki Senju used Eight Trigrams Palms: Heavenly Spin to block most of the blast.