Recaps

Hiruzen Sarutobi discovered a laboratory of dead child test subjects and brought the sole survivor to Konoha Hospital, where the child manifested Wood Release. While Shimura Danzō kept another Wood Release survivor and named him Kinoe, Hiruzen identified the rescued child as Kōki Itō and prepared to protect him.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi found a surviving child in the laboratory and ordered Anbu to take him to Konoha Hospital.
• Shimura Danzō learned that Hiruzen had found the laboratory, then named his surviving Wood Release test subject Kinoe and planned to train him as a weapon for his bid to become Hokage.
• Medical-nin failed to stabilize the rescued child until his heart revived, his chakra surged, and saplings grew around his bed.
• Hiruzen recognized the child’s Wood Release and ordered the medical staff to keep the discovery secret.
• Anbu identified the child as Kōki Itō, whose family had been reported killed after their village was supposedly destroyed by bandits.
• Hiruzen arranged for Kōki to live in Konoha after his discharge and suspected the laboratory’s mastermind was connected to the village’s destruction.

Kōki Itō passed Hiruzen Sarutobi’s test by stealing his bell without using Wood Release. Hiruzen decided to send him to the Ninja Academy, while Kōki worried that school might distract him from preparing for the coming war.

• Kōki Itō used a substitution and Shadow Clone to outmaneuver Hiruzen Sarutobi and take the bell during their sparring test.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi praised Kōki’s progress and said he planned to enroll him in the Ninja Academy so he could make friends his age.
• Kōki Itō accepted the plan but wondered whether attending the academy was worthwhile with the Third Shinobi World War approaching.
• Kōki Itō said he would report to the Ninja Academy the next morning, then left as Hiruzen Sarutobi disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Kōki Itō reflected on his arrival in the Naruto world, his Wood Release powers, and his gratitude to Hiruzen Sarutobi, whom he hoped to help retire safely. He learned that he would begin attending the Ninja Academy the next day and wondered which familiar faces he would meet.

• Kōki recalled discovering that he had inherited Hashirama Senju's Wood Release and Sage Body.
• Kōki decided that helping Hiruzen Sarutobi retire early would be the best way to repay his kindness.
• Naoya Inoue visited Kōki and told him that Hiruzen Sarutobi had arranged for him to report to the Ninja Academy the next day.
• Kōki agreed to attend and wondered which familiar faces he would see at school.

On Kōki Itō’s first day at the Ninja Academy, Hiruzen Sarutobi’s entrance ceremony was interrupted by urgent reports of unrest in Sunagakure. Realizing war was approaching, Kōki decided he needed to find a convincing way to graduate early and prove his strength.

• Kōki Itō arrived at the Ninja Academy and met Hiruzen Sarutobi, who planned to speak to the new students about the Will of Fire.
• Kōki tried to escape the speech, but Hiruzen stopped him as parents speculated about Kōki’s identity.
• An Anbu ninja delivered news of upheaval and troop movements in Sunagakure, prompting Hiruzen to summon Konoha’s leaders and suspend the entrance ceremony.
• Kōki recognized the signs as the lead-up to the Third Shinobi World War and worried that the Academy would become unsafe.
• Kōki resolved to seek early graduation by proving his strength, while finding a reason that would persuade both Naoya Inoue and Hiruzen.

Hiruzen Sarutobi convened Konoha’s leaders after Sunagakure sent 3,000 ninja toward the border and discussed the intelligence behind the coming war. He appointed Jiraiya as commander, while Danzo was assigned to monitor the other ninja villages.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told the council that Sunagakure planned to reach the Land of Fire’s border in three days and claimed Konoha had killed the Third Kazekage.
• An Intelligence Division ninja reported upheaval in Sunagakure, the disappearance of the Third Kazekage, and Chiyo and Ebizo’s return to power.
• Shikaku Nara concluded that Sunagakure had resolved its internal conflicts and might have a new Kage, while Hiruzen identified Rasa as the force’s leader and prospective Fourth Kazekage.
• Danzo urged Hiruzen to let him command 1,500 ninja, but Hiruzen assigned him to gather intelligence on the other villages instead.
• Hiruzen named Jiraiya commander of the war, and Jiraiya objected that Orochimaru was better suited to face Sunagakure.

Hiruzen Sarutobi appointed Orochimaru commander of Konoha’s defenses against Sunagakure and placed the village on wartime alert. At the Ninja Academy, Kōki demanded early graduation and headed to the training field to be assessed by a graduating student.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi appointed Orochimaru commander-in-chief and Shikaku Nara his adviser, then ordered Konoha to cancel most missions and prepare its ninja for war.
• Kōki introduced himself to his new class and announced that he wanted to graduate early because he believed he was stronger than the other students.
• Kōki rejected Naoya Inoue’s offer of a basic skills test and insisted that an upperclassman or Genin assess him instead.
• Naoya Inoue arranged an assessment with Mr. Ikeda’s graduating class and brought the students to the training field to watch.
• Kōki recognized Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yuhi, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara among the waiting upperclassmen.

Kōki Itō challenged Obito Uchiha in an Academy entrance-test match and defeated him with taijutsu, ninjutsu, and a final blow. Teacher Ikeda declared Kōki the winner.

• Teacher Ikeda chose Obito to spar with Kōki after the older students refused to volunteer.
• Kōki and Obito traded kunai strikes evenly until Kōki knocked Obito’s weapon away and used Thousand Years of Death.
• Obito got back up and clashed with Kōki’s Great Fireball Technique, but Kōki’s greater chakra pushed the flames toward him.
• Kōki caught Obito’s ankle from underground with Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique, burying his body up to the head.
• Kōki knocked Obito unconscious with a blow, and Teacher Ikeda announced Kōki as the winner.

After defeating Obito, Kōki Itō asked to graduate early despite Naoya Inoue warning him that war was imminent and the battlefield could kill him. Obito woke to Rin Nohara’s comfort, then learned Kōki might become a shinobi before him and leave him no time for a rematch.

• After Mr. Ikeda announced Kōki’s victory, the students reacted with shock and praised his skill.
• Kōki asked Naoya Inoue to apply to Hiruzen Sarutobi for his early graduation, but Naoya warned him that graduating would send him to war.
• Kōki insisted he had accepted the risks and needed to grow stronger, so Naoya agreed to inform Hiruzen.
• Rin Nohara comforted Obito after he woke, helping him recover from his shame over losing.
• Kōki introduced himself to Obito and offered him a hand; Obito accepted and vowed to challenge him again after awakening his Sharingan.
• Kōki told Obito he had applied for early graduation and might become a shinobi before him, leaving Obito dismayed.

Kōki Itō applied to graduate early, prompting Hiruzen Sarutobi to worry about sending him to the battlefield and arrange a test he expected Kōki to fail. After Kōki convinced him with a speech about protecting Konoha, Hiruzen agreed to let him take the exam, while Kōki privately admitted he had bluffed.

• Kōki told Rin Nohara that he had asked Naoya Inoue to submit his early graduation application and teased Obito about his feelings for her.
• Naoya Inoue informed Hiruzen Sarutobi that Kōki, a civilian student who had just enrolled, wanted to graduate early, and Hiruzen was stunned by the news.
• Hiruzen agreed to hold an exam but planned to have Kakashi Hatake test Kōki and make sure he failed so he would remain at the academy.
• Hiruzen visited Kōki at home and warned that graduating could put him on the battlefield amid Konoha's conflict with Sunagakure.
• Kōki said he wanted to protect the village and inherit Hashirama Senju's will, persuading Hiruzen to stop opposing the exam, though Kōki privately revealed he had mostly been bluffing.

Kōki Itō faced Kakashi Hatake in his early graduation assessment, where Kakashi’s skill and battle experience initially kept him on the defensive. After Kakashi cut his cheek and warned him not to underestimate an opponent, Kōki revealed a dramatic increase in speed and struck the ground with a devastating kick, leaving the assessment unresolved.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi arranged for Kakashi Hatake to test Kōki Itō, and the spectators doubted the civilian child could pass.
• Kōki attacked with a kunai, but Kakashi’s swordsmanship forced him onto the defensive.
• Kōki used a Great Fireball and tried to seize Kakashi underground, but Kakashi escaped with a substitution and cut Kōki’s cheek with his White Light Chakra Sabre.
• Kakashi explained that he had studied Kōki’s tactics and that ninja had to keep gathering information during battle.
• Kōki increased his speed and charged unarmed, prompting Kakashi to put away his blade.
• Kōki’s kick shattered the ground, and Kakashi narrowly leaped clear while the spectators staggered from the impact.

Kōki used Superhuman Strength to pressure Kakashi in their graduation assessment, then outsmarted him with one-handed hand seals and a Shadow Clone. The referee declared Kōki Itō the winner.

• Kōki attacked Kakashi with Superhuman Strength, while Kakashi dodged and struggled to find a chance to counter.
• The spectators recognized Kōki’s technique as Tsunade’s Superhuman Strength and speculated that Hiruzen Sarutobi had trained him.
• As Kakashi tired from dodging, he stopped to set up a decisive counterattack and knocked down what seemed to be Kōki.
• Kōki revealed that the fallen fighter was a Shadow Clone and that he had formed its hand seals one-handed while Kakashi watched his other movements.
• Kōki pointed a kunai at Kakashi, and the referee announced Kōki Itō as the winner of the graduation assessment.

After Kōki graduated early, Hiruzen Sarutobi arranged for Kakashi to instruct him, and Kōki celebrated with Kakashi, Rin, Obito, Asuma, and their friends. Meanwhile, Danzo tried to recruit Kōki into Root, but Hiruzen refused and warned him to stay away.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi congratulated Kōki on becoming a Genin, urged him to be careful, and said he would assign Kakashi as his instructor.
• Kōki introduced himself to Kakashi, then joined Kakashi, Rin Nohara, and Obito Uchiha in trading barbs before Rin suggested celebrating over a meal.
• Asuma Sarutobi invited the group to an Akimichi Clan barbecue restaurant, where he introduced Kōki to Might Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, and the others.
• Kōki told Kakashi and the others he had graduated early to grow stronger and survive the coming conflict between Konoha and Sunagakure.
• Danzo demanded that Hiruzen Sarutobi send Kōki to Root, but Hiruzen refused and ordered Danzo not to bother him.
• Danzo left the Hokage's office in anger, warning Hiruzen that he would regret refusing him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned Kōki Itō to Mamoru Uehara’s team, and Mamoru agreed to test whether the young graduate could work safely with his teammates. Danzo learned that Kōki had survived a Root experiment and ordered Washi to watch him, while dismissing the possibility that Kōki had awakened Wood Release.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi recommended Kōki Itō to Mamoru Uehara as a replacement for the injured Genin on Mamoru’s team.
• Mamoru Uehara agreed to meet Kōki but said he would reject him if his methods endangered the team’s other members.
• Danzo ordered Washi to investigate Kōki and learned that Root records listed him as a presumed-dead test subject from a discovered laboratory.
• Danzo reasoned that Kōki had not awakened Wood Release and regretted that Kōki would now serve Hiruzen Sarutobi instead of Root.
• Danzo told Washi to keep Kōki under observation and compare his progress with Kinoe’s.

Kōki Itō met his new teammates, Yui Fujiwara and Masato Yoshino, at the training ground, where their Jonin instructor tested them with a staged ambush. Kōki exposed the test and passed, officially joining Mamoru Uehara’s squad.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi sent a ninja to tell Kōki to meet his teammates and Jonin instructor at the training ground.
• Kōki met Yui Fujiwara and Masato Yoshino, who explained that their previous teammate had left after being seriously injured.
• An attacker ambushed the trio, and Kōki protected Yui, trapped the assailant with Earth Release, and helped defeat him using a body-switching plan with Yui.
• Kōki realized the attack was a test and called out Mamoru Uehara, who revealed himself as the squad’s Jonin instructor.
• Mamoru Uehara praised Kōki’s teamwork and battle awareness, criticized Yui and Masato for their responses, and welcomed Kōki to the squad.

Kōki and his teammates began their first mission by attacking a bandit stronghold and trying to rescue its imprisoned villagers. Kōki reached the courtyard after explosions erupted and found Katsuto and Yui confronting a stranger.

• Mamoru Uehara introduced Kōki, Yui Fujiwara, and Masato Yoshino as Team Uehara and assigned them a C-rank mission to eliminate bandits.
• Kōki gathered his weapons, and the team traveled with Mamoru Uehara to the bandits’ stronghold, where Mamoru left them to complete the mission themselves.
• Yui proposed poisoning the bandits’ water, while Kōki infiltrated the stronghold and discovered imprisoned, injured women and children.
• After the poison took effect, Kōki attacked the bandits as Yui and Katsuto went to rescue the villagers.
• Explosions lit up the stronghold, and Kōki found Katsuto and Yui facing a stranger in the courtyard, with the rescued villagers behind them.

Kōki defeated the bandit chief after discovering and disabling the explosive-tag trap, then helped his team finish the mission. Mamoru Uehara praised their plan but warned them about its flaws and revealed the bandits might have been planted by Sunagakure.

• Katsuto warned Kōki that the bandit chief was unpoisoned, and Kōki checked that Katsuto and Yui had only minor injuries.
• The bandit chief tried to detonate explosive tags hidden in the courtyard, but Kōki revealed he had taken the tags and disabled the detonator before entering.
• The bandit chief tried to flee, but Kōki struck him from the rooftop and killed him.
• Kōki searched the stronghold, confirmed no bandits remained, burned it down, and helped return the women and children to nearby villages.
• Mamoru Uehara praised the team’s plan, suspected Sunagakure had sent the bandits into the Land of Fire, and criticized Yui and Katsuto for relying too much on the poison and failing to stay hidden.

After returning from a bandit extermination mission, Kōki went to Konoha Hospital to pursue medical-nin certification and reflect on his unusual Medical Ninjutsu talent. He learned that certification required him to become a Genin first, reinforcing his eagerness to graduate.

• Kōki and his teammates returned to the village, where Mamoru Uehara went to report their mission to Hiruzen Sarutobi while Katsuto and Yui went home to rest.
• Kōki felt disappointed that the C-rank mission had done little to improve his strength, then calmed himself and headed for Konoha Hospital.
• Kōki recalled that his exceptional Medical Ninjutsu talent had led medical-nin to urge Hiruzen Sarutobi to have him focus on it, but Hiruzen had relented after Kōki promised to keep training in Wood Release.
• Kōki explained that he studied Medical Ninjutsu to investigate the hidden risks of the human experiment that had given him Wood Release and Hashirama Senju's sage body.
• Kōki had mastered medical techniques but lacked practical experience because patients refused treatment from someone so young and not yet an official shinobi.
• Kōki went to the hospital to take the medical-nin examination, but learned he first had to become a Genin.

Kōki learned that rising tensions were pushing Konoha to send ninja on missions without rest, while Hiruzen Sarutobi discussed Kōki’s strengths and lack of confidence with Mamoru Uehara. On his way home, Kōki bumped into Kurenai Yuhi and Mitarashi Anko and asked Kurenai how she was related to Yūhi Shinku.

• Mamoru Uehara told Kōki that their next mission began the following morning and explained that Konoha was rushing to finish its missions as war approached.
• Kōki collected his medical certification and headed home, while Hiruzen Sarutobi heard Mamoru’s assessment that Kōki was capable but lacked boldness and confidence.
• Kōki collided with Kurenai Yuhi, and Mitarashi Anko scolded him before Kōki apologized to Kurenai.
• Kurenai introduced Anko to Kōki and explained that he was the student who had graduated from the Academy early.
• Kōki ignored Anko’s doubts about his abilities and asked Kurenai how Jonin Yūhi Shinku was related to her.

Kōki asked Kurenai to arrange a meeting with her father, Yūhi Shinku, so he could seek guidance in Genjutsu, offering to teach her his Taijutsu techniques in return. After reflecting on Genjutsu and bloodline abilities, Kōki overslept and hurried to meet his team for another mission.

• Kōki asked Kurenai to introduce him to Yūhi Shinku and offered to teach her his Taijutsu techniques if she helped him gain Shinku's approval.
• Kurenai told her father about Kōki's request, and Yūhi Shinku agreed to meet him but made no promise to teach him.
• Kōki considered his aptitude for Genjutsu and the power of the Kurama Clan's five-senses manipulation bloodline ability, then went to sleep late.
• Kōki overslept and arrived at the village gates, where Mamoru Uehara, Yui Fujiwara, and Masato Yoshino were waiting for their mission.

Kōki and his team escorted Genichi Watanabe’s shipment from Konoha to the Land of Rice Fields, where the uneventful mission ended. During the journey, Kōki took Mamoru Uehara’s advice to heart and began working on his patience, while the team debated whether to rest before returning.

• Mamoru Uehara explained that the team would escort Genichi Watanabe’s shipment to the Land of Rice Fields, and said he had requested the mission to let them see the world.
• Kōki recognized the destination as the place where Orochimaru would later hide, while Masato Yoshino asked why the team could leave the Land of Fire during the village’s preparations for war.
• The team traveled without incident, and Mamoru Uehara urged Kōki to build his patience and willpower; Kōki reflected on the advice and began adjusting his mindset.
• The team reached the Land of Rice Fields, and Genichi Watanabe thanked them and paid the rest of the mission fee.
• Katsuto and Yui Fujino asked Mamoru Uehara if they could rest before returning, while Kōki said he was open to either returning soon or taking a short break.

After mastering the Yin Seal and building up chakra in it, Kōki was sent with Mamoru Uehara's squad to rescue Konoha Anbu pursued by a Sunagakure assassination unit. They found two Anbu surrounded in the Land of Fire, and the chapter ended as their captain charged toward Yoshino despite incoming attacks.

• Kōki returned to Konoha with his squad, and Mamoru Uehara promised Katsuto and Yui a day off after their missions.
• Over the next three months, Kōki mastered the Yin Seal and stored enough chakra for one high-intensity battle.
• Masato Yoshino urgently summoned Kōki, and Mamoru Uehara ordered the squad to support Anbu carrying intelligence from Sunagakure.
• Kōki and his teammates found four Sunagakure ninja attacking two injured Konoha Anbu in the woods.
• Mei used Earth Release to create an opening, then charged toward Yoshino as the other Sunagakure ninja launched their attacks.

Mamoru Uehara and Kōki’s squad joined the fight against the Sunagakure ninjas, who split the Konoha forces and pursued them into the forest. Kōki nearly fell for Kira’s feint, but Katsuto saved him, and Kōki admitted he had acted carelessly.

• Mamoru Uehara ambushed the Sunagakure ninjas and killed Ryōsuke with an Earth Release technique.
• A hidden Konoha ninja blocked Kira’s attack on the wounded Anbu with an Earth Style Wall, but an explosive tag forced Kōki, Katsuto, and Yui out of hiding.
• The Sunagakure captain and Jun pursued Mamoru Uehara and the Anbu Captain into the forest while Kira stayed to fight Kōki, Katsuto, and Yui.
• Kōki charged Kira, but struck a decoy and nearly suffered a kunai attack from behind until Katsuto distracted Kira and gave him time to escape.
• Kōki regrouped with Katsuto and Yui, apologized for acting carelessly, and heard them reassure him that they would support him.

Kōki and his teammates used coordinated attacks against Kira, but the Sand ninja badly injured Katsuto and Yui and provoked Kōki by describing his role in the deaths of two Anbu. Kōki protected Yui from Kira’s shuriken, used the Body Replacement Technique to evade a fatal slash, and killed Kira with a Superhuman Strength punch.

• Kōki, Katsuto, and Yui worked together to trap Kira with rubble, Earth Release, and genjutsu, but Kira broke free and injured Katsuto and Yui.
• Kira fought Kōki and taunted him with details about his teammates’ injuries and the deaths of two Anbu.
• Kira threw shuriken at the injured Yui, and Kōki moved to shield her.
• Kira slashed Kōki’s throat, but the victim was a wood substitute created by the Body Replacement Technique.
• Kōki struck Kira with a Superhuman Strength punch, shattering his chest and killing him.

Kōki saved Yui and Katsuto from their grave injuries, but Mei had died after spending his last chakra protecting his captain. When Kōki and his teammates reached Mamoru Uehara’s battle, they saw Kazushi succumb to a hidden poison and get stabbed by a Sand ninja.

• Kōki treated Yui and Katsuto with medical ninjutsu, restoring their breathing and color, but found Mei dead.
• Yui and Katsuto woke, thanked Kōki, and insisted on continuing the mission with him.
• Kōki, Yui, and Katsuto followed the sounds of fighting and found Mamoru Uehara’s side apparently dominating two wounded Sunagakure ninja.
• Kazushi suddenly froze while fighting the one-eyed Sand ninja, who stabbed him in the heart as Mamoru cried out his name.
• The Sand ninja revealed that Sunagakure’s poison had paralyzed Kazushi’s nerves during the battle and laughed at Mamoru.

Kōki ambushed the Sand ninja fighting Mamoru Uehara and killed Jun, turning the battle in Konoha’s favor. With Katsuto and Yui safe and Kira dead, Taku faced Kōki, Mamoru, and the other two Konoha ninja.

• Taku praised Jun for killing the poisoned Konoha Anbu while he and Jun pressed Mamoru Uehara.
• Kōki left the injured Katsuto and Yui hidden and went to help Mamoru, whose opponents taunted him about the team’s fate.
• Kōki disguised himself as a kunai, surprised Jun, and struck him with the Heavenly Foot of Pain, leaving him motionless.
• Mamoru learned that Katsuto and Yui were safe and watched them rejoin the group.
• Taku demanded to know what had happened to Kira, and Kōki told him Kira was dead, provoking Taku’s rage.