Chapter Summaries

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.

Kōki and Mamoru Uehara tried to stop Taku from recovering intelligence from a fallen Anbu, but a Sunagakure force of more than a dozen Jonin arrived and surrounded them. Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Minato and others to support Team Uehara as Taku confirmed that the intelligence remained on the Anbu's corpse.

• Taku tried to reach the fallen Anbu and recover or destroy the intelligence, but Kōki and Mamoru Uehara blocked him with Earth Release techniques.
• Taku struggled against Kōki and the Konoha ninjas until Shinji arrived with more than a dozen Sunagakure Jonin.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi learned that an elite Sunagakure unit had infiltrated the Land of Fire and ordered Minato, Akimichi Chōza, and others to rescue Team Uehara.
• Shinji told Taku that Lord Rasa had sent the force to support him, while keeping the unit's sabotage mission secret.
• Taku told Shinji that the intelligence was still on the fallen Anbu's corpse.

Kōki’s team was overwhelmed by Sunagakure ninja as Mamoru Uehara tried to hold them off, and Katsuto and Yui died protecting Kōki. After Mamoru also fell, Kōki released the chakra stored in his Yin Seal and faced the Sand ninja in a chilling calm.

• Mamoru Uehara attacked the surrounding Sunagakure ninja with Water Release and urged Kōki, Katsuto, and Yui to escape, but an enemy wounded him from beneath the water.
• Kōki tried to lead Katsuto and Yui away, but Katsuto pushed him clear of a Wind Release attack and died from the resulting chest wound.
• Ryūji charged at Kōki, and Yui intercepted the short sword meant for him; Kōki killed Ryūji with a punch through his chest.
• Yui told Kōki not to waste chakra trying to save her, comforted him, and died in his arms.
• Mamoru fell to the Sand ninja, and Kōki released the chakra stored in his Yin Seal before calmly confronting them.

Kōki unleashed his Wood Release against the Sand ninja, killing the entire unit with a giant wooden golem. He found his mortally wounded teacher Mamoru Uehara, who died after reassuring him, and Kōki vowed to resurrect him, Katsuto, and Yui.

• Kōki charged the Sand ninja and used Wood Release techniques to kill eight of them, revealing his power to the survivors.
• The Sand ninja recognized Kōki’s Wood Release and ordered Kanzaki to escape with the information, but Kōki killed him with Tree Binding Eternal Burial.
• Kōki summoned a giant wooden golem and crushed the remaining Sand ninja, while Minato and the others hurried toward the battlefield.
• Kōki found the grievously wounded Mamoru Uehara, who praised him, asked whether Katsuto and Yui had died smiling, and then passed away.
• Kōki created coffins for Mamoru, Katsuto, and Yui, preserved their bodies with his chakra, and resolved to resurrect them and break the fate of ninja.

Konoha reinforcements arrived after Kōki had defeated the Sand ninja and lost Mamoru Uehara and his teammates. Minato comforted Kōki, who resolved to face the world as part of it and recognized that he needed to improve his Yang Release.

• Minato and the Konoha reinforcements found Kōki kneeling beside four coffins amid the ruined battlefield.
• Kōki told Minato that he had killed all the Sand ninja, shocking the reinforcements with his victory and the fact that he was unharmed.
• Akimichi Chōza and the other reinforcements recognized traces of Wood Release, and Minato questioned Kōki about the technique and whether Hiruzen knew.
• Minato reminded Kōki that Mamoru Uehara and his teammates had died as heroes who trusted him, helping Kōki recall their final smiles.
• Kōki vowed to reunite with his teacher and teammates someday and realized he had to abandon his detached outlook on the world.
• Kōki recognized that his Yang Release was still lacking and believed mastering it might have saved Mamoru Uehara and the others.

Kōki explained why he suspected Sunagakure’s forces had separate objectives and warned that their invasion could signal the start of war. Minato recovered the intelligence and sealed away the fallen Konoha shinobi, and the group returned to Konoha, where Hiruzen was relieved to see Kōki alive.

• Minato encouraged Kōki to regain his resolve, and Kōki reaffirmed his goal of reviving Mamoru Uehara and the others.
• Kōki told Minato that the Sand shinobi’s explanation for the invasion seemed incomplete and noted that two separate groups had appeared on the battlefield.
• Kōki suspected the Third Shinobi World War was approaching, and Minato and the others searched the Anbu’s body for the intelligence.
• Minato found the intelligence scroll, sealed Mamoru Uehara and the others’ coffins for Kōki, and collected a few intact Sand shinobi heads.
• Minato led the group back to Konoha, where Hiruzen Sarutobi was relieved to see Kōki alive.

After Kōki Itō wiped out a Sunagakure unit and recovered its intelligence, Hiruzen Sarutobi confirmed that Kōki had awakened Wood Release. Rasa ordered Sunagakure to begin the war, and Orochimaru prepared Konoha’s forces for the coming battle.

• Minato Namikaze reported that Kōki was the only survivor of his team and had killed the infiltrating Sunagakure unit alone.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi confirmed that Kōki possessed Wood Release and had been instructed to keep it secret.
• Kōki told Hiruzen Sarutobi he would carry on the will of Teacher Uehara, Katsuto, and the others who had died.
• Rasa ordered Sunagakure to begin the war after learning its units had gone missing and its intelligence might have been leaked.
• Orochimaru ordered Konoha’s forces to prepare for battle and notified the village that Sunagakure had started the war.
• Sand shinobi charged Konoha’s forces, and a veteran recognized that the Third Shinobi World War had begun.

After Sunagakure declared war on Konoha, the other villages prepared to exploit the conflict while Chiyo devised a cautious strategy for Sunagakure. Madara Uchiha learned the war had begun and discussed his plans for the soon-to-graduate Obito Uchiha, who remained unaware of the danger.

• Ōnoki ordered Iwagakure's forces to the border, while Kumogakure held back and waited to see whether Konoha weakened.
• Chiyo advised Sunagakure to keep troops near the Iwagakure border and let Rasa's forces wear down Konoha before other villages joined the attack.
• Madara Uchiha asked Zetsu about the child he had been watching, and Zetsu reported that Obito Uchiha was still at the Ninja Academy and nearing graduation.
• Madara praised Obito's intense feelings and said they gave his Mangekyō extraordinary potential, while Obito eagerly awaited his graduation examination, hoping to impress Rin.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Konoha’s leaders learned why Sunagakure had delayed its invasion and prepared for war after Sunagakure formally declared war. Hiruzen Sarutobi dismissed the war council but kept Minato’s group and Kōki behind.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi noticed that Kōki’s bearing had changed after his comrades’ deaths and summoned a war council to discuss intelligence from the front.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi revealed that the Daimyo of the Land of Wind had restored Sunagakure’s funding after its leaders wagered they would win territory from the Land of Fire.
• Danzo explained that the daimyo had cut funding because Sunagakure had lost the Third Kazekage and planned war without authorization, then urged Hiruzen Sarutobi to attack first.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi rejected Danzo’s proposal, warning that Konoha could become vulnerable to the other shinobi villages if it became bogged down fighting Sunagakure.
• An urgent messenger reported that Sunagakure had declared war and fighting had begun at the border.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Konoha’s leaders and forces to prepare for war, then dismissed everyone except Minato’s group and Kōki.

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Minato Namikaze to keep Kōki’s Wood Release secret and gave Kōki a Flying Thunder God Kunai for emergencies. Kōki agreed to join the Anbu, entrusted his fallen comrades’ remains to Hiruzen, and began considering how he might bring them back to life.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Minato Namikaze and the others to conceal Kōki’s Wood Release, and Minato gave Kōki a kunai he could use to summon help.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned Kakashi Hatake, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara to Minato’s team, and Minato agreed to try to change Kakashi’s outlook.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi suggested Kōki join the Anbu to conceal his identity and give him room to train, and Kōki accepted.
• Kōki handed Hiruzen Sarutobi a scroll containing the remains of Mamoru Uehara, Katsuto, and the others, and asked him to protect their coffins and return them to their families.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Kōki several days to rest before reporting to the Anbu, while Kōki considered ways to resurrect his comrades and resolved to grow stronger.

Kōki considered four possible ways to reach the Six Paths level and concluded that studying chakra’s essence was the only method he might eventually pursue. He realized he first needed much more knowledge about the human body and chakra, and decided to ask Hiruzen Sarutobi for Tobirama Senju’s research materials.

• Kōki reasoned that Six Paths power was purified, fused chakra that transformed its wielder beyond humanity, and distinguished true Six Paths beings from those relying on borrowed power.
• Kōki considered becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, eating a God Tree’s fruit, fusing chakra into a new form, or absorbing natural energy as possible paths to the Six Paths level.
• Kōki judged studying and fusing chakra to be the most plausible method for him, though it would require extensive knowledge and practical experience.
• Kōki concluded that he needed to learn more about the human body and nature transformations before investigating chakra’s essence.
• Kōki decided to ask Hiruzen Sarutobi for Tobirama Senju’s experimental records and training manuals, and considered seeking Orochimaru’s advice later.

Minato returned home with photographs of his new team and told Kushina that Kōki’s Wood Release might give her a chance to leave Konoha. Kushina celebrated the possibility, though Hiruzen Sarutobi had not yet approved it, and Minato took her out to eat after she burned dinner.

• Minato came home while Kushina was preparing dinner and explained that he had overslept after a tiring day.
• Kushina saw the photographs Minato carried and learned that he was going to be a team leader.
• Minato told Kushina about Kōki’s Wood Release and explained that it could restrain the Nine-Tails if Kushina left the village.
• Kushina realized Minato meant to ask Hiruzen Sarutobi to lift the restriction on her travel and eagerly asked Minato to help.
• Kushina burned the food while celebrating, so Minato suggested they eat out.

Kōki weighed how to hide or use Wood Release while surviving the coming war, then considered asking Hiruzen Sarutobi to bring other villages into the conflict. Meanwhile, Minato Namikaze asked Hiruzen to let Kushina leave the village, and Kushina burst into the Hokage’s office when Hiruzen hesitated.

• Kōki considered the danger of revealing his Wood Release and decided his Anbu missions would let him use it while minimizing exposure.
• Kōki thought about discussing Konoha’s wartime strategy with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Minato Namikaze told Hiruzen Sarutobi that he had revealed Kōki’s Wood Release to Kushina and asked him to let her live as a normal ninja.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi explained why Kushina’s freedom and safety concerned him and began to refuse Minato’s request.
• Kushina Uzumaki smashed through the office door after overhearing Hiruzen’s hesitation, determined to argue for her freedom.

Kushina confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi over restricting her freedom and secured a written promise that she could go where she wanted after the war. Hiruzen secretly expected Minato’s future role as Hokage to keep Kushina in the village, while Minato and Kushina decided to visit Kōki the next day.

• Kushina challenged Hiruzen Sarutobi after overhearing him discuss keeping her from leaving the village.
• Hiruzen persuaded Kushina to stay in the village during the war against Sunagakure and wrote her a guarantee of future freedom.
• Hiruzen privately planned to rely on Minato becoming Hokage to keep Kushina from traveling after the war.
• Minato confirmed he saw nothing wrong with the agreement, and Kushina left the Hokage’s office with him.
• Kushina asked Minato about Kōki, and they agreed to visit him the next day.

Kōki visited Kurenai Yuhi’s home to apologize for delaying his request to learn genjutsu and ask Yūhi Shinku for advice. Yūhi Shinku questioned why someone with Kōki’s strength needed instruction and offered only to teach him how to dispel genjutsu.

• Kōki went to Kurenai Yuhi’s home during his days off to seek genjutsu instruction from her father.
• Kurenai Yuhi recognized Kōki and angrily asked why he had taken so long to visit.
• Kōki explained that nonstop missions and his teammate’s death had kept him away, and Kurenai Yuhi’s anger gave way to sympathy.
• Yūhi Shinku welcomed Kōki inside and said he had seen him at the previous day’s meeting and heard about his strength from another ninja.
• Kōki said he wanted to improve his genjutsu because he felt his abilities were incomplete.
• Yūhi Shinku said ordinary genjutsu would have little effect on Kōki and offered to teach him how to dispel it.

Kōki offered Yūhi Shinku his Superhuman Strength Technique in exchange for learning the fundamentals of Genjutsu. After Kōki demonstrated its internal-destruction stage, Shinku agreed to the exchange and pressed him to explain how it worked.

• Kōki clarified that he wanted to study Yūhi Shinku’s Genjutsu research and its underlying principles, not learn completed techniques.
• Kōki offered to trade his Superhuman Strength Technique for Shinku’s research and explained that it could destroy an enemy’s body from within.
• Kōki demonstrated the technique at Shinku’s training ground, cracking the earth with its external-destruction stage.
• Kōki flicked a rock with his finger, and Shinku discovered that its interior had been reduced to gray powder.
• Shinku identified the technique’s internal-destruction stage, agreed that it was worth the exchange, and asked Kōki how he had done it.