Chapter Summaries

Koki realized Shisui had used genjutsu to defeat him, then warned Shisui to keep his future Mangekyo ability secret and protect himself from Danzo and other dangers. Their embrace was interrupted when Fugaku coughed and Itachi stepped between them, visibly displeased.

• Koki recognized that the battle had been Shisui's genjutsu and Shisui helped him to his feet.
• Koki pulled Shisui into an embrace, and Shisui hugged him back when he felt Koki trembling.
• Koki warned Shisui not to reveal his Mangekyo ability, trust Danzo, or let anyone hurt him, and Shisui promised to be careful.
• Fugaku coughed to interrupt the embrace, and Itachi walked over and stood between Koki and Shisui.
• Shisui greeted Itachi, who glared at him and said nothing.

After losing his duel with Shisui, Koki celebrated Itachi’s praise before Obito asked Shisui to teach him Genjutsu. On the walk home, Koki reminded Obito of their planned “date,” leaving Obito confused and Itachi jealous enough to tighten his grip around Koki’s neck.

• Fugaku reminded Koki that he had lost to Shisui, and Koki reluctantly admitted it while Itachi continued praising him.
• Obito told Shisui he wanted to learn Genjutsu to become stronger and protect the people he cared about, and Shisui agreed to teach him.
• Koki pointed out that Obito first needed to awaken his Sharingan, prompting Obito to shout in frustration; Koki then asked Shisui to teach him too.
• As Koki, Itachi, Obito, and Shisui walked home, Koki reminded Obito of their weekend “date,” but Obito could not remember agreeing to it.
• Itachi tightened his grip around Koki’s neck when he heard about the date, then apologized and soothed the spot while Koki laughed at the ticklish sensation.

Koki reminded Obito of their promise from the previous night, prompting Obito and Shisui to recall their drunken, embarrassing moments. Obito read the letter of promise and stared at Koki in disbelief.

• Koki teased Obito about forgetting their important date, then hinted that the promise had been made while they were drinking the previous night.
• Obito remembered getting drunk and crying in Koki's arms, then blushed with shame.
• Koki noticed Obito's flushed face and worried that he was sick, but Obito insisted he was fine and pointed out that Shisui looked even redder.
• Shisui blushed after remembering being drunk with his arm around Koki's waist, and Obito helped him explain it away as the sunset and heat.
• Koki prompted Obito to take the letter of promise from his pocket, and Obito read it before looking at Koki in disbelief.

Obito wrestled with his promise to take Koki along when he confessed to Rin, while Koki returned home exhausted and hurt from fighting Shisui. Koki tended to Shisui’s injuries in tense silence, leaving Shisui and Itachi unsure what was wrong.

• Obito reluctantly accepted Koki’s warning to keep his written promise and take him to see Rin.
• Obito hid the promise in a drawer, troubled by his feelings about Rin and his reaction to Koki’s interest in her.
• Koki arrived home exhausted and in pain after his fight with Shisui, while Itachi worried about him.
• Koki felt guilty about Shisui’s injuries, but Shisui apologized, thinking Koki was badly hurt.
• Koki brought Itachi and Shisui to the living room and carefully treated Shisui’s wounds in silence, unnerving them both.

Mikoto learned that Shisui’s injuries came from a taijutsu match with Koki and cared for him as one of her own. Koki suggested that Mikoto could have a daughter-in-law, then clarified he meant Itachi, leaving Mikoto looking at her bewildered younger son.

• Shisui claimed he had asked Koki for a taijutsu match, and Itachi confirmed his account to reassure Mikoto.
• Mikoto bandaged Shisui, urged Koki to protect himself, and offered to cook for Shisui while he recovered.
• Mikoto lamented that she had no daughter to keep her company, and Koki suggested she could have a daughter-in-law instead.
• Mikoto assumed Koki had a girl he liked and invited him to bring her home, while Itachi clung anxiously to his brother.
• Koki clarified that he meant Itachi, and Mikoto looked at her bewildered younger son.

Koki joked about finding partners for his family, provoking Mikoto to slap him and leaving Shisui unexpectedly distressed. After Mikoto explained that Hatake Sakumo had gone to protect Kakashi, Koki prepared to take Itachi outside, but Shisui stopped him to ask whether his earlier remarks had been a joke.

• Mikoto slapped Koki for joking about finding a daughter-in-law for Itachi, then warned him that Itachi was still young.
• Koki mentioned Obito and Shisui, and Shisui reacted with hurt and confusion at the thought of Koki having a girlfriend.
• Mikoto joked that she and Koki's father would try their best to find partners for the boys, then left for her room.
• Koki asked Mikoto why Hatake Sakumo was absent, and she said he had gone to protect Kakashi on a mission.
• Koki agreed to take Itachi to play outside and invited the pensive Shisui, who declined.
• Shisui called Koki back and hesitantly asked whether Koki had been joking about finding someone.

Koki’s casual comment about the children marrying and leaving home deeply hurt Shisui, who feared losing his closeness with Koki. Koki left with Itachi, and Shisui was left alone in tears, while Koki promised Itachi they would spend time together again.

• Koki joked that the house would be lively once the children found wives, and Shisui was deeply hurt by the thought of their future separation.
• Itachi clung to Koki and asked him not to go to Shisui, so Koki hesitated between his brother and his best friend.
• Shisui urged Koki and Itachi to leave, and Koki went after telling Shisui to speak up if something was wrong.
• After Koki left, Shisui closed the door, slumped onto the sofa, and quietly sobbed.
• In the corridor, Itachi asked Koki to spend time with him again, and Koki promised they would before they sealed it with a pinky promise.

Koki stayed with Itachi through the evening and cared for him in the hot bedroom, then began telling him the story of Snow White. As Koki started the tale, he remained unaware of how deeply Itachi cherished their time together.

• Koki agreed to sit outside a little longer with Itachi before carrying him back into the house.
• Koki paused in the living room, wondering whether Shisui was unwell, until Itachi called him back to the bedroom.
• Because Itachi was frail, Koki kept the air conditioner off and gently fanned him in the summer heat.
• Itachi nestled against Koki and reflected that he valued his brother above friends, clan, and village.
• Koki chose to tell Itachi Snow White's story and began describing the princess and her jealous stepmother.

Koki finished telling Itachi a story and lay down beside him, intending to check on Shisui later. He fell asleep in their embrace, and Itachi settled in beside him, comforted by his brother's warmth.

• Koki finished telling Itachi the story of Snow White while gently fanning him.
• Itachi insisted he was not sleepy and coaxed Koki to lie down beside him.
• Koki held Itachi, who relaxed in his brother’s embrace and told him it made him feel safe.
• Koki fell asleep before he could remember what he had meant to do.
• Itachi moved closer, wished Koki good night, and drifted to sleep beside him.

Koki woke from a nightmare in which Shisui blinded himself and plunged into the Naka River. Worried, Koki went to check on Shisui in the middle of the night, but what he saw in the dark room made his heart sink.

• Koki dreamed that Shisui, bleeding from his blinded eye, said goodbye and fell into the Naka River while Koki could not move or call out.
• Koki jolted awake in a sweat and tried to calm himself, then carefully tucked in his sleeping younger brother, Itachi.
• Still troubled by the dream and the system's silence, Koki decided to visit Shisui's room to make sure he was safe.
• Koki opened Shisui's door and began to leave after seeing him in the moonlight, but a glance back stopped him in his tracks.

Shisui suffered a severe fever after leaving his window open, and he longed for Koki to stay with him. Koki came to check on him, then left to get water and medicine while Shisui waited contentedly.

• Koki found Shisui flushed and burning with fever when he checked his forehead.
• Shisui drifted in and out of consciousness, aching and frightened as he thought of Koki.
• Koki entered quietly and touched Shisui's forehead, bringing him comfort.
• Shisui tried to tell Koki he was fine, but his hoarse voice made Koki worry more.
• Koki tucked in Shisui and went to get water and medicine, while Shisui nodded and smiled.

Koki cared for Shisui’s fever, and Shisui acted spoiled because he wanted Koki to coax him. After Koki gently persuaded him to take his medicine, Shisui fell asleep feeling happy and cared for.

• Koki returned with water and fever medicine and offered them to Shisui.
• Shisui refused the medicine, hoping Koki would comfort him, and grew embarrassed as Koki watched him fondly.
• Shisui tried to take the medicine himself, but Koki moved it away and called him a “good boy.”
• Koki coaxed Shisui to take the pills by promising they could go outside and play once his fever went down.
• Shisui took the medicine, and Koki tucked him in and checked his forehead as he drifted to sleep.

Koki and Kakashi fought on the Uchiha Clan's training ground while Koki worried that Obito and Shisui had been avoiding him. After Kakashi trapped him with a surprise attack, Koki mistook Kakashi's concern for a rare sign of how much his mood mattered to him, and the chapter ended with them laughing together.

• Koki and Kakashi battled, with Koki dodging Kakashi's attacks until a hidden ambush and shuriken left him cornered.
• Koki sat down looking disappointed, and Kakashi apologized, believing he had upset him by not holding back.
• Koki noticed Kakashi's unusual worry and began laughing at his anxious expression.
• Koki teased Kakashi about his rare show of concern, and Kakashi smiled and said, "As long as you're happy."

After returning from a mission, Kakashi reunited with Koki and volunteered to train with him when Shisui and Obito declined. During training, Kakashi forced himself to fight seriously, torn between preparing Koki for the dangers of being a ninja and wishing he could protect him from that life.

• Kakashi hurried home after completing his mission and embraced Koki when he returned.
• At breakfast, Shisui and Obito made excuses when Koki asked them to train with him.
• Kakashi offered to accompany Koki to the training ground, and they went together.
• Remembering the dangers of his mission, Kakashi decided to train Koki without holding back.
• Seeing Koki's disappointment, Kakashi wished he could tell him to give up being a ninja and let Kakashi protect him.

After Kakashi defeated Koki in a spar, he worried that Koki had become discouraged, but Koki admitted he felt only a little disappointed and asked to train with Kakashi regularly. Kakashi agreed, and Koki left the encounter more determined to improve and keep up with Shisui and Itachi.

• Kakashi explained that he had fought at full strength to give Koki a chance to improve and reassured him after the defeat.
• Koki admitted the loss had stung because Kakashi and Shisui had previously held back, and reflected on how Kakashi used the Three Basic Techniques and Shurikenjutsu to control their fight.
• Koki realized how far he had to go compared with Kakashi, Shisui, and his younger brother Itachi, then resolved not to fall behind.
• Koki asked Kakashi to spar with him for an hour or two each day without holding back.
• Kakashi accepted happily and felt relieved that Koki's fighting spirit had only grown stronger.

Kakashi taught Koki that strong Taijutsu depended on solid fundamentals, prompting Koki to commit to basic physical training. Kakashi then began teaching him the Three Basic Techniques, but Koki struggled badly, and Kakashi continued the lesson despite his frustration.

• Kakashi explained that strength, speed, endurance, and precision formed the foundations of Taijutsu, and Koki resolved to focus on physical training.
• Kakashi offered to teach Koki the Three Basic Techniques before moving on to precise Chakra control, and Koki called him “Kakashi-sensei.”
• Kakashi blushed at being called sensei, then began instructing Koki in the basic techniques.
• After half an hour, Koki still struggled with the Three Basic Techniques, leaving Kakashi frustrated but determined to keep teaching him.
• Koki recognized that he needed to master the basic techniques to progress as a ninja, and Kakashi told him to continue.

Kakashi gave Koki a pearl bracelet after watching him train, but Koki refused it because he thought it was too valuable. Kakashi explained that he had bought it especially for him, leaving Koki to consider the gift.

• Koki repeated basic ninjutsu movements until Kakashi led him to a chair and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
• Koki took the handkerchief from Kakashi, but Kakashi reclaimed it and said he would wash it himself.
• Kakashi stopped Koki from returning to training and gave him a small gift box.
• Koki opened the box and found a pearl bracelet, then refused to accept it because it was too valuable.
• Kakashi told Koki that he had bought the bracelet for him on his way back from a mission because it suited him.

Kakashi persuaded Koki to accept a bracelet before they resumed their playful training, while a silver-haired young man watched them from the shadows. At the Uchiha Clan Head's home, Shisui recognized Obito's anxiety about confessing to Rin and hinted that he had learned of it during their last trip back.

• Koki initially refused Kakashi's bracelet, but accepted it after Kakashi pretended he would throw it away.
• Kakashi and Koki joked about continuing their training and whether Kakashi would teach him Lightning Blade as a silver-haired young man watched them.
• Shisui trained with unusual intensity while Obito watched, then asked Obito about the plans he had mentioned.
• Obito worried about seeing Rin and confessing to her, unsure whether he wanted to go through with it.
• Shisui observed that Obito seemed troubled about confessing, and Obito demanded to know how he knew.
• Shisui denied snooping through Obito's room and asked whether Obito had forgotten what happened on their way back last time.

Obito told Shisui about his confusion over his feelings for Rin, while Shisui reflected on how Koki’s care during his fever had changed his own feelings. Shisui ended the chapter watching Koki leave with Kakashi, troubled by jealousy he could not explain.

• Shisui confirmed that he had already read Obito’s written promise, and Obito admitted he was confused about confessing to Rin and Koki joining in.
• Obito realized his feelings for Rin were closer to dependence and admiration than true love after seeing her affection for Kakashi.
• Obito asked Shisui what had been troubling him, and Shisui recalled Koki staying up all night to care for him during his fever.
• Shisui remembered avoiding Koki after waking, even though being apart from him caused him pain.
• Shisui saw Koki leave for the training ground with Kakashi and gripped the window frame as jealousy rose in him.

Shisui regretted refusing Koki’s request and hoped to apologize when he returned, while he and Obito both dwelled on their feelings for him. When Koki came home with Kakashi, Shisui embraced him, provoking jealousy in both Kakashi and Obito, who stayed back because they had no reason to intervene.

• After Kakashi and Koki left, Shisui sobbed and resolved to apologize to Koki when he returned.
• Shisui and Obito lay in the corridor, each thinking about Koki, and Shisui hinted that thinking of him made him happy.
• Shisui returned to training, and Obito noticed that he seemed less weighed down.
• Koki came back with Kakashi and found Shisui training while Obito rested in the corridor.
• Shisui rushed forward and hugged Koki, while Kakashi and Obito felt jealous but did not step in.