Chapter Summaries

Ayato met with the Third Hokage, who offered him a chance to qualify to learn the Fourth Hokage’s Flying Thunder God technique by completing a test over the next semester. After celebrating with Sinai, Ayato used his Lightning Release to give her a massage, leaving her touched by his care.

• Iruka brought Ayato to the Hokage Office, where the Third Hokage asked why he was unafraid of Naruto and listened as Ayato defended him.
• The Third Hokage gave Ayato a special kunai and scroll containing a test for the talent needed to learn the Fourth Hokage’s technique.
• Ayato returned home, read the test instructions, and decided to adjust his training once he had recovered his Chakra.
• Sinai came home with grilled meat to celebrate Ayato’s assessment results, and Ayato told her about meeting the Third Hokage and receiving the test.
• After dinner, Ayato used his Lightning Release to massage Sinai, easing her fatigue and strengthening her body; she worried he might overexert himself but was moved by his care.

Ayato carefully infused the Fourth Hokage’s Flying Thunder God Mark and completed the first step after three days. He discovered that entering the Void State sharpened his perception of the mark, leaving him confident he could pass the Third Hokage’s assessment after one semester.

• Ayato cautiously infused Chakra into the Special Kunai’s Flying Thunder God Mark and paused to train while the process continued.
• Ayato completed the infusion on the third day and established an initial connection with the mark.
• Ayato entered the Void State and found he could sense the mark’s exact location while in it.
• Ayato concluded that the improved perception gave him confidence about passing the Third Hokage’s assessment, while postponing practice of C-Rank Ninjutsu.

Ayato accompanied Sinai through Konoha’s crowded New Year celebrations, enduring her colleagues’ praise and teasing about finding him a future bride. After meeting Ino and her parents, Ayato was left to explore the festivities with her while Sinai and the Yamanaka adults talked.

• Ayato stayed home from training to help Sinai prepare for New Year and then went out celebrating with her.
• Sinai’s colleagues praised Ayato, and she teased him about finding a daughter-in-law after several of his female classmates approached him.
• Ayato greeted Ino, and Sinai recognized her as the daughter of Yamanaka Inoichi and the Yamanaka Matriarch.
• Sinai and the Yamanaka Matriarch arranged to talk while Ayato and Ino explored the festivities together.

Ayato took Ino to watch the New Year fireworks, then returned to training and tested his ability to sense and summon a moving Flying Thunder God kunai. He set a goal to locate and summon the kunai without entering the Void State before school began, while considering new directions for his chakra training.

• Ayato bought Ino takoyaki and led her through the crowd to a quiet spot to watch the fireworks, where Ino took his hand and kept holding it afterward.
• After New Year, Ayato recalled that Sinai and the Yamanaka Couple had seen him and Ino holding hands, and he wondered whether Ino had romantic feelings for him.
• Ayato trained his body with Lightning Release Massage and practiced sensing Sinai's moving Flying Thunder God kunai while in the Void State.
• Ayato used the Summoning Technique to summon the kunai and set a goal to sense its exact location and summon it without entering the Void State before school started.
• Ayato deepened his connection to the kunai, then planned to develop his Rasengan with Wind Style and Lightning Release and begin studying nature transformation.

Ayato planned his studies and weighed which techniques and skills were worth pursuing with his limited time. He committed to learning a Wind Style Rasengan and Chakra Nature Transformation, then prepared to begin Wind Style practice with compression and speed.

• Ayato set aside scientific research and creating original Ninjutsu, choosing to focus on established techniques instead.
• He decided to drop Great Breakthrough and Earth Corridor, replace Wind Cutter Technique later, and consider streamlining Gale Palm.
• Ayato marked the Wind Style Rasengan as essential and crossed out the idea of a Lightning Style Rasengan.
• He identified compression and flow speed as the starting points for practicing Wind Style Chakra Nature Transformation, but could not determine how to begin practicing Lightning Release.

Ayato planned his Lightning Release training and decided to borrow a Chakra-conducting Ninja Tool from Ino after school began. After the vacation passed and he returned to class, the girls crowded around him, but he greeted Ino, lifting her mood.

• Ayato outlined ways to train Lightning Release traits and wondered whether Wind Style had qualities beyond cutting.
• Ayato burned his written training plan and decided to borrow a Chakra-conducting Ninja Tool from Ino rather than Shikamaru.
• Ayato reflected on the Otsutsuki living on the moon, then went to bed and began training the next day.
• The Cold Day vacation passed, and Ayato's Shadow Clone returned to the classroom as girls crowded around him.
• Ino felt upset that Ayato had not visited during vacation, but he greeted her, making her proud in front of the other girls.

Ayato reflected on his training progress and asked Ino to lend him a chakra-conductive kunai. He returned to class after Ino agreed to bring one, while their classmates watched them.

• Naruto arrived late on the first day of school and greeted Ayato after returning to his seat.
• Ayato reviewed his progress with the Flying Thunder God, Void State, Natural Energy perception, hand seals, Wind Style Rasengan, and Wind Style nature transformation.
• Ayato asked Ino to borrow a chakra-conductive tool, and she agreed to bring him a kunai after telling her father.
• Ayato demonstrated lightning crackling across his palm, explaining that the kunai would help with his training.
• Ino blushed as Ayato thanked her, and their classmates watched her interaction with him enviously.

Yamanaka Inoichi gave Ino a high-quality Chakra-conducting kunai to lend Ayato, impressed by the young boy’s Lightning Release training. Worried that the Uchiha Clan Massacre was approaching, Ayato warned Ino to go straight home and offered to walk her there.

• Ino asked Yamanaka Inoichi for a Chakra-conducting kunai to lend Ayato, and Inoichi realized Ayato had begun practicing Lightning Release.
• Inoichi selected a good kunai for Ino, who wrapped it and brought it to Ayato the next day.
• Ayato tested the kunai, thanked Ino, and told her to go straight home after school and avoid going out at night.
• Ayato considered the worsening tensions around the Uchiha and worried that the coming massacre would make Konoha dangerous.
• Ayato offered to walk Ino home, and Ino eagerly agreed.

Ayato learned from Yamanaka Inoichi that the village unrest was reaching a critical day, then went to escort his mother, Sinai, home from work. The chapter ended with Sinai delighted by Ayato’s thoughtful visit and surprised to hear he had defeated Iruka Sensei.

• Ino worried that Ayato’s daily walks home with her were quiet and meant little, but Yamanaka Inoichi explained that Ayato was concerned for her safety amid recent assaults.
• Yamanaka Inoichi warned Ayato to stay home, and Ayato realized the day he had been anticipating had arrived.
• Ayato decided to skip training and pick Sinai up from work rather than secretly follow her home as he had in recent days.
• Sinai’s coworker warned her to be careful on the way home, but Ayato arrived to escort her.
• Ayato told Sinai that he had defeated Iruka Sensei, leaving her stunned and happy as she left work with him.

Ayato weighed the risks of trying to obtain Sharingan during the Uchiha Clan Massacre and decided to stay out of it. The next day, Konoha reeled from the massacre, Sasuke stayed home to recover, and Ayato continued attending class while expecting to see him again.

• Ayato considered stealing a pair of Sharingan amid the massacre but dismissed the idea because he lacked the strength, chakra, storage, and medical help to use them safely.
• Ayato wondered why the Uchiha had been wiped out so completely, then decided to keep escorting Ino until the village's turmoil subsided.
• The next day, the massacre shocked Konoha and disrupted the Ninja Academy, where Sasuke's classmates grieved over his empty seat.
• Iruka learned from the Hokage that Sasuke had survived but needed time to recover, and he kept that information secret as instructed.
• Shikamaru reflected on how little he had understood about the impending crisis, while Ayato continued reading and trusted that Sasuke would be safe.

After returning to class following the destruction of his clan, Sasuke challenged Ayato to a fight as the first step toward gaining revenge. Ayato blocked Sasuke’s attacks, but the fight took a dangerous turn when Sasuke reached for a shuriken.

• Sasuke returned to class and endured the girls crowding around him while Shikamaru and Ayato watched.
• Sasuke approached Ayato and asked him to fight, explaining that he wanted to defeat the top student as the first step toward revenge.
• Ayato postponed the fight until after school because he was using a Shadow Clone that could not fight at full strength.
• After school, Ayato met Sasuke and effortlessly blocked his attacks while holding back.
• Sasuke refused to accept the difference in their strength and reached into his Ninja Tool pouch for a shuriken.

Ayato defeated Sasuke after Sasuke used Shuriken during their spar, then made him apologize and warned him not to use them in ordinary fights. Sasuke left alone, while a masked watcher decided to report the incident to the Third Hokage.

• Sasuke attacked Ayato with Shuriken, but Ayato used the Substitution Technique and pinned him to the ground.
• Ayato questioned Sasuke for using Shuriken in a first-grade spar and made him apologize before releasing him.
• Ayato told Sasuke that hard work made him strong and warned him not to use Shuriken in future spars without a teacher's permission.
• Sasuke remembered Itachi as he touched the lump on his forehead, then headed home alone.
• A masked watcher judged Ayato skilled enough to become a Genin and decided to report the incident to the Third Hokage.

The Third Hokage refused Danzo’s attempts to take Sasuke and kept watching Ayato, while Ayato agreed to spar with Sasuke weekly and continued spending time with Ino. After finishing first grade and earning Ninja Tools, Ayato looked forward to meeting the Third Hokage, which could determine whether he obtained the Flying Thunder God.

• The Third Hokage rejected Danzo’s demand to place Sasuke in Root and ordered him to withdraw Root agents monitoring Sasuke.
• Sasuke apologized to Ayato for using Shuriken and arranged to spar with him once a week; Ayato also agreed to let Ino watch.
• Ayato returned Ino’s Kunai, and Ino told Yamanaka Inoichi she wanted to train so she would not fall too far behind Ayato.
• Inoichi agreed to begin training Ino, though he worried that Ayato’s talent would be difficult for her to match.
• Ayato finished first grade at the top of every category and earned two Special Kunai and a set of Shuriken.
• Ayato prepared to meet the Third Hokage, hoping the meeting would decide whether he could obtain the Flying Thunder God.

Ayato met Jiraiya at the Hokage Office and learned that he would have to pass a test to become Jiraiya’s disciple. The Third Hokage had severed Ayato’s connection to the Flying Thunder God kunai, and Ayato began trying to summon it before the deadline.

• Ayato arrived at the Hokage Office and recognized Jiraiya, who had returned after the Third Hokage repeatedly summoned him.
• The Third Hokage explained that Jiraiya was considering Ayato as a disciple, and Jiraiya warned that Ayato would have to prove his talent.
• The Third Hokage set Ayato the task of summoning the Flying Thunder God kunai by the following day, while Jiraiya watched.
• Ayato realized his connection to the kunai had nearly vanished, then focused his perception and began the Summoning Technique.
• Jiraiya noticed Ayato’s fast hand seals but doubted that his attempt would be enough.

Ayato repeatedly tried to summon a Flying Thunder God kunai whose connection had been obscured, then used his Void State to perceive it clearly and summon it successfully. Jiraiya and the Third Hokage were astonished by his talent and reconsidered who should teach him.

• Ayato failed to summon the kunai but sensed its connection on his second attempt, astonishing Jiraiya and the Third Hokage.
• Jiraiya decided to take Ayato as his disciple after seeing his talent and composure.
• Ayato inferred that repeated attempts would overcome the concealed connection, but chose to display more of his abilities instead.
• Ayato entered the Void State and clearly sensed the kunai's connection, bypassing the concealment.
• Ayato successfully summoned the kunai, and Jiraiya and the Third Hokage reacted with disbelief at his achievement.

Ayato became Jiraiya’s disciple after the Third Hokage gave up trying to claim him as his own student. The Third Hokage then ordered Danzo to leave Naruto alone, while Danzo learned that Jiraiya had returned to mentor Ayato and nursed his resentment.

• The Third Hokage and Jiraiya argued over who would take Ayato as a disciple, and the Third Hokage beat Jiraiya when he mocked him.
• The Third Hokage conceded, and Ayato accepted Jiraiya as his master before they left the Hokage Office.
• The Third Hokage ordered the Anbu Captain to tell Danzo to behave himself, and the captain relayed the warning to Danzo.
• Danzo ordered Root to stop watching Naruto after learning Jiraiya had returned to take Ayato as a disciple.
• Danzo felt relieved that Jiraiya had not returned to claim the Hokage position, but he remained resentful toward the Third Hokage.

Ayato demonstrated his taijutsu, Lightning Reinforcement, and Wind Release techniques for Jiraiya, forcing his new sensei to defend seriously. Jiraiya was astonished by Ayato’s abilities and wondered how he had developed them without a teacher.

• Jiraiya tested Ayato’s fundamentals while defending against his taijutsu attacks.
• Ayato combined Lightning Reinforcement with Wind Style: Gale Palm to land a powerful kick that forced Jiraiya to use Needle Jizo.
• Ayato used the Wind Cutter Technique to slice off part of Jiraiya’s protective hair, ending his demonstration.
• Jiraiya considered Ayato’s many talents and concluded that he had likely developed them through his own exploration.
• Ayato withheld the Rasengan, and Jiraiya praised him with renewed excitement about his disciple.

Jiraiya assessed Ayato’s abilities and explained that learning Flying Thunder God required Space, Perception, and Sealing Technique talents. Ayato proposed studying the jutsu by expanding and then simplifying its mark, and Jiraiya agreed to give him Minato’s notes.

• Jiraiya learned that Ayato had taught himself most of his skills, with Might Guy offering occasional taijutsu pointers.
• Jiraiya praised Ayato’s talent and began teaching him about the requirements for Flying Thunder God.
• Ayato realized that controlling the kunai through the “Sword of Loving Affection” had tested his Sealing Technique talent.
• Ayato suggested expanding the Flying Thunder God Mark before studying how Minato had simplified it.
• Jiraiya said the approach might work and promised to give Ayato Minato’s notes.

Ayato asked Jiraiya why his Chakra reserves seemed too small, and Jiraiya explained how Chakra developed as the body grew. Jiraiya warned Ayato not to exceed his limits and hinted at a secret medicine that could help him have more Chakra during a later growth stage.

• Ayato asked Jiraiya about his Chakra reserves and said they were limiting his training.
• Jiraiya explained that most energy before age six went toward bodily growth, while Chakra reserves usually grew rapidly around age twelve.
• Ayato told Jiraiya that he used Lightning Release Massage, and Jiraiya recognized it as an advanced method suited to geniuses.
• Jiraiya warned Ayato never to extract Chakra beyond his limits, and Ayato said he had never forced himself to do so.
• Jiraiya said he knew a way for Ayato to have more Chakra during the rapid-growth period and asked whether Ayato had heard of secret medicine.

Jiraiya offered Ayato access to Mount Myōboku’s secret medicine in exchange for learning the Summoning Technique, and Ayato signed the Toad Clan’s contract. After spending time with Ayato in Konoha, Jiraiya prepared to leave and went to see someone he feared would make him stay.

• Jiraiya revealed that Mount Myōboku’s secret medicine could strengthen Ayato’s physical foundation and brought out the Toad Clan’s summoning Scroll.
• Ayato saw Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze’s names on the Scroll, then wrote his own name and agreed to learn the Summoning Technique.
• Jiraiya and Ayato ate popsicles in Konoha, where Ayato said his family spent much of its money on the food he needed for training.
• Jiraiya considered asking Ayato about Naruto but held back, while Ayato stayed silent rather than risk creating conflict between Jiraiya and the village.
• Jiraiya gave Ayato a Scroll to open at home, arranged to meet him the next morning, and left to visit someone he feared he would not want to leave.