Back
Official cover art of Nicknames
Cover art © Masashi Kishimoto / Shueisha. Not an original work of Daddy Jim Headquarters. Displayed for editorial commentary and review purposes.

Nicknames

Manga ChapterCh. 311

Sai's book-learned attempt at making friends earns him a beating from Sakura, and the hospital gathering afterward turns tense over how far Sasuke has outstripped the team and the one-of-a-kind training Kakashi lays out for Naruto.

Volume: 35
Japanese Release Date: July 3, 2006
Text Size

Summary

Eager to understand how friendships form, Sai heads for the library and reads up on the custom of fond nicknames. Trying the idea for real, he greets Sakura with the word ugly, and her fury lands on both him and Naruto, whose attempt to hold her back comes to nothing.

Text Size

Key Events

Later the three of them cluster around Kakashi at the hospital and recount their brush with Sasuke. Rattled by just how far Sasuke has pulled ahead of them, Naruto frets that the next bid to bring him home is doomed to fall short again. Kakashi's reply is simple: Naruto has only to grow stronger, and he sets out a training regimen suited to Naruto alone.

Text Size

Notes

The chapter falls within the Akatsuki Suppression Mission arc and plants the seed of the singular training routine meant for Naruto and no one else.

Share this resource

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Sai study nicknames in this chapter?

In Nicknames, Sai heads to the library to understand how friendships form, reading up on the custom of using fond nicknames. He then tries the idea for real on his teammates.

What nickname does Sai give Sakura?

Sai greets Sakura with the word ugly, meant as a friendly nickname. Her fury lands on both him and Naruto, whose attempt to hold her back comes to nothing.

What do Naruto, Sakura, and Sai discuss with Kakashi at the hospital?

The three of them cluster around Kakashi and recount their recent brush with Sasuke. Naruto frets that the next attempt to bring Sasuke home is doomed to fall short again.

Why is Naruto worried after hearing about Sasuke's strength?

Naruto is rattled by just how far Sasuke has pulled ahead of the team. He fears that without growing stronger himself, any future effort to reach Sasuke will fail again.

What training does Kakashi set up for Naruto in this chapter?

Kakashi tells Naruto he simply has to grow stronger and sets out a training regimen suited to Naruto alone. This chapter falls within the Akatsuki Suppression Mission arc.

Sources & Information

Looking for more on Nicknames? The Naruto Wiki on Fandom has a dedicated page with community notes.

View on Fandom

This content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Naruto anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.

Rights holders

All rights belong to their respective owners.

Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Headquarters, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:

  • Movie pages: theatrical posters and key visuals, credited to Studio Pierrot and Toho.
  • Game pages: official box art for the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm games, credited to Bandai Namco.
  • Manga chapter pages: Jump Comics volume covers, credited to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto.

Help Us Keep This Wiki Accurate

Daddy Jim Headquarters maintains this encyclopedia. If you spot an error, a translation issue, or something that doesn't look right, let us know.