Does Natori Know About the Book of Friends? The Clues and Chapter Reveal

For more than two decades, the central tension of Yuki Midorikawa's supernatural masterpiece has rested on a single piece of heirloom papercraft. Takashi Natsume carries the Yuujinchou, a ledger of bound spirit names inherited from his grandmother, Reiko Natsume, under absolute secrecy, knowing that exposing its existence could trigger an all-out war across the spiritual underworld. Among the mortal characters circling his orbit, actor and exorcist Shuichi Natori remained the most dangerous question mark: an ally with genuine warmth for Takashi, yet an operating exorcist whose professional creed dictates the subjugation or destruction of dangerous spiritual artifacts.

That dynamic shifted irrevocably when Midorikawa brought the truth to the surface. As the franchise surpasses 18 million copies in circulation in Hakusensha's Monthly LaLa and experiences a sustained merchandising renaissance, highlighted by an [MSN Report](https://www.msn.com/ja-jp/news/opinion/%E5%A4%8F%E7%9B%AE%E5%8F%8B%E4%BA%BA%E5%B8%B3-%E5%90%8D%E5%8F%96%E5%91%A8%E4%B8%80%E3%81%8C%E3%81%AD%E3%82%93%E3%81%A9%E3%82%8D%E3%81%84%E3%81%A9%E3%82%B7%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BA%E3%81%A7%E3%83%95%E3%82%A3%E3%82%AE%E3%83%A5%E3%82%A2%E5%8C%96-%E5%A4%8F%E7%9B%AE%E8%B2%B4%E5%BF%97-%E3%83%8B%E3%83%A3%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B3%E5%85%88%E7%94%9F%E3%81%AE%E5%86%8D%E8%B2%A9%E3%82%82%E5%90%8C%E6%99%82%E3%83%AA%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9/ar-AA1S7ACk) detailing Good Smile Company's August 2026 release of the first official Shuichi Natori Nendoroid alongside a May 2026 reissue of Takashi and Nyanko-sensei, readers continue to analyze how Natori finally pierced the veil. The confirmation fundamentally altered the series' emotional stakes, proving that trust could survive the lethal politics of the exorcist clans.

📌 Key Takeaways:

• The Crucial Chapter: Shuichi Natori pieces together the ledger's true nature across the Uragasumi arc, culminating in direct confirmation in Manga Chapter 93 (collected in Volume 23).
• The Catalyst: Natori’s loyal shikigami, Hiiragi, discovers a torn scrap of name paper dropped by Takashi during an exorcism mission, handing Natori physical proof of a yokai name contract.
• The Alliance Shift: Rather than confiscating or destroying the relic as standard exorcist doctrine demands, Natori decides to act as Takashi's shield against hostile actors like Seiji Matoba.

The Trail of Clues: How Natori Pieced the Puzzle Together

Natori’s suspicion did not ignite overnight. From their earliest meetings in the series, Natori noticed anomalies that defied conventional spiritual practices. Takashi was constantly shadowed by Madara, the terrifying high-ranking beast masquerading as the rotund "Nyanko-sensei", yet Takashi commanded no formal shikigami contracts, possessed no lineage training, and carried no defensive wards. Even more perplexing was Takashi's repeated habit of asking spirits about their names and searching through vintage paper stationery.

The turning points accumulated across several distinct operations:

• During the Tsukiwake estate investigation, Natori observed high-level spirits actively pursuing Takashi not for flesh, but to recover something stolen.
• Takashi’s defensive refusal to join Natori’s exorcism work signaled a deliberate effort to keep certain spiritual possessions out of sight.
• Natori discovered that Takashi was blood-related to Reiko Natsume, a legendary, reclusive spiritualist whose raw power had baffled the old exorcist families for decades.

Natori is an astute operative beneath his celebrity persona. He realized that Takashi was neither hunting yokai for bounty nor selling his services on the black market. The young boy was returning stolen autonomy, one page at a time.

The Climax of Chapter 93 and the Uragasumi Discovery

The decisive breakthrough occurs during the extended investigation involving the Uragasumi spirit and the remnants of past sealing masters. While attempting to cleanse a dangerous anomaly alongside Takashi, a torn scrap of the Book of Friends slips free. Takashi, exhausted from an intense spiritual confrontation, fails to notice the dropped remnant. It is retrieved by shikigami Hiiragi, Natori’s masked familiar who harbors deep gratitude toward Takashi for saving her life early in the series.

When Hiiragi presents the fragment to Natori, the exorcist recognizes the ancient binding script immediately: a true-name contract written in high-density spiritual ink. When spoken or manipulated, such contracts grant absolute dominion over the spirit bound within. For an exorcist family, possessing a book full of such names represents limitless tactical firepower, or catastrophic liability.

In Manga Chapter 93, Natori confronts Takashi directly. Midorikawa strips away the usual comedic interruptions of Nyanko-sensei and forces an unvarnished dialogue between the two. Instead of deflecting or fleeing, Takashi takes a quiet breath and explains the truth. He reveals the inheritance left behind by Reiko, the nature of the binding ledger, and his lifelong mission to dissolve the pacts rather than exploit them.

Timeline of Discovery Across Manga and Anime Adaptations

The evolution of Natori's awareness unfolded across years of publication. The following operational timeline charts how vague suspicion transformed into concrete partnership between the manga serialization and the animated screen adaptations produced by Brain's Base and Shuka.

Why Natori Refused to Take the Ledger: An Exorcist's Choice

In standard exorcist circles, an unmanaged artifact like the Book of Friends is considered an existential threat. If Seiji Matoba, head of the ruthless Matoba clan, had discovered it first, the ledger would have been leveraged to bend countless spirits into military assets for political supremacy. Even benevolent exorcists would have argued for its ceremonial burning to protect human settlements from vengeful yokai.

Natori made an entirely different calculation. While he once viewed spirits purely as hazardous entities to be purged or bound, his time with Takashi had already softened his worldview. Seeing the physical wear on Takashi, the bruises, the isolation, and the heavy emotional weight of living between two worlds, Natori recognized that taking the book would destroy the boy's humanity.

Instead of demanding the ledger or lecturing him on exorcist law, Natori offered an unconditional promise: he would tell no one, he would never demand to see the book again, and should the Matoba clan ever suspect the truth, he would draw their attention away. In doing so, Natori chose personal loyalty over the dogmatic survival codes of his trade.

The 2026 Resurgence: Merchandise, Exhibitions, and Anime Momentum

The enduring impact of Natori's bond with Takashi continues to drive substantial commercial interest. In 2026, Japanese retailers launched major campaigns centered specifically on the exorcist network. Alongside Good Smile Company's landmark Natori figure announcement, corporate distributor Animate scheduled the TV Anime Natsume Yuujinchou Animate Fair in 2026, launching advance sales on September 12, 2026.

The fair showcases exclusive newly drawn artwork spotlighting the four core figures of the exorcist subplots: Shuichi Natori, Seiji Matoba, Hiiragi, and Yorishima. Online retailer AMNIBUS opened concurrent pre-orders for the same exorcist-themed collection on September 12, confirming that the dynamic between Natori's protective faction and the broader exorcist underworld remains the narrative engine generating the franchise's highest reader engagement.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Does Natori ever try to steal or burn the Book of Friends?
No. Although Natori initially warns Takashi that holding dangerous cursed objects will attract catastrophe, he never attempts to take the Yuujinchou by force or destroy it once he learns its true origins and Takashi's purpose.

Q2: Does Seiji Matoba know about the Book of Friends?
As of the current manga storyline, Seiji Matoba suspects Takashi possesses an extraordinary spiritual advantage or a hidden connection to Reiko Natsume, but he does not know the exact name, format, or mechanics of the Book of Friends.

Q3: In which anime season does Natori find out about the ledger?
The full confession occurs in Manga Chapter 93. Earlier television seasons depict Natori gradually collecting clues, but the complete confrontation and confession correspond to the storylines developed in modern production arcs adapting Volume 23.

Where the Alliance Goes Next in Midorikawa's Narrative

The revelation of the Book of Friends did not weaken the tension between Takashi and Natori; it refined it into something sturdier. By choosing silence over orthodoxy, Natori accepted a profound professional liability. He operates daily within an exorcist society that would brand him a traitor if his complicity were discovered, all to ensure that one lonely teenager can continue returning stolen names in peace.

As the manga progresses beyond 18 million printed volumes and the story moves deeper into the history of the exorcist houses, Natori stands as Takashi’s most essential human safeguard. He is no longer just the charming actor playing at exorcism on the weekends. He is the guardian at the perimeter, making sure the world never learns what rests inside Takashi's desk drawer.