Natsume discovers that the heirloom "Book of Friends" that his grandmother, Reiko, gave him possesses the names of the spirits she defeated and bound to her will. Assisted by a cat whom Natsume addresses as Nyanko-Sensei (lit. Master Little Meow), Natsume aims to return all of the names to their rightful owners.

Natsume is visited by the village's local god who is currently fading because of the lack of devotees.

When Natsume finally has enough of Nyanko's behavior, Nyanko leaves, wandering about by himself and causing trouble.

Tanuma finds out that Nyanko-Sensei is a spirit. Tanuma and Natsume enjoy the autumn festival and previous acquaintances are seen again.

Natsume is attacked by a youkai while retrieving a ball at school. In his haste to run away, he ends up breaking a youkai's seal, just like how he met Nyanko-sensei. Later that night, Natsume discovers a black lookalike of Nyanko-sensei, only to have him steal the Book Of Friends! As Natsume and Nyanko-sensei search for the black cat, they stumble across a gathering of youkai. The youkai plan to attack the humans for sealing their lord - the black cat Natsume's looking for. With Nyanko-sensei's help, Natsume gives back the lord's name and catches a glimpse of his fond and bittersweet memories of living among humans.

(Source: Wikipedia)

There is a new girl in school, Taki Tooru. With her appearance at the school, circles resembling crop circles begin to appear. As Natsume tries to find out more about the circles and Taki, he is visited by another Youkai. Only this time, the Youkai isn't looking for his name, but for a snack.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Natsume encounters a young boy named Kai sealed in a coffin in an abandoned house. Natsume sets Kai free and finds out that Kai is being stalked by a youkai. After a time, Natsume becomes the target of this youkai and stops the youkai's stalking with Nyanko-sensei's help. In the end Natori who turns out to be the stalker and who sealed Kai in the coffin, tells Natsume that Kai is a Youkai.

(Source: Wikipedia)