A negative image-recording material for heat-mode exposure, which is able to form images by heat-mode exposure, comprises (A) a polyurethane resin having at least one or more side-chain branches of the following general formulae (1) to (3) which polyurethane resin is soluble in an alkaline aqueous solution, (B) a photo-thermal converting agent, and (C) a compound capable of generating a radical through heat-mode exposure to light of a wavelength which can be absorbed by the photo-thermal converting agent. In formulae (1) to (3), R1 to R11 each independently represents a monovalent organic group; X and Y each independently represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or —N(R12)—; Z represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, —N(R13)—, or an optionally-substituted phenylene group; R12 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group; and R13 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group.