Chapter Summaries

Hinata was assigned to lead Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee on a mission to return three clients to Clover Gold Mine Mountain and eliminate the Kurotsuchi Clan. The team learned that Raiga, a former member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, might be leading the clan, and they went to Konoha Hospital to question the clients.

• Hinata arrived at the Hokage's Office as Might Guy reported completing his mission against pirates.
• Neji told Tsunade that three exhausted people from Clover Gold Mine Mountain had requested help against the Kurotsuchi Clan, who had seized their village and killed residents.
• Tsunade assigned Neji, Tenten, Rock Lee, and Hinata to escort the clients home and defeat the clan, naming Hinata team leader.
• Might Guy warned that Raiga, the clan's leader, was said to be one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
• Hinata told Neji about the abilities of Zabuza's and Kisame's swords and speculated that Raiga used Lightning Release.
• Neji and Hinata arrived at Konoha Hospital to ask the clients for more information.

Hinata's group reached the Curry House of Life near Clover Gold Mine Mountain and planned to investigate the village before confronting the Kurotsuchi Clan. Their plans were thrown into disarray when Rokosuke disappeared and went to the village alone.

• Hinata left Tokuma Hyuga behind to watch the Wind God and Thunder God brothers in prison, then led the group toward Clover Gold Mine Mountain.
• After more than half a month of travel, Hinata's group found Rock Lee's familiar Curry House of Life and met Granny Sansho.
• Granny Sansho served the group her intensely spicy Curry of Life, which left Hinata and the others struggling to recover.
• Hinata, Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten agreed to use the shop as their base and gather intelligence before making a battle plan.
• One of Rokosuke's companions reported that Rokosuke had gone to the village alone, so Hinata ordered the group to leave immediately and gather intelligence.

Hinata and her team rescued Rokosuke from Raiga’s men at Gold Mine Mountain, but Neji sensed they were being watched. Hinata spotted Raiga on a nearby mountain with a second person whose strange chakra obstructed Neji’s Byakugan, and the team went to investigate.

• Hinata used her Byakugan to find Rokosuke held by Raiga’s black-cloaked followers near Gold Mine Mountain.
• Hinata stopped Tenten from using smoke bombs and gave her explosive-tag kunai, which the team used to attack the Kurotsuchi Clan members.
• Rock Lee confronted Karashi and persuaded him to abandon his criminal path and return to making curry.
• Neji sensed Raiga watching them from a rocky mountain, and Hinata saw that Raiga carried another person whose strange chakra obstructed Neji’s Byakugan.
• Hinata led the team toward the mountain to investigate Raiga and the person with the unusual chakra.

Black Zetsu discovered that Hinata possessed Otsutsuki power and marked her as a backup candidate for the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki if Madara’s plan failed. Meanwhile, Hinata’s team confronted Raiga and Ranmaru on the mountain, where Raiga launched a lightning attack.

• Black Zetsu told White Zetsu that Hinata’s power differed from that of ordinary Hyuga Clan members and decided she could be a backup candidate for the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki.
• White Zetsu noted that Iwagakure seemed to care about Hinata, and Black Zetsu decided they had opportunities to exploit her.
• Hinata, Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten climbed the mountain and spotted Raiga and Ranmaru through Hinata’s ability.
• Ranmaru warned Raiga that Hinata could ignore his ability, and Raiga chose to target her first.
• Raiga raised his twin blades and sent Lightning chakra toward the storm clouds above Clover Gold Mine Mountain.

Hinata fought Raiga to learn how he controlled lightning, but overwhelmed him with explosive Sage Chakra Fists and destroyed the mountain. She regrouped with Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten, leaving them with Raiga’s abilities identified but no chance to fight him.

• Raiga summoned lightning against Hinata’s group, and Neji and Hinata used Heavenly Spin to deflect it.
• Hinata charged Raiga to gather information while Neji protected Rock Lee and Tenten.
• Hinata’s Sage Chakra Fists smashed Raiga’s lightning balls and blasted him with successive explosions.
• Hinata continued attacking Raiga and Ranmaru until the rocky mountain collapsed and the battle ended.
• Hinata told her teammates what she had learned about Raiga’s lightning, and Neji pointed out that Raiga was already defeated.

After Hinata’s team defeated Raiga, Hinata let Tenten keep the Lightning Blades and teased her about marrying Neji. When Tenten named Tsunade as her role model, Hinata concluded that Tenten’s admiration might doom Neji and searched for a safer example.

• Hinata’s team retrieved Raiga and Ranmaru’s bodies and found the Lightning Blades among the rocks.
• Tenten admired the blades, and Hinata let her keep them as a supposed betrothal gift for Neji.
• Neji and Rock Lee went to drive the remaining Kurotsuchi Clan members out of the village.
• Tenten said she wanted to become a female ninja like Tsunade, and Hinata worried that Tenten’s role models would bring Neji a deadly fate.
• Hinata suggested Mito Uzumaki instead, but worried that Neji and Rock Lee might meet the same fate as Hashirama and Madara.

After Hinata returned to Konoha, Tsunade reprimanded her for damaging a gold mine while defeating the Kurotsuchi Clan, but Hinata defended her actions as a way to demonstrate Konoha’s strength. Danzo delivered Tsunade secret intelligence, prompting her to summon the village’s available Jonin and leaving Hinata wondering what threat had emerged.

• Tsunade angrily confronted Hinata over the damage she had caused at Gold Mine Mountain and her theatrical behavior there.
• Hinata argued that displaying her power had earned the Land of Rivers’ respect and could help Konoha attract missions.
• Danzo arrived with secret intelligence, praised Hinata’s argument, and criticized Konoha’s former restraint compared with Kumogakure’s military expansion.
• After reading the letter, Tsunade sent Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten away, kept Hinata, and ordered Shizune to summon every available Jonin.

Hinata considered Danzo’s attempt to recruit her while Tsunade summoned Konoha’s Jonin to discuss upheaval in Kirigakure. After piecing together Kirigakure’s confused history, Hinata learned that Mei Terumi had become its new leader, and Tsunade called for intelligence on the village.

• Danzo exchanged approving glances with Hinata, who realized he wanted to win her over and pretended not to understand.
• Tsunade gathered Konoha’s Jonin and announced that Yagura had been dead for years and Mei Terumi had recently succeeded him as Kirigakure’s leader.
• Hinata reconstructed Kirigakure’s history, concluding that Madara and Obito had prolonged the Bloody Mist Policy and that Yagura was later freed from Obito’s Genjutsu.
• Tsunade said Mei Terumi seemed determined to change the Bloody Mist Policy and ordered Konoha to obtain intelligence on Kirigakure.

Tsunade and the Jonin discussed how Konoha should assess Kirigakure after its upheaval and possible end to the Bloody Mist Policy. They agreed to send a covert reconnaissance team, and Tsunade began setting its requirements.

• Tsunade asked whether Konoha should openly send an envoy to Kirigakure or secretly investigate, and Danzo argued for dispatching a team first.
• Kakashi and Genma Shiranui supported covert investigation, reasoning that Kirigakure would also be uncertain about contacting other villages.
• Tsunade considered the Jonin's views and concluded that Konoha needed to learn Kirigakure's stance before choosing its next move.
• Tsunade announced an S-rank special investigation team of four Jonin, including a sensory ninja, an intelligence analyst, a medical ninja, and a ninja skilled in Control Ninjutsu.

Tsunade rejected Danzo’s proposal to replace Hyuga Iroha with Hinata on the Kirigakure intelligence team, then had Hinata help prepare the mission. While reviewing Konoha’s sparse records, Hinata found an unsigned report about Itachi Uchiha and Jūzō Biwa.

• Tsunade ordered Kakashi, Shizune, Nara Saltwater, and Hyuga Iroha to infiltrate the Land of Water and investigate Kirigakure.
• Danzo proposed sending Hinata instead of Iroha, but Tsunade and Kakashi argued against it, and Tsunade finalized the team without Hinata.
• After Kakashi questioned Hinata’s intelligence-gathering skills, Hinata insisted she wanted to join, and Tsunade asked her to help sort Kirigakure documents.
• Hinata and Shizune reviewed Konoha’s records and found little recent information about Kirigakure under the Fourth Mizukage.
• Hinata noticed an unsigned report stating that Itachi Uchiha and Jūzō Biwa had once done something together.

While reviewing intelligence about Itachi Uchiha and Yagura, Hinata considered how shinobi could earn a living without relying on missions and wars. Tsunade praised Hinata’s insight about opening hospitals across the Land of Fire, then affectionately pulled her into her arms.

• Tsunade read a report describing Itachi Uchiha’s battle with Yagura and learned that the Fourth Mizukage was a perfect Three-Tails Jinchuriki who survived the fight.
• Hinata reasoned that Yagura had chosen to die with the Three-Tails to delay Akatsuki’s plans, and reflected on how economic needs fueled conflict among shinobi villages.
• While sorting Kirigakure’s records with Shizune, Hinata asked whether shinobi could work outside missions and suggested that other livelihoods might reduce the need for war.
• Hinata proposed opening shinobi hospitals throughout the Land of Fire to generate revenue, train medical shinobi, and strengthen the people’s bond with Konoha.
• Tsunade praised Hinata’s idea, called her fit to become Hokage, and pulled her into an affectionate embrace.

Tsunade ordered Hinata to develop a plan for expanding ninja hospitals despite Konoha’s shortage of medical ninja and manpower. Hinata wrote a proposal, and Tsunade told her to prepare to meet the Daimyo of the Land of Fire the next day.

• Tsunade told Hinata that the village had approved making movies and establishing ninja hospitals across the Land of Fire.
• Tsunade explained that Konoha lacked enough ninja to staff hospitals and missions, then ordered Hinata to find a solution quickly.
• Hinata considered her changing approach to problems and worked in the Hokage's Office on a plan for ninja hospitals.
• Hinata proposed training more medical ninja, opening hospitals in towns, expanding academy enrollment, and advertising Konoha Hospital's services.
• Tsunade reviewed Hinata's proposal and told her to prepare to accompany her to meet the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

Hinata spent the night eating and teasing Hanabi, then taught her the third stage of Palm Rotation before taking her to the Ninja Academy. The chapter left Hanabi wishing there were an Uchiha in her class to bully.

• Hinata joked with Tsunade, left the Hokage's Office, and ate twenty plates of meat at a barbecue restaurant.
• Hinata returned home, teased the sleeping Hanabi, and went to bed beside her.
• Hanabi woke Hinata before dawn and asked to learn the third stage of Palm Rotation.
• Hinata demonstrated how to add power to the technique by bursting a rubber ball and told Hanabi to train until she mastered it.
• Hinata walked Hanabi to the Ninja Academy, where Hanabi lamented that there was no Uchiha in her class to bully.

Hinata joined Tsunade on a mission to the Land of Fire Capital while Kakashi, Shizune, Nara Saltwater, and Hyuga Iroha departed for the Land of Water. Hinata set out with Tsunade, two Anbu squads, Wind God, and Thunder God, and ended the journey’s start by teasing Anbu member Yugao.

• Hinata arrived at the Hokage's Office and learned that Tsunade was traveling to the Land of Fire Capital while Shizune would accompany Kakashi, Nara Saltwater, and Hyuga Iroha to the Land of Water.
• Tsunade warned the Land of Water mission team to avoid provoking Kirigakure, then departed with Hinata for Konoha Gate.
• Hinata questioned Tsunade about traveling without a grand procession, and Tsunade explained that ninja needed to avoid drawing attention.
• At Konoha Gate, Wind God and Thunder God joined Hinata, who accepted them as her underlings and promised to discipline them after the mission.
• Hinata, Tsunade, Wind God, Thunder God, and two Anbu squads set out together, and Hinata teased Yugao about having an Anbu mask on her face.

Black Zetsu arranged to leak Konoha’s movements while weighing whether Kakashi’s death would turn Obito against their plan. Meanwhile, Tsunade and Hinata’s group reached the Daimyo’s Palace to discuss an important matter, leaving Wind God and Thunder God to be fed by the palace staff.

• White Zetsu and Black Zetsu decided to reveal Konoha’s group’s whereabouts to Iwagakure and Kumogakure.
• Black Zetsu considered using danger to Kakashi to draw Hinata into the conflict, but worried that killing Kakashi could anger Obito.
• Black Zetsu concluded that Kakashi’s death might leave Infinite Tsukuyomi as Obito’s only hope, and Zetsu disappeared into a tree.
• Tsunade led Hinata and the others through the Land of Fire Capital to the Daimyo’s Palace.
• Tsunade sent Anbu to guard the conference room while Hinata asked a Jonin to find food for Wind God and Thunder God.

Tsunade presented the Daimyo with Konoha’s plan to establish medical-ninja hospitals throughout the Land of Fire, and he approved it while warning her to watch for restless enemies. After the meeting, Hinata jokingly threatened a guardian ninja who overheard their exchange, then pinched Tsunade back when Tsunade pinched her cheek.

• Tsunade gave the Daimyo Konoha’s proposal to establish hospitals staffed by medical ninja across the Land of Fire.
• The Daimyo approved the plan and warned Tsunade that some people had become restless.
• Tsunade reassured the Daimyo that Konoha could handle any enemies and left the conference room with Hinata.
• Hinata complained that they had not been offered lunch, and a guardian ninja told them the Daimyo had prepared a meal for Tsunade.
• Hinata pretended to threaten the guardian ninja for overhearing their conversation, and Tsunade pinched her cheek.
• Hinata pinched Tsunade back, leaving the guardian ninja worried about what might happen when he returned to Konoha.

Hinata teased Tsunade and tried to get a day off, but Tsunade used absurd calculations to claim Hinata only had to work one day a year. After returning to Konoha, Tsunade assigned her a backlog of paperwork, leaving Hinata to work until midnight.

• Tsunade got furious when Hinata teased her at the Daimyo's Palace and restrained herself from striking Hinata there.
• Hinata joked about Jiraiya and blind dates while eating with Tsunade, irritating her further.
• Hinata asked for a day off, and Tsunade calculated that she only had to work one day a year before refusing the request.
• Hinata and Tsunade returned to Konoha with their group of twelve in the evening.
• Tsunade told Hinata to help clear a day's worth of paperwork until midnight, and Hinata wondered why she seemed to work every day.

Hinata helped Tsunade sort the Hokage’s paperwork, shared dinner and drinks with her, and returned to keep her company for the night. Tsunade worried about Shizune’s mission to the Land of Water, then let Hinata sleep in her office.

• Hinata helped Tsunade organize the piles of reports at the Hokage Building.
• Tsunade and Hinata ate and drank together, and Tsunade admitted she felt uneasy about Shizune’s team in the Land of Water.
• Hinata suggested sending reinforcements, but Tsunade decided Kakashi’s team could handle the mission and noted Jiraiya was out of contact.
• Hinata brought Wind God and Thunder God back to her courtyard, while Tsunade stayed overnight at the Hokage Building.
• Hinata returned with a blanket and pillow to keep Tsunade company, and Tsunade invited her into the office.

Hinata finished customizing Kankuro’s puppet sedan, then joined Asuma and the Wind God and Thunder God brothers on a mission to rescue Kakashi, Shizune, Saltwater, and Iroha in the Land of Water. The team sailed toward their destination, with Asuma warning Hinata to avoid detection by Kirigakure when they landed.

• Kankuro delivered Hinata’s wooden puppet sedan, and she painted it red, added the Hyuga Clan crest, and arranged a custom outfit and entrance music.
• Tsunade ordered Hinata and Asuma to reinforce Kakashi’s team in the Land of Water, relying on Hinata’s Sage Mode and the Wind God and Thunder God brothers’ strength.
• Hinata packed supplies and met Asuma at Konoha Gate with Wind God and Thunder God before traveling to the eastern coast of the Land of Fire.
• Asuma hired a boat and boatmen, and the team set sail for the Land of Water.
• Asuma told Hinata the voyage would take about three days and warned her that Kirigakure ninja must not discover them when they landed.

Hinata, Asuma, Wind God, and Thunder God infiltrated the Land of Water to reinforce Kakashi, who was being pursued by Stone Ninja. As they approached their meeting point, Hinata wondered if Iwagakure was waiting for her, then spotted danger and warned the others to hide.

• Hinata told Asuma that Kirigakure had lost strength through internal conflict, though its Jinchuriki and remaining swordsmen still posed threats.
• Three days later, Hinata and Asuma saw the islands near the Land of Water and secretly swam ashore with Wind God and Thunder God.
• Hinata used her Byakugan to help the group evade Kirigakure's underwater defenses and infiltrate the country.
• Asuma explained that Kakashi had requested reinforcements and might reach their meeting point around three that afternoon while fleeing Stone Ninja.
• Hinata and Asuma found traps along the route, and Hinata wondered if Iwagakure was waiting for her before she suddenly warned everyone to hide.