Chapter Summaries

Hinata and Asuma discovered that Kirigakure was intercepting Kumogakure shinobi, then hurried toward Kakashi’s group as Iwagakure pursued them. After entering Sage Mode, Hinata realized Iwagakure was likely targeting her eyes and prepared to strike back.

• Hinata sensed Kirigakure Anbu heading north, and Asuma concluded Kirigakure was opposing Kumogakure.
• Hinata and Asuma heard explosions and used Hinata’s Byakugan to assess the battle between Kakashi’s nine people and Iwagakure’s twenty-three shinobi.
• Hinata entered Sage Mode and observed that Iwagakure was following Kakashi’s group while waiting for Konoha’s reinforcements.
• Hinata killed a Stone Ninja who had secretly approached, exposing the group’s position.
• Asuma ordered everyone to move toward Kakashi and told Hinata to escape alive if the situation turned bad.
• Hinata led the group toward the battle and resolved to punish Iwagakure for targeting her.

Hinata reached the battlefield and used a dramatic entrance before fighting off several Stone Ninja. As Suzuki and Nanlin joined the attack, Hinata realized Iwagakure had anticipated her abilities, and Suzuki diverted her Mountain Breaker beams with Earth Release—Earth Core.

• Hinata sent Asuma with Wind God and Thunder God to support Kakashi, then summoned her puppet sedan and made an elaborate entrance onto the battlefield.
• Three Stone Ninja attacked Hinata, but she dodged their Earth Spear, blasted two away with Vacuum Palm, and killed the third with Mountain Breaker after exposing his underground ambush.
• Fugai ordered Suzuki and Nanlin to attack Hinata while the Stone Ninja continued pressuring Kakashi, leaving Hinata puzzled about Iwagakure's true objective.
• Suzuki raised the ground with Earth Release—Earth Core, causing Hinata's Mountain Breaker beams to miss, and said the Stone Ninja had prepared for her.

Hinata fought Suzuki and Nanlin while Konoha’s forces battled Iwagakure, then turned their Wind Style against them and killed them. She recognized that the battle had shifted in Konoha’s favor and assessed the limits of her strength.

• Hinata assessed the battlefield and saw that Konoha was suppressing Iwagakure, though Kakashi was struggling against Fugai and six Stone Ninja.
• Suzuki and Nanlin used Earth Release and Wind Style to counter Hinata’s attacks and trap her in a tornado.
• Hinata used Heavenly Spin inside the tornado, causing it to expand and unleash wind blades that killed Suzuki and Nanlin.
• Fugai roared at the deaths of his comrades as Hinata looked toward Kakashi and judged that Konoha had gained the advantage.
• Hinata concluded that Sage Mode let her outlast ordinary Jonin but that she was no match for Sage Jiraiya.

Hinata pursued Fugai’s retreating Stone Ninja and destroyed them with a barrage of Sage Chakra punches. She then warned Kakashi and Asuma that Mei Terumi and more than a hundred Mist Ninja had surrounded them.

• Fugai questioned Ōnoki’s orders after seeing Hinata’s strength and led the Stone Ninja in retreat.
• Hinata ignored Kakashi’s call to regroup and caught up with Fugai’s fleeing group.
• Hinata unleashed her Sage Art, Fists Like Sandbags: Continuous Punches, and blasted the Stone Ninja with more than twenty attacks.
• Hinata surveyed the destruction and told Kakashi and Asuma that Mei Terumi and over a hundred Mist Ninja surrounded them.

Mei Terumi rushed to stop the clash between Konoha and Iwagakure while investigating their motives, only to discover that Hinata Hyuga had unleashed devastating power. Ao became so alarmed by Hinata that he suggested he might need to step aside.

• Mei Terumi sent Anbu to intercept Kumogakure's shinobi and led Mist shinobi to arrest the Konoha and Iwagakure teams and investigate their conflict.
• Ao reported that Konoha and Iwagakure had fought with lethal intent, and that Iwagakure was retreating after being defeated by a Konoha shinobi with immense chakra.
• Mei Terumi and Ao identified the powerful shinobi as Hinata Hyuga, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and watched her trigger enormous explosions.
• Ao concluded that Hinata had wiped out Iwagakure and, overwhelmed by what he had seen, told Mei Terumi he might need to step aside.

Hinata, Kakashi, and their companions confronted Mei Terumi and over a hundred Kirigakure ninja after fighting in the Land of Water. Mei Terumi demanded their help investigating the incident, but Hinata's insults escalated the standoff, which ended with Hinata confident she could defeat the Kirigakure force.

• Hinata picnicked with Wind God and Thunder God while Shizune treated the wounded and Kakashi and Asuma spoke aside.
• Mei Terumi arrived with over a hundred Kirigakure ninja and challenged Konoha over the fighting on Kirigakure's territory.
• Kakashi apologized and described their pursuers as ninja of unknown identity, and Mei Terumi asked Konoha to help investigate.
• Hinata refused to cooperate and threatened to silence Mei Terumi, prompting Kakashi to calm the confrontation.
• Mei Terumi said Hinata irritated her, and Hinata joked about opposite-sex repulsion, angering Mei Terumi and bringing the two sides to a standoff.
• Hinata assessed her recovered chakra and believed she could take on the Kirigakure ninja.

Mei Terumi spoke with Kakashi and Hinata after the battle, but Konoha’s team declined her offer of treatment and prepared to leave the Land of Water. Zetsu then discussed Hinata’s strength and planned to target the Hyuga Clan using Nagato’s power.

• Mei Terumi questioned Hinata about her bond with Kakashi, and Hinata said she regarded him as a teacher while joking about his habit of reading Jiraiya’s books.
• Mei Terumi offered treatment for the injured Konoha ninja, but Kakashi declined and said they needed to report to the Hokage.
• Mei Terumi told Konoha’s people to leave the Land of Water and said she would write to the Hokage about the damage caused there.
• Asuma and Shizune confirmed the team could travel, and Kakashi ordered them to leave immediately.
• Black Zetsu and White Zetsu discussed Hinata’s strength, noted that their plans in Iwagakure and Kumogakure had drawn attention, and decided to target the Hyuga Clan with Nagato’s power.

Hinata imagined a future beyond the Shinobi World and considered whether Black Zetsu could help her persuade Kaguya Otsutsuki to abandon the Infinite Tsukuyomi. After Pakkun reported that Kumogakure's ninja had withdrawn from the Land of Water, Kakashi ordered the ship to set sail, leaving Hinata to reflect on how her actions had shifted the region's alliances.

• Hinata told Kakashi that he should pursue the Mizukage, then imagined joining Kaguya Otsutsuki to plant trees across the universe or settling for a Hokage Advisor role.
• Hinata decided to test Black Zetsu's attitude because she thought he might influence Kaguya Otsutsuki.
• Kakashi said Pakkun had arrived, and Pakkun reported that thirty-two Cloud Ninja had been stopped at the Land of Water's border before withdrawing after the battle with the Stone Ninja.
• Kakashi thanked Pakkun and ordered the Anbu to set sail.
• Hinata reflected that Kumogakure and Iwagakure had not coordinated their plans, while the incident had opened communication between Konoha and Kirigakure.

Kakashi reported that Kirigakure had been pushed toward an alliance with Konoha after Hinata defeated the Stone Ninja, while Tsunade considered the hidden motives behind the conflict. Hinata revealed that she had beaten the Nine-Tails during the Chunin Exam, leading Tsunade to realize Hinata could suppress the Tailed Beasts.

• Kakashi reported that Iwagakure and Kumogakure had pursued Konoha's team in the Land of Water and that Kirigakure had intervened, making the mission a success.
• Tsunade reviewed the report and concluded that Kirigakure had offended both Iwagakure and Kumogakure, while Konoha needed to investigate the suspicious orders in secret.
• Hinata read Kakashi's analysis and learned that he suspected a hidden force was targeting her unusual abilities to turn her against Konoha.
• Tsunade asked Hinata about Kakashi's analysis, and Hinata explained that she had attacked the Nine-Tails through a flaw in Naruto's seal during the Chunin Exam.
• Tsunade realized that Hinata's chakra could suppress the Nine-Tails and potentially the other Tailed Beasts.

Tsunade concluded that Danzo had engineered the Land of Water mission to turn Hinata against her and recruit her into Root, though she lacked proof. Meanwhile, Hinata reconsidered her future in the Shinobi World and resolved to contact Black Zetsu to seek an alliance with Kaguya Otsutsuki.

• Tsunade connected Danzo's unusual suggestions about the mission with a plan to exploit Kakashi's possible death and drive Hinata toward Root.
• Tsunade suspected Danzo had sold Konoha intelligence and sacrificed four Jonin, then decided to investigate him secretly.
• Hinata reflected that her strength and possible immortality might eventually separate her from her friends and the Hyuga Clan.
• Hinata decided to contact Black Zetsu and try to persuade Kaguya Otsutsuki to abandon the Infinite Tsukuyomi plan.
• Hinata considered whether the White Zetsu army had another purpose and looked at Hanabi, thinking the Hyuga Clan would rely on her to continue the family line.

Konoha expanded its reforms as Konoha Hospital opened branches across the Land of Fire and Hinata finished filming a movie, creating new ways for medical ninja and veteran Genin to earn money. Tsunade then asked Hinata how to give Konoha’s Chunin work beyond missions without weakening the village’s combat strength, and Hinata had no answer.

• Hinata reflected that the conflict between Shinobi Villages and Daimyo made another great war likely unless the ninja system changed.
• Konoha Hospital opened branches in ten important towns in the Land of Fire, drawing public support and attention from other villages.
• Tsunade saw the hospital branches as a way to fund medical ninja and expand their role during peacetime.
• Hinata finished filming her movie with several Genin, and Tsunade arranged to promote it throughout the Shinobi World.
• Tsunade asked Hinata how Konoha could provide work for its Chunin without harming its military strength, but Hinata said she had no ideas.

After Tsunade asked Hinata to devise another reform for Konoha, Hinata proposed using shinobi to explore and develop ocean resources, creating new work and income while preserving their combat abilities. She took the plan to Hyuga Hiashi for his advice.

• Tsunade asked Hinata to think up reforms that could help shinobi live peaceful lives without weakening Konoha's military strength.
• Hinata considered the limits of the Land of Fire's economy and proposed that shinobi develop the seas' untapped resources.
• Hinata reasoned that ocean development could give shinobi new work, provide income for villages and merchants, and shift conflicts away from land.
• Hinata considered the risk of an arms race and thought it might be avoided after the Fourth Shinobi World War.
• Hinata drafted a plan involving shinobi abilities, Yamato's Wood Release, and the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan, then asked Hyuga Hiashi whether it could be implemented.

Hinata presented Hyuga Hiashi with her proposal to exploit ocean resources, but delayed reporting it to Tsunade because she was on vacation. While eavesdropping on Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga, she learned that the Land of Water incident had a hidden mastermind and might involve secrets connected to her Byakugan.

• Hyuga Hiashi praised Hinata's ocean-resource proposal and urged her to report it to the Fifth Hokage, but Hinata said she wanted to enjoy her vacation first.
• Hyuga Hiashi declined to spar with Hinata and suggested that she train with Tokuma Hyuga instead.
• Hinata overheard Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga discuss Danzo and the investigation into the Land of Water incident.
• Hizashi Hyuga reported that Iwagakure was investigating the incident and that the thirty-two Kumogakure shinobi had died during missions over the past month.
• Hyuga Hiashi said another hidden mastermind likely stood behind the incident and warned that someone coveted Hinata's Byakugan, which might be tied to secrets from a thousand years ago.
• Hyuga Hiashi halted further investigation for now, and Hinata concluded that someone was trying to conceal the truth.

Hinata concluded that Black Zetsu had taken an interest in her and decided to contact him quickly by hiding a meeting request in her next film. She began writing a story that would draw Black Zetsu’s attention and hoped to gain his help in collecting the Tailed Beasts’ chakra.

• Hinata suspected Black Zetsu had altered the Shinobi World’s history and was manipulating events around her.
• She decided to make a film about Chenxiang Otsutsuki splitting the moon to save Kaguya, using hidden clues to invite Black Zetsu to meet her.
• Hinata reasoned that Black Zetsu could help her obtain chakra containing the souls of the nine Tailed Beasts and use their power to cultivate herself.
• She wrote a script portraying Kaguya as righteous and the Three Great Sage Regions as possible hidden enemies.

Hinata was summoned by Tsunade and assigned to travel to Sunagakure with Kakashi to collect war reparations and help improve relations between Konoha and Sand Village. The two set out immediately, with Kakashi tasked with selecting Sand Village talent to bring to Konoha and Hinata expected to use her ties with Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari.

• Hinata spent her quiet days studying Medical Ninjutsu and saw her first film earn praise and rising box-office returns.
• An Anbu appeared suddenly at the Hyuga residence, and Wind God and Thunder God nearly attacked him before Hinata stopped them and relayed Tsunade's summons.
• Tsunade told Hinata and Kakashi that negotiations with Sand Village had concluded and assigned them to collect war reparations in Sunagakure.
• Tsunade asked Hinata to use her relationships with Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari to improve relations between the villages.
• Tsunade tasked Kakashi with selecting suitable Sand Village talent to bring to Konoha for training, and the two departed immediately.

Hinata drove Kakashi, Wind God, and Thunder God toward Sunagakure in her car, while Kakashi warned her to keep it hidden from Sunagakure’s ninja. During the ride, Hinata suggested that Kakashi combine Yin Release with his Lightning Cutter to develop a new technique, and he agreed to try.

• Hinata unsealed her car at Konoha Gate and drove Kakashi, Wind God, and Thunder God toward Sunagakure.
• Kakashi praised the car’s comfort and efficiency, then warned Hinata that Sunagakure might mass-produce cars if its ninja saw it.
• Hinata agreed to store the car once they reached the Land of Wind and drove on while music played.
• Kakashi urged Hinata to train harder, and Hinata explained that she was developing techniques despite her body limiting her taijutsu growth.
• Hinata suggested Kakashi incorporate Yin Release chakra transformation into his Lightning Cutter, and Kakashi agreed to give the idea a try.

Hinata traveled through the Land of Wind with Kakashi, reflecting on Sunagakure’s hostility and the pain that war had inflicted on ninjas. As they approached an oasis, she decided she would no longer identify as a ninja and would call herself a cultivator.

• Hinata’s group crossed into the Land of Wind, where Sand Ninjas reported their arrival but left them to travel without an escort.
• Hinata suspected Sunagakure was monitoring the group and hoped they would provoke hostility among local civilians.
• Kakashi asked Hinata why she had forgiven the Nine-Tails, and they discussed how personal experience shaped hatred and how Naruto offered hope.
• Kakashi encouraged Hinata not to expect the Shinobi World’s longstanding hatred to disappear quickly.
• Hinata reflected on the sorrow of ninjas and decided she would no longer identify as one, declaring herself a cultivator.

Baki challenged Sunagakure’s leaders over the heavy reparations paid to Konoha and their plans to send villagers there to study. After the meeting, he resolved to bring Chiyo and Ebizo out of retirement so they could help choose a Fifth Kazekage and lead the village.

• Baki questioned why Sunagakure had paid Konoha so much, and the elders argued that an alliance was necessary to protect the village from Iwagakure and Kumogakure.
• The leaders defended sending personnel to study Konoha’s talent and medical-nin training systems, while Baki accused them of making excuses for their weakness.
• The higher-ups ordered Baki to welcome Konoha’s envoys with Kankuro and Temari when they arrived.
• An elder suggested asking Chiyo and Ebizo to take charge, but a younger leader argued that the village could manage without them for now.
• Baki decided to ask Chiyo and Ebizo to return after the envoys left and help select the Fifth Kazekage.

Hinata and Kakashi discussed the dangers surrounding their diplomatic mission to Sunagakure and the war reparations they were expected to bring back. Hinata warned Kakashi that Akatsuki had targeted her after the incident in the Land of Water.

• Hinata complained that Sunagakure had treated them poorly and charged high prices, while Kakashi urged her to act peacefully as a Konoha envoy.
• Kakashi explained that hostile forces might attack their mission to disrupt relations between Konoha and Sunagakure or seize the war reparations.
• Kakashi warned that Sunagakure might reclaim the money during their return and that they also had to escort Sunagakure's study group safely to Konoha.
• Kakashi reassured Hinata that her strength might deter the major Shinobi Villages from attacking, but Hinata said Akatsuki had targeted her after the Land of Water incident.

Hinata and Kakashi arrived in Sand Village for negotiations over war reparations and faced open hostility from its people. At the meeting, Hinata was challenged over her right to attend, and Kakashi identified her as the Hokage’s secretary before she pointedly remarked on the number of Sand Village elders.

• Baki, Kankuro, and Temari welcomed Hinata, Kakashi, Wind God, and Thunder God and escorted them into Sand Village.
• Hinata saw the villagers’ hostile reactions toward Konoha and struggled to contain her anger.
• Kakashi reminded Hinata that staying composed amid hostility was part of her training, and Hinata criticized Sand Village’s weakness and poor discipline.
• Hinata asked Temari to arrange food and accommodations for Wind God and Thunder God before entering the Kazekage’s Office with Kakashi.
• A Sand Village elder questioned Hinata’s place at the high-level meeting, so Kakashi explained she was the Hokage’s secretary; Hinata then remarked that Sand Village had many elders.