Chapter Summaries

Hinata exposed why Sunagakure’s leaders had delayed selecting a Fifth Kazekage, then joined Kakashi in negotiations over compensation and personnel to study in Konoha. After confirming the payment, she challenged Sunagakure’s proposed candidates, leaving the leaders to consider whether they could dispute her demand for suitable trainees.

• Hinata implied Sunagakure’s higher-ups had postponed choosing a Fifth Kazekage to control village funds and expand their influence, angering Baki and the other leaders.
• Hinata and Kakashi began negotiations, and an elder handed Kakashi a bankbook containing the agreed compensation for Konoha.
• Kakashi verified the amount, and Hinata secured the bankbook in her ninja tool pouch.
• The elder proposed sending three teams totaling twelve people to study in Konoha and asked Kakashi and Hinata to leave the following morning.
• Hinata insisted that Konoha needed to assess the candidates’ suitability for learning its talent-development and medical-ninja systems, prompting the Sunagakure leaders to consider how to respond.

Hinata and Kakashi finalized Sunagakure’s trainees and prepared for a dangerous return through the Land of Rivers. Black Zetsu abandoned his plan to target Hinata but decided he might have to rescue her from Akatsuki’s operation against Sunagakure’s war reparations.

• Kakashi negotiated with Sunagakure’s leaders, who chose Kankuro, Temari, and other ninja to study in Konoha.
• Hinata visited Kakashi, and he warned that the Land of Rivers would be the most dangerous stretch of their journey home.
• Kakashi said Akatsuki might target Hinata, so they would travel together and stay prepared for an attack.
• Black Zetsu abandoned his plan against Kakashi but could not stop Nagato from targeting Sunagakure’s war reparations.
• White Zetsu worried that Akatsuki’s operation could kill Hinata, and Black Zetsu decided to seek Obito’s help in rescuing her if necessary.

Hinata and Kakashi left Sunagakure with the study group, then split from them after Kakashi discovered that a Sand escort was leaking information. Hinata used her Byakugan, Natural Sensing, and the Nine-Tails' Malice Perception to search for anyone tracking them.

• Hinata and Kakashi joined the Sunagakure study group as they departed for the Land of Rivers.
• Kakashi proposed that the Konoha team and Sand group split up, and Baki agreed.
• After leaving the group, Kakashi told Hinata that a Sand Jonin had leaked their information and was now under Baki's surveillance.
• Hinata searched their surroundings with her Byakugan and Natural Sensing but detected no chakra or surveillance.
• Hinata used the Nine-Tails' power to try Malice Perception for the first time.

Hinata detected White Zetsu with Malice Perception after her Byakugan failed to find him, but he escaped before she could make contact with Black Zetsu. Kakashi and Hinata continued toward the Land of Fire, while the Akatsuki prepared their ambush in the Land of Rivers.

• Hinata sensed White Zetsu's malice from over a thousand meters away and rushed toward his hiding place.
• White Zetsu fled, and Kakashi questioned Hinata about how she had detected the hidden watcher.
• Hinata concealed her suspicions, and she and Kakashi continued through the Land of Rivers toward the Land of Fire.
• Deidara, Sasori, Hidan, and Kakuzu waited for the approaching group, with Sasori sensing that they had entered the Land of Rivers.
• Kakuzu said he was carrying out the leader's mission, while Hidan demanded the chance to sacrifice the woman who had beaten Kisame.

Deidara attacked the Sunagakure team from the air, destroying a vast stretch of forest with a massive explosion. Kakashi and Hinata saw the blast from their separate location and wondered what the enemy was really targeting.

• Kakuzu warned Hidan not to underestimate the Hyuga, while Deidara and Sasori argued over what counted as art.
• Deidara spotted Baki's sixteen-person Sunagakure group from above and dropped clay bombs on them.
• Baki noticed the incoming insects, and Temari used Great Sickle Weasel to sweep them away and smother their explosions.
• Deidara dropped a giant doll-shaped bomb and detonated it, engulfing nearly a thousand meters of forest in flames.
• Kakuzu, Hidan, and Sasori watched the blast and worried that Deidara had ruined their mission and exposed them.
• Hinata and Kakashi saw the explosion from their barbecue clearing, and Kakashi questioned whether the enemy was after the war reparations at all.

Kakashi and Hinata discovered that Akatsuki had attacked the Sand Village group and moved to rescue the survivors while engaging the attackers. Hinata charged toward the three Akatsuki members on the ground as Kakashi went after Deidara, but the chapter ended as Hinata launched her attack.

• Kakashi decided to investigate the battlefield and save any surviving Sand Village ninjas, while warning Hinata to retreat if necessary.
• Hinata used her Byakugan to spot Deidara in the air and learned that only six Sand Village members, including Kankuro and Temari, remained alive and wounded.
• Kakashi told Hinata to attack the three Akatsuki members on the ground while he dealt with Deidara, and Hinata agreed.
• Kakashi and Hinata used the Body Flicker Technique to rush toward their targets as Kakuzu, Hidan, and Sasori of the Red Sands approached the survivors.
• Hinata leaped into the air behind the three Akatsuki members and formed two enormous chakra fists.

Hinata attacked Sasori and the Immortal Duo to help Kakashi reach the Sunagakure ninja, then joined Kakashi’s group against Deidara. Kakashi countered Deidara’s clay with Lightning Release, while Sasori and Kakuzu arrived and Sasori’s identity was revealed.

• Hinata used Sage Mode to bombard Sasori with chakra fists, creating an opening for Kakashi to rescue the Sunagakure ninja.
• Kakashi led Baki, Temari, and the others toward Wind God and Thunder God as Hinata’s explosions shook the ground.
• Deidara blocked the group with a Clay Bird and attacked, but Hinata warned Kakashi that Lightning Release could counter it.
• Kakashi destroyed Deidara’s clay attack with a lightning-infused kunai, angering Deidara when he realized Hinata had exposed his weakness.
• Kakuzu and Sasori approached the group, and Baki recognized Sasori after Hiruko’s shell had been shattered.
• Sasori rebuked Deidara for attacking without confirming the intelligence and risking their mission.

Hinata and Kakashi confronted Kakuzu, Deidara, and Sasori of the Red Sands, while Kakashi exposed Yura as a Sunagakure spy. The fight began with Hinata attacking Kakuzu, who surrounded her with his Earth Grudge Fear clones as she launched a counterattack.

• Sasori of the Red Sands, Kakuzu, and Deidara each claimed Hinata as a target, and Hinata joked that they should fight over her.
• Hinata teased Kakuzu about having fought the First Hokage, provoking him to threaten her.
• Kakashi assigned himself to Deidara, Hinata to Kakuzu, and the Sunagakure group to Sasori of the Red Sands and Yura.
• Kakashi revealed that Yura was a spy, and Yura used the Body Flicker Technique to retreat behind Sasori of the Red Sands.
• Hinata rushed Kakuzu with Mountain Breaker, but struck his Lightning Clone instead.
• Kakuzu surrounded Hinata with two Earth Grudge Fear clones and attacked with Lightning Release: False Darkness, while Hinata leaped into a Rotation Bomb aimed at the fire-nature clone.

Hinata fought Kakuzu with aggressive Sage Chakra attacks, destroying two of his Earth Grudge Fear hearts while Kakuzu's side pressured the Sand Ninja and Kakashi. After Wind God and Thunder God helped her land a devastating combo, Kakuzu survived with one heart left, and Hinata prepared to finish him despite her dwindling Chakra.

• Hinata evaded Kakuzu's combined Wind and Fire Style attack, warned Temari, and used Mountain Breaker to escape the flames.
• Kakuzu ambushed and killed a Sand Village Jonin while Sasori's Iron Sand and hidden weapons kept Temari's group under pressure.
• Hinata unleashed Pegasus Meteor Fist, destroying Kakuzu's wind and fire clones and costing him two hearts.
• Wind God and Thunder God struck Kakuzu, allowing Hinata to trap him in four consecutive Heavenly Spin Bombs, but he survived.
• Hinata recognized that Kakuzu had only one heart left and faced him while waiting for her soldier pills to restore her strength.

Hinata and her allies drove the Akatsuki members to retreat, but the battle left the Sand Village force devastated. Kakashi and the survivors continued toward Konoha, while Hinata recognized that she needed to develop more ninjutsu.

• Kakuzu escaped underground with the badly injured Hidan after taking a heart, and Hinata joined the fight against the other Akatsuki members.
• Hinata shielded Wind God and Thunder God from Sasori of the Red Sands’ iron sand attack, prompting Sasori of the Red Sands to order Deidara and Yura to retreat.
• Hinata let the Akatsuki escape because she feared Deidara might use a powerful explosive technique, and she resolved to develop new ninjutsu.
• Kakashi told Baki that the attackers were members of Akatsuki and noted that Hinata’s techniques had likely discouraged them from continuing.
• Baki said he could not walk, so Kakashi and the Konoha shinobi parted ways with Baki, Temari, and Kankuro.

Kakashi’s group hurried toward the Land of Fire after Baki warned that Akatsuki could attack again soon. Hinata began developing a new Sage Jutsu on the run and successfully took flight with chakra wings.

• Baki rejected Kakashi’s proposal to split up and warned that Akatsuki might launch another attack within an hour.
• Kakashi sent Baki back to the Land of Wind to gather reinforcements while he, Hinata, and the others continued toward Konoha.
• Hinata told Kakashi she would develop a new ultimate move before Akatsuki attacked again.
• Hinata entered Sage Mode and shaped chakra released from the points on her back into wings.
• Hinata flapped her chakra wings and soared into the air.

Akatsuki cornered Baki at the Land of Wind border while he was injured and separated from his companions. They killed him, restored Kakuzu and Hidan to fighting strength, and pursued Hinata and the others toward the Land of Rivers.

• Kakuzu, Hidan, Sasori of the Red Sands, and Deidara encountered Baki at the border while seeking ninja to replenish their strength.
• Baki prepared to fight, thinking that Kakashi was his nemesis and hoping Kankuro and Temari would reach Konoha safely.
• Kakuzu restrained Baki and took his wind-nature heart, while Baki died without buying the others much time.
• Yura led the Akatsuki members to Sand Ninja at the border, allowing Kakuzu to restore all five hearts and Hidan to reattach his limbs.
• Hidan, Sasori of the Red Sands, and Kakuzu argued over who would face Hinata, then Deidara carried the group toward the Land of Rivers on Clay Birds.

Hinata hid with Kakashi, Kankuro, Temari, Wind God, and Thunder God after her Shadow Clones fooled Akatsuki into chasing false targets. With the injured group unable to fight, she considered developing chakra wings to defeat Deidara and carry everyone back to Konoha, but Akatsuki remained a threat.

• Deidara and Kakuzu attacked Hinata’s group, but the targets they struck were Shadow Clones, so Akatsuki split up to pursue them.
• Sasori told Yura to go to Base Three, while Kakuzu and Hidan formed a team and Sasori and Deidara stayed together.
• Hinata hid with the unconscious Kakashi, Kankuro, and Temari in a cave in the Land of Rivers, after sending four groups of Shadow Clones in different directions.
• Hinata realized that the injured group had little chance of surviving a direct fight and considered using chakra wings to attack Deidara and transport everyone to Konoha.
• Wind God and Thunder God focused on roasting and eating pheasant while Hinata worried about Akatsuki finding their hiding place.

Hinata left the cave to intercept Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sands before they could unleash large-scale attacks that would endanger Kakashi and the others. She surprised them from the air, destroying their Clay Bird and striking Deidara's left arm, but admitted she had missed her intended target.

• Hinata judged that she had to defeat Deidara before he could use a large-scale attack and left Kakashi and the others to gather information.
• Hinata entered Sage Mode and tracked the Akatsuki members, discovering they had split into two teams and were searching for Shadow Clones.
• Sasori of the Red Sands used the Third Kazekage's puppet to destroy another Shadow Clone team while Deidara prepared to move on.
• Hinata watched Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sands, assessed the risk of Kakuzu and Hidan arriving to support them, and formed chakra wings.
• Hinata flew behind Deidara's Clay Bird and used Sage Art - Mountain Breaker, destroying the bird and hitting Deidara's left arm.

Hinata fought Deidara and Sasori, but Deidara tricked her with a hidden attack and sent her falling from the sky. Watching the battle, Black Zetsu deceived Obito into believing Hinata’s Byakugan could make the Infinite Tsukuyomi real and perhaps reverse time, and Obito decided to wait before acting.

• Hinata attacked Deidara and Sasori from the air, but Deidara used a powerful C3 explosion to distract her while Sasori guarded him.
• Deidara hid two ordinary clay creations in the glare and detonated them against Hinata, making her fall from the sky.
• Obito and Zetsu watched the fight, and Black Zetsu claimed Hinata’s Byakugan could turn the Infinite Tsukuyomi into reality.
• Obito considered the possibility of returning to the past to prevent tragedy and decided to wait while Deidara and Sasori remained nearby.

Hinata deceived Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sands, locating Deidara’s real body and knocking him out of the sky. She then fought Sasori alone, using Heavenly Spin to withstand his iron sand attacks as he searched for a way through her defenses.

• Hinata used Natural Sensing and Malice Perception to find Deidara’s real body and pierce his chest with a Chakra Ray.
• Sasori of the Red Sands landed with Hinata and recognized that she had used a second sensory ability to locate Deidara.
• Sasori attacked with the Third Kazekage puppet’s arms, but Hinata destroyed them with Heavenly Spin.
• Sasori noticed Hinata could no longer fly and blocked her Heavenly Spin Bomb with an iron sand shield.
• Sasori used Iron Sand World Method, and Hinata defended herself from the spikes with Heavenly Spin.
• Sasori changed the iron spikes from vertical to horizontal, forcing Hinata to use Heavenly Spin again.

Hinata stalled against Sasori of the Red Sands while waiting to enter Sage Mode, and Obito and Zetsu watched from a distance as Kakuzu and Hidan arrived. Hidan began preparing his curse, but Hinata shattered its pattern with an Air Palm, leaving the fight poised to continue.

• Hinata assessed Sasori of the Red Sands' Iron Sand defenses and retreated while calculating how long she had to last before she could enter Sage Mode.
• Obito and Zetsu discussed Hinata's strength and considered recruiting her, while Obito dismissed the danger to Konoha's people.
• Kakuzu and Hidan arrived, and Kakuzu began stitching Deidara's wounds while Hidan confronted Hinata.
• Hidan bit his arm and drew his curse pattern in blood, but Hinata destroyed it with an Air Palm before he could use his technique.

Hinata fled from Sasori of the Red Sands, Kakuzu, and Hidan while waiting for her power to recover, then used chakra wings to overtake them and reach Deidara. She arrived ahead of the Akatsuki members, intent on killing Deidara before he could escape.

• Sasori of the Red Sands and Kakuzu realized Hinata was stalling, so Hinata announced she was running away and fled.
• Hinata decided to return for Deidara once she could use her enhanced technique, fearing his grudge against her clan.
• Sasori of the Red Sands stopped the pursuit, and Kakuzu chose to retreat with Deidara.
• Hinata followed the Akatsuki members, then flew over Kakuzu and sped ahead toward Deidara.
• Hinata overtook Sasori of the Red Sands and Hidan and reached Deidara first.

Hinata met Black Zetsu and pretended to share his goal of resurrecting Kaguya Otsutsuki, persuading him to cooperate with her. After claiming Deidara, she left to pursue her plan to use the Akatsuki to capture the Tailed Beasts and eventually reconcile Kaguya with her descendants.

• Hinata used Malice Perception to locate Zetsu and Deidara, then flew to meet them as Sasori of the Red Sands, Kakuzu, and Hidan approached.
• Hinata told Black Zetsu that she knew about Kaguya Otsutsuki and wanted to work with him to resurrect their ancestor.
• Black Zetsu asked whether Hinata was Kaguya's reincarnation, and Hinata denied it while inviting him to meet her in Konoha and discuss cooperation.
• Hinata claimed Deidara for the Hyuga Clan, and Black Zetsu agreed to seek her out in Konoha before sinking underground.
• Hinata destroyed Deidara's head and flew back to her hiding place, planning to have the Akatsuki help her capture the Tailed Beasts and to win Kaguya over with Moe Jutsu.

Black Zetsu decided Hinata Hyuga was a potential ally and went to explain the encounter to Obito. Hinata returned to Kakashi and Temari, reported that Deidara was defeated, and planned to fly them back to Konoha after gathering food.

• Black Zetsu concluded Hinata Hyuga shared his goal of reviving Kaguya Otsutsuki and decided to meet her in Konoha.
• Black Zetsu and White Zetsu left to explain the encounter to Obito.
• Hinata returned to the cave and told Kakashi and Temari that she had defeated Deidara and learned a flying ninjutsu.
• Hinata lifted Kakashi with chakra, dropped him by mistake, and offered to heal him with Medical Ninjutsu.
• Kakashi decided they would leave for Konoha the next morning after he recovered more strength.
• Hinata went out to find food while Wind God and Thunder God stayed behind to guard the cave.