Chapter Summaries

Hinata learned that Sasuke had appeared in the Land of Rivers, and Tsunade summoned her to discuss his suspicious actions. Hinata realized Sasuke might be deliberately exposing his whereabouts while waiting for her.

• Hinata worried that Sasuke was still being watched by Obito and decided he would seek her out when it was safe.
• An Anbu summoned Hinata to Konoha Hospital, where Tsunade, Shizune, Jiraiya, Naruto, and Kakashi were gathered.
• Tsunade reported that Sasuke had been declared a rogue ninja for attempting to assassinate a village elder and had appeared in the Land of Rivers.
• Shizune and Kakashi explained that Sasuke was openly gathering information about the Akatsuki and Itachi, an unusual approach that might involve a larger plot.
• Hinata realized Sasuke might be deliberately exposing himself to attract her attention and wondered if he was waiting for her.

Hinata and Naruto prepared for a mission to bring Sasuke back, then Hinata used the Tenseigan and the Artificial Satellite to locate him in the Land of Rivers. Sasuke wanted to meet Hinata to learn how to awaken his Mangekyō Sharingan, and Hinata’s voice reached him as she watched him.

• Tsunade ordered Hinata and Naruto to assemble at the Hokage Building the next morning for an operation to retrieve Sasuke, explaining that Kakashi was bedridden and their team needed new members.
• Hinata invited Naruto to a tavern, but he knew little about powerful shinobi and got drunk before she did.
• Jiraiya found Naruto unconscious and carried him away through a window, while Hinata returned to the Hyuga residence and drank hangover soup.
• Hinata activated the Tenseigan and searched the Land of Rivers through the Artificial Satellite, spotting Sasuke by his enormous chakra reserves.
• Sasuke avoided going directly to Konoha and planned to approach Obito’s scheme, while hoping Hinata could explain how to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Hinata commented on Sasuke’s looks through the satellite connection, leaving Sasuke confused about what was wrong with her.

Hinata told Sasuke that Orochimaru might have something to help him awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, and Sasuke agreed to seek him out. She also revealed that Konoha would send a team including her and Naruto to pursue Sasuke the next day, while secretly planning to teach both boys a lesson.

• After Hinata claimed Kakashi liked men, Sasuke misread Kakashi's past attention and training as romantic interest and vowed to kill him.
• Sasuke asked Hinata how the Sharingan evolved, and she explained competing theories about the Mangekyō and its connection to God Tree power.
• Hinata suggested that Orochimaru had something that might awaken Sasuke's Mangekyō and offered to arrange a meeting.
• Hinata warned Sasuke that Konoha would send a pursuit team with her and Naruto the next day, and Sasuke accepted the warning.
• Hinata privately smiled as she decided to make Sasuke and Naruto recognize who was in charge of Team 7.

Hinata located Orochimaru and learned that he had recovered Sasori’s Puppet Technique archives, then joined Team 7 on a mission to track Sasuke. After the team reached Sasuke’s last known location, Hinata confirmed he was not nearby, and Kakashi split the team up to search.

• Hinata contacted Orochimaru, who told her he had found Sasori’s Puppet Technique archives and agreed to let her use Urashiki’s body.
• Tsunade punished Naruto over an unpaid tavern bill, while Hinata and Kakashi traded barbs in the Hokage’s Office.
• Hinata healed Kakashi before the mission, and Naruto woke up in the air as Team 7 traveled with their new teammate Yamato.
• The team reached the forest where Sasuke had last been spotted, and Hinata used her Byakugan to confirm he was not nearby.
• Kakashi split the search into two groups, pairing himself with Naruto and Hinata with Yamato.

Sasuke waited for Hinata and the others, planning to ambush Kakashi and Naruto after learning of Hinata’s flying ability. Hinata and Yamato discussed Sasuke’s likely motives and the Anbu’s analysis of him before an explosion sounded in the distance.

• Sasuke used a genjutsu-controlled goshawk to confirm the group had split up, then ran toward Kakashi and Naruto to attack them.
• Hinata and Yamato walked through the forest as Yamato explained how Konoha analyzed rogue ninjas’ abilities and personalities.
• Yamato said Sasuke had likely exposed himself because he wanted to fight Naruto, while his group searched in support of Kakashi’s team.
• Hinata asked what the Anbu thought of her personality, and Yamato said they could not figure her out because she was contradictory.
• Hinata and Yamato heard an explosion in the distance and saw smoke rising beyond the Byakugan’s range.

Sasuke confronted Naruto and Kakashi, claiming that killing his best friend was the way to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan and revealing that he intended to kill Naruto. Kakashi intervened, but Sasuke unleashed a massive lightning attack that blasted them away and left the ground scorched.

• Sasuke mocked Naruto as the dead last and said that cutting his bonds had been the right choice.
• Naruto challenged Sasuke for leaving without facing them, and Sasuke said Naruto was special to him.
• Sasuke explained that he sought the Mangekyō Sharingan and claimed he had to kill his best friend to awaken it.
• Sasuke drew his Kusanagi Sword and thrust it toward Naruto's heart, but Kakashi used the Body Flicker Technique to catch his wrist.
• Sasuke released lightning across a twenty-meter radius, blasting himself and Kakashi dozens of meters away and scorching the ground.

Sasuke fought Kakashi and left Naruto paralyzed, prompting Naruto to speak with Nine-Tails about using its power to protect friends. Sasuke appeared in the sealed space, then returned to find Hinata and Yamato arriving as he announced a new target.

• Sasuke's lightning technique paralyzed Naruto, while Kakashi recovered and prepared to fight him.
• Naruto resisted Nine-Tails' temptation, explaining that he wanted its power to protect companions and hoped they could become friends.
• Sasuke appeared in Naruto's sealed space and crushed Nine-Tails' leaking chakra; Nine-Tails warned him never to kill Naruto.
• Sasuke returned to the field, told Kakashi he had a new target, and Hinata arrived with Yamato.

Hinata caught up with Sasuke, discussed helping him awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan and Rinnegan, and reassured him about working with Obito and seeking Orochimaru. She then stopped Sasuke from leaving immediately and approached him ominously, intending to beat him again.

• Sasuke fled from Hinata, and she chased him while Kakashi sent Yamato after them.
• Yamato was caught in a kunai-and-wire trap and was rescued from the explosion by Kakashi.
• At a lakeside, Sasuke asked Hinata to show him her dojutsu, and she revealed the Tenseigan.
• Hinata told Sasuke to cooperate with Obito for now and promised to help him awaken the Mangekyo, meet Itachi, and eventually obtain the Rinnegan.
• When Sasuke tried to leave for Orochimaru, Hinata stopped him and moved toward him with the intent to beat him.

Hinata beat Sasuke nearly to death during their staged fight, expecting him to escape with the Orochimaru-Style Body Replacement Technique. After briefly treating him, she explained that Kakashi and the others would arrive in three minutes, while Sasuke remained unable to tell her he did not know the technique.

• Hinata bombarded Sasuke with Chakra Fists and drove him across the battlefield as he struggled to fight back.
• Hinata struck Sasuke with an Air Palm, gravely injuring him and leaving him unable to move or speak.
• When Sasuke failed to use the Orochimaru-Style Body Replacement Technique, Hinata treated his injuries enough to revive him.
• Hinata told Sasuke to use the technique to escape after Kakashi and the others arrived, but Sasuke could only cough up blood.

Hinata and Kakashi's group captured the badly injured Sasuke and began bringing him back to Konoha, while Sasuke feared the village would exploit him to revive the Uchiha bloodline. As night fell, Kakashi urged Naruto and Hinata to use the journey to change Sasuke's mind before he faced a trial and might be rescued by the Masked Man.

• Hinata reassured Naruto that Sasuke's injuries were not fatal and secretly signaled for Sasuke to escape, but he did not act.
• Hinata healed Yamato, who then bound Sasuke with Wood Release, while Kakashi promised Naruto that Tsunade would give Sasuke a fair trial.
• Sasuke feared Konoha would imprison him and force him to father children to restore the Uchiha clan.
• At the campfire, Hinata realized Sasuke might not know the Orochimaru-Style Body Replacement Technique, explaining why he had not escaped.
• Kakashi explained that the Masked Man might rescue Sasuke and asked Naruto and Hinata to try to change his mind during the journey.
• Naruto went deeper into the cave to speak with Sasuke, while Hinata worried that Sasuke did not want to see her.

Hinata, Kakashi, and Yamato found Naruto alone after Sasuke disappeared, and Hinata promised to help him master Nine-Tails' power. Meanwhile, Sasuke recovered from his fight with Hinata and considered joining Akatsuki after settling things with Itachi so he could learn more about its plans.

• Hinata asked Kakashi how the Sharingan copied ninjutsu, and Kakashi explained that he could copy only techniques he was capable of using.
• Hinata, Kakashi, and Yamato found Naruto dejected after Sasuke vanished, and Hinata promised to help him master Nine-Tails' power.
• Obito visited the injured Sasuke, warned him to be careful before obtaining the Mangekyō Sharingan, and left him to rest.
• Sasuke reflected on Hinata's strength, Obito's limited trust, and his need to gain power and learn Akatsuki's plans.
• Sasuke considered joining Akatsuki after settling things with Itachi.

Kakashi proposed a training method to help Naruto surpass Sasuke by mastering a new ninjutsu beyond the Rasengan, with Hinata watching over him to prevent the Nine-Tails from escaping. Meanwhile, Tsunade learned that Akatsuki might target the revived Three-Tails and ordered a wider search as tensions among the villages continued to grow.

• Naruto told Kakashi he could not accept how far Sasuke had outgrown him, and Kakashi urged him to become stronger.
• Yamato said Sasuke's abnormal growth was unlikely to be explained by Orochimaru, while Kakashi revealed his plan for Naruto to develop a new ninjutsu beyond the Rasengan.
• Hinata recognized Kakashi's idea as training with Multiple Shadow Clones, explained its limits, and agreed to watch Naruto because his chakra kept the Nine-Tails sealed.
• At the Hokage Building, Tsunade concluded that Akatsuki's next target might be the Three-Tails and ordered the Anbu to expand their search.
• Tsunade worried that other villages were holding back against Akatsuki and that Kumogakure might seek Impure World Reincarnation, leaving Konoha's position uncertain.

Kakashi began training Naruto to master Wind Release, while Hinata waited with him and discussed their progress. At Orochimaru’s laboratory, Hinata examined Urashiki’s preserved body and wondered whether its connection to another Urashiki could awaken it; Sasuke arrived as they prepared to meet him.

• Kakashi explained shape and nature transformation to Naruto and began teaching him Wind Release by having his Shadow Clones try to cut leaves with chakra.
• Hinata and Kakashi waited together while Naruto trained, and Hinata asked whether she, Naruto, and their peers had surpassed Kakashi.
• At Orochimaru’s secret base, Hinata praised his fruit juice before going with him to inspect Urashiki’s preserved corpse.
• Orochimaru demonstrated that Urashiki’s body rapidly healed and wondered whether it could develop a new sense of self, while Hinata withheld her theory about the two Urashikis sharing a source of power.
• Hinata sensed Sasuke’s arrival and told Orochimaru they should go welcome him.

Hinata explained that Sasuke could awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan by regressing his bloodline toward the Otsutsuki, then used her Tenseigan ability to extract Urashiki’s chakra for him to absorb. Sasuke began his accelerated path to power, while Hinata decided she would not give Naruto any cheat codes.

• Hinata told Sasuke and Orochimaru that Urashiki’s Otsutsuki power could help Sasuke awaken the Mangekyō through ancestral regression.
• Orochimaru agreed that elevating Sasuke’s bloodline could awaken the Mangekyō, though Sasuke might still need stimulation.
• Hinata used Hand of Forgiveness to extract a mass of chakra from Urashiki and tossed it into Sasuke.
• Sasuke sat down to absorb Urashiki’s chakra, which contained life force and Yin Release energy.
• Hinata reflected that Sasuke’s future advancement looked assured, while Naruto lacked the Nine-Tails’ support and would receive no power from her.

Hinata and Sasuke failed to awaken Sasuke’s Mangekyō Sharingan, so Hinata planned to arrange a decisive fight between Sasuke and Itachi. After Sasuke left, Orochimaru proposed a deeper alliance with Hinata, warning her that Black Zetsu could be manipulating her.

• Sasuke’s attempt to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan failed, and he refused to kill a friend to gain it.
• Hinata told Sasuke to continue seeking revenge against Itachi so Obito would not grow suspicious, and she planned to have Itachi push Sasuke toward awakening the Mangekyō.
• After Sasuke left, Hinata told Orochimaru she would return before Yamato noticed her Wood Clone, and Orochimaru said he would reincarnate in a month.
• Orochimaru argued that Sasuke might oppose Hinata if her plans harmed the world and proposed that he and Hinata join forces.
• Hinata questioned whether Black Zetsu was trustworthy and asked Orochimaru how they would cooperate.

Hinata warned Orochimaru that Kaguya Otsutsuki could not be killed easily and discussed the risks of trying to obtain the Ten-Tails’ power. She later told Hyuga Hiashi about Orochimaru’s plans, and he advised her to trust no one while revealing his own strategy for earning others’ trust.

• Orochimaru proposed stealing the source of chakra, but Hinata explained that Kaguya was undying and warned that absorbing her power could awaken her will.
• Orochimaru considered stripping the God Tree from Urashiki, while Hinata cautioned him against using the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path because Kaguya’s will remained within it.
• Hinata told Orochimaru to stick to their original plan, then returned to the Hyuga residence using All-Knowing, All-Powerful.
• Hinata explained Orochimaru’s ideas and her concerns about their shifting interests to Hyuga Hiashi.
• Hyuga Hiashi told Hinata not to trust anyone, even Sasuke, then claimed she could trust him completely and explained that she had gained Black Zetsu and Sasuke’s trust by offering hers first.

Hinata and Hyuga Hiashi discussed how her sincerity had earned the trust of Black Zetsu, Sasuke, and Orochimaru, while the others plotted against one another. They reviewed the Tailed Beasts and Black Zetsu’s plan to revive Kaguya, leaving Hiashi reassured that Black Zetsu still trusted Hinata for now.

• Hyuga Hiashi told Hinata that her ability to earn others’ trust was a talent, while urging her to become more cautious.
• Hinata agreed to keep presenting herself differently to Black Zetsu and Orochimaru as she gathered the Tailed Beasts’ chakra sources.
• Hinata estimated that Kaguya’s revival might be only a few months away, though Three-Tails could complicate the plan if Konoha sent her to protect it.
• Hinata explained that Black Zetsu and Obito would likely target Nagato for Madara Uchiha’s Rinnegan, while Obito might use Sasuke to oppose them.
• Hinata reasoned that Black Zetsu planned to sacrifice Madara because Madara trusted him enough to be ambushed, and Hiashi concluded that Black Zetsu still trusted Hinata.

Hinata joined Kakashi and Naruto’s training, where Naruto rapidly mastered Wind Release by cutting through a waterfall. Kakashi demonstrated how to combine Shape Transformation with Nature Transformation, but Hinata showed off her own powerful Rasengan variations and left Naruto with an example to aim for.

• Hinata watched Yamato prepare a waterfall training ground and learned that Naruto had quickly mastered cutting leaves with Wind chakra.
• Hinata told Kakashi and Naruto that the Temple of Fire had been attacked by Akatsuki, and Kakashi said Konoha had begun searching for them.
• Naruto completed the training of cutting through a waterfall with Wind chakra in three days.
• Kakashi explained how Nature Transformation and Shape Transformation could be combined, then demonstrated a Rasengan.
• Hinata created a Great Fire Rasengan and a Fingertip Mini Rasenshuriken, whose blast devastated an area eighty meters away.
• Hinata encouraged Naruto to make his new jutsu look like hers.

Naruto began training to develop the Rasenshuriken with Hinata’s guidance, while Hinata worried that Asuma’s team would soon encounter the Akatsuki’s Immortal Duo. Kakashi believed Hinata’s premonition and rushed with her to the Hokage Building to warn Tsunade.

• Hinata explained how Naruto could use three Shadow Clones to add Wind Style Nature Transformation to the Rasengan, and Naruto began training.
• Hinata recalled that Asuma might soon face Hidan and Kakuzu while staking out the Bounty Hunter's Guild, and worried about Kurenai Yuhi and their unborn child.
• Kakashi noticed Hinata’s distress, and she told him she had a bad feeling about Asuma’s safety.
• Kakashi took Hinata to the Hokage Building so they could warn Tsunade about the possible danger to Asuma.

Hinata and Kakashi rushed to support Asuma’s team as they confronted Kakuzu and Hidan at a bounty hunter’s guild in the Land of Fire. Asuma and Shikamaru fought Hidan, but the battle left Asuma at a disadvantage while Hidan endured Asuma’s explosive Fire Release attack.

• Tsunade ordered Hinata and Kakashi to support Asuma’s team after hearing Hinata and Kakashi’s account.
• Kakashi and Hinata learned that Asuma’s team was waiting at the Third Bounty Hunter’s Guild and hurried out of Konoha.
• Kakuzu and Hidan faced Asuma, Shikamaru, Izumo, and Kotetsu outside the disguised guild.
• Asuma and Shikamaru coordinated their attacks against Hidan, while Kakuzu held back and watched.
• Hidan wounded Asuma and licked his blood from his scythe, but Asuma retaliated with Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning, leaving Hidan blackened and marked.