Chapter Summaries

Hinata began a month of rigorous Gentle Fist training with Hyuga Hiashi to prepare for the Chunin Exam, while secretly trying to avoid the work and use their sparring to beat him. The chapter ended with Hinata pulling back from a potentially painful strike, and Hiashi wondering whether her enormous chakra reserves came from her appetite and unusual personality.

• Hinata told Hyuga Hiashi and the Great Elder about the powerful person she had encountered, and they praised her instincts before ordering her to train for the Chunin Exam.
• Hinata tried to avoid training by proposing to create another ultimate move, but Hyuga Hiashi insisted that she spar with him under close supervision.
• Hinata and Hyuga Hiashi exchanged basic Gentle Fist techniques with their Byakugan activated, using the strenuous sparring to deepen their training.
• Hyuga Hiashi noticed that Hinata's chakra reserves had grown to several times his own and wondered if her appetite and personality explained them.
• Hinata attacked Hyuga Hiashi again, then withdrew her chakra and struck him only with her arm's strength rather than hitting him in the kidneys.

Hinata trained with Hyuga Hiashi and reached the limits of the Hyuga Clan’s Gentle Fist, prompting him to explain how ninjutsu could help the clan grow stronger. He revealed that the Main Family had passed down a secret concerning the Sage of Six Paths, the Tailed Beasts, and the Byakugan.

• Hinata spent the days before the Chunin Exam’s Third Match training, studying gambling, and keeping in touch with Anko while her friends and Neji focused on their own pursuits.
• Hinata and Hyuga Hiashi sparred, and Hiashi exhausted himself trying to keep pace with her growing strength.
• Hiashi explained that Gentle Fist had limitations against top-tier shinobi and that the Hyuga Clan needed to integrate ninjutsu with taijutsu to advance further.
• Hiashi said the Byakugan and Gentle Fist strengthened each other, and that Hinata’s talent made her the Hyuga Clan’s hope.
• Hiashi revealed that the Main Family’s secret concerned the Sage of Six Paths, the Tailed Beasts, and the ultimate secret of the Byakugan.

After learning of a fragmented Hyuga forbidden technique that involved resonating with a great power, Hinata realized it might be an incomplete version of Kaguya Otsutsuki's Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack. She devised a way to use the Byakugan, Gentle Fist, and Heavenly Spin to sense Natural Energy outside the Three Great Sage Regions, then began testing it.

• Hyuga Hiashi told Hinata that the Hyuga Clan had preserved a fragmented Gentle Fist forbidden technique, which had inspired Mountain Breaker.
• Hinata recognized that the technique's call to trigger resonance with chakra might refer to Natural Energy and connect it to the Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack.
• Hinata theorized that she could use the Byakugan to see her chakra points and Heavenly Spin to release chakra slowly, sensing and drawing in scarce Natural Energy.
• Hinata activated her Byakugan, sat cross-legged, and began releasing chakra through her chakra points as she tried to calm herself and sense Natural Energy.

Hinata tried to sense Natural Energy, then went to the Back Mountain to train and encountered Jiraiya spying nearby. After fighting him, she met Naruto, who asked about her new training method.

• Hinata failed to sense Natural Energy in the village and decided to train somewhere more isolated.
• Hinata spotted Iruka and Third on the Hokage Building while she sat atop Third's stone head on Hokage Rock.
• Hinata went to a river in the Back Mountain and attacked Jiraiya after realizing he had been peeping on her.
• Jiraiya was impressed by Hinata's strength, and Naruto arrived to find them fighting.
• Hinata told Naruto she had discovered a new training method, making both Naruto and Jiraiya curious.

Hinata explained her chakra-based method of sensing Natural Energy to Jiraiya, who realized she might be able to cultivate Sage Mode. With Jiraiya watching over her, Hinata successfully sensed Natural Energy and cautiously began drawing it into her body.

• Hinata described how her Byakugan, Gentle Fist, and Heavenly Spin helped her sense and control Natural Energy, astonishing Jiraiya.
• Naruto showed Hinata his Summoning Technique, which produced a tadpole with hind legs, and Hinata insulted toads and Jiraiya's looks.
• Hinata sat by the river to train, and Jiraiya stopped Naruto from disturbing her while he stood ready to intervene if she lost control.
• Hinata calmed her mind, sensed the vast Natural Energy around her, and began drawing it into her body with careful control.

Hinata successfully condensed Sage Chakra outside her body and used it without entering Sage Mode, while Jiraiya tried to teach her Sage Jutsu. She then found a way to create Sage Chakra Fists, leaving Jiraiya stunned by her unusual technique.

• Hinata absorbed Natural Energy, condensed Sage Chakra outside her body, and shattered a boulder with an empowered Air Palm.
• Jiraiya recognized that Hinata could use Sage Jutsu without entering Sage Mode and explained the dangers of energy imbalance.
• Jiraiya suggested that Hinata seek his close personal guidance, so she struck him with an Air Palm.
• Hinata formed Chakra Fists and condensed Natural Energy inside them, creating Sage Chakra Fists.
• Jiraiya watched Hinata's unconventional training and wondered if he had encountered a bug.

Hinata showed Jiraiya that her Chakra Fists let her use Sage Chakra in combat, then demonstrated their power before challenging Hyuga Hiashi to become her disciple. Hiashi took her to Konoha's Back Mountain to see what she had mastered.

• Jiraiya realized Hinata's still Chakra Fists let her use Sage Chakra during battle and saw a path for her to eventually enter Sage Mode.
• Jiraiya summoned Fukasaku and Shima, who were astonished that Hinata had cultivated Sage Jutsu outside the Three Great Sage Regions.
• Hinata explained her cultivation method to the sage toads, who then vanished without answering her questions.
• Hinata tested her Sage Chakra by launching ten Air Palms, whose power matched Mountain Breaker in its normal state, before the Chakra Fists dispersed.
• Hinata returned home and told Hyuga Hiashi to become her disciple; Hiashi led her toward Konoha's Back Mountain to inspect her new technique.

Hinata demonstrated her Sage Chakra technique to Hyuga Hiashi, sending him flying with a single blow. Impressed by the technique’s potential, he declared it a Hyuga main-branch secret while allowing Hinata to teach Neji.

• Hinata formed Chakra Fists infused with Sage Chakra and explained that she was still training to use Natural Energy within her body.
• Hyuga Hiashi agreed to spar with Hinata, but her Chakra Fist struck him into a tree and left him injured.
• Hinata called the technique Forty Gods Vacuum Attack and explained how she had developed it with Jiraiya’s guidance and help from the toad sages.
• Hyuga Hiashi realized Sage Chakra could offer him a path to greater strength and asked about learning the technique.
• Hyuga Hiashi declared Forty Gods Vacuum Attack a secret of the Hyuga main branch and permitted Hinata to teach Neji.

Hinata defeated Naruto in the first match of the Third Exam after striking him before he could form a clone. The match ended with Naruto unable to stand and Hinata declared the winner.

• Hinata considered buying Konoha property after the Konoha Crush, but decided to wait until after Pain's attack.
• Genma Shiranui announced the match roster, which paired Hinata against Naruto, Shikamaru against Temari, Sasuke against Gaara, and Neji against Choji.
• Naruto recalled that Hinata once beat Sasuke because she had eaten too much and wanted to help digest her food, unsettling the people nearby.
• Hyuga Hiashi brought Hanabi to watch Hinata's match and told her to observe her sister carefully.
• When Genma Shiranui started the match, Hinata rushed Naruto and struck him with Eight Trigrams—Sixty-Four Palms before he could make a clone.
• Naruto could not get back to his feet, and Hinata smiled and said she had won.

Naruto rose after Hinata’s decisive blows and unleashed the Nine-Tails’ chakra, forcing Hinata to attack the beast through the chakra leaking from his seal. Hinata struck Naruto’s abdomen and sent him crashing down, leaving her victorious in the arena.

• Hanabi watched Hinata’s easy victory with pride while Hyuga Hiashi remained focused on the match.
• Naruto stood back up and summoned the Nine-Tails’ chakra to continue fighting Hinata.
• Hinata used her Byakugan to find a flaw in the Eight Trigrams Seal and attacked the Nine-Tails through its leaked chakra.
• The Nine-Tails felt Hinata’s chakra strike it inside Naruto and withdrew its chakra.
• Hinata hit Naruto with her Gentle Fist Technique - Kidney Blow, knocking him down as she mocked his reliance on the Nine-Tails.

Hinata defeated Naruto after stopping the Nine-Tails’ chakra and knocking him unconscious, drawing the attention of Konoha’s strongest observers. She then set out with Ino and Sakura to gather intelligence from the Sand Village, where Gaara and Kankuro discussed a plan within Shino’s hearing.

• Hinata’s strike sent the Nine-Tails’ chakra back, impressing the Third Hokage, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya with her abilities.
• Naruto recovered after the Nine-Tails’ chakra healed him and restored his sealed acupoints, but Hinata defeated him with Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.
• Genma Shiranui declared Hinata the winner, and she punched Naruto when he pretended he could not walk.
• Hinata asked for company while gathering intelligence from the Sand Village, and Ino and Sakura agreed to go with her.
• In the Sand Village waiting room, Kankuro urged Gaara to endure until their plan began, while Shino Aburame overheard them.

Hinata tried to learn Sand Village’s plans from Kankuro, while Shino revealed he had overheard their conversation. The group agreed to alert their families and Jonin teachers, leaving Hinata still wondering how she could gather intelligence effectively.

• Hinata questioned Kankuro about Sand Village and accidentally got him to reveal details about Temari’s abilities.
• Shino appeared and said he had overheard that Sand Village was making a plan, though he had not learned its details.
• Hinata told Ino, Sakura, and Shino that Orochimaru and Jiraiya had returned to Konoha and warned that a major incident might happen.
• Shino assigned the group to notify their families and Jonin teachers, and Hinata agreed.
• Hinata worried that she was not suited to extracting intelligence and wondered how she would gather it in the future.

Hinata told Hiashi Hyuga that Sunagakure had allied with Orochimaru, and learned that Konoha already knew of Orochimaru’s attacks on Sasuke and Kakashi and had prepared for trouble. Hiashi said the Hyuga Clan was ready and told Hinata to remain at the arena, where she could help defend Konoha and build her reputation.

• Hinata reunited with Hiashi Hyuga and Hanabi, then privately warned them that Sunagakure seemed to have joined forces with Orochimaru.
• Hiashi revealed that Orochimaru had attacked Sasuke and badly injured Kakashi, while Gekko Hayate had been killed after uncovering clues.
• Hiashi told Hinata that Konoha and the Hyuga Clan had made preparations, partly thanks to her intelligence.
• Hiashi took Hanabi back to watch the matches and instructed Hinata to stay at the arena to face the threat and strengthen her future claim to the Hokage position.
• Hinata considered how Orochimaru’s attack might push Sasuke toward him and worried that Danzo could target Sasuke and Naruto if they stayed in Konoha.

Hinata watched the Chunin Exam matches and mourned the betting winnings she could have made before Sasuke finally arrived for his postponed match against Gaara. Sasuke took his place in the arena, leaving the match poised to begin.

• Shikamaru forfeited his match against Temari, and the Third Match was postponed because Sasuke and Kakashi were missing.
• Neji defeated Choji, while Hinata realized she had missed the chance to bet on the exam and win several hundred million.
• Hinata noticed that Hiashi had left the arena with Hanabi as the crowd grew impatient for Sasuke to arrive.
• Naruto jumped into the arena in his eagerness to take Sasuke's place, but Hinata sensed Sasuke and Kakashi arriving.
• Kakashi and Sasuke made a dramatic entrance, and Sasuke identified himself to Genma Shiranui.

Hinata tried to develop Moe Jutsu while Sasuke fought Gaara in the Chunin Exam arena. The match began with Gaara in pain, and Sasuke launched into battle as Hinata watched from the stands alongside Kakashi and the others.

• Hinata decided that Moe Jutsu could become her signature technique, but Shikamaru fled when she smiled at him.
• Kakashi appeared in the stands, and Hinata asked him about the attack on him and Sasuke.
• Genma Shiranui started the match, and Sasuke backed away from Gaara’s sand before Gaara clutched his forehead in pain.
• Hinata criticized Sasuke for not attacking Gaara while he was vulnerable, then watched the two begin fighting.
• Hinata encouraged Rock Lee, who responded enthusiastically, and she decided that her Moe Jutsu had finally worked.

As Sasuke and Gaara’s battle reached its climax, Orochimaru launched the Konoha Crush Plan during the Chunin Exams. Hinata helped several allies break free of a Genjutsu as Konoha’s fighters faced the invasion and the Third Hokage confronted Orochimaru.

• Hinata assessed Konoha’s defenses and considered how to build prestige for her future leadership of the Hyuga Clan.
• Gaara tried to communicate with Shukaku after Sasuke pierced his Absolute Defense with Chidori.
• Feathers fell over the arena, but Hinata dispelled the Genjutsu and freed several companions, including Shikamaru.
• Orochimaru revealed his identity, seized the Third Hokage, and leaped onto the roof as four Sound Ninja formed the Four Violet Flames Formation.
• Baki, Temari, and Kankuro guarded Gaara while Genma Shiranui blocked Sasuke, and Kakashi and Might Guy assessed Konoha’s response.
• Kakashi and Hinata expressed confidence that the Third Hokage would not be taken down easily.

As Konoha was attacked, Kakashi sent Hinata and a team to support Sasuke as he pursued Gaara. Hinata led the group outside the village, where Akamaru detected Sound Ninja closing in, and she stopped to face them alone.

• Explosions and Signal Flares marked the start of the attack on Konoha, and Kakashi told Hinata to gather teammates and assist Sasuke in tracking Gaara.
• Hinata threw a Shuriken at the First Hokage in the Four Violet Flames Formation so she could claim she had fought him, then left Neji to help Kakashi and Might Guy.
• Hinata led Rock Lee, Shikamaru, Naruto, Kiba, and the unnoticed Shino outside Konoha to follow Sasuke, while Kiba used Akamaru to track their trail.
• Akamaru detected two squads pursuing them, including Shino, and Kiba reported that nine enemies would catch up within thirty seconds if they stopped.
• Hinata told the others to continue ahead and stopped to confront the approaching Sound Ninja herself.

Hinata’s team caught up with Sasuke as he pursued Gaara, and they defeated Kankuro while Temari carried Gaara away. Gaara began transforming into Shukaku, leaving Sasuke facing the monstrous Jinchuriki as Hinata’s group arrived and Hinata gleefully considered capturing him for a huge ransom.

• Hinata blasted through two teams of Sound Ninja and quickly rejoined Naruto, Shikamaru, Kiba, and Rock Lee.
• Sasuke intercepted Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari, while Shino appeared to hold Kankuro back.
• Hinata’s team surrounded Kankuro, and Naruto’s Shadow Clones slammed him into the ground as the others chased Gaara.
• Gaara woke and struck Temari away before beginning to transform into Shukaku while Sasuke confronted him alone.
• Hinata’s group reached Sasuke and Gaara, and Hinata excitedly proposed capturing Gaara and selling him to Sunagakure for billions.

Hinata used her Byakugan to reach the Nine-Tails and persuaded it to lend its chakra to her and Sasuke’s group so they could stop Gaara. As the group prepared to attack Shukaku before Gaara could complete his transformation, Naruto stayed behind to try speaking with the Nine-Tails.

• Shukaku recognized Hinata’s Otsutsuki and God Tree power but decided she was too weak to fear.
• Hinata linked hands with Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru, Kiba, Rock Lee, and Shino, then asked the Nine-Tails to lend them chakra.
• The Nine-Tails gave Hinata and the others Demon Fox Cloaks, while Naruto received none and went aside to call to it.
• Hinata told Shino to protect Naruto and led the others toward Gaara to stop Shukaku’s full transformation.

Hinata and the Konoha Genin defeated Gaara by combining their attacks, with Hinata sealing his chakra points using Nine-Tails Chakra and Sage Chakra. They prepared to take him back to Konoha, while Naruto and Temari helped Gaara realize that people cared about him.

• Sasuke, Shikamaru, Hinata, Rock Lee, and Kiba attacked Gaara in succession, but Hinata’s first attempt to strike Shukaku through his seal failed to stop his transformation.
• Hinata struck Gaara with Eight Trigrams—Sixty-Four Palms infused with Nine-Tails Chakra and Sage Chakra, sealing his chakra points and suppressing both his and Shukaku’s power.
• The Konoha Genin subdued Gaara, and Hinata announced that they would take him to Konoha as leverage in negotiations with Sunagakure.
• Naruto empathized with Gaara, who recognized that Naruto had companions and could share his power with them.
• Temari stood protectively in front of Gaara, making him realize that someone cared about him, and Hinata ordered the group to take him back.