Chapter Summaries

Hinata and the others finished clearing the ruins of Otogakure and kept Orochimaru’s scrolls sealed for Konoha’s intelligence teams. After Kakashi, Asuma, Might Guy, and Jiraiya arrived, the group prepared to return to the village, while Hinata offered Kakashi an outing and Jiraiya defended his novel.

• Naruto made Shadow Clones while Choji, Kiba, Akamaru, and Rock Lee helped clear the ruins, and Hinata secretly collected some of Kimimaro’s blood.
• Hinata stopped Naruto from opening the scrolls, and Shikamaru agreed they should be given to the village’s Intelligence Division and Cipher Division unopened.
• Akamaru sensed approaching people, and Hinata identified Kakashi, Asuma, Might Guy, and Jiraiya with her Byakugan.
• Kakashi reprimanded the group for acting recklessly, but Shikamaru explained they had preserved the scrolls, and Kakashi praised their decision.
• Kakashi concluded that Hinata and the Nine-Tails had overwhelmed Orochimaru, then suggested everyone return to the village.
• Hinata invited Kakashi to relax with her, while Jiraiya bragged about Icha Icha Paradise and told her she would understand it when she was an adult.

Hinata returned to Konoha after the mission to investigate Otogakure, reflecting on the intelligence and combat gains she had made. She wondered whether her mission record could qualify her for Jonin, then assessed her impressive stats and concluded she was nearing Kage-level strength.

• Jiraiya left Asuma in Otogakure and took the collected intelligence and damaged equipment back toward Konoha.
• Hinata returned to Konoha with her team and reflected on how the mission had escalated after they encountered Dosu and investigated Otogakure.
• Hinata counted her completed missions and reasoned that investigating Otogakure should qualify as another S-rank mission.
• Hinata asked Kakashi whether she could apply to become a Jonin, then teased him about his early achievements while Jiraiya laughed.
• Hinata evaluated her attributes and decided to focus on improving her Ninjutsu, Strength, and Speed as she approached Kage-level combat power.

After Hinata’s team reported destroying Otogakure and driving off Orochimaru, Hinata provoked Tsunade and Jiraiya by mocking the Legendary Sannin until Tsunade ordered everyone out. Hinata later ate snacks on Hokage Rock, where Jiraiya joined her and joked about the view.

• Kakashi reported the mission to Tsunade, who scolded the team for investigating Otogakure and destroying the village.
• Hinata claimed that she and the others had defeated Orochimaru before Jiraiya and the other Jonin arrived, then called Orochimaru a disgrace to the Legendary Sannin.
• Hinata mocked Jiraiya for being proud of the title despite having been defeated by Hanzo, and suggested Tsunade should give up the title too.
• Tsunade smashed her desk and ordered the team out, while Hinata flashed Shikamaru a V sign and hurried away.
• Hinata bought snacks and ate on Hokage Rock, where Jiraiya joined her and joked that the hot springs were more interesting.

Jiraiya questioned Hinata about her connection to the Nine-Tails, but she made him bargain for snacks before explaining how they became friends. Jiraiya was struck by their mutual understanding, while Hinata left him impressed by her bond with the beast.

• Jiraiya asked Hinata whether she had made an agreement with the Nine-Tails and what it involved, but she gave only brief answers.
• Hinata teased Jiraiya by saying she could tell him the secret, then withholding it until he offered her more food.
• Hinata explained that her Dojutsu let her speak to the Nine-Tails and that she told it how lonely it was and how chakra could help people understand one another.
• Hinata said she and the Nine-Tails opened their hearts, understood each other through chakra, and became friends, so it lent her its power.
• Jiraiya reflected on his dream of people understanding one another and admired the dazzling bond Hinata had formed with the Nine-Tails.

Jiraiya was moved by Hinata’s bond with the Nine-Tails and renewed his hope of achieving mutual understanding. Hinata ate with Jiraiya until Naruto found them and announced that Team 7 would begin missions together the next day.

• Jiraiya was inspired by Hinata’s friendship with the Nine-Tails and vowed to protect her.
• Jiraiya took Hinata to a restaurant, where she tried to order everything on the menu and then ate while chatting with him.
• Naruto found Hinata and told her that Team 7 would carry out missions together starting the next day.
• Naruto revealed he had been speaking through a Shadow Clone and said his real body would come over, startling Jiraiya.

Hinata, Naruto, and Kakashi were assigned to escort Gaara and the Sunagakure group back to the Land of Wind alongside Might Guy’s Team. Tsunade warned Hinata that the A-rank mission was vital to preventing another war, and Kakashi’s team set out to protect the fragile Konoha–Sunagakure reconciliation.

• Hinata and Naruto mourned Team 7’s separation on a bridge before Kakashi arrived and hurried them to the Hokage’s Office.
• Tsunade ordered Kakashi’s Team and Might Guy’s Team to escort Gaara, Kankuro, Temari, and Baki to the Land of Wind border.
• Hinata recognized that the A-rank escort could face an attack meant to sabotage peace between Konoha and Sunagakure.
• Tsunade sent Might Guy’s Team and the Sunagakure group ahead, then told Kakashi’s Team that the mission was crucial to preventing another war.
• Tsunade hinted that Naruto might need to use the Nine-Tails’ power if the enemy proved too strong, and Hinata promised the team would return in time for Tsunade’s inauguration.

Tsunade recalled Danzo’s opposition to renewing the alliance with Sand Village and his attempts to undermine her standing, while Danzo considered how to deal with Hinata. At Konoha’s gate, Hinata and her companions prepared to escort Gaara’s group back to Sand Village.

• Tsunade remembered that Danzo had proposed killing Gaara and the others and attacking Sand Village, but she had rejected his plan and reaffirmed her trust in Hinata’s group.
• Danzo considered how Sasuke’s defection and the Sand Village alliance dispute could weaken Tsunade’s prestige, then contemplated visiting the Hyuga Clan to speak with Hiashi about Hinata.
• Hinata and the others arrived at Konoha’s gate, where Might Guy’s team and Gaara’s group were waiting.
• Hinata teased Kankuro for relying on others to protect him, and Kankuro regretted provoking her.
• Hinata led the group out to escort Gaara and the others safely back to Sand Village.

Ōnoki sent Kitsuchi with Iwagakure forces to attack the escort carrying Gaara after Danzo leaked the mission intelligence to provoke a clash. Danzo deployed Root to follow the group, while Hinata's team continued through the Land of Fire and paused to consider resting.

• Ōnoki deduced that Danzo had leaked the escort route and agreed to send Kitsuchi, Akatsuchi, Fugai, and four Anbu squads to target Gaara.
• Danzo explained that he expected Iwagakure to attack and believed the resulting casualties would benefit Konoha, then ordered twenty-two Root Ninja to follow Kakashi's group.
• Hinata's eleven-person group traveled through the forest while conserving stamina and chakra in case their mission intelligence had been exposed.
• Might Guy asked Kakashi whether the group should rest after traveling for more than three hours.

Kakashi led the group toward the Land of Wind and refused Hinata’s plan to split up, then made everyone spend the night in a cave without a fire. Hinata shared her stored food and later asked Kankuro to make her a puppet toy as a gesture of friendship between Konoha and Sand Village.

• Kakashi warned that enemies might ambush the group in the Land of Rivers and rejected Hinata’s proposal to travel separately with Naruto.
• Neji found a cave for the group, and Kakashi ordered everyone to eat dry rations or soldier pills without hunting or lighting a fire.
• Hinata used a Sealing Scroll to produce a large pile of cooked food and pastries, which Kakashi shared with Might Guy’s team.
• Kakashi, Might Guy, and Baki left the cave to talk, while Neji agreed that entering a nearby town could expose their trail.
• Hinata acknowledged that the A-rank mission was dangerous and approached Kankuro to ask him to make her a puppet toy.

Hinata commissioned Kankuro to build her a luxury car puppet, then learned that Kakashi planned to infiltrate the Land of Rivers with her and Naruto overnight. Kakashi intended to use Naruto as bait to draw out any enemies, leaving Hinata questioning why he had rejected her similar plan earlier.

• Hinata showed Kankuro a sedan design and gave him detailed requirements for a chakra-controlled car puppet.
• Hinata teased Gaara about his dark circles before Kakashi, Might Guy, and Baki arrived.
• Kakashi assigned Gaara to keep watch and said he, Hinata, and Naruto would enter the Land of Rivers ahead of the others.
• Hinata asked Kakashi why they were splitting up, and he explained that Naruto would impersonate others to lure out any enemies.
• Hinata pointed out that Kakashi had previously rejected the same plan.

Kakashi refined Hinata’s plan to split the teams and prepared everyone for a cautious operation in the Land of Rivers. After Hinata secured the Nine-Tails’ promise to provide chakra, Kakashi ended their nighttime planning session by asking her to find a place to sleep.

• Kakashi added details to Hinata’s plan and set a meeting with Might Guy’s team and Gaara’s group for eleven the next morning at the border between the Land of Rivers and the Land of Fire.
• At the border, Kakashi showed Hinata and Naruto a map of possible routes and asked them to predict the enemy’s plans.
• Hinata reasoned that the enemy might ambush them with a large-scale attack and retreat if it failed, and Kakashi identified an area they should investigate.
• Kakashi warned that the mission was like a small-scale war and told Hinata to ensure the Nine-Tails could provide chakra at any time.
• Hinata contacted the Nine-Tails through Naruto’s seal, and it agreed to help, leaving Naruto resentful that it had ignored him.
• Kakashi told Hinata to find a place where they could sleep and recover their strength.

Kakashi led Hinata and Naruto into the Land of Rivers along a route different from their agreed plan, explaining that he wanted to test whether they were being watched by one enemy group or two. Root’s Fū Yamanaka and Torune Aburame tracked the team and began preparing an operation against Gaara.

• Kakashi woke Hinata before dawn, and she reluctantly shared breakfast with him.
• Kakashi took Hinata and Naruto into the Land of Rivers while keeping his real plan secret from his teammates.
• Hinata used her Byakugan to scan the area, and Kakashi warned the team that even ordinary animals could spy on them.
• Kakashi marked a scouting area without civilians and rejected Hinata’s suggestion to clear it with Tailed Beast Bombs.
• Kakashi told Hinata that the enemy had watched them since they left the village and that he intended to determine whether they faced one group or two.
• Fū Yamanaka told Torune Aburame that Kakashi had spotted his scouting bird, and Torune began an operation against Gaara after confirming the team had moved deeper into the area.

Kakashi revealed that his apparent split from Might Guy's team was a deception meant to expose the enemy, then turned back with Hinata and Naruto to support them. Meanwhile, Fū Yamanaka and Torune prepared to attack Gaara, unaware that Kakashi was returning.

• Fū Yamanaka ordered Root to return and carry out the assassination of Gaara after confirming Kakashi had gone deep into the Land of Rivers.
• Kakashi stopped Hinata and Naruto and led them back by a detour to support Might Guy's team.
• Hinata realized Kakashi had deceived both the enemy and his own team to draw Root into the open, and she praised his plan.
• Kakashi and Hinata proposed using the Nine-Tails' chakra to travel faster, but Naruto could not use it.
• Fū Yamanaka woke while Torune carried him and concluded Kakashi had truly split the team because his trap had not activated.
• Fū ordered Torune to kill Gaara, assigned Azure Bird to help Torune get close, and planned to hold Might Guy back himself.

Might Guy's team and Gaara's group split from Kakashi's party and encountered twenty-two Root Ninja. Might Guy immediately opened the Sixth Gate and attacked with Morning Peacock, catching Fū Yamanaka completely off guard.

• Baki questioned Kakashi's decision to split the teams as he traveled with Might Guy's group and Gaara's companions toward the Land of Rivers.
• Neji spotted twenty-two approaching enemies, including one with a strange, seemingly poisoned body, and Baki ordered his companions to protect Gaara.
• Gaara realized he could trust Temari, Kankuro, and Baki to stand by him, while Baki prepared to protect Gaara with his life.
• Fū Yamanaka planned to hold Might Guy back while Torune Aburame killed Gaara with his lethal touch technique.
• Might Guy opened the Sixth Gate and unleashed Morning Peacock as soon as the two groups met, stunning Fū Yamanaka and prompting Neji to recognize Hinata's influence.

Might Guy used the Morning Peacock to devastate the Root squad, then opened the Seventh Gate to force the survivors to retreat. Kakashi’s team arrived to support Guy’s group, and Kakashi explained that his plan had succeeded and the mission should continue.

• Might Guy’s Morning Peacock severely injured much of the Root team, while Neji warned that several enemies remained able to fight.
• Might Guy opened the Seventh Gate, prompting Fū Yamanaka to order the Root Ninja to retreat; Guy then collapsed from the strain after closing the gates.
• Neji spotted Kakashi and his companions approaching, and Baki realized Kakashi had split the team to draw out the hidden attackers before countering them.
• Kakashi checked on Guy and decided the team should continue the mission rather than pursue the retreating Root Ninja.
• Baki asked Kakashi to share his plans in the future, and Kakashi explained that enemy surveillance had made revealing the real plan too risky.
• Hinata praised Kakashi’s reasoning and teased Baki about his shortcomings.

Kakashi’s team resumed its journey after Hinata used Naruto’s Nine-Tails chakra to restore Might Guy. Baki reflected on Sunagakure’s losses and Konoha’s growing strength, then watched Hinata interrogate Kakashi and decided against asking Gaara how to get stronger.

• Hinata channeled Naruto’s Nine-Tails chakra into Might Guy, restoring him to full strength, and Kakashi led the group onward.
• Baki concluded that Konoha now commanded the Nine-Tails’ power and thought about Sunagakure’s losses after the Konoha Crush Plan.
• Hinata questioned Kakashi about his preferences, his strength, and how he would govern as Hokage, prompting him to flee with Body Flickers.
• Baki recalled Hinata’s strength and her role in stopping the One-Tail from taking over Gaara, then abandoned his attempt to ask Gaara about becoming stronger.

Kakashi led Hinata and Baki through the Land of Rivers while warning that enemies might attack from multiple directions. Elsewhere, Kitsuchi learned Danzo’s operation had failed and suspected that Konoha’s young Genin escort included another Jinchuriki, possibly a perfect one.

• Kakashi told Hinata not to speak, but she criticized his mental resilience before he explained that the group needed to prepare for enemies and adapt rather than rely on a fixed plan.
• Kitsuchi asked Fugai for intelligence, and Fugai reported that Danzo’s twenty-two shinobi had failed after encountering Might Guy and that Kakashi’s group had regrouped.
• Fugai said he had lost track of Kakashi’s group because its two Hyuga shinobi took turns using the Byakugan.
• Kitsuchi considered Danzo’s possible plans and concluded that Konoha and the Sand Village could share an enemy if Root’s attempt to assassinate Gaara had failed.
• After learning Kakashi’s group included young Genin, Kitsuchi recalled the destruction of Otogakure and suspected one of the Genin was a Jinchuriki, perhaps even a perfect Jinchuriki.

Kitsuchi abandoned Iwagakure’s mission against Gaara to investigate whether Konoha’s Nine-Tails Jinchuriki could share the beast’s power. After the teams crossed the border, Kakashi and Might Guy raced toward Konoha, and Hinata started a team competition.

• Kitsuchi ordered Fugai to distract Konoha’s Root shinobi and said Iwagakure would abandon the mission after its failed attempt on Gaara.
• Kitsuchi explained that he would investigate reports that Konoha’s Nine-Tails Jinchuriki could lend the Nine-Tails’ power to others, then sent the force onward.
• Gaara and the others crossed into Sunagakure’s territory, and the Konoha shinobi continued toward home.
• Hinata agreed to treat Kakashi to a meal on September 10th and told Naruto he could help pay for it.
• Might Guy challenged Kakashi to a race back to Konoha, and Kakashi accepted by speeding after him.
• Hinata proposed a point-based race between her team and Might Guy’s team, with the losing team paying for a meal.

Hinata's group was ambushed by Kitsuchi's Iwagakure squad, but she defeated five Anbu and drove the attackers into retreat. Kitsuchi mistakenly concluded that Hinata was Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, while Kakashi realized the mission's Genin assignments hinted at a problem and urged everyone to return to Konoha.

• Naruto complained that Hinata had agreed to a race because he feared the cost of treating Kakashi and Might Guy to meals.
• Kitsuchi learned that Kakashi and Might Guy had split from the five Genin and led his team toward the exchange site to investigate the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Kitsuchi's Anbu attacked Hinata's group with enormous boulders, but Hinata destroyed them with Air Palms.
• Hinata shared the Nine-Tails' Chakra with Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten, then used Royal Flush to kill five Iwagakure Anbu.
• Kitsuchi raised an earthen wall to cover his group's retreat, mistakenly deciding that Hinata was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and overlooking Naruto.
• Kakashi questioned why the enemy had retreated so quickly, realized the Genin's presence on the escort mission was suspicious, and told the group to return to Konoha.

After Kakashi reported the mission, Jiraiya announced that he would take Naruto on a training journey after Tsunade’s inauguration, while Hinata made plans to collect debts and enjoy her meal vouchers. Hinata reassured Neji about her safety and looked forward to becoming a Chunin Exam examiner next February.

• Kakashi reported what happened, and Tsunade warned Hinata and Naruto to be careful after Hinata suggested unleashing the Nine-Tails against enemies.
• Jiraiya told Naruto that he would train him during a journey after Tsunade’s inauguration because powerful enemies were targeting the Nine-Tails.
• Naruto asked to leave after the eleventh so he and Hinata could treat Kakashi to a meal, and Jiraiya invited himself along.
• Hinata showed Jiraiya her meal vouchers, then reminded Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten to repay their debts.
• Neji warned Hinata that other villages might target her because she could share the Nine-Tails’ chakra, but Hinata said she was safe in Konoha.
• Hinata asked Neji whether he would take the February Chunin Exam and said she might become a Jonin so she could set its written test.