Chapter Summaries

Hikari told Orochimaru to leave the Hidden Leaf Village after agreeing with Nagato that the Akatsuki Organization would not target the Three-Tails Jinchuriki. He revealed the Ten-Tails’ origin and asked Orochimaru to delay the Akatsuki’s plans by researching the Tailed Beasts, and Orochimaru agreed to leave at once.

• Anko welcomed Hikari at her home, but Orochimaru appeared and confirmed that Hikari had come to see him.
• Hikari told Orochimaru that his agreement with Nagato required Orochimaru to leave the Hidden Leaf Village and keep the Akatsuki Organization away from the Three-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Hikari offered Orochimaru information about the Ten-Tails in exchange for delaying the Akatsuki Organization’s collection of Tailed Beast Chakra.
• Hikari explained that the nine Tailed Beasts came from the Ten-Tails and that the Akatsuki Organization planned to revive it using the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
• Orochimaru accepted Hikari’s proposal and said he would leave the village right away.

Orochimaru negotiated with Obito and Black Zetsu for protection while he researched how to separate the Three-Tails’ Chakra. He proposed a three-year deadline and offered to improve Impure World Reincarnation, leaving the final decision to Pain.

• Obito and Black Zetsu met Orochimaru outside the Hidden Leaf Village and asked if he had decided to rejoin the Akatsuki Organization.
• Orochimaru demanded that Pain guarantee the Akatsuki Organization would not harm him while he researched separating the Three-Tails’ Chakra.
• Orochimaru warned Obito that Hikari could thwart the Akatsuki Organization’s plans by killing a Tailed Beast before they collected them all.
• Orochimaru proposed three years to conduct his research, explaining that he would change bodies by then and could join the organization even if his research remained unfinished.
• Orochimaru offered to improve Impure World Reincarnation and create an army of revived shinobi to help the Akatsuki Organization fight Hikari and the Hidden Leaf Village.
• Obito said the time frame was too long and told Orochimaru to discuss the details with Pain.

Hikari returned to Konoha and visited the gathered members of Konoha's Twelve Ninja in the Forest of Death, where Naruto and Sasuke were training. He checked in on his disciples and teased the young ninjas, while Hinata remained shy and Tenten eagerly asked about her next training stage.

• Anko followed Hikari after Orochimaru left, and Hikari said he was going to check on his disciples.
• Naruto and Sasuke fought in the Forest of Death while the rest of Konoha's Twelve Ninja gathered nearby, with Sakura absent at the hospital.
• Tenten sensed Hikari's arrival, and Hikari greeted several of the girls while Shikamaru and the other boys felt overlooked.
• Tenten asked Hikari for pointers, and he promised to arrange her next stage of training after assessing her progress.
• Hikari ruffled Shikamaru's hair and asked whether his three disciples had kept training; Ino answered for them.
• Hikari whispered a teasing remark about Ino's figure, and she called him a pervert before joining Hinata.

Hikari encouraged Naruto and the young ninja, then agreed to spar with them when they asked him to teach them. He effortlessly turned aside their coordinated attacks, while Sasuke saw through Hikari’s deception and charged at him.

• Hikari told Naruto that perseverance and strength could help him earn recognition and become Hokage, inspiring Naruto and Sasuke.
• Naruto and Shikamaru asked Hikari to guide them, so he invited the gathered young ninja to attack him together.
• Rock Lee and Neji attacked Hikari, but he grabbed Lee’s leg, swung him into Neji, and silenced their argument with slaps.
• Ino and Choji coordinated the Mind Body Switch Technique and Human Boulder, but Hikari sensed Ino’s technique and moved out of the way.
• Sasuke struck what appeared to be Hikari with Chidori, but recognized the figure as an illusion and kicked Naruto aside before charging toward the real Hikari.

Hikari tested Sasuke and Naruto, explaining that Sasuke’s hatred and lingering hope kept him from understanding his own heart. After defeating Naruto’s clones and sending him crashing into Sasuke, Hikari turned to Shikamaru, Hinata, and Shino and asked whether they would fight.

• Hikari dispelled Sasuke’s Chidori and explained that Sasuke’s unsettled spirit had left him vulnerable to genjutsu.
• Hikari told Sasuke to examine his true feelings and goals, noting that he still hoped Itachi would return to being the brother he remembered.
• Naruto attacked Hikari with hundreds of shadow clones and Rasengan, but Hikari’s Wind Style: Vacuum Blade wiped them out.
• Hikari sent Naruto flying toward Sasuke, and Naruto chose not to break free before crashing into him.
• Shikamaru surrendered, while Kiba attacked with Fang Over Fang and Hikari slapped him into the ground.
• Hikari asked Hinata, Shikamaru, and Shino whether they would attack him or let him take the initiative.

Hikari tested the young ninjas, chose Hinata for personal training, and appointed Shikamaru to lead the combined squads after humiliating him with his own Shadow Imitation Technique. He added Naruto and Sasuke to Team Ten for training, then declined Kiba’s request as Akamaru wet himself in fright.

• Hikari judged Hinata’s Gentle Fist weak, stopped her attack, and decided she should train with Ino instead of Kurenai.
• Shino unleashed his insects, but Hikari burned the Kikaichū and told Shino to focus on his clan’s techniques and strengthening them.
• Shikamaru caught Hikari with the Shadow Imitation Technique, but Hikari controlled him and repeatedly slammed him into the ground.
• Hikari named Shikamaru captain of the combined squads while keeping Ino as Team Ten’s overall captain.
• Hikari announced that Naruto and Sasuke would join Team Ten and train with him, and both agreed.
• Kiba asked Hikari to train him, but Hikari declined, frightening Akamaru into peeing on Kiba.

Hikari asked Tsunade about taking Hinata as a student, then went to explain his intentions to Kurenai before approaching Hiashi. Kurenai misunderstood which student he meant, and the chapter ended with Hikari about to clarify.

• Hikari insisted that Hinata's talent surpassed Neji's, and Tsunade told him to discuss training her with Hiashi and Kurenai.
• Hikari invited Tsunade to drink with him at an Izakaya after work, and she eagerly accepted.
• Hikari visited Kurenai Yuhi's home to explain that he wanted to train one of her students alongside Naruto and Sasuke.
• Kurenai guessed that Hikari meant Kiba or Shino and said he only needed to speak with their parents.

Hikari asked Kurenai and Hyuga Hiashi for permission to train Hinata, arguing that her potential rivaled Naruto's and Sasuke's. Hiashi agreed to entrust Hinata to him, leaving her future training in Hikari's hands.

• Hikari told Kurenai he wanted to train Hinata because he believed her lack of confidence, not a lack of potential, held her back.
• Kurenai agreed to Hikari teaching Hinata if Hiashi approved, but said Hinata would return to her instruction if Hikari failed to strengthen her.
• Hikari visited the Hyuga Clan and reassured Hiashi that he had come to discuss training Hinata, not village politics.
• Hiashi questioned why Hikari chose Hinata over Hanabi, then reconsidered after Hikari compared Hinata's potential to Hyuga Heavenly Ninja.
• Hiashi agreed to leave Hinata in Hikari's care and told him he could scold or punish her if needed.

After leaving the Hyuga Clan, Hikari met Tsunade at an Izakaya, where they discussed Snow Beef and her work as Hokage. Hikari raised a private barrier and made an intimate advance on Tsunade, leaving their evening in progress.

• Hikari left the Hyuga Clan after discussing Hinata's education and taijutsu with Hiashi.
• Hikari met a drunken Tsunade at an Izakaya, where she served him Snow Beef from the Land of Snow.
• Tsunade explained that she had sold some of the beef and directed most of the profits to the Hidden Leaf Village and its ninja.
• Tsunade said she felt unsuited to life as Hokage, and Hikari teased her about her former debts.
• Hikari raised an enhanced Sealing Barrier around them and moved beside Tsunade.
• Hikari made an intimate advance, and Tsunade could only passively meet his attack.

Hiashi told Hinata that she would train with Hikari alongside Naruto and Sasuke, and Hinata looked forward to standing beside Naruto. Hiashi then examined the Shen Clan’s records and wondered how Hikari had become so powerful and whether the village gates hid a secret.

• Hiashi told Hinata that Hikari would train her, Naruto, and Sasuke, and cautioned her to be careful with her new companions.
• Hinata went to her room, where Hanabi joined her and worried that Hikari had frightened her.
• Hinata reassured Hanabi that Hikari was kind, while privately feeling excited to train with Naruto despite some fear of Hikari.
• Hiashi reviewed records on the Shen Clan and questioned how Hikari had gained his strength, suspecting a secret near the village gates.

Hikari took Sasuke, Naruto, and Hinata to the Forest of Death and assigned them training tasks, then entered Naruto’s sealing space to stop the Nine-Tails from interfering with his Rasengan practice. He left the Nine-Tails asleep under his Mangekyō Sharingan genjutsu, allowing Naruto to train with less disruption.

• Shikamaru and Ino reflected on Hikari’s guidance and resumed training after he left with Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata.
• Hikari assigned Sasuke to balance on a stone slab atop a pillar and told Naruto to develop a way to use the Rasengan without relying on Shadow Clones.
• Naruto explained that the Nine-Tails’ Chakra interfered with his Chakra control, and Hikari entered the sealing space to speak with the fox.
• Hikari warned the Nine-Tails that the Akatsuki planned to revive the Ten-Tails and explained that he wanted Naruto prepared for the coming war.
• The Nine-Tails demanded that Hikari free it, so Hikari revealed his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and put it to sleep with genjutsu.

Hikari tried to help Hinata understand her feelings for Naruto and urged her to express them through her actions. After he warned that Naruto might end up with Sakura, Hinata shouted at him and knocked him backward with a two-palmed strike.

• Hikari told Naruto to train his clones on the Rasengan while he practiced taijutsu against Hinata.
• Hinata hesitated to fight Naruto, so Hikari pulled her aside to talk about her potential and her uncertainty about why she wanted to become stronger.
• Hikari asked Hinata whether she liked Naruto, and she blushed but did not deny it.
• Hikari explained that Hinata's habit of backing away made Naruto think she feared him, and urged her to show him how she felt.
• Hikari warned Hinata that Naruto might marry Sakura and that she could be left watching them together.
• Hinata shouted for Hikari to stop and thrust both palms forward, sending him stumbling.

Hikari encouraged Hinata to pursue Naruto by becoming more confident and challenging him in taijutsu. Hinata took his advice and began training with Naruto, though her resolve faltered once he attacked.

• Hinata angrily shoved Hikari, then admitted she wanted Naruto after he encouraged her to speak openly.
• Hikari advised Hinata to build confidence and defeat Naruto in taijutsu, claiming Naruto liked strong women.
• Hinata embraced Hikari's advice and went to ask Naruto to train with her.
• Naruto agreed and attacked Hinata without holding back, forcing her to dodge and defend herself.

Hikari encouraged Hinata to stop retreating, and she began fighting Naruto with renewed determination, improving their taijutsu together. Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji arrived as training continued, and the group discussed lunch.

• Hikari used genjutsu and reminded Hinata that she would lose her chance to train with Kurenai Yuhi if she kept retreating, so Hinata launched a Gentle Fist attack and knocked Naruto down.
• Naruto praised Hinata and asked her to keep sparring with him, and she overcame her hesitation and fought him with greater resolve.
• Naruto and Hinata exchanged blows and steadily improved their taijutsu while Hikari watched; Sasuke, distracted by them, repeatedly failed his assigned training.
• Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji arrived and noticed Hinata's changed fighting style, while Hikari asked what they wanted for lunch.

Hikari took Choji, Hinata, and the others to Ichiraku Ramen for a meal, hoping to let the two big eaters eat their fill. Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Ino left to train, while Choji and Hinata stayed behind to keep eating.

• Hikari booked Ichiraku Ramen for lunch and promised to feed the children until they were full.
• Hikari scolded Shikamaru and Ino for not thanking him, then told them to respect their teacher.
• Naruto and Sasuke each ate four bowls of ramen, while Shikamaru and Ino each ate three.
• Hikari told Shikamaru to take Naruto, Sasuke, and Ino to train, but ordered Choji and Hinata to stay and eat more.
• Hikari threatened to keep Shikamaru from sleeping if the others were still able to stand after training.
• Ichiraku worried that the extra ramen would go to waste, but Hikari assured him that Choji and Hinata could eat much more.

Hikari treated Hinata and Choji to unlimited ramen, and Hinata discovered she could eat far more than expected without getting full. After the meal, Hikari took Hinata to the training ground to examine her condition.

• Hikari ordered Hinata to eat as much as Choji and threatened Choji into continuing when he tried to stop.
• Choji and Hinata ate more than twenty bowls each, and Choji struggled while Hinata remained calm.
• Hinata realized the meal left her feeling unusually refreshed and possibly stronger.
• Hinata finished more than thirty bowls, astonishing Choji and Ayame with her appetite.
• Hikari agreed to take Hinata to the training ground after she finished eating.

Hikari tested Hinata’s strength and discovered that eating full meals had greatly increased her power. He told her to eat more and sent her to train with Naruto, then turned his attention to Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji for a spar.

• Choji joined Shikamaru and Ino’s training at the training ground.
• Hikari asked Hinata to punch him and pushed her to use her full strength, sending him flying with a powerful blow.
• Hikari learned that Hinata had rarely eaten full meals and told her to eat until she was sixty or seventy percent full at every meal.
• Hinata agreed to tell her family and happily went to train taijutsu with Naruto.
• Hikari called Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji over for a real spar, making Shikamaru and Ino fear he was about to beat them up.

Hikari sparred with the Ino-Shika-Cho trio while limiting himself to Special Jonin strength, then demonstrated how Chakra nature transformations could enhance ninja tools. He left Shikamaru encouraged to develop his own combat abilities and asked Hikari to guide them.

• Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji attacked Hikari, who evaded them and tested their teamwork while holding back.
• Shikamaru used the Shadow Imitation Technique to coordinate Choji’s Partial Expansion Jutsu, forcing Hikari to keep retreating.
• Hikari warned Shikamaru that he would use ninja tools, then infused kunai with different Chakra natures to demonstrate their enhanced effects.
• Shikamaru questioned whether Hikari’s techniques were Jonin-level, and Hikari advised Shikamaru and Ino to develop their own strength instead of relying only on support.
• Hikari encouraged Shikamaru to study nature transformation, and Shikamaru asked him to guide the trio.

Hikari assessed Choji, Shikamaru, and Ino’s abilities and advised each of them on how to grow stronger. He explained that he had once planted a Chakra Seed in them, then urged them to keep training as Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata pulled ahead.

• Hikari praised Choji’s Chakra and Expansion Jutsu, but told him to train harder and make better use of his potential.
• Hikari advised Shikamaru to keep studying his clan’s secret technique, and Shikamaru asked why he could train in a way Sasuke could not.
• Hikari revealed that he had planted a Chakra Seed in each of them to guide their Chakra toward offensive power, and that their later changes depended on their own circumstances.
• Hikari told Ino that she could strengthen her body or pursue the Spirit Transformation Jutsu, and offered to help her obtain it if she kept it secret.
• Hikari sent the three back to training, telling Shikamaru to keep Choji from slacking and warning them not to fall behind Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata.

Hikari asked Tsunade for the Spirit Transformation Jutsu so he could study souls and eventually teach it to Ino. He then confronted Hiashi over Hinata’s unusually large appetite and his lack of concern for her needs.

• Hikari asked Tsunade for the Spirit Transformation Jutsu, explaining that he wanted to study souls and help Ino develop her mental techniques.
• Tsunade agreed to let Hikari copy the technique from the Scroll of Seals after he promised to study it himself before teaching Ino.
• Hiashi arrived at the Hokage's Office and accused Hikari of making Hinata eat so much that she might become ill.
• Hikari challenged Hiashi for not knowing Hinata’s normal appetite or caring whether she had ever eaten her fill at home.
• Hiashi backed down, and Hikari said Hinata could eat according to her appetite while he took responsibility for treating her if she became sick.