Chapter Summaries

Hikari met with Nara Shikahisa, who suspected Iwagakure and Kumogakure were plotting against the Hidden Leaf Village and asked him to warn Tsunade. The discussion ended with Shikaku fleeing after Hikari asked for more Deer Antler Wine, and Kakashi quickly left too.

• Hikari demanded three bottles of Deer Antler Wine as his condition, and Shikaku agreed.
• Shikaku explained that Iwagakure and Kumogakure likely did not want an outright war, but he suspected a mole and was still investigating.
• Shikaku warned that the villages might make another move to weaken Tsunade's defenses, and Hikari agreed to pass on the warning.
• Hikari asked Shikaku for two more bottles of wine, so Shikaku used the Body Flicker Technique to leave and Kakashi soon departed as well.

Tsunade took Hikari’s Deer Antler Wine and discussed the village’s power struggles, then arrived at his home hours later and insisted on sleeping there. Hikari let her inside but told her to sleep alone while he continued working.

• Tsunade smelled alcohol on Hikari and demanded that he share his Deer Antler Wine with her.
• Hikari relayed Shikahisa’s warning that Tsunade should pay attention to what was happening within the village, and Tsunade criticized those who put power above the Hidden Leaf Village.
• Tsunade finished the wine, and Hikari returned home to work on his manuscripts.
• Tsunade showed up at Hikari’s door, clung to him, and said she would sleep at his house because Shizune was working overtime.
• Hikari agreed to let Tsunade inside but told her to sleep by herself while he continued working.

Hikari realized Tsunade might need help awakening Hashirama Senju's bloodline and decided to use his Chakra and blood to trigger her evolution. He fed her his blood while she slept, hoping the method would work before her crisis worsened.

• Tsunade secretly woke enough to realize Hikari had left her alone, then chose to keep sleeping at his house.
• Hikari drew an illustration resembling Tsunade, hid it in a drawer, and remembered he had wanted to help her evolve.
• Hikari considered awakening the Hashirama Cells in Tsunade's body and transforming them into Tsunade Cells.
• Hikari cut his palm and placed it by Tsunade's mouth, letting her lick his blood as she slept.

Tsunade woke with newly awakened Wood Release and tested her abilities in the Forest of Death with Hikari. She began training, while Hikari wondered whether she could learn Sage Mode from what Hashirama had left behind.

• Tsunade woke feeling unusually strong and wondered whether her Senju bloodline had awakened Wood Release.
• Tsunade and Shizune ate breakfast at Hikari's house, and Tsunade dragged Hikari to the Forest of Death to test her power.
• Tsunade used Wood Release: Wood Clone and discovered that her clone remained standing after its arm was cut off.
• Tsunade heard Hikari think about her Wood Release and Sage Mode, then decided to train while he kept watch.

Hikari secretly created a barrier in the Forest of Death and sent a Yang Release clone disguised as Tsunade to keep up appearances while Tsunade trained. The clone visited Might Guy’s Team, where Tenten’s strength forced Neji to explain his guess about Tsunade’s visit before she returned to training.

• Hikari used Yin Release clones to split up, then placed a Dreamy Barrier over part of the Forest of Death to conceal Tsunade’s Wood Release training.
• Hikari made a Yang Release clone that transformed into Tsunade and sent her to the Hokage’s Office, hoping no one would notice anything unusual.
• The Tsunade clone encountered Might Guy’s Team at the training ground, encouraged them, and hurried away after Might Guy’s enthusiastic response.
• Tenten questioned Might Guy and Neji about their secret, then punched a tree when Might Guy tried to evade her.
• Might Guy left Neji to explain, and Neji admitted he had guessed Tsunade visited the restroom beside the “Danzo” tree.
• Tenten dismissed Neji’s guess and returned to training, determined to become a formidable ninja rather than a decorative vase.

Tsunade's clone handled village affairs and approved an S-rank mission to escort Kazahana Koyuki back to the Land of Snow and help reclaim the country. He left Shizune to negotiate the details with Sandayu and said Kakashi Hatake should lead the mission if he agreed.

• Tsunade's clone avoided paperwork and sent Sakura to Shizune for training advice, then approved her request for a half-day leave to see Sasuke.
• Tsunade's clone warned Sakura to focus on her studies and training instead of chasing Sasuke, but she left as soon as he granted her leave.
• Shizune brought Tsunade's clone a report from Sanzaemon Asama requesting ninja to escort Kazahana Koyuki to the Land of Snow and restore the princess's authority.
• Shizune explained that the Land of Snow offered an alliance, protection arrangements, and an S-rank commission.
• Tsunade's clone told Shizune to negotiate the details with Sandayu and ask whether Kakashi Hatake would accept the mission.

Tsunade unleashed Wood Release in the Forest of Death but found it far weaker than Hashirama Senju’s. Hikari secretly gave her a senjutsu seed that let her produce stronger Wood Release techniques, and the chapter ended with Hikari questioning why the result was worse than he had expected.

• Tsunade used several Wood Release techniques across the Forest of Death and worried that her power could not protect the Hidden Leaf Village from other villages.
• Hikari explained that her Wood Release lacked the Yang Release energy and vitality that had powered Hashirama Senju’s techniques.
• Hikari secretly guided a senjutsu seed into Tsunade’s Yin Seal and told her to try Deep Forest Emergence.
• Tsunade used Deep Forest Emergence and a Wood Golem Technique, but the golem collapsed after draining her Chakra.
• Tsunade recognized Hikari when he appeared and collapsed into his arms, while Hikari wondered why her results were weaker than he had expected.

Tsunade assigned Hikari to lead the Ino-Shika-Cho team on a mission to the Land of Snow, despite his attempts to avoid it. The team would depart after the movie promotion ended the next day, and Hikari’s boast about handling girls drew an ominous response.

• Tsunade told Hikari he would lead the Land of Snow mission because Kakashi and Might Guy were needed for peace talks.
• Hikari refused Tsunade’s offer to make him a jonin but accepted the mission leading the Ino-Shika-Cho team after Nara Shikahisa confirmed Asuma had agreed.
• Shikaku explained that the Hidden Leaf Village had anticipated Sanzaemon Asama’s request, and Hikari tried to add Might Guy’s team to his assignment.
• Shikaku said Hikari would leave the day after Kazahana Koyuki’s movie promotion ended and advised him to tell Izumo before the long journey.
• Kakashi warned Hikari that Kazahana Koyuki was difficult to approach, and Hikari claimed he was an expert with girls before an icy voice warned him to stay away from the village’s little girls.

Hikari prepared to leave for the Land of Snow, but Anko and Ayame visited him before his departure. Their visits left him with food for the trip and a threat from Ayame not to fool around.

• Hikari packed food and supplies for his mission and decided not to tell Izumo about it.
• Anko arrived after learning about Hikari's mission, joked about sleeping with him, and Hikari sent her away.
• Ayame brought Hikari food made by her father and listened to him boast about his role in ending the Third Shinobi War.
• Ayame returned to Ichiraku after warning Hikari that she would cut off his vital area if he fooled around.

Hikari enjoyed dinner after Ayame left, then spoke with Kurenai and Tsunade about village rumors and the Land of Snow mission. Tsunade left the mission in Hikari’s hands as he prepared to travel to the Land of Snow.

• Hikari ate Ayame’s dinner as Kurenai visited to ask about Yakumo’s treatment during his upcoming trip.
• Kurenai warned Hikari to conceal himself when he came to treat Yakumo, then left.
• Tsunade joined Hikari for dinner and revealed that Shikaku had traced the rumors about her to someone targeting her Hokage position.
• Hikari suggested Tsunade use the summit to lure out the mastermind, and she said she would consider it.
• Tsunade and Hikari discussed the Land of Snow mission, and Hikari explained its political benefits for relations with Iwagakure.
• Tsunade entrusted the Land of Snow mission to Hikari.

Hikari visited Yakumo, who used genjutsu to show him an illusion of Kurenai bathing before treating Yakumo with Yang Release Chakra. Yakumo revealed that she had tricked Asuma into repeatedly meeting a monkey disguised as Kurenai, and Hikari warned her to stay safe while he was away on a mission.

• Hikari arrived at Kurenai Yuhi's home, and Yakumo used genjutsu to make him see Kurenai bathing through the wall.
• Yakumo teased Hikari about admiring Kurenai, and he began treating Yakumo with essential oil and Yang Release Chakra.
• Yakumo revealed that she had used genjutsu to disguise a female monkey as Kurenai and arranged for Asuma to meet it.
• Hikari warned Yakumo that Asuma might retaliate if he discovered the deception, but she said Asuma kept asking the disguised monkey out.
• Hikari told Yakumo to hide in his house and trigger the barrier if war broke out while he was away on a mission.

Hikari left the Hidden Leaf Village on a mission to help Kazahana Koyuki reclaim her country, while Tenten and Might Guy saw him off. Afterward, Asuma met with Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, who discussed their plans and their doubts about their actions.

• Hikari refused to bring the film crew on the mission and departed with Kazahana Koyuki and the Ino-Shika-Cho team.
• Tenten hugged Hikari and urged him to be careful, while Hikari told her, Neji, and Rock Lee to keep training and limit contact with outsiders.
• Might Guy encouraged Tenten and led the others back to training as Hikari's group left the village.
• Asuma met Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, praised their handling of Tsunade's actions, and said Nara Shikahisa had rejected his goodwill.
• Utatane Koharu reassured Asuma that his hardships would be repaid and said the man they considered an eyesore would never return to the village.
• After Asuma left, Mitokado Homura questioned whether their actions were right, and Utatane Koharu insisted they could not turn back.

Kazahana Koyuki woke up in the care of Hikari and his team and learned they were escorting her back to the Land of Snow. After accusing Sandayu of betraying her, she tried to hire Hikari to take her back to the Hidden Leaf Village, but he refused and continued the mission.

• Kazahana Koyuki woke in the carriage, feared the Leaf ninja, and asked Hikari where they were taking her.
• Hikari told Kazahana Koyuki they were returning her to the Land of Snow, and she recognized Sandayu when they met outside.
• Kazahana Koyuki accused Sandayu of conspiring with the ninja, while Sandayu tried to explain himself.
• Hikari laughed at their argument, and Kazahana Koyuki joined the others for grilled food.
• Kazahana Koyuki offered Hikari double pay to take her to the Hidden Leaf Village, but he refused and said he would complete the assigned mission.

Kazahana Koyuki tried to escape into the woods, but Hikari found her and carried her back to the carriage. She remained under guard as the group continued their journey.

• Kazahana Koyuki ran into the woods to escape the Hidden Leaf Village ninja, believing her return to the Land of Snow would endanger them.
• Hikari intercepted Kazahana Koyuki, asked whether she missed her homeland, and refused to let her go when she denied it.
• Hikari carried Kazahana Koyuki back to the carriage, where he told Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji to keep watch over her.
• Choji fixed his eyes on Kazahana Koyuki to protect his dinner, frightening her into hiding behind Ino.
• Ino offered to report Hikari for mistreating Kazahana Koyuki, but Kazahana Koyuki backed down after hearing how harshly he might be punished.

Tsunade split the Konoha forces, taking the Anbu toward Kumogakure while Kakashi led the others toward Iwagakure. At Iwagakure’s border camp, Ōnoki explained his motives to Kurotsuchi as Asuma privately revealed his hostility toward Tsunade.

• Tsunade divided the forces, refusing Shikahisa’s request to keep Might Guy with her and ordering Kakashi to investigate Ōnoki.
• Asuma watched Tsunade leave and decided her choice would make it easier for him to provoke a war and force her resignation.
• At Iwagakure’s camp, Kurotsuchi questioned whether Ōnoki was falling into a trap by moving against Konoha.
• Ōnoki told Kurotsuchi that Iwagakure had to show up, both to give its shinobi experience and to assess Kumogakure and Tsunade.
• Ōnoki reflected that Iwagakure lacked a successor capable of replacing him as Tsuchikage.

While Kakashi’s team camped for the night, Asuma secretly went to Enma’s Cave, where he used Enma’s blood and flesh to restore his human form and gain greater strength. He left Enma barely alive and pierced his skull, intent on consuming him completely.

• Asuma offered to relieve himself, and Kakashi arranged the night watches while feeling that something was wrong.
• At Enma’s Cave, Asuma demanded that Enma teach him how to become human again, but Enma warned him about the Stone of Curse and the Enma Technique.
• Asuma smeared Enma’s blood on himself, restoring his human body and discovering that his strength had increased.
• Asuma tore off and ate Enma’s flesh, becoming stronger as he declared he would rule the Hidden Leaf Village.
• Asuma ate Enma until only his head remained, ignored Enma’s warning, and pierced his skull.

Tsunade and her Anbu were ambushed in the woods by a powerful masked attacker who killed the guards and poisoned her. Though Tsunade recognized the attack as a covert attempt by someone seeking power, she was left badly wounded and outmatched as the attacker pressed his assault.

• Tsunade refused to rest, sensed unfamiliar lifeforms approaching, and ordered the Anbu to hold their defensive formation.
• The attacker used his speed to kill several Anbu, while Tsunade struck the ground with Painful Heavenly Foot and challenged him.
• Tsunade attacked with Super Strength, but the attacker evaded her and killed the remaining Anbu by tearing out his heart.
• Tsunade tried to ease the dying Anbu's pain, but he stabbed her abdomen with a poisoned kunai before dying.
• Tsunade treated her own wound and accused the attacker of using covert methods to pursue the Hokage position, but he lunged at her again.
• The attacker caught and broke Tsunade's wrist, then punched toward her chest.

Tsunade defeated Asuma with Wood Release after discovering his identity, but Asuma escaped through Reverse Summoning and realized he had become a prisoner of Mount Huaguo. He was left trapped there as the new Enma, regretting that he had been blinded by power.

• Tsunade revealed Asuma's identity and overwhelmed him with Deep Forest Emergence and Wood Dragon Technique.
• The wooden dragons drained Asuma's Chakra, but monkey fur began growing over his body, and he begged Tsunade to kill him.
• Asuma vanished through Reverse Summoning before Tsunade could act, leaving her confused as she sealed away the corpses.
• At Mount Huaguo, Asuma recognized the peach-blossom mountains as a prison and understood that the previous Enma had never lied to him.
• Asuma realized he had become the new Enma, bound to Mount Huaguo, and regretted choosing power.

Kakashi, Shikaku, and Might Guy continued toward the Iwagakure camp after discovering Asuma’s involvement, while Kakashi sent a Shadow Clone to seek news from Tsunade. On the ship carrying Kazahana Koyuki back to the Land of Snow, Hikari announced that he would train Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji, and Koyuki eagerly asked to join.

• Kakashi, Shikaku, and Might Guy learned that Asuma had been involved and decided to continue to the Iwagakure camp to negotiate and buy time.
• Kakashi created a Shadow Clone to find Tsunade while he, Shikaku, and Might Guy set out for the camp.
• On a ship leaving the Land of Iron, Kazahana Koyuki worried about returning home and warned Ino that Fuhua Nutao was powerful.
• Ino dismissed Koyuki’s fears, while Shikamaru reminded her to treat every opponent cautiously.
• Hikari told Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji that training would follow their meal, and Koyuki asked to watch and join in.

Hikari sent Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino into the sea coated in animal blood to train them by drawing in dangerous fish, while secretly protecting them with Chakra. As the ship sped away, the trio faced their first shark, and Ino struck it with her Kidney Strike.

• Hikari explained that the animal blood would attract sea creatures and ordered the Ino-Shika-Cho trio to run across the water for two hours.
• Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino jumped overboard after Hikari coated their clothes in blood, and Hikari ordered Sanzaemon Asama to increase the ship's speed.
• Hikari reassured Kazahana Koyuki that the trio were in no real danger because he had left protective Chakra within each of them.
• Ino sensed an approaching shark and warned Shikamaru and Choji, while Shikamaru cautioned Choji against using the Expansion Jutsu in the water.
• Ino dodged the shark's bite and hit its head with her Kidney Strike, sending Chakra through its brain.