Recaps

Shinichi intervened when Mist and Cloud forces targeted Hinata, defeated their leaders, and sealed Isobu inside her. After confronting Obito’s past and securing a maritime partnership with Gato, Shinichi began teaching Hinata to control her new power, leaving her shaken by Isobu’s hostility.

• Juzo Biwa failed to kill Jonaz, and Shinichi rescued him from Zabuza and Haku before recruiting him to investigate Yagura.
• Shinichi sent Juzo to the Land of Water and told him to spread word of Hinata’s unsealed Byakugan, prompting Kirigakure and Kumogakure to target her.
• Haku killed Naruto’s clones with Ice Release, but Hinata struck his acupoint and killed him, while Kakashi defeated Zabuza.
• Shinichi broke Obito’s control over Yagura, fought the Mist Ninja, and sealed Isobu inside Hinata after she chose to fight alongside Naruto.
• A and Killer B attacked Shinichi to seize Hinata, but Shinichi defeated the Cloud forces and demanded Kumogakure’s Amber Purifying Pot and Chakra Cannon for Killer B’s release.
• Shinichi told Kakashi that the masked man was Obito Uchiha, and Kakashi vowed to find the person who had controlled Obito and bring him back to Konoha.
• Shinichi arranged to invest in Gato’s maritime business, then showed Hinata how to draw on Isobu’s Chakra.
• Hinata split a giant tree with Isobu’s Chakra, but Isobu overwhelmed her in her Spiritual World until a pair of enormous eyes forced it down.

Shinichi killed Obito, secured Kirigakure’s support for Mei, and helped Konoha prepare for the Chunin Exams. Team Seven and their allies advanced through the exams, while Naruto and Hinata’s families began considering a future match and Rasa asked for Gaara to stay in Konoha for training.

• Shinichi identified Isopu as the Three-Tails for Hinata, gave Kakashi the seal key, and took A’s Chakra Cannon and Amber Purifying Pot before leaving him behind.
• Shinichi pursued Obito near Kirigakure, defeated him with Truth-Seeking Orbs, trapped him in an illusion of meeting Rin, and killed him before advising Juzo to support Mei.
• Shinichi gave Obito’s remaining Sharingan to Kakashi, helped Hinata avoid the Caged Bird Seal, and trained Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata for the Chunin Exams.
• Team Seven passed the written test and fought through the Forest of Death, where they encountered Orochimaru and his Sound Ninja, then joined forces with other Konoha teams.
• At the preliminary matches, Sakura defeated Ino, Hinata beat Kusuna, Shino defeated Zaku, Sasuke defeated Kankuro, and Naruto easily beat Kiba.
• Rock Lee pushed Gaara to use his full power, but Shinichi subdued Shukaku as Gaara won, and Temari, Shino, Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, Gaara, Dosu, Sakura, and Neji advanced to the finals.
• Neji defeated Shikamaru, and Minato announced a month-long break before the public finals as the competitors left to train.
• Hana hosted Kushina and Naruto, proposed a betrothal between Naruto and Hinata, and Rasa asked Minato to let Gaara remain in Konoha temporarily for training.

The Chunin Exams brought Naruto and Hinata’s growing power into view as Shinichi fought Urashiki to protect Hinata. After defeating Urashiki and absorbing his Chakra, Shinichi found Uchiha Hikari sealed away and returned with her to Konoha, where Fugaku recognized her as an Uchiha.

• Minato left Gaara in Konoha’s care, while Shinichi returned to help investigate Gekko Hayate’s murder and then presided over the Chunin Exams.
• Hinata defeated Neji with the Three-Tails’ Chakra, and Naruto defeated Gaara before Minato assigned Shisui to guide Gaara.
• Sasuke defeated Dosu, while Sasuke and Boruto arrived from the future and Minato assigned Team Seven and Kakashi to escort them.
• Urashiki attacked Hinata to extract the Three-Tails’ Chakra, but Shinichi drove him off and tracked him to his hideout and the sealed Ten-Tails.
• Shinichi fought Urashiki, overcame his time manipulation with Sage Mode and Frog Kata, then rendered him unconscious and absorbed his Chakra as a Human Pill.
• Shinichi found Uchiha Hikari sealed in a valley, freed her, and accompanied her as she regained her memories and chose to return to Konoha.
• Minato brought Shinichi and Hikari back to the village, where Hiashi welcomed Shinichi and Fugaku recognized Hikari as an Uchiha.

After exposing the Otsutsuki threat, Shinichi helped Minato establish a secret research project while Itachi and Hikari uncovered Danzo’s hidden Root laboratory. Danzo was critically injured, and Fugaku reclaimed Kagami’s Sharingan as Minato moved to disband Root and contain the conflict.

• Fugaku welcomed Hikari into the Uchiha Clan, and Shinichi told Minato he had killed Urashiki before revealing to Sasuke and Boruto that he knew their identities.
• Shinichi explained the Otsutsuki threat to Minato, Sasuke, and Boruto, then helped Sasuke and Boruto return to the future with the turtle-shaped Treasure Tool.
• Minato and Shinichi recruited Orochimaru to research the Ten-Tails, established the secret Spark Laboratory, and obtained a specimen from the creature.
• Itachi investigated missing people with Izumi and discovered Shin Ashimi dead, while Orochimaru used Ten-Tails cells to grow an artificial human embryo.
• Fugaku assigned Hikari to help Itachi investigate Root, and they exposed Danzo’s underground laboratory, prompting an explosion and a battle with Root ninja.
• Itachi and Hikari fought Danzo’s forces, and Itachi struck Danzo with Amaterasu before sending him to the hospital and reporting the confrontation.
• Minato sent Itachi away to serve as captain of the Daimyo’s guards, while doctors discovered a transplanted Sharingan beneath Danzo’s bandages.
• Fugaku confronted Hiruzen over Kagami’s Sharingan, removed it from the unconscious Danzo, and gained Minato’s backing as Minato announced that Root would be disbanded.