Chapter Summaries

Hada Ichiba, Hada Ryuhiko, and Hada Anna watched Neji Hyuga confront Hinata Hyuga in the arena as he tried to convince her that people could not change. As Hinata faltered under his words and Byakugan, someone shouted that people could change and urged her to defeat him.

• Hada Ryuhiko predicted Neji Hyuga would win because Hinata lacked confidence, and Hada Ichiba agreed that Neji had the stronger fundamentals.
• Neji Hyuga accused Hinata Hyuga of being timid and entering the Chunin Exams only because she could not refuse her teammates.
• Kurenai Yuhi recalled Hinata’s painful treatment by her father and hoped the girl would prove that she had changed.
• Neji Hyuga activated his Byakugan and interpreted Hinata’s movements as signs that she expected to lose and could not change herself.
• Hada Ichiba began to argue that people could change, but an angry voice interrupted him and urged Hinata to take Neji down.

As Naruto shouted in support of Hinata during her match with the Byakugan-wielding youth, Hada Ichiba weighed Konoha’s plans for the Chunin Exams and suspected Orochimaru was plotting something beyond the Konoha Crush. The chapter left Long Yan uneasy about Ichiba’s intentions and the opponent noticing a change in Hinata’s gaze.

• Naruto angrily urged Hinata to answer the youth facing her, drawing the arena’s attention.
• Long Yan called Naruto a moron, while Anna agreed and Hada Ichiba silently considered the political stakes of the Chunin Exams.
• Hada Ichiba wondered whether the Third Hokage might ally with Kusagakure and questioned whether Orochimaru had another scheme underway.
• Long Yan noticed Ichiba searching the arena and grew gloomy and anxious, thinking of Naruto.
• Hinata lowered her head as Naruto spoke up for her, and her Byakugan-wielding opponent noticed that her gaze had changed.

Hyuga Hinata overcame her fear and challenged Neji Hyuga to settle their conflict in a fight. Meanwhile, Orochimaru questioned the shadowed man about Taki Chiba’s return and, convinced by his explanation, asked what he should do next.

• Hyuga Hinata activated her Byakugan, declared she would stop running away, and challenged Neji Hyuga.
• Neji Hyuga accepted the challenge, and the two assumed their fighting stances and began exchanging Chakra strikes.
• Orochimaru questioned the shadowed man’s certainty that Taki Chiba had returned and warned that investigating could delay the Konoha Crush Plan.
• The shadowed man insisted Taki Chiba would never abandon Konoha during the Chunin Exams and had already arrived.
• Orochimaru accepted that Taki Chiba had likely returned and asked the shadowed man what he needed him to do.

Hyuga Hinata fought Neji Hyuga with solid Gentle Fist fundamentals and briefly seemed to gain the advantage, but Neji revealed he could see Chakra points and had already struck her with Pressure Point Strike. Hinata was left unable to continue, and Neji was declared the victor.

• Hada Ichiba explained to Hada Ryuhiko and Anna how the Gentle Fist could damage internal organs and manipulate Chakra points, making Anna's Chakra Armor vulnerable.
• Hinata and Neji exchanged attacks, and Hinata landed a palm to Neji's chest, leading spectators to believe she had won.
• Neji revealed that Hinata's strike had not defeated him, while Hinata coughed up blood and Naruto questioned the outcome.
• Hinata attempted another attack, but Neji caught her hand and struck its Chakra point with Pressure Point Strike.
• Neji showed the red marks covering Hinata's hand and said he could see Chakra points; Hada Ichiba and Anna recognized that Hinata had been defeated.

Hyuga Hinata refused to surrender and continued fighting Neji Hyuga despite her injuries, drawing strength from Uzumaki Naruto’s encouragement. She evaded Neji’s attack and landed a final strike as he stood frozen, leaving the outcome unresolved.

• Neji Hyuga told the injured Hyuga Hinata to forfeit while Hada Ryuhiko and Hada Ichiba discussed the Hyuga Clan’s main and branch family system.
• Hyuga Hinata stood again, activated her Byakugan, and declared she would not give up, though she coughed up blood.
• Uzumaki Naruto cheered for Hinata, and Haruno Sakura and Rock Lee remarked on her courage and her feelings for him.
• Hinata dodged Neji’s palm strike and counterattacked, but Neji knocked her away and struck her beneath the chin.
• Hinata stayed on her feet and launched a final palm strike at Neji, who stood frozen as the blow landed.

Hyuga Hinata rose after Neji Hyuga’s decisive strike and insisted that the match was not over, then confronted him about his suffering under the Hyuga clan’s Main and Branch Family system. Neji charged at her in a rage just as Gekko Hayate declared the match over, leaving the outcome of his attack unresolved.

• Neji Hyuga’s strike knocked Hyuga Hinata down, and Gekko Hayate prepared to end the match.
• Uzumaki Naruto urged them not to stop the match, and Hinata struggled back to her feet.
• Hinata told Neji that he was the one suffering under the fate of the Main and Branch Families.
• Neji charged at Hinata with a Gentle Fist strike as Gekko Hayate shouted that the match was over.
• A muffled impact rang through the training ground, leaving what happened next unclear.

After defeating Hinata, Neji nearly killed her, but Hada Ichiba stepped in and shielded her from the attack. Hinata lost consciousness from her severe injuries as Naruto confronted Neji, while Ichiba and Anna prepared to treat her.

• Hinata reflected on Neji’s suffering and felt relieved that she had finally urged him to stop blaming fate and face the future.
• Hada Ichiba intervened when Neji attacked Hinata, while Guy, Kakashi, Kurenai, and Hayate restrained Neji.
• Hinata collapsed and coughed up blood, and Ichiba helped her lie down before stopping Kurenai from touching her.
• Naruto rushed to Hinata’s side, heard Neji insult him, and challenged Neji in anger.
• Ichiba told Kurenai that Hinata’s condition was critical, then Anna arrived and offered to take charge of her treatment.

Hada Ichiba insisted that Hada Anna treat the badly injured Hinata, despite Konoha’s medical team and Kurenai Yuhi objecting. Anna revealed she could use Medical Chakra, leaving the assembled Medical Ninja stunned as she began preliminary treatment.

• Hada Ichiba told Kurenai Yuhi that Hada Anna could provide the best treatment available, but Kurenai doubted the seven-year-old’s medical skills.
• The medical team leader ordered Hada Anna to step aside, while observers questioned why Hada Ichiba was interfering in Konoha’s affairs.
• Hada Ichiba stopped Kurenai from intervening and explained that Anna would only provide preliminary treatment before Konoha’s medical team continued.
• Hada Anna placed her hand on Hinata and emitted Medical Chakra, shocking Kurenai and the three Medical Ninja with her skill at such a young age.

After Hada Anna revealed her Medical Ninjutsu, Kakashi wondered whether Hada Ichiba was the presumed-dead Chiba and feared that Chiba might have changed. Seeing Ichiba risk himself to protect Hyuga Hinata reassured Kakashi, but a sudden slap and rebuke left the venue stunned.

• Hada Anna used Medical Ninjutsu, prompting Kakashi to reconsider whether Hada Ichiba was Chiba and to fear what Chiba might have become.
• Gekko Hayate asked whether Hada Ichiba had blocked an attack for Hyuga Hinata, and Kakashi recalled Ichiba’s expression as he shielded and helped her.
• Kakashi recognized Ichiba’s protective instinct as something Chiba would show and questioned why a Kusagakure ninja had interfered in Konoha’s internal conflict.
• A crisp slap sounded, silencing the venue, and someone rebuked, “If you're a ninja, don't do something so irresponsible!”

Hada Ichiba slapped Uzumaki Naruto after warning him not to act recklessly, shocking the Chunin Exam venue and angering Hada Ryuhiko. Kakashi blocked Kurenai Yuhi from attacking while Hada Ryuhiko and Ichiba apologized to the Third Hokage, who praised Kusagakure, leaving Naruto wondering whether he had been wrong.

• After Hada Anna began treating Hyuga Hinata, Hada Ichiba slapped Uzumaki Naruto and warned him not to do anything so stupid again.
• Haruno Sakura rushed to Naruto, and Kurenai Yuhi attacked Ichiba while Hada Ryuhiko feared Konoha would retaliate against Kusagakure.
• Hatake Kakashi blocked Kurenai's kunai, and Kurenai stopped when Kakashi reminded her that Hinata's life depended on Hada Anna's treatment.
• Hada Ryuhiko pressed Ichiba into a ninety-degree bow, and they apologized to the Third Hokage.
• The Third Hokage praised Kusagakure, and Naruto wondered whether he had done something wrong.

Hada Ryuhiko’s apology eased the immediate dispute between Kusagakure and Konoha, but Baki feared the villages might reach an understanding that would threaten Sunagakure and Orochimaru’s plans. After treating Hyuga Hinata, the exhausted girl turned her attention to Brother Kazuha and Long Yan.

• Hada Ryuhiko pulled Hada Ichiba down and made him apologize, giving Konoha a way to let the incident pass while buying Kusagakure time.
• Baki realized the Third Hokage might be showing goodwill toward Kusagakure and worried that the villages could form an understanding that would disrupt Sunagakure and Orochimaru’s plans.
• Hada Ichiba wondered whether Kakashi’s actions reflected Konoha’s goodwill or were motivated by Hyuga Hinata’s condition.
• The little girl announced that she had given Hyuga Hinata emergency treatment, then let the Medical Ninjas take over as she struggled with exhaustion.
• The little girl noticed Brother Kazuha and Long Yan and asked what they were doing.

Hada Ichiba used the Third Hokage’s offer of care for Kusagakure to frame it as forgiveness, while the Hokage accepted his interpretation. As the group prepared to leave, Anna treated Uzumaki Naruto, and Hinata was carried away for medical care.

• The Third Hokage thanked Anna and offered to arrange Konoha ninja to attend to the Kusagakure delegation, leaving Konoha rookies and foreign ninja uncertain about his intentions.
• Hada Ryuhiko worried that the offer might be a way to monitor Kusagakure, but Hada Ichiba broke free, stood up, and called the Hokage’s words forgiveness for their discourtesy.
• Kakashi and Baki recognized that Hada Ichiba had publicly framed the offer as goodwill, making it difficult for Konoha to contradict him without damaging its reputation.
• The Third Hokage tacitly accepted Hada Ichiba’s interpretation and told the Kusagakure trio to rest before they left to return to their quarters.
• Hada Ichiba noticed Anna was missing and found her treating Uzumaki Naruto’s swollen cheek with Medical Chakra, while medical staff carried Hyuga Hinata away for treatment.

Hada Anna healed Naruto after Hada Ichiba struck him, leaving Konoha and the other villages weighing Kusagakure’s intentions and political leverage. Naruto vowed to defeat Neji Hyuga for Hinata’s sake, but Ichiba challenged his idea of taking responsibility and walked away alone.

• Hada Anna healed Naruto’s injured face, exhausting herself, and Naruto thanked her.
• The Third Hokage and other village shinobi considered whether the Hada clan’s actions were sincere or a calculated effort to bind Konoha to Kusagakure.
• Baki concluded that Konoha would likely seek an alliance with Kusagakure, frustrating Sunagakure’s plans.
• Hada Anna took Hada Ichiba and Hada Ryuhiko by the hands and began leading them away.
• Naruto stopped the Hadas and vowed to defeat Neji Hyuga to make up for Hinata’s loss.
• Hada Ichiba asked what Naruto would have done if Hinata had died, then walked away, leaving Anna and Ryuhiko worried by his unfamiliar, lonely demeanor.

Hada Ichiba led Hada Ryuhiko and Hada Anna through the corridor after Anna used powerful Medical Ninjutsu to treat Hyuga Hinata. He warned Anna not to use it again before suddenly collapsing in a pool of blood, leaving the children horrified.

• Hada Ryuhiko and Hada Anna followed Hada Ichiba in uneasy silence, sensing that he was unusually despondent.
• Hada Ryuhiko worried that Anna had exhausted her Chakra by using her strongest Medical Ninjutsu to treat Hyuga Hinata.
• Hada Ichiba told Anna not to use Medical Ninjutsu again before the third experiment, and she agreed.
• Hada Ichiba called to Hada Ryuhiko, then suddenly staggered and fell as blood spread beneath him.

Long Yan and Anna found Hada Ichiba collapsed and bleeding, and Long Yan stopped Anna from immediately using Medical Ninjutsu because Ichiba had told her not to. Anna examined Ichiba’s abdomen, discovered a severe spiraling wound, and began assessing the need for emergency treatment as a Konoha ninja offered help.

• Hada Ichiba collapsed onto Long Yan, bleeding from his nose and mouth, while Anna tried to keep him from falling further.
• Long Yan calmed Anna and lowered Ichiba carefully, then reasoned that Ichiba’s injuries might not be fatal.
• Anna reached to treat Ichiba, but Long Yan stopped her and reminded her that Ichiba had forbidden her from using Medical Ninjutsu.
• Anna opened Ichiba’s clothes and found a badly mangled, spiraling wound across his abdomen.
• Anna calmly said Ichiba needed emergency treatment, while a ninja assigned by the Third Hokage emerged from the shadows and offered help.

Watanabe Kensei treated Hada Ichiba’s severe wound while Hada Ryuhiko grew suspicious of both Konoha and Ichiba’s loyalties. The chapter ended with Watanabe proposing to take Ichiba to Konoha Hospital for a transfusion, and Anna agreeing.

• Hada Ryuhiko assessed Watanabe Kensei as a dangerous, highly skilled Konoha ninja and resolved to keep watch on Hada Ichiba.
• Watanabe Kensei appeared behind Hada Ryuhiko and used Medical Ninjutsu to treat Hada Ichiba’s wound, startling Ryuhiko with his stealth.
• Watanabe Kensei recognized the wound as unusually penetrating and worried that a powerful hostile ninja might be lurking in Konoha.
• Hada Anna studied Watanabe’s treatment to improve her own medical skills and judged that Ichiba would recover.
• Watanabe Kensei proposed taking Hada Ichiba to Konoha Hospital for a transfusion, and Anna agreed.

After Hada Ichiba was badly injured, Hada Ryuhiko persuaded Hada Anna to return to Heyin for food while he accompanied Ichiba to Konoha Hospital. Ryuhiko suspected Ichiba’s injury was part of a dangerous plan and resolved to stay close enough to stop it.

• Hada Ryuhiko urged Hada Anna to return to Heyin while he watched over the injured Hada Ichiba, but Anna insisted on staying with him.
• Ryuhiko reminded Anna of her agreement with Heyin to return and eat when hungry; Anna agreed after realizing she could come back afterward.
• Watanabe Kensei finished treating Ichiba and said she would take him to Konoha Hospital with Ryuhiko.
• Anna reluctantly left for Heyin, and Ryuhiko reassured her before following Kensei with Ichiba.
• Watanabe Kensei called after Anna to tell her that Heyin had already returned to Kusagakure’s guesthouse.

The Third Hokage explained why Konoha had signed a formal alliance with Kusagakure, concluding that the agreement could bring Konoha economic, military, and political advantages. After an ally in the shadows delivered new information, the Third Hokage read it and reacted with shock.

• A shinobi in the shadows told the Third Hokage that everything concerning He Yin had been settled.
• The Third Hokage reviewed the signed alliance agreement, under which Konoha would aid Kusagakure and Kusagakure would align itself with Konoha.
• The Third Hokage considered how the alliance could secure trade benefits, military support, and influence among smaller shinobi villages.
• A shinobi in the shadows handed the Third Hokage a scroll containing newly received information.
• The Third Hokage read the scroll and his expression changed uncontrollably.

The Third Hokage received Chiba’s approval of Konoha’s alliance with Kusagakure and learned that Hada Ichiba had been seriously injured. Fearing an attack during the Chunin Exams and growing wary of Danzo’s influence, he ordered Kusagakure’s delegates protected and resolved to pass the Hokage position to a younger successor.

• The Third Hokage learned that Chiba had returned to Konoha and approved the alliance with Kusagakure.
• An Anbu reported that Kusagakure’s Genin were housed and treated as allied guests after failing the second examination.
• An Anbu reported that Hada Ichiba had been seriously injured, so the Third Hokage ordered contact with Chiba and elite Anbu protection for Kusagakure’s delegates.
• The Third Hokage refused Danzo’s request to discuss matters before the alliance was formed and questioned whether Danzo’s power still served Konoha.
• The Third Hokage decided that Chiba must remain in the village and that it was time to hand the Hokage position to the Fifth Hokage.

Hada Ryuhiko suspected that Hada Kazune and Hada Ichiba had pursued secret plans while he and Ichiba drew Konoha’s attention. Meanwhile, Hada Kazune returned to the inn with a generous draft alliance agreement from Konoha and wondered how to tell the others.

• Watanabe Kensei left Hada Ryuhiko and the injured Hada Ichiba at Konoha Hospital to report their condition to Hada Kazune.
• Hada Ryuhiko concluded that Hada Kazune had likely accomplished a secret objective or reached an agreement with Konoha, and worried that both she and Ichiba had kept him in the dark.
• Hada Kazune returned to Kusagakure’s inn and studied a draft alliance agreement offering financial aid, commercial orders, mission quotas, educational resources, and Elite Jonin lectures.
• Hada Kazune realized Konoha’s mission and education provisions could help Kusagakure rebuild its networks and establish a foundation for future growth.
• Hada Kazune wondered how she should explain the agreement to the others.