Chapter Summaries

Moriyue concealed the origin of his powerful new Electromagnetic Cannon by claiming it was a forbidden technique created for Kumogakure, and Ando and Kazeki were moved by his explanation. Meanwhile, Hinata, Kiba, and Shino escaped a swarm of hornets before Hinata detected three people ahead, including one with strange Chakra pathways.

• Moriyue explained that his Electromagnetic Cannon had left his arm numb, and Kazeki treated the injury with herbs and bandages.
• Moriyue claimed that his experimental modifications had shortened his life and that he wanted to leave Kumogakure with useful ninjutsu.
• Ando apologized for doubting Moriyue, and Kazeki was moved by his apparent sacrifice for Kumogakure.
• Hinata, Kiba, and Shino were chased by giant hornets, and Shino's Kikaichū devoured the swarm.
• Hinata detected three active Chakra signatures ahead and wondered how one person with such strange Chakra pathways was alive.

Moriyue's team encountered Hinata's group in the forest and launched a fight over their scrolls. As the battle began, Moriyue realized Hinata's Byakugan might reveal the Dog Talisman's secret and resolved to deal with her first.

• Akamaru sensed enemies nearby, and Moriyue's team prepared to attack for their scrolls.
• Moriyue deflected four explosive-tagged kunai with his Blunt Saber and lightning, revealing Hinata's group as the attackers.
• Ando charged Kiba while Kazeki fought Hinata with a water-infused lightning technique.
• Shino sent his Kikaichū to rescue Hinata from Kazeki's Lightning Butterfly Technique.
• Moriyue recognized Hinata and worried that her Byakugan could detect the Dog Talisman near his heart, so he decided to target her.

Moriyue and his companions attacked Hinata, Kiba, and Shino to seize their scroll, and Moriyue defeated Hinata despite her Byakugan and Gentle Fist. He left with Hinata tied inside a sack as Shino summoned a swarm of insects.

• Moriyue used lightning to interfere with Hinata's Byakugan and charged at Team 8.
• Moriyue tricked Shino with a lightning attack, then bypassed him to attack Kiba and Hinata.
• Hinata's Gentle Fist failed to find Moriyue's acupoints, and Moriyue knocked her down with a series of attacks.
• Shino summoned huge insects as Moriyue told Ando and Kazeki to retreat with him.
• Moriyue put the dazed Hinata in a sack, tied it shut, and ran off with her.

Moriyue’s team captured Hinata during the Chunin Exams, but their search turned up no scroll, leaving them unsure whether they had taken the wrong person. As Hinata woke and confronted them, Ando warned that several teams were closing in on their position.

• Kazeki recognized Hinata as the Hyuga Clan’s eldest daughter and recalled the past kidnapping incident that led to Hizashi Hyuga’s death.
• Moriyue explained that he intended to take Hinata’s scroll and later trade her for resources, rather than kill her.
• Moriyue and Kazeki searched Hinata for the Heaven Scroll but found nothing.
• Hinata woke up bound and disheveled, then demanded to know where she was and what Moriyue’s team had done to her.
• Ando reported that several teams were moving to surround them, and Moriyue prepared to face them.

Moriyue’s team was tracked down by a large group of Sunagakure ninja, but Moriyue chose to fight rather than avoid them. As Shira struggled with his loyalty to the village, Moriyue unleashed a devastating lightning attack; the chapter ended with the tattooed Sunagakure ninja threatening him after he refused to surrender.

• Kazeki sensed a large group nearby, and Ando identified them as Sunagakure ninja who had tracked the team.
• Moriyue handed the bound Hinata to Kazeki and Ando, then charged at the Sunagakure group to teach them a lesson.
• Yoru urged Shira to recognize that his village companions were exploiting him, while Shira hesitated over whether to help them.
• Moriyue’s lightning attack blasted the Sunagakure ninja around Shira, leaving Moriyue injured but alive.
• The tattooed Sunagakure ninja demanded the scrolls and the women, and Moriyue refused.

Moriyue survived the battle by exhausting his life force, and his team collected enough scrolls to advance to the desert tower. After Hinata tried to use her Byakugan to investigate him, Moriyue threatened Naruto to force her obedience.

• Moriyue recovered after Kazeki shared her Chakra, while Ando collected two Heaven Scrolls and one Earth Scroll from the defeated ninjas.
• Hinata activated her Byakugan to inspect Moriyue, but he moved behind her and caught her investigating him.
• Moriyue used his killing intent and Hinata's fear for Naruto to threaten that Konoha might abandon or harm him.
• Moriyue pressured Hinata to obey by describing how Naruto could be endangered if she died during the Chunin Exams.

Moriyue discovered that Hinata had secretly left insect traces for Shino’s team to follow and decided to use her to lure them into an ambush. He left the coming fight to Kazeki and Ando, who prepared traps as Shino’s team approached.

• Moriyue questioned Hinata about Gentle Fist and learned the basics of her technique.
• Moriyue found Shino’s insects hidden on Hinata and realized they had been tracking the group.
• Hinata revealed her resolve to protect Konoha and Naruto, and Moriyue planned to use her to obtain Shino’s scroll.
• Moriyue told Kazeki and Ando to handle the next battle while he stayed out of the fight with Hinata.
• Kazeki prepared concealed traps and countermeasures for Shino, Kiba, and Akamaru as the team waited in the woods.

Moriyue’s team ambushed Kiba and Shino as they came to rescue Hinata, incapacitated them, and took their scroll. With Hinata, Kiba, and Shino tied up together, Moriyue considered how to profit from keeping them alive.

• Kiba and Shino entered the forest to rescue Hinata, but a foul-smelling trap knocked Kiba and Akamaru unconscious.
• Shino summoned a giant beetle to clear the smoke and stench, but Kazeki and Ando attacked him before he could finish speaking.
• Kazeki and Ando overwhelmed Shino with coordinated water and electricity attacks.
• Moriyue returned to find Kiba and Shino tied up with Hinata, and Ando handed him Shino’s scroll.
• Moriyue thanked Hinata and said some captives were more valuable alive than dead, making Hinata tremble at his smile.

Moriyue coerced Shino into sharing what Konoha knew by threatening Hinata and Kiba, then learned of a powerful, mysterious presence near a waterfall. Moriyue suspected it might be connected to the Talismans, though the clue remained uncertain.

• Moriyue intimidated Shino with threats against Hinata and Kiba and pressured him to reveal information about Konoha.
• Shino agreed to talk after Moriyue invoked his promise not to abandon his companions, and Moriyue untied Hinata and Kiba.
• Hinata attacked Moriyue as soon as she was freed, but he subdued and tied her up again while Shino gave up resisting.
• Shino said Konoha’s team had heard of a powerful creature or force near a waterfall, though they knew few details.
• Moriyue connected the waterfall clue to the Talismans and decided to keep it in mind.

Moriyue questioned Shino, obtained intelligence about talismans and ninjutsu, and kept Hinata captive despite promising to release his prisoners. As his group headed toward the finish line to ambush exhausted examinees, they spotted two squads fighting.

• Moriyue had Kiba untied, but Kiba attacked and was subdued by Ando and Kazeki.
• Moriyue persuaded Shino to trade intelligence and ninjutsu scrolls for the scrolls and his companions, then kept Hinata as a valuable hostage.
• Shino told Moriyue that someone might attack Gaara and mentioned a mysterious power possibly connected to talismans.
• Moriyue chose to wait along the path to the finish line and tested Shino's ninjutsu with his Reverse Jutsu Formula, repeatedly coughing up blood.
• Ando spotted two squads confronting each other in the distance.

Moriyue watched Rock Lee and Shira battle, then used Hinata to provoke Neji when he charged toward them. The chapter ended with Moriyue kissing Hinata in front of Neji and threatening to tell Naruto it was her first kiss.

• Moriyue and Hinata watched Rock Lee and Shira begin a taijutsu battle in the desert.
• Moriyue stirred up a sandstorm around the fighters, and Neji spotted Hinata with his Byakugan and raced toward her.
• Moriyue realized Neji had misunderstood Hinata's situation and decided to provoke him further.
• Moriyue lifted Hinata's chin and kissed her in front of Neji, then threatened to tell Naruto about her first kiss.

Moriyue used Hinata to provoke Neji, then attacked him with a strange Water Stream Projectile that absorbed the force of Neji’s defense. When Neji refused to negotiate and Moriyue’s plan fell apart, Moriyue escaped with Hinata, leaving Neji furious and unable to pursue.

• Moriyue stole Hinata’s first kiss to disrupt Neji’s composure, then fired a Water Stream Projectile at him.
• Neji countered with Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven, but discovered Moriyue’s water stream absorbed the rotation’s power before he stopped it.
• Neji attacked Moriyue with Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm and refused to negotiate over the scrolls.
• Moriyue realized Neji’s fury had ruined his plan to exploit the Hyuga conflict and ordered Ando, Zero, and Kazeki to prepare to flee.
• Moriyue scattered bear meat and used Wind Release to cover their escape, while wet sand trapped Neji and kept him from chasing them with Hinata.

Moriyue fled with Hinata across the desert after provoking Neji, while Hinata struggled with what she had learned about Naruto and Sakura. Elsewhere, Kaede and Gaara faced Monk Fayi, who used his biwa to subdue Kaede and announced that he intended to seal their tailed beasts.

• Moriyue carried Hinata through the desert and apologized for provoking Neji, but Hinata turned away from him.
• Moriyue, Kazeki, Ando, and Hinata heard a fierce battle nearby and spotted three figures fighting in the sand.
• Kaede faced a bald monk while Gaara was intercepted on his way to Konoha.
• Kaede took to the air using the Seven-Tails' power, but Monk Fayi played his biwa and made her Chakra uncontrollable.
• Monk Fayi introduced himself as the Biwa Hermit and declared that he would seal Kaede and Gaara's tailed beasts.

Monk Fayi used his biwa and black-purple chains to drain the Tailed Beast Chakra from Kaede and Gaara, but an unexpected change outside freed them. Kaede recognized Moriyue as a rescuer, only to see him flee with a sack, while Gaara lingered over the broken biwa fragments.

• Monk Fayi weakened Kaede and Gaara with his biwa music and used chains to absorb their Tailed Beast Chakra.
• Kaede formed an insect cocoon around herself and Gaara to slow the Chakra drain, while encouraging him to hold on.
• Kaede and Gaara sensed fighting outside and noticed Monk Fayi's Chakra weakening.
• Kaede dispelled the cocoon, and the black-purple chains shattered as their Chakra became active again.
• Kaede spotted Moriyue running away with a struggling sack and chased after him, while Gaara stared at the broken biwa fragments.

Moriyue forced Monk Fayi to reveal the forbidden technique for extracting Tailed Beast Chakra while enduring the technique’s backlash. After leaving the monk behind, Moriyue traveled with his companions and suggested that he and Kaede try selling scrolls.

• Moriyue beat Monk Fayi and demanded that he explain his Tailed Beast-extraction technique.
• Moriyue took on the backlash from Fayi’s Black Purple Chains, which left a moving tattoo on his chest and caused him intense pain.
• Moriyue sent Kazeki, Kaede, and Ando outside, then continued beating Fayi until the monk promised to teach him the forbidden technique.
• Moriyue emerged from the canyon with the tattoo mostly stabilized, while his companions chose not to ask about the missing monk.
• Kaede talked about meeting Gaara, and Moriyue proposed that they try selling scrolls together.

Moriyue and his team reached the only route to the Desert Tower and found several groups waiting to ambush passing teams. He defeated them, collected their scrolls, and offered to trade scrolls back for valuables and information.

• Moriyue led his team to the narrow, unavoidable trail leading to the Desert Tower.
• Moriyue joined the assembled teams, and their members began fighting among themselves before he stepped in and defeated them.
• Moriyue gathered the teams’ Heaven and Earth Scrolls and made their leaders agree that they had handed them over willingly.
• Moriyue returned a set of scrolls to several ninjas who had flattered him and offered the others a chance to trade information, scrolls, or Secret Jutsu for theirs.

Moriyue and his companions exchanged scrolls for resources, helping several teams advance through the Chunin Exams. As they headed for the tower, Moriyue reflected on the intelligence and techniques he had gained and considered how the scrolls could advance his ninjutsu research.

• Moriyue redistributed scrolls among the gathered teams in exchange for resources, allowing teams that offered valuable goods to complete their sets.
• Teams that recovered their scrolls hurried toward the tower, while Moriyue left the teams unwilling to offer anything behind.
• Kaede, Ando, and Kazeki received their shares of the resources, and the group decided to report to the tower.
• Moriyue reviewed the techniques, intelligence, and forbidden technique he had acquired during the exams, along with the battles and information he had missed.
• Moriyue considered the ninjutsu scrolls his greatest gain and believed they could help him develop his research into new techniques.

Moriyue and his companions watched as a rebellion erupted in Sunagakure during the Chunin Exams. From the Desert Tower, Moriyue used binoculars to observe the fighting and spotted Neji, who sensed someone watching him.

• Ando reflected on how Moriyue had outdone himself during the exams, while Moriyue insisted that a good show was still coming.
• Sunagakure ninja rushed out of the Desert Tower after receiving an order, and Moriyue led Ando and Kazeki to a window to watch.
• Kazeki identified the scene outside as a split within Sunagakure, where masked Sunagakure ninja faced a sand statue of a woman.
• Moriyue watched Konoha’s candidates join the battle and pointed out several familiar faces through his binoculars.
• Neji looked around and told Rock Lee that he felt someone was watching him in a lecherous way.

Moriyue watched Konoha’s young ninjas defeat the rogue Sunagakure attackers, then turned his attention to Kaede’s limited control of the Seven-Tails and the danger of being a Jinchuriki. He revealed the black chains on his chest and directed them toward Kaede, leaving her startled.

• Sakura, Rock Lee, and the other Konoha ninjas overwhelmed the rogue Sunagakure attackers while Asuma and Kurenai guarded Gaara.
• Moriyue stopped watching the battle and asked Kaede about her status as the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Moriyue warned Kaede that people might target her for the tailed beast and pointed out that she had not mastered many techniques or the Seven-Tails’ power.
• Kaede insisted that she was strong and could merge with Chōmei, while Moriyue decided to demonstrate the danger she faced.
• Moriyue tore open his clothes and made the black chains tattooed on his chest emerge toward Kaede.

Moriyue persuaded Kaede that she needed to grow stronger to protect Takigakure, and she decided to go to Kumogakure with him for training. Before her teammates could accept the plan, the tower came under attack, and Kaede discovered that the attackers were members of the Akatsuki Organization.

• Moriyue used his chain ability and warned Kaede that her weakness could endanger Takigakure, convincing her to consider training in Kumogakure.
• Kaede's two Takigakure teammates arrived and challenged her about spending time with Kumogakure ninja.
• Kaede announced that she would go with Moriyue to Kumogakure and stay until she could protect her village, but her teammates objected.
• A tremor struck the tower, and Kaede carried the others outside as it began to tilt.
• Kaede and the others saw the Akatsuki Organization attacking the tower.