Recaps

Kakashi joined Asuma and Kurenai in their fight against Itachi and Kisame, but Itachi’s skill kept the team under pressure. The confrontation remained unresolved as Itachi prepared to end the fight, and the author noted that two chapters had been combined because this chapter was too short.

• Kisame wounded Asuma with Samehada while Itachi turned Kurenai’s Genjutsu back on her and kicked her into the water.
• Kakashi arrived and used a copied Water Style technique to counter Kisame’s Water Shark Bullet Technique.
• Itachi warned Kisame not to prolong the fight, then used shuriken as a feint before attacking Kakashi with Water Style.
• Itachi’s Shadow Clone stabbed Kakashi, but Kakashi revealed a Water Clone and warned Kurenai that the Itachi beside her was a Shadow Clone.
• The Shadow Clone exploded, and Asuma rescued Kurenai and Kakashi from the water.
• Itachi said Kakashi’s Sharingan was unsuited to his body, then closed his eyes as he struggled to hold back his anger.

Itachi trapped Kakashi in Tsukuyomi and tortured him over what had happened to Sasuke, whose body Orochimaru had changed into a girl. After the illusion ended, Itachi and Kisame prepared to leave, while Kakashi confronted Itachi about seeking the Nine-Tails sealed in Naruto and identified Akatsuki.

• Itachi used Tsukuyomi on Kakashi and questioned him about Sasuke.
• Kakashi explained that Orochimaru had placed a curse mark on Sasuke and changed her sex during the Chunin Exams.
• Itachi lost control and made Kakashi experience the pain Sasuke had endured, then asked how Sasuke felt about her condition.
• Itachi ended Tsukuyomi, leaving Kakashi physically unharmed but mentally exhausted, and departed with Kisame.
• Kakashi asked whether Itachi was looking for Sasuke, and Itachi claimed he sought the Fourth Hokage's legacy.
• Kakashi connected the legacy to the Nine-Tails inside Naruto and told Itachi he knew about Akatsuki.

Might Guy stopped Itachi and Kisame from attacking Kakashi, but the pair retreated rather than fight. Jiraiya persuaded Naruto to join his journey, and Neji met them at the village gates, leaving Naruto surprised that Neji was coming too.

• Might Guy arrived in time to kick Kisame away and keep Itachi and Kisame from attacking Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai.
• Guy rescued Kakashi and told Asuma and Kurenai to avoid looking into Itachi’s eyes and judge his movements by watching his feet.
• Itachi called off Kisame, and the two retreated before the Anbu reinforcements arrived.
• Jiraiya persuaded Naruto to join his trip by claiming he would take Sasuke instead.
• Neji met Jiraiya and Naruto at Konoha’s gates, and Naruto was startled to learn Neji was coming too.

Naruto tried to escape traveling with Neji, terrified that Neji would resume his punishing training. Neji forced him to agree to come along with Jiraiya, and the group prepared to set out to find Tsunade and restore Neji’s Byakugan.

• Naruto recalled how Neji had trained him and their classmates relentlessly, then dropped his pack and tried to run away.
• Neji used the Sunflower Acupoint Strike to immobilize Naruto and dragged him back to Jiraiya.
• Neji explained that he had combined Gentle Fist acupoint strikes with Sealing Jutsu to create the technique.
• Jiraiya told Neji that he had persuaded Naruto to travel by threatening to take Sasuke instead.
• Neji offered to bring Sasuke along and asked Jiraiya whether their route had hot springs, prompting Naruto to agree to travel with them.

Jiraiya traveled with Naruto and Neji, explaining that he had sought Naruto out because he resembled the Fourth Hokage. Meanwhile, Sasuke trained to grow stronger, and Itachi and Kisame tracked the group while planning how to confront them.

• Naruto teased Jiraiya and asked what talent had drawn him to Naruto, and Jiraiya said Naruto reminded him of the Fourth Hokage.
• Neji reflected on his ability to understand Nature Energy and Nen, and on the need to deepen his understanding of powers from other worlds.
• Sasuke trained with Chidori, worried about Naruto's rapid growth, then decided to seek Kakashi's help.
• Itachi and Kisame watched Jiraiya's group from a distance and agreed that fighting Jiraiya directly would likely get them killed.
• Itachi and Kisame decided to follow the group toward the post town and look for an opportunity, with Kisame volunteering to deal with Neji.

Neji left Naruto at the inn and lured Kisame into a forest, where he revealed his physical strength and struck Kisame with a devastating punch. Kisame survived the blow and prepared to continue fighting Neji.

• Jiraiya took Naruto and Neji to an inn in a lively district, then handed Naruto the room key and went off after a beautiful woman.
• Neji left Naruto alone at the inn and confronted Kisame in a forest outside town.
• Kisame attacked Neji with Samehada, but Neji blocked the strike with his black gloves and opened the Third Gate.
• Neji used Flash Step: Shave and a powerful punch to send Kisame crashing through the forest.
• Kisame coughed up blood, admitted that he had underestimated Neji, and readied himself for a longer fight as Neji coated his fists with Armament Haki.

Neji fought Kisame with powerful techniques while Sasuke searched for him and found Naruto at an inn with Itachi. Itachi restrained Sasuke and put Naruto under Genjutsu, but an unseen palm freed Naruto, leaving Itachi wary.

• Neji broke Kisame's Water Prison Technique with Tremor and cut apart Kisame's Water Shark Bomb Jutsu with Tempest Kick.
• Kisame created a lake with Explosive Water Colliding Wave and grew wary of Neji's speed and attacks.
• Itachi found Naruto at the inn and ordered him to come along, while Naruto realized Itachi knew about the Nine-Tails Fox.
• Sasuke arrived and confronted Itachi, declaring that he had lived only to kill him before charging with Chidori.
• Itachi caught Sasuke's wrist, then used Genjutsu on Naruto when the Nine-Tails' Chakra began to rise.
• An unseen palm touched Naruto's back and broke the Genjutsu, causing Itachi to recognize trouble.

Itachi confronted Jiraiya and Sasuke, using Tsukuyomi on Sasuke before fleeing when a huge Chakra surge revealed Neji was in danger. Outside town, Neji opened the Sixth Gate and launched a potentially fatal punch at Kisame.

• Jiraiya arrived with Naruto and confronted Itachi, who revealed Akatsuki’s order to take Naruto.
• Sasuke insisted on fighting Itachi herself, but he kicked her away and trapped her in Tsukuyomi, forcing her to relive the night of the massacre.
• A thunderous Chakra fluctuation made Jiraiya realize Neji was missing, so Itachi escaped and Jiraiya summoned a toad before rushing to rescue Neji.
• Earlier, Neji told Kisame he had no time to waste and opened the Sixth Gate, terrifying Kisame with a punch he believed would kill him.

Jiraiya found Neji badly injured after his battle with Kisame and brought him back to the inn, where Neji pretended his wounds were worse than they were. Might Guy decided to take Sasuke back to Konoha while leaving Neji in Jiraiya’s care, unaware that Neji wanted to avoid traveling to find Tsunade.

• Jiraiya followed the wreckage through the forest, found Neji clinging to a branch, and carried him back to the inn for treatment.
• Itachi found Kisame badly wounded, gave him Chakra to recover, and learned that Neji had opened the sixth gate and overwhelmed him with a single punch.
• Neji told Jiraiya, Might Guy, and Naruto that he had opened the sixth gate and barely escaped Kisame, while the others kept his true strength secret.
• Naruto felt helpless after seeing the injured people and resolved to train seriously with Jiraiya.
• Might Guy arranged to take Sasuke back to Konoha and leave Neji with Jiraiya, who planned to find Tsunade to treat him.

Neji, Naruto, and Jiraiya enjoyed a festival before Jiraiya demonstrated the Rasengan and learned that Neji had developed a similar technique of his own. The chapter ended with Orochimaru, unable to heal his hands, setting his sights on Tsunade in Tanzaku Town.

• Neji recovered enough to travel with Jiraiya and Naruto, and the three arrived in a lively town during a festival.
• Naruto and Jiraiya confronted two thugs who accused Naruto of staining expensive clothes, and Jiraiya defeated them with the Rasengan.
• Naruto dismissed Jiraiya's technique by comparing it to Neji's larger attack against Gaara, prompting Jiraiya to ask how Neji had learned it.
• Neji showed Jiraiya his Spirit Ball Bomb, explaining that he had developed it from the Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven using Nen and Chakra.
• Jiraiya apologized for misunderstanding Neji's technique and offered to teach it to him.
• Orochimaru failed to heal his hands and turned his attention to Tsunade in Tanzaku Town.

Jiraiya, Naruto, and Neji found Tsunade in Tanzaku Town after Orochimaru confronted her and destroyed Tanzaku Castle. Jiraiya asked Tsunade to become the Fifth Hokage, and she had not yet answered.

• Neji suggested traveling to Tanzaku Town, where Jiraiya hoped to find information about Tsunade, while Naruto struggled to learn the Rasengan.
• Tsunade won a triple-seven jackpot and feared the bad omen, but Shizune persuaded her to tour Tanzaku Town.
• Orochimaru appeared atop a giant snake after Tanzaku Castle collapsed, and Tsunade later drank heavily following their painful encounter.
• Jiraiya, Naruto, and Neji arrived at the rubble and then met Tsunade and Shizune in an izakaya.
• Jiraiya told Tsunade that the village wanted her to become the Fifth Hokage, while Naruto questioned why she should take the position.

Tsunade rejected Jiraiya’s request to become Hokage, condemning the sacrifices the office demanded. Neji and Naruto defended those who gave their lives for the village, and Tsunade challenged Naruto to fight as the group headed outside.

• Tsunade refused Jiraiya’s request to return to Konoha and become Hokage.
• Jiraiya explained why Konoha needed Tsunade, but she argued that the village had consumed the lives of those she loved, including Nawaki, Dan, and the Fourth Hokage.
• Naruto rose angrily at Tsunade’s insult to Hokage, but Neji restrained him and said that although Hokage were fools, he hoped there would be more people willing to sacrifice for peace.
• Neji asked Naruto whether he wanted to become such a fool, and Naruto affirmed that becoming Hokage was his dream.
• Tsunade’s mood lifted, and she beckoned Naruto to fight her outside as night fell.

Tsunade defeated Naruto with one finger, then agreed to treat Neji’s severe injuries and damaged eyes. After examining him at the inn, she prepared to begin treatment with Shizune’s help.

• Tsunade taunted Naruto, knocked him down with a finger, and laughed when he insisted he would become Hokage.
• Tsunade invited Neji to be treated, and Jiraiya reassured Naruto that she would also help Sasuke and Kakashi.
• Neji followed Tsunade and Shizune to their room while Naruto stayed behind sulking.
• Tsunade had Shizune undress Neji and examined his heavily injured body and Dragon and Tiger tattoo.
• Tsunade told Shizune to assist her as she prepared to treat Neji through the night.

Neji recovered from most of his injuries after enduring a night of examinations by Tsunade and Shizune, then urged Tsunade to return as Hokage. After Tsunade dragged him back inside and questioned him about Konoha, Neji explained the recent events and fell asleep; Tsunade decided she needed to resolve some matters.

• Tsunade told Neji that his injuries were nearly healed and that he should recover fully within a week.
• Neji asked Tsunade to return as Hokage, angering her, and she dragged him back into her room to reset his bones.
• Naruto asked Jiraiya to rescue Neji, but Jiraiya dodged the request and led Naruto off to train.
• Tsunade asked Neji how the Third Hokage had died, and Neji explained what had happened since the Chunin Exams.
• Neji fell asleep against Tsunade, who put him on her bed and decided to resolve some matters.

Tsunade confronted Orochimaru at the ruins beneath Tanzaku Castle, intending to kill him rather than restore the use of his hands. After Kabuto exposed her intent and negotiations failed, Tsunade attacked Orochimaru while Jiraiya rushed toward them with Naruto.

• On the seventh day, Tsunade drugged Jiraiya, knocked Shizune unconscious, and went alone to meet Orochimaru.
• Neji realized Tsunade had gone to meet Orochimaru and set out from the training grounds.
• Kabuto interrupted Tsunade as she was about to heal Orochimaru, revealing that he had detected her killing intent.
• Tsunade explained that she could not abandon Nawaki and Dan's dreams, then attacked Orochimaru with Monster Strength.
• Jiraiya hurried toward the ruins with Shizune and Naruto, learned Neji was not with them, and urged Naruto to move faster.

Tsunade pursued Orochimaru and Kabuto, but Kabuto disabled her with his medical ninjutsu until Neji intervened. Jiraiya and the others arrived, and Kabuto used Tsunade’s fear of blood to keep her out of the fight as Neji retreated behind Jiraiya.

• Orochimaru and Kabuto fled from Tanzaku Castle, with Tsunade pursuing them into the wilderness while Jiraiya, Shizune, and Naruto followed her trail.
• Kabuto used Soldier’s Pills and Chakra Scalpels to sever Tsunade’s muscles, leaving her unable to evade his attack.
• Neji blocked Kabuto’s Chakra Scalpel with a Nen Barrier and asked Tsunade why she had fought Orochimaru and Kabuto alone.
• Jiraiya, Shizune, and Naruto arrived, and Jiraiya confronted Orochimaru while Shizune tended to Tsunade.
• Kabuto made Tsunade bleed to trigger her fear of blood, and Neji shielded her from the sight before retreating behind Jiraiya.

Naruto charged Kabuto after being taunted, but Kabuto outmaneuvered him until Neji intervened. Jiraiya and Orochimaru summoned their creatures, while Naruto’s failed summon left him humiliated, and Orochimaru ordered Kabuto to handle everyone else.

• Jiraiya assigned Neji to fight Kabuto and Shizune to treat Tsunade, but Naruto charged Kabuto after he insulted Naruto’s talent.
• Kabuto used his injured hand’s blood to blind Naruto’s clones and knock them down, but Neji stopped him from finishing Naruto.
• Shizune pulled Naruto back, and Jiraiya told him to protect her while Neji faced Kabuto, whose strength Jiraiya said matched Kakashi’s.
• Jiraiya and Orochimaru performed Summoning Jutsu, bringing out Gamakichi and the Two-Headed Snake.
• Naruto tried to summon a powerful creature but brought out Gamariki, prompting Orochimaru to assign Jiraiya to himself and everyone else to Kabuto.

Neji held off Kabuto while Jiraiya fought Orochimaru, then left the barrier to confront Kabuto with his Dragon Tiger Roar technique. The chapter ended with Neji and Kabuto facing each other, ready to fight.

• Neji reasoned that Konoha's leaders had overlooked the full extent of his strength and declared he would make Tsunade return as Hokage.
• Kabuto attacked Neji, but Neji and the others remained protected inside a Nen Barrier.
• Orochimaru tried to send his Two-Headed Snake toward Neji, but Jiraiya trapped it in the Swamp of the Underworld and fought Orochimaru directly.
• Orochimaru struck Jiraiya with a bite after Jiraiya used Needle Jizo to defend himself.
• Neji left the barrier, told Shizune, Naruto, Tonton, and Tsunade to stay inside, and activated his Dragon Tiger Roar technique.
• Kabuto formed Chakra Scalpel blades as Neji assumed a Gentle Fist stance and announced that he was going in.

Neji fought Kabuto and deliberately collapsed to push Tsunade to confront her fear of blood. When Kabuto tried to attack, Naruto knocked him away, and Tsunade began treating Neji despite her trembling hands.

• Neji struck Kabuto with Gentle Fist Style: Tiger Hunt, leaving Kabuto badly wounded but alive.
• Neji asked Tsunade whether she was still afraid of blood, then caused his own wounds to reopen and collapsed.
• Seeing Neji in danger, Tsunade overcame her hesitation enough to agree to treat him.
• Kabuto approached and tried to attack Shizune and the others, but an unseen aura froze him momentarily and Naruto kicked him away.
• Shizune brought Neji to Tsunade, who steadied her trembling hand and reached out to treat him.

Neji and Shizune’s deception cured Tsunade’s blood phobia, leaving Orochimaru and Kabuto facing a recovered Tsunade and Jiraiya. The three Sannin summoned their giant creatures and began fighting while Neji, Naruto, Shizune, and Tonton withdrew.

• Kabuto recovered from Neji’s attack and told Orochimaru that an inexplicable aura had briefly knocked him unconscious.
• Tsunade realized Neji and Shizune had fooled her, then learned that Neji’s injuries were superficial and his apparent blood loss had been faked.
• Tsunade’s blood phobia was cured, and she turned her anger toward Orochimaru as Kabuto urged him to retreat.
• Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru summoned Katsuyu, Gamabunta, and Manda, while Neji carried Naruto to Shizune and withdrew with them.
• The three Sannin began battling as Neji noted that his actions had earned him one experience point.

After Tsunade agreed to become the Fifth Hokage, Neji refused her necklace and Naruto received it instead. Back in Konoha, Neji learned his eyes were recovering and went to see Hinata and Hanabi.

• Tsunade confronted Neji for faking a relapse, and he admitted he had gambled that she could recover.
• Tsunade offered Neji her necklace, but he refused, so she gave it to Naruto and told him to become the Fifth Hokage.
• Tsunade agreed to return to Konoha, and Neji destroyed the bloodied battlefield before following the others back.
• Hiashi learned Tsunade had reconnected Neji's eyes and told him to keep their recovery secret until they healed fully.
• Neji left the dojo to find Hinata and Hanabi in the Training Room.

Neji returned to the Hyuga residence, reunited with Hinata and Hanabi, and learned that Hiashi had tried to secure the restoration of his eyes. After sparring with both sisters, he left them determined to defeat him together next time and returned to the Laboratory.

• Neji watched Hinata and Hanabi spar, then revealed himself and reunited with his delighted sisters.
• Neji told Hinata and Hanabi that his eyes would recover soon, and they celebrated the news.
• Neji sparred against Hinata and Hanabi together for an hour before defeating them, impressed by how well they worked as a team.
• Neji left the exhausted sisters and headed back to the Laboratory while Hinata and Hanabi vowed to defeat him in their next spar.

Neji returned to the laboratory, learned that Black Zetsu had been investigating the facility, and began a Byakugan fusion experiment. The first fusion succeeded, leaving Izumi overwhelmed with joy as Neji considered what the result could lead to.

• Neji returned to the underground facility, where Izumi reported that Zabuza and Haku were training Karin, the Land of Waves mission was progressing, and a strange figure had been watching the laboratory.
• Izumi described the figure as a two-faced being who emerged from trees and mentioned Itachi, Kisame, and Pain, leading Neji to suspect Black Zetsu and order closer surveillance.
• Neji inspected the cultivated Byakugan and rearranged the room so the tanks formed a circle for an initial fusion experiment.
• Neji synchronized the Dojutsu Power of two Byakugan, and the eyes fused successfully into one without changing form.
• Izumi embraced Neji and wept with happiness at the experiment's success.

Neji discovered that his fused Byakugan needed time to stabilize and asked Izumi to monitor it. At Konoha Hospital, Tsunade recognized Neji’s medical research and invited him to become her disciple, which he accepted.

• Neji found that he could not merge another pair of Byakugan until the fused eye stabilized, so he asked Izumi to build a monitor for it.
• Neji arrived at Konoha Hospital and saw Sasuke fleeing after a rooftop confrontation with Naruto, while Kakashi pursued him.
• Neji overheard Might Guy telling Tsunade about his Healing Tattoo, then entered Rock Lee’s room with food alongside Tenten.
• Tsunade questioned Neji about his medical and sealing research and asked whether his tattoo could preserve youth.
• Tsunade offered to make Neji her disciple, and Neji accepted.

Neji received Tsunade’s approval to use the Hokage Building’s barrier room and invited Tenten to receive his perfected tattoo. After completing the tattoo, which could heal, preserve youth, and improve the body, Neji and Tenten fell asleep together in the room.

• Tsunade accepted Neji as her disciple and gave him permission to use the barrier room in the Hokage Building.
• Neji celebrated with Team 3, then invited Tenten to be the first person to receive his perfected tattoo, and she agreed.
• Neji promised Rock Lee he would tattoo him again after he recovered, with enough power to support opening the Fifth Gate.
• Neji took Tenten to the barrier room and spent over an hour tattooing her while she endured the pain.
• The completed tattoo filled Tenten with Chakra and gave her healing, Eternal Youth, and physical activation effects; she fell asleep in Neji’s arms, and he soon joined her.