Chapter Summaries

Neji reassured Izumi about her Sharingan and tested the Nen and Repulsive Force he had gained after leaving the Tenseigan behind. After stopping the training ground’s returned blast, he decided it was time to act.

• Neji noticed Izumi had awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan, comforted her, and promised she would evolve normally.
• Neji left the Tenseigan storage area with Izumi and headed to the training ground to learn his new power.
• Neji reviewed his Nen skills, found he could control Nen more precisely, and tested a Charged Nen Cannon against the reinforced wall.
• Neji ordered the training ground to fire its stored pressure at him, then froze the blast with his Repulsive Force and crushed the cannon muzzle.
• Neji judged that his power was enough to deal with Pain and decided to begin acting.

After testing his new power, Neji began his plan and brought Izumi and his team to the Land of Water to capture Three-Tails Isobu. As the team prepared a barrier around the lake, Neji wondered whether collecting all nine tailed beasts would be enough to assemble the sub-page fragments.

• Neji ended his strength test and decided it was time to begin his plan, while waiting for Naruto to meet his father before going to Rōran himself.
• Neji and Izumi teleported to the Land of Waves, where Karin greeted Neji and the team gathered to follow him.
• Neji teleported the team to the Land of Water and ordered them to prepare a barrier, with Karin as its core controller.
• Neji revealed that they would capture Three-Tails Isobu, and the team put on masks and took their assigned positions around the lake.
• Neji entered the lake and considered using Three-Tails to strengthen Zabuza, while wondering whether the nine tailed beasts could provide all the fragments he needed.

Neji confronted wild Three-Tails Isobu at the bottom of a lake and unleashed his Golden Lightning Tiger after overpowering Isobu’s attacks. The chapter ended with the tiger’s claw striking Isobu, while the outcome remained unknown.

• Neji discovered Three-Tails Isobu beneath the lake and ordered Karin and the others to seal the area with a barrier.
• Isobu emerged from the lake and attacked Neji with his three tails, but Neji stopped and repelled them with Repulsive Force.
• Isobu summoned waterspouts to strike Neji, who gathered Nen and summoned the Golden Lightning Tiger.
• The Golden Lightning Tiger shattered Isobu’s waterspout attacks and roared, then charged at him with a lightning-wreathed claw.
• The Golden Lightning Tiger’s claw struck Isobu’s shell.

Neji defeated Three-Tails Isobu, absorbed it into himself, and learned that ten fragments were needed, with the final one likely tied to the Ten-Tails. He abandoned his plan to disrupt the tailed-beast hunt and began revising a new plan that would lead toward the Fourth Shinobi World War and Black Zetsu.

• Neji overpowered Three-Tails Isobu, extracted a fragment, and concluded that ten fragments were needed to complete the image.
• Neji sealed Three-Tails Isobu inside himself and left with his companions after announcing that the mission was complete.
• White Zetsu and Black Zetsu investigated Isobu's disappearance, discussed the mysterious D Organization, and decided to report the incident.
• Neji listened to their conversation through his mask and reflected on his earlier interference with Fū and Han.
• Neji decided to revise his plans, pursue the route involving the Ten-Tails, and target Yugito, the Two-Tails Jinchuriki.

Pain ordered Akatsuki to begin capturing the Tailed Beasts after learning that Neji had taken the Three-Tails. At Neji's Land of Waves base, he discussed Akatsuki's plans with Izumi and prepared to target the Two-Tails next.

• Konan warned Pain that the D Organization had a hidden intelligence network and had repeatedly interfered with Akatsuki's Tailed Beast captures.
• Pain ordered Akatsuki members to assemble, begin the capture plan, and search for the missing Three-Tails.
• Neji showed Izumi the tiny Isobu, whose power he had absorbed, and teased the helpless Three-Tails when it tried to bite him.
• Neji told Izumi that he had considered making Zabuza Isobu's Jinchuriki but had changed his mind because Akatsuki also sought the Tailed Beasts.
• Neji explained that Akatsuki had been deceived about the Moon Eye Plan and planned to pursue the Two-Tails Jinchuriki next.

Neji learned that Naruto had returned to Konoha and left Izumi with the subdued Three-Tails Isobu before heading back. Naruto reunited with Kakashi and Sakura, then was startled by Neji's white hair and height.

• Neji learned through a dispelled Shadow Clone that Naruto had returned, left the Three-Tails Isobu clone with Izumi, and headed back to Konoha.
• Naruto entered Konoha with Jiraiya and reunited with Kakashi, giving him a new copy of Hot Paradise.
• Jiraiya told Kakashi he needed to gather intelligence because Akatsuki might soon make a move.
• Naruto ran into Sakura and complimented her without noticing the change she had hoped he would see.
• Naruto finally recognized Neji and reacted with surprise at his white hair and increased height.

Naruto and Sakura reunited after more than two years, and Sakura quickly punched Naruto for showing off a new erotic jutsu. Kakashi began a bell test for Naruto and Sakura, while Jiraiya discussed Neji’s growth with Tsunade before leaving to investigate Akatsuki.

• Sakura noticed Naruto had grown taller, and Konohamaru greeted them by performing the Sexy Jutsu.
• Naruto tried to demonstrate his newly developed erotic Ninjutsu, so Sakura struck him into the ground and shook him angrily.
• Kakashi announced that Naruto and Sakura were now equal Konoha ninja and challenged them to take his bells in a test at the training ground.
• Jiraiya praised Neji’s strength and learned that he had become a jonin and that his hair had turned white overnight.
• Jiraiya told Tsunade he was leaving to investigate Akatsuki, and Tsunade then assigned Neji more work.

Neji took over the remaining Chunin Exams arrangements with Temari and walked her through Konoha before seeing her off. Sakura and Naruto joined them, and Naruto learned that he was the only genin left among their peers.

• Tsunade assigned Neji to finish the Chunin Exams arrangements with Temari and see her off.
• Neji and Temari completed the remaining work, then walked through Konoha as Temari asked why his hair had turned white.
• Sakura spotted Neji and Temari and called them over to join her and Naruto.
• Naruto joked that Neji and Temari were on a date, then heard Neji explain their assignment.
• Neji and Sakura revealed they were a jonin and a chunin, respectively, leaving Naruto stunned that he was still a genin.

Neji saw Temari off and gave her a necklace that would let him sense danger and teleport to her. On his way back, he met Hanabi, who worried about his newly white hair and insisted on bringing him home to the Hyuga Clan.

• Neji encouraged Naruto and Sakura to spend time together, and Sakura told Naruto to take her to Ichiraku Ramen.
• Neji and Temari exchanged farewells at Konoha's gates, where Neji gave her a necklace containing a marker and protective barrier.
• Temari accepted the necklace and left, while Neji hoped it might help him witness Chiyo's Life Transfer Jutsu and thought about collecting the remaining page fragments.
• Neji examined the fragments he had collected from the One-Tail, Three-Tails, Five-Tails, and Seven-Tails and resolved to gather the rest.
• Hanabi found Neji, noticed his snow-white hair, and hurried to take him back to the Hyuga Clan despite his reassurance that he was fine.

Team Kakashi was sent to Sunagakure after the Akatsuki abducted Gaara, while Neji revealed his evolved eyes and showed Hiashi an improved Caged Bird Seal. Hiashi accepted the seal and hinted at Neji and Hinata’s future together, leaving Neji stunned.

• A coded message from Sunagakure revealed that Akatsuki had abducted Gaara, and Tsunade sent Team Kakashi to investigate and support the Sand Ninja.
• Temari stopped at a waystation, felt an ominous premonition, and clutched the necklace around her neck for reassurance.
• Hiashi recognized Neji’s unusual eyes and warned him to keep their existence secret from anyone else.
• Hiashi explained the Hyuga Clan’s legends about the moon branch and the origins of the Caged Bird Seal.
• Neji presented Hiashi with an improved Caged Bird Seal that protected the Byakugan without restricting its growth.
• Hiashi celebrated Neji’s awakening and the improved seal, then suggested Neji and Hinata’s future children would have stronger bloodlines, leaving Neji stunned.

Neji silently accepted Hiashi’s plan for him and Hinata to unite the Hyuga Clan, while privately struggling with his feelings and his history with Tenten. After demonstrating his evolved Tenseigan to Hinata and Hanabi, he continued monitoring events in Sunagakure through his Contact Lens.

• Neji decided not to reject Hiashi’s plan, reasoning that speaking up would hurt Hinata and that his changed bloodline eased his concerns.
• Hiashi told Neji that he would prepare the Hyuga Clan for reform and entrust its future to Neji and Hinata.
• Neji showed Hanabi how his Tenseigan could control attraction and repulsive force, then teased her until Hinata stopped him.
• Hanabi hinted that Hinata would be with Neji in the future, and Hinata silenced her with a sealing technique.
• Neji watched the sisters spar and used his Contact Lens to monitor the situation in Sunagakure.

Neji reassured Hinata after learning she accepted the decision about their future, then answered Tsunade’s summons. Tsunade revealed that Gaara had been captured by the Akatsuki and sent Neji’s Team 3 to support Team 7.

• Neji watched Kankuro’s younger brother fight Sasori’s puppet, get poisoned, and collapse, but sensed someone heading to help him.
• Neji comforted Hinata, assured her she did not need to fear losing anything, and asked whether she hated the decision; she said she did not.
• An Anbu summoned Neji to the Hokage Building, where Tsunade worried over her lottery win and a cracked cup.
• Tsunade told Neji that Gaara had been captured by the Akatsuki and that she had sent Team 7 to investigate.
• Tsunade ordered Neji’s Team 3 to support Team 7, and Neji promised to give the mission everything he had.

Team 3 diverted toward the Land of Rivers after Pakkun reported Akatsuki’s location, while the organization began extracting the One-Tail from Gaara. Pain sent Kisame, Hidan, and Kakuzu to intercept Team 3 as they approached, and the chapter ended with both sides preparing to fight.

• Tsunade sent Might Guy, Rock Lee, Neji Hyuga, and Tenten to Sunagakure to join Team Kakashi.
• Sakura treated Kankuro and prepared an antidote, while Chiyo learned that Sasori had been among the two attackers.
• Sasori and Deidara brought Gaara to an Akatsuki hideout, where Pain’s phantoms began the three-day extraction of the One-Tail.
• Pakkun told Team 3 that Akatsuki was in the Land of Rivers, so Might Guy led the team there to investigate.
• Zetsu reported Team 3’s approach, and Pain assigned Kisame, Hidan, and Kakuzu to stop them.
• Neji sensed the three enemies closing in, and both teams prepared to clash.

Kisame flooded the desert and attacked Might Guy’s team while Hidan fought Neji, who effortlessly dodged every swing. Hidan grew furious and called on Kakuzu to help him.

• Kisame emerged from the sand and taunted Neji, while Might Guy failed to recognize him until Neji reminded him of their earlier encounter.
• Kisame flooded the desert with water and charged at Might Guy, but Rock Lee knocked Samehada from his hand and Tenten shot through his robe.
• Kisame dodged the attack by shedding his outer shell and hiding beneath the water, then recognized Might Guy’s team as a dangerous, coordinated group.
• Hidan attacked Neji with his triple-bladed scythe, but Neji predicted and dodged every strike without fighting back.
• Hidan, unable to hit Neji, called for Kakuzu to take him down and offered to help capture high-bounty targets.

Neji effortlessly dodged Hidan’s attacks, then used Kakuzu’s own lightning strike to incapacitate Hidan and overwhelm Kakuzu’s masked creatures. Kakuzu’s clone was destroyed, but he warned Neji that the fight was not over as his consciousness returned to his main body.

• Kakuzu watched Hidan fail to land a hit on Neji and decided to intervene when Hidan demanded help.
• Kakuzu released his Earth Grudge Fear masked creatures and attacked Neji and Hidan with Lightning Release: False Darkness.
• Neji used Flash Step: Shave and Eagle Stomp to knock Hidan into Kakuzu’s lightning, leaving Hidan scorched and submerged in the lake.
• Neji struck Kakuzu’s Water Flow Wall with Thunderclap Palm, then Kakuzu’s masked creatures launched combined Fire, Wind, and Lightning attacks.
• Neji’s torrential Thunderclap Palm swallowed Kakuzu’s attacks and destroyed his clone, prompting Kakuzu to warn that the fight was not over before his consciousness returned to his main body.

Kakuzu and Kisame reported that their weakened clones had delayed the pursuing teams, while Akatsuki finished extracting the One-Tail from Gaara. Neji’s team and Might Guy reached the sealed cave just as the extraction ended, and Pain detected their arrival.

• Kakuzu told Pain that he and Hidan had been defeated but had held their opponents back, then described the enemy’s abilities to the Akatsuki members.
• Kisame and Itachi awakened after their clones were defeated and confirmed that their teams had delayed the pursuers.
• Pain ordered Zetsu to deal with the four people performing the Clone Jutsu, and Itachi identified Kakashi’s team, including Naruto and Chiyo.
• The next morning, Pain completed the extraction of Gaara’s One-Tail while Neji, Tenten, Rock Lee, and Might Guy found the cave.
• Neji sensed the chakra inside the cave, and Might Guy’s punch revealed a barrier over the entrance.
• Pain noticed the disturbance outside, and Sasori suggested that another Jinchuriki had arrived.

Team Kakashi and Team Guy removed the Five Seal Barrier’s talismans and broke the boulder sealing the cave, but identical copies appeared to block their way. Neji watched the copy confronting his Shadow Clone and wondered how much of his abilities it could reproduce.

• Pain ordered Sasori and Deidara to capture the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki alive, and Itachi identified him as the one who had roared loudly in the crowd before the projections vanished.
• Team Kakashi joined Team Guy and Chiyo at the Five Seal Barrier, where Neji explained that they needed to remove all five talismans to undo it.
• Neji gave the talismans’ locations, and Team Guy split up with radios to remove them while Kakashi took the nearby talisman.
• Neji directed the group as all five talismans were removed, and Sakura shattered the boulder with Monster Strength.
• Identical copies appeared at the four distant talisman sites and before Neji’s Shadow Clone, leaving the teams to face their doubles.

Kakashi and his team found Deidara and Sasori with Gaara, and Naruto learned that Gaara was dead and lost control of his anger. Deidara took Gaara away on his clay bird while Sasori stayed behind, intent on facing Granny Chiyo.

• Kakashi led Naruto, Sakura, and the others into the cave, where they found Deidara sitting on Gaara and Sasori waiting nearby.
• Naruto recognized Gaara as the Jinchuriki, but Deidara told him that Gaara was already dead.
• Naruto attacked in a rage, and Kakashi stopped him and warned him not to charge in recklessly.
• Deidara and Sasori argued over art and who would face Naruto, while Sasori knocked Naruto's Wind Demon Shuriken aside with his mechanical tail.
• Deidara loaded Gaara onto his clay bird and flew away, leaving Sasori behind to face Granny Chiyo.

Naruto pursued Deidara after he kidnapped Gaara, while Sakura and Chiyo fought Sasori inside the hideout. As Sasori unleashed the Third Kazekage’s puppet, Neji watched the battle and studied the Human Puppet techniques.

• Naruto chased Deidara, and Kakashi followed after assigning Sakura and Chiyo to confront Sasori and warning them to wait for Might Guy’s team.
• Might Guy told Kakashi that his team had been caught in an enemy technique, so Kakashi revealed his Sharingan and prepared to fight seriously.
• Sasori transformed Hiruko and threatened to turn Sakura and Chiyo into puppets, but Sakura destroyed Hiruko with a punch.
• Sasori released the Third Kazekage puppet and used its Magnet Release and Iron Sand against Sakura, while Chiyo supported her and Neji studied the puppet techniques.

Neji watched Sakura and Chiyo battle Sasori, and Sakura survived his poison by using an antidote before destroying the Third Kazekage Puppet. Sasori revealed his Human Puppet body and unleashed nearly a hundred puppets, but a masked figure appeared as the fight was about to begin.

• Neji watched Kakashi and Naruto pursue Deidara, then left the cavern as it collapsed around Sakura and Chiyo’s battle with Sasori.
• Sasori’s Sand Iron World Law poisoned Sakura, but she used an antidote and destroyed the Third Kazekage Puppet with one punch.
• Sasori revealed that he had turned himself into a Human Puppet and resumed fighting Sakura and Chiyo.
• Chiyo summoned her ten puppets, while Sasori unleashed nearly a hundred puppets with his Red Secret Technique: Hundred Machines Performance.
• A masked figure in black Western-style clothes appeared above the battlefield and challenged the others to show what they could do.