Chapter Summaries

Yakushi Kabuto led Naruto and Hinata through the mist-filled cave to Ryūchi Cave and told Naruto that Senjutsu could help him overcome his difficulty using ninjutsu. The group arrived at the ancient entrance, where Kabuto revealed that the inhabitants were not people.

• Yakushi Kabuto led Naruto and Hinata deeper into the cave to evade the approaching elite ninja.
• Kabuto told Naruto that the Nine-Tails interfered with his ninjutsu and introduced Senjutsu as another path to becoming a ninja.
• Naruto became eager to learn Senjutsu, but Kabuto said that neither he nor Orochimaru knew how to teach it.
• Yakushi Kabuto brought Naruto and Hinata to the entrance of Ryūchi Cave and said it was a place where Senjutsu could be cultivated.
• Hinata identified Ryūchi Cave, and Kabuto told Naruto that the beings living there were not people.

Kabuto, Naruto, and Hinata reached Ryūchi Cave and met the White Snake Sage, who set them a test involving the dangerous snake Garaga. Naruto and Hinata went to find Garaga, and the chapter ended as a massive snake revealed itself behind Naruto.

• Kabuto led Naruto and Hinata through the gates of Ryūchi Cave, where they met the White Snake Sage.
• The White Snake Sage challenged them to remove Garaga’s reverse scale and make the violent snake behave.
• Naruto accepted the test and set off with Hinata before Kabuto could stop him; Kabuto hurried after them.
• The White Snake Sage told Tagorihime, Ichikishimahime, and Tagitsuhime that Naruto was special but did not explain why.
• Hinata’s Byakugan sensed an enormous chakra presence in a cavern, and a giant snake’s orange eye appeared behind Naruto.

Kabuto, Naruto, and Hinata were trapped in Garaga’s cavern, and Kabuto’s attempt to escape by summoning Manda failed when Manda abandoned them. As Garaga charged, dense natural energy emerged from Naruto and stopped the great snake, leaving Kabuto wondering what the White Snake Sage had done to him.

• Garaga sealed the cavern entrance and attacked Kabuto, who fought back with Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet before being hurled into a wall.
• Kabuto healed his injuries and, with their escape blocked, gambled on summoning Manda.
• Manda appeared but refused to fight Garaga, leaving Kabuto, Naruto, and Hinata behind after demanding a sacrifice.
• Garaga charged at the group, but mist pouring from Naruto made Garaga freeze as Naruto also fell into a daze.
• Kabuto sensed dense natural energy coming from Naruto and wondered if the White Snake Sage had altered him.

Naruto witnessed Garaga’s memory of being betrayed by its former companion and tried to reach the lonely snake by sharing his own feelings about loneliness and loyalty. After Naruto offered himself to save Kabuto and Hinata and asked Garaga to be friends, Garaga spared him but said friendship would not come easily.

• Naruto saw Garaga’s former companion strike its right eye and leave it to die in battle.
• Naruto told Garaga that he understood loneliness and insisted he would never betray his companions.
• Garaga demanded that Naruto choose whether it would eat him or Kabuto and Hinata, and Naruto offered himself to protect them.
• Naruto left Garaga’s inner world and approached it, while Kabuto picked up Hinata and prepared to escape if Naruto died.
• Naruto asked Garaga to be friends, and Garaga closed its jaws and said that becoming friends would not be easy.

Naruto befriended Garaga and passed the Ryūchi Cave trial, then was chosen to train in Senjutsu. Meanwhile, Shinichi’s harsh instruction accelerated Sasuke’s progress, leaving Neji questioning his own talent and Obito interested in Sasuke’s potential.

• Naruto convinced Garaga to become friends and formed a summoning contract with him, while Kabuto struggled to believe what he had witnessed.
• The White Snake Sage accepted Naruto and Garaga’s friendship as passing the trial and asked who wanted to learn Senjutsu.
• Naruto volunteered to train, while Hinata held back because of her family’s rules and Kabuto said he had not decided.
• The White Snake Sage assigned Ichikishimahime to guide Naruto, and Kabuto suspected that she had been eager to teach him.
• Shinichi trained Sasuke harshly, and Sasuke followed his instructions while reflecting on how much Itachi and Shisui had indulged him.
• Neji doubted himself after seeing Sasuke’s rapid improvement, while Obito recognized Sasuke’s value and potential.

Shinichi trained Sasuke while Neji asked for guidance and was turned down because Shinichi could not teach him the Gentle Fist. Meanwhile, Orochimaru grew alarmed that the Bloodline Fusion Ritual could turn Danzo into a god, but Hyuga Kagami dismissed his concern.

• Sasuke reviewed his training mistakes, and Shinichi thought that his talent could let him awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Neji asked Shinichi to guide him, but Shinichi explained that he had not studied the Gentle Fist, leaving Neji disappointed.
• Obito told Zetsu to send a clone to Konoha to check on his informants' findings.
• Hyuga Kagami and Orochimaru continued improving the Chimera Technique and designing Danzo's final fusion ritual.
• Orochimaru warned that Danzo could gain seven Kekkei Genkai and become a man-made god, but Hyuga Kagami said he was overthinking it.

Orochimaru realized that the Chimera Technique project aimed to create a god, but Hyuga Kagami explained why Danzo’s Bloodline Fusion Ritual could not succeed. Danzo had already captured three bloodline shinobi and planned to perform the ritual after becoming Hokage.

• Orochimaru realized that fusing seven chakra natures could be an attempt to create a god and asked whether God Organization had that ambition.
• Hyuga Kagami explained that the Chimera Technique could not fuse souls, while Danzo’s frail, incomplete body made his chance of achieving a Kekkei Mōra effectively zero.
• Hyuga Kagami said Hiruko’s failed result gave him little confidence in Danzo’s ritual, and Orochimaru reconsidered how difficult it was for mortals to reach the realm of gods.
• Orochimaru told Hyuga Kagami that Danzo had already captured three bloodline shinobi.
• Orochimaru said Danzo would probably conduct the Bloodline Fusion Ritual after taking the Hokage’s seat.

Hyuga Kagami chose Deidara’s cells for his next Earth Clone Technique after completing the Wind Clone Technique. He exchanged intelligence with Akatsuki at a forest rendezvous and left without meeting its members.

• Hyuga Kagami warned Orochimaru to keep Naruto and Hinata safe, then left the laboratory.
• Hyuga Kagami confirmed that replacing the A-Type Wind Release Clone’s blood had suppressed its illness and renamed it the Wind Clone Technique.
• Hyuga Kagami chose to develop an earth-nature clone next and settled on Deidara’s cells as the best candidate.
• Hyuga Kagami found a Scroll containing coordinates at home and realized Akatsuki had contacted him.
• Hyuga Kagami left an intelligence Scroll at the forest rendezvous and departed; later, a white figure retrieved it.
• Itachi also left an intelligence Scroll at a separate forest rendezvous and quietly departed.

Obito learned that Konoha had close ties with the God Organization and that Itachi suspected him of being its Flame Demon. In Ryūchi Cave, Naruto entered Sage Mode and demonstrated its power by punching a hole through a stone wall.

• Obito received Hyuga Kagami’s report that the God Organization’s Flame Demon had met with the Third Hokage in Konoha.
• Obito and Zetsu discussed using Hyuga Kagami to obtain information about the God Organization and his demand for help removing the Caged Bird Seal.
• Obito read Itachi’s report accusing him of being the God Organization’s Flame Demon.
• Ichikishimahime praised Naruto for learning Senjutsu quickly and told him to test his Sage Mode.
• Naruto punched through a hard stone wall without injuring his hand.

Naruto discovered that Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode greatly enhanced his abilities and could even restore the rock wall he had smashed, though entering Sage Mode took hours of preparation. Meanwhile, Hyuga Kagami arranged for Kirigakure to search for Deidara and joined Konoha's Anbu as they awaited orders amid Danzō's attempt to remove the Third Hokage.

• Ichikishimahime explained that Sage Mode had greatly increased Naruto's speed, strength, perception, and recovery, and showed him how he could restore the broken rock wall by focusing on its original state.
• Naruto asked if Sage Mode would let him defeat Sasuke, and Ichikishimahime assured him that the Sharingan-wielding Uchiha boy would not be his match.
• Naruto complained that absorbing natural energy took too long, while Ichikishimahime advised him to train over time and did not realize that the cave's unusually dense natural energy made Sage Mode faster to enter there.
• Hyuga Kagami investigated Deidara's history and ordered Karatachi Yagura to have Kirigakure's Anbu search for the young explosives user.
• Hyuga Kagami went to the Anbu base, where Konoha's Anbu had gathered after Shimura Danzō initiated a vote of no confidence against the Third Hokage.
• Kakashi arrived at the Anbu base and told Hyuga Kagami that he had been pushing himself too hard in training.

Hyuga Kagami and the Anbu learned that the Third Hokage faced mounting political pressure after the war and that the village would hold a confidence vote in six days. Kagami suspected Danzo was delaying the vote to stage a rescue that could strengthen his bid for the Hokage’s position.

• Hyuga Kagami noticed that Kakashi had gained a sharper presence after training in the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Kakashi, Guy, and Shisui discussed the Third Hokage’s political troubles, including the daimyo’s support shifting to Danzo and the major clans remaining neutral.
• Utatane Koharu announced that all ninjas ranked Special Jonin or higher would vote on the Hokage’s confidence in six days.
• Hyuga Kagami judged that Danzo becoming Hokage was important to the Bloodline Fusion Ritual and decided not to intervene.
• Hyuga Kagami suspected Danzo was postponing the vote to stage a rescue of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and the Hyuga Main Branch’s eldest daughter.

Hyuga Kagami demanded that Akatsuki release his student before their cooperation could continue, then took the severed arm of its White Zetsu liaison for a plan involving Danzo. At a separate meeting, Itachi questioned whether Akatsuki had ruled out Obito Uchiha as a suspect.

• Hyuga Kagami met Akatsuki's White Zetsu liaison, who demanded more valuable intelligence before providing a reward.
• Hyuga Kagami severed the liaison's right arm and demanded that Akatsuki release his student before continuing their cooperation.
• The White Zetsu clone threatened to expose Hyuga Kagami's intelligence Scroll to the Hokage, but he refused to back down and the clone left to report his terms.
• Hyuga Kagami took the severed arm, intending to get it to Danzo to improve his chances during the Bloodline Fusion Ritual.
• Itachi met the injured White Zetsu liaison and asked whether Akatsuki had already ruled out Obito Uchiha after he found no other clan members whose deaths remained unconfirmed.

Itachi revealed why he suspected that Uchiha Obito was alive and connected to the Akatsuki, while the Akatsuki asked him to locate a female Flame Demon. At the Akatsuki base, Sasori and Kakuzu told Konan that Hiruko’s rampaging Demon Bud could not be stopped, leaving his fate uncertain.

• Itachi concluded from Konoha’s records that Obito was the only Uchiha missing without confirmation of death and suspected he had identified the masked Akatsuki member.
• A White Zetsu clone asked Itachi to find the female Flame Demon with a Mangekyō Sharingan, and Itachi agreed on the condition that Sasuke be released.
• Sasuke and Neji heard a terrible wail from a secret chamber, while Shinichi ordered them to continue training.
• Konan asked Sasori and Kakuzu whether they could save Hiruko, whose body and chakra had deteriorated after his beheading and the Demon Bud’s loss of restraint.
• Sasori and Kakuzu said they could not help Hiruko, and Sasori warned that he might become a lifeless mass or a monster before dying.

Obito agreed to release Sasuke and Neji to secure the informants’ help against the God Organization. At Orochimaru’s base, Orochimaru confirmed Naruto had mastered Senjutsu and arranged for Danzo to stage a rescue of Naruto and Hinata.

• Obito agreed to release Sasuke and Neji together because they were no longer useful to Akatsuki and he wanted the informants’ intelligence on the God Organization.
• Kabuto told Orochimaru that he had taken Naruto and Hinata to Ryūchi Cave to protect them from Akatsuki.
• Orochimaru determined that Naruto could not enter Sage Mode outside Ryūchi Cave because he had absorbed too little natural energy, and confirmed that Naruto had mastered Senjutsu.
• Orochimaru ordered Kabuto to hand Naruto and Hinata to Danzo temporarily and instructed Naruto to keep his Senjutsu training secret.
• Danzo led Root ninja in a staged assault on Orochimaru’s base and announced that they had rescued Naruto.

Danzō’s staged rescue of Naruto and Hinata boosted his standing before the Jonin vote of confidence removed the Third Hokage from office. With Jiraiya and Tsunade refusing the position and the clan leaders staying silent, Danzō nominated himself and became the only Hokage candidate.

• News spread through Konoha that Danzō had rescued the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and Hinata from Orochimaru, raising his reputation ahead of the vote.
• The Third Hokage, Jiraiya, and Tsunade waited in the Hokage’s Office as the vote of confidence began.
• Danzō announced that the Jonin had voted against the Third Hokage, and Utatane Koharu told Hiruzen to relinquish the title.
• Hiruzen looked to Jiraiya and Tsunade to succeed him, but both avoided his gaze and refused to step forward.
• Danzō nominated himself as the next Hokage, while Uchiha Fugaku, Hyuga Hiashi, and the other clan heads remained silent.

Hyuga Kagami completed his Anbu handover after Danzo became acting Hokage, then told his subordinates to stay in their posts. In the Land of Grass, Deidara destroyed a bridge and exploded the Kirigakure Anbu who had been tracking him.

• Danzo took control as acting Hokage after failing the Jonin confidence vote, then dismissed Hyuga Kagami and other Anbu squad leaders.
• Hyuga Kagami completed his handover at the Anbu base and met Kurenai, Hayate, and Yugao, who wanted to transfer out with him.
• Hyuga Kagami told Kurenai, Hayate, and Yugao to remain in the Anbu and said Danzo would not hold the Hokage seat for long.
• Deidara found a weak point beneath a bridge in the Land of Grass and destroyed the bridge with a tiny white spider.
• Kirigakure Anbu spotted Deidara and planned to report his location to Lord Mizukage, but Deidara detected them and exploded their hiding place.

The Third Hokage assigned Hyuga Kagami, Shisui, and Guy to the rebuilt Ninja Academy after their Anbu transfers, with Kagami taking the principal position and the others serving as senior instructors. The chapter ended with Kagami receiving plans for a merged, unusually large incoming class and a new entrance ceremony.

• The Third Hokage reassured Hyuga Kagami, Guy, and Shisui about their transfers and asked Shisui about the rescue of Sasuke and Neji.
• The Third Hokage explained that the Ninja Academy needed staff and asked which of them would become its principal.
• Shisui and Guy both looked to Hyuga Kagami, who accepted the principal position.
• The Third Hokage appointed Shisui and Guy as senior instructors to assist Kagami.
• The Third Hokage gave Kagami documents explaining that two delayed classes would be merged and hold a new entrance ceremony.

Hyuga Kagami became the Ninja Academy principal and visited the Hyuga Clan compound to consult its archives about the clan’s history and possible ties to the Ōtsutsuki on the moon. He entered the newly rebuilt vault despite a Main Branch elder’s warning about his Branch Family duties.

• The Third Hokage ordered Hyuga Kagami, Shisui, and Guy to protect Naruto and prepare the Ninja Academy entrance ceremony.
• Hyuga Kagami assigned Shisui and Guy to prepare for the ceremony, then visited the Hyuga Clan compound.
• Hyuga Kagami told Hiashi he had become principal, and Hiashi celebrated the boost to the clan’s influence.
• Hyuga Kagami asked to inspect the clan archives, hoping to learn about the moon’s Ōtsutsuki and the Hyuga Clan’s decline.
• A Main Branch elder questioned Hyuga Kagami and warned him to remember his Branch Family mission, but Hyuga Kagami entered the vault.

Fugaku’s clan meeting erupted in anger after Shisui revealed that Hyuga Kagami had been chosen as Ninja Academy principal, despite Shisui voluntarily giving up the position. After leaving the meeting, Shisui and Itachi learned that Uchiha clansmen were heading to the Hyuga compound to confront Kagami, and they rushed to stop them.

• Fugaku demanded that Shisui secure the Ninja Academy principal position for the Uchiha, but Shisui explained that Hyuga Kagami had been chosen and that he had withdrawn voluntarily.
• The Uchiha clansmen rejected Shisui’s explanation, protested the village’s decision, and boasted that the clan had six pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Itachi privately worried about the Uchiha’s arrogance and discussed with Shisui how Shinichi and Senior Blaze could help the clan become more level-headed.
• Sasuke told Itachi and Shisui that seven or eight Uchiha clansmen were going to the Hyuga compound to teach Neji’s teacher a lesson.
• Shisui and Itachi hurried toward the Hyuga compound, hoping to stop the clansmen in time.

While studying the Hyuga Clan genealogy, Hyuga Kagami noticed the clan’s population had steadily declined and connected the trend to the mysterious deaths recorded three hundred years earlier. He suspected the Otsutsuki Branch Family might have targeted the Hyuga for their Byakugan, but he was left wondering what had really happened.

• Hyuga Kagami found records of many marriages between the Hyuga Clan and the Kaguya Clan, indicating they shared an ancestor.
• Hyuga Kagami noticed the Hyuga Clan’s population had fallen from around three thousand to just over seven hundred, despite no record of repeated large-scale casualties.
• Hyuga Kagami compared the Hyuga Clan’s decline with the Senju and Uchiha Clans and concluded that war alone could not explain it.
• Hyuga Kagami recalled the Otsutsuki Branch Family’s dwindling population and theorized that the Giant Tenseigan suppressed births by absorbing the chakra of the dead.
• Hyuga Kagami suspected the Otsutsuki Branch Family had taken Hyuga Byakugan three hundred years earlier, but wondered whether the Hyuga had instead protected themselves by other means.