Recaps

Hiko’s maneuvering helped secure Medical Department reforms while the war continued, and Tsunade faced a clash with Danzo over her work and the Senju casualties. Back in Konoha, Hiko took Minato Namikaze, Ainoino Ki, and Adachi Aida as students and began their harsh training.

• Hiko proposed reforms to recruit and train more medical ninja, and Konoha’s leaders approved the plan despite Utatane Koharu’s resentment.
• The Third Raikage fought the Nine-Tails, but Hiko summoned the beast away before the battle ended, and the Raikage returned to the war against Iwagakure.
• Tsunade returned to Konoha, mourned Mito Uzumaki with Nawaki Senju, and refused to explain the village’s war decisions to her brother.
• After Sunagakure’s poison disrupted Konoha’s forces, Tsunade developed an antidote and withdrew from her responsibilities after clashing with Danzo over the Senju casualties.
• The Third Hokage assigned Hiko to train Minato Namikaze, Ainoino Ki, and Adachi Aida, and Hiko accepted them as his students.
• Hiko approved Hatake Sakumo’s return to Konoha after his son Hatake Kakashi was born, then got drunk celebrating with him.
• Hiko stood up his students on their first assessment morning, apologized over a barbecue meal, and told them to meet him at the village entrance the next day.
• Hiko led the three newly graduated students through a thorn-filled forest, then gave them time to rest and treat their wounds.

Hiko trained Minato Namikaze, Ainoino Ki, and Adachi Aida, then took charge of Konoha while the Third Hokage led the war effort. After exposing the Shimura Clan’s misuse of village resources, Hiko traveled with Jiraiya to meet Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan, and began a private conversation with Nagato.

• Hiko tested his students against wolves, then forced them to study their mistakes and build teamwork through shared training and missions.
• The Third Hokage appointed Hiko to oversee Konoha while he went to the Land of Wind, and Hiko encouraged Minato Namikaze to develop his own strengths.
• Jiraiya returned to Konoha and temporarily took charge of Minato Namikaze, Ainoino Ki, and Adachi Aida as Konoha fought Sunagakure.
• After Konoha’s victory ended the Second Ninja War, Hiko argued for clan appointments and accused Danzo’s Shimura Clan of embezzling village supplies.
• Hiko’s evidence triggered an investigation that damaged the Shimura Clan’s reputation and cost Danzo influence over the Logistics Department.
• Hiko and Jiraiya traveled to the Land of Rain, where Jiraiya introduced Hiko to Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan.
• Nagato asked how Hiko would guarantee his friends’ safety, then followed Hiko aside to discuss his doubts.

After securing Uchiha Madara’s cells and returning to Konoha, Hiko oversaw village recovery, pushed Tsunade and Nawaki toward new responsibilities, and advanced the Uchiha Clan’s influence. He used the clans’ secrets to secure prime Busy Street locations for the Uchiha’s Luxury Hotel, then brought Mikoto Uchiha and Shikaku Nara into the Anbu.

• Hiko negotiated with Black Zetsu for Uchiha Madara’s cells, learned Madara had survived the Valley of the End through Izanagi, and later absorbed a piece of Madara’s flesh, which increased his Chakra and left him looking younger.
• Hiko returned to Konoha, learned the village had reorganized its Logistics and Medical Departments, and ordered Jiraiya to teach Minato Namikaze the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Hiko warned Dan Katō away from Tsunade, then advised her to make Nawaki Senju take responsibility for the Senju Clan while she expanded the Medical Department.
• Tsunade made Nawaki study clan affairs, while Hiko agreed with Hatake Sakumo that Kakashi should attend the Ninja Academy and arranged for Uchiha Obito to enroll.
• Hiko supported Mikoto Uchiha’s Anbu application and proposed a safe clerical position, while Kushina realized she was comparing other boys to Hiko.
• Hiko persuaded the Uchiha elders to pursue business expansion, then demanded prime Busy Street storefronts from the Third Hokage and secured cooperation from the Senju, Hatake, and Ino-Shika-Cho Clans.
• The Third Hokage used Hiko’s leverage over the clans to obtain their agreement, and work began demolishing buildings and constructing the Uchiha’s Luxury Hotel.
• Hiko welcomed Shikaku Nara and Mikoto Uchiha into the Anbu, assigned Shikaku to manage Anbu affairs, and told Mikoto her duties would be clerical.

Hiko guided Minato Namikaze into the Anbu, made decisions about Hatake Kakashi’s early graduation, and handled Takigakure’s request as rumors spread that the Third Hokage was considering successors. Danzo and Orochimaru pursued dangerous experiments while Kakashi began finding his place at the Ninja Academy, and Orochimaru sought Hiko’s help obtaining a forbidden jutsu.

• Hiko accepted Minato Namikaze into the Anbu, postponed his other disciples’ assignments, and took Minato, Mikoto Uchiha, and Shikaku Nara on a mission involving Kumogakure intelligence.
• Hiko asked Hatake Sakumo to train Minato Namikaze and arranged for Hatake Kakashi to remain at the Ninja Academy while awaiting suitable teammates, but Kakashi chose to take the graduation assessment.
• Hiko agreed to negotiate with Takigakure’s envoys while the Third Hokage privately considered Hiko as a possible successor and rumors of a Hokage selection spread through Konoha.
• Hiko told the Uchiha elders that the succession news was accurate but urged them not to interfere, while Nawaki Senju resolved to restore the Senju Clan.
• Danzo pressed Orochimaru to research the First’s cells and accepted the risk of a transplant, while Orochimaru sought the Impure World Reincarnation and learned Hiko was his remaining option.
• Hatake Kakashi passed his early graduation exam, endured isolation on temporary teams, and began communicating more with classmates after completing Novice Missions.
• An Anbu member told the hungover Hiko that Orochimaru was looking for him.