Chapter Summaries

The Sixth Squad returned to Konoha without Jiraiya, and Hiko reassured Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Hatake Sakumo that he believed Jiraiya would come back safely. After they toasted to Jiraiya, the squad confronted Hiko about capturing the Seven-Tails without telling them.

• The Third Hokage told Hiko to prepare for Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Hatake Sakumo’s return, while worrying about their emotional state and Jiraiya’s disappearance.
• The Sixth Squad returned to Konoha the next day, still without Jiraiya, and its members gathered to drink after turning in their mission.
• Hiko told Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Hatake Sakumo that he believed Jiraiya was safe and would eventually return, possibly much stronger.
• Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Hatake Sakumo raised their cups with Hiko to show they believed Jiraiya would come back.
• The squad asked Hiko why he had gone to the Land of Waterfalls to capture the Seven-Tails without waiting for or informing them.

Hiko explained why he had undertaken the Seven-Tails mission alone, while his friends doubted his account of how easily he defeated it. As Hatake Sakumo and Tsunade left to attend to their clans, Orochimaru hinted that his secret research with Danzo was about to begin.

• Hiko told Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Hatake Sakumo that he left urgently and alone because people who opposed him might have tried to kill him outside Konoha.
• Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Hatake Sakumo grew angry at the people targeting Hiko, then doubted his claim that the Seven-Tails had been easy to defeat after being injured by its own Tailed Beast Ball.
• Tsunade asked what Old Man Third had said, but Hiko did not elaborate.
• Hatake Sakumo left to deal with matters at home, and Tsunade departed to learn Secret Techniques prepared by the Senju Clan elders.
• Orochimaru hinted that he and Danzo needed time to prepare their secret research, and Hiko urged him to obtain what Hiko wanted as soon as possible.

After Hiko and Orochimaru parted ways, news that Hiko had captured the Seven-Tails reached the leaders of several major shinobi villages. Ōnoki, the Third Raikage, and the Third Kazekage began treating Hiko as a serious threat, while the distant Kirigakure remained outside their calculations.

• Orochimaru left the Tavern after Hiko asked him to pay, and Hiko put his own bill on his tab before heading home.
• Ōnoki learned that the man who had fought the Seven-Tails was Uchiha Hiko, though Iwagakure had failed to find the beast or discover how Hiko brought it back.
• The Third Raikage read the intelligence about Hiko and worried that he might become another Uchiha Madara.
• The Third Kazekage received the news and compared the Seven-Tails with Sunagakure's One-Tail.
• The leaders of Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Sunagakure recognized that Hiko had grown too powerful to dismiss or casually target with an assassination.

Utatane Koharu demanded substantial compensation from Takigakure for Konoha’s losses in capturing the Seven-Tails, while negotiations stalled over the amount. Hiko told the Third Hokage he would return the beast once a deal was reached, leaving the final handover dependent on the negotiations.

• Utatane Koharu proposed enormous compensation terms, and Takigakure’s envoy objected that his village could not accept them.
• Utatane Koharu argued that Konoha had suffered heavy losses, including the death of the Uzumaki princess, and warned that the village’s rift with the Uzumaki Clan was worsening.
• The Takigakure envoy said his village needed resources to rebuild and seal the Seven-Tails, but the negotiations continued without much progress.
• Hiko visited the Third Hokage, predicted that Takigakure would pay compensation but not as much as Konoha wanted, and said he would bring over the Seven-Tails after the negotiations.
• The Third Hokage watched Hiko leave and recalled that Hiko had refused to seal the Seven-Tails, saying that helping capture it was already generous enough.

Hiko kept the Seven-Tails out of sight while Konoha negotiated steep compensation from Takigakure. After the talks concluded, the Takigakure envoys demanded the beast, and Utatane Koharu promised it would be delivered to the plaza.

• Hiko refused to show Takigakure or Konoha's Elder Council the captured Seven-Tails before negotiations were settled, and the Third Hokage warned him not to overdo his plan.
• Hiko returned home to rest while the Sixth Squad members pursued separate duties and the Konoha-Takigakure negotiations began.
• Utatane Koharu drove a hard bargain, and Takigakure accepted a steep payment after several days of talks.
• The Takigakure Envoy Group demanded the Seven-Tails, and Utatane Koharu told them to wait at the plaza while it was prepared for delivery.

After Konoha and Takigakure settled compensation for the failed Tailed Beast mission, the Third Hokage ordered Uchiha Hiko to hand Seven-Tails Chōmei over in the village square. Hiko arrived at the gathering, where Konoha’s officials and Takigakure’s envoys waited to see how the transfer would happen.

• Takigakure accepted Konoha’s compensation rather than risk having the mission rank reassessed and owing more.
• Utatane Koharu informed the Third Hokage that negotiations had ended, and he ordered Uchiha Hiko to bring Seven-Tails Chōmei to the village square.
• An Anbu operative delivered the order to Hiko, who left home and headed for the square.
• The Third Hokage, Konoha’s high-ranking officials, and Takigakure’s Envoy Group gathered to await the handover, while Takigakure’s subordinates questioned whether the Seven-Tails was sealed there.
• Hiko arrived late, apologized to the Third Hokage, and ignored Utatane Koharu’s complaint as everyone watched him.

Uchiha Hiko revealed that Seven-Tails Chōmei had not been sealed and summoned it in Konoha’s square, where he controlled it with his Sharingan. The frightened onlookers fled before realizing Chōmei was obedient, leaving the Third Hokage and Mitokado Homura embarrassed in front of the Takigakure envoys.

• Hiko greeted the Takigakure envoys and asked where their Sealing Squad was, then pointed out that they had brought no one to seal the Seven-Tails.
• Hiko summoned Seven-Tails Chōmei into the square, frightening the people nearby and sending Mitokado Homura and others running for safety.
• Hiko used his Sharingan to control Chōmei, which quieted and stood obediently beside him.
• The fleeing onlookers realized Chōmei was under control and returned, while villagers mocked the panic and Homura blushed with embarrassment.

Konoha handed the captured Seven-Tails over to Takigakure, and the Third Hokage offered to have it sealed so the envoy could take it home. Rumors then spread about the incident, while Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura predicted that Uchiha Hiko would soon become Head of Anbu.

• The Third Hokage told the Takigakure envoy to take custody of the Seven-Tails, while Hiko left them to figure out how to transport it.
• The Third Hokage offered to have Konoha seal the Seven-Tails, and Hiko arranged for the Sealing Team to seal it before the envoy departed.
• Rumors about the Seven-Tails incident spread through Konoha, and villagers blamed Mitokado Homura for fleeing with the other higher-ups.
• Mitokado Homura complained that others had deliberately shifted the blame onto him, while Utatane Koharu said villagers would focus on Hiko's success.
• Utatane Koharu predicted that Hiruzen would soon make thirteen-year-old Uchiha Hiko the Head of Anbu.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu decided not to oppose Hiruzen Sarutobi appointing Uchiha Hiko as Head of Anbu. Hiko accepted the appointment and arrived at a meeting where his new position angered Danzo and other village leaders.

• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu gave up trying to persuade Hiruzen Sarutobi to withhold the Head of Anbu position from Hiko, leaving Danzo to act for himself if he wished.
• Hiko told Hiruzen Sarutobi that he was prepared to face criticism and would firmly suppress anyone in Anbu who deliberately opposed him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Hiko to attend the village Meeting Room at ten o'clock the next morning as Head of Anbu.
• Hiko arrived at the Meeting Room and sat in the seat reserved for the Head of Anbu, worsening the displeasure of several higher-ups.
• Hiko asked Danzo whether he was unwell because his complexion looked bad, and Danzo lowered his head as his eye twitched.

Uchiha Hiko received his appointment as Head of Anbu while the Third Hokage asked the meeting how to repair Konoha’s rift with the Uzumaki Clan. Danzo tried to challenge Hiko’s appointment but received no support and stormed out of the Meeting Room.

• The Third Hokage gave Hiko his letter of appointment and identification card, and Hiko thanked him for his trust.
• The Third Hokage raised the conflict with the Uzumaki Clan and asked the meeting how Konoha should resolve it.
• Danzo argued that a thirteen-year-old should not lead Anbu and sought support from the other attendees.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura stayed silent, and the other attendees followed their example.
• Danzo angrily left the Meeting Room, while Hiko watched and the Third Hokage let him go.

The Third Hokage’s council agreed to ask Mito Uzumaki to mediate with the Uzumaki Clan, and Hiko questioned whether Koharu and Homura could be trusted. As the Third Hokage gave Hiko more authority over Anbu, Hiko insisted that the unit needed another expansion because the village lacked enough personnel for major crises.

• Mitokado Homura suggested asking Mito Uzumaki to help persuade the Uzumaki Clan, and Utatane Koharu volunteered to approach her.
• The Third Hokage accepted the proposal, and the meeting became more relaxed after Koharu offered to act as an intermediary.
• Hiko asked the Third Hokage whether Koharu and Homura were trying to repay him, but he doubted their loyalty would last.
• The Third Hokage told Hiko he could propose feasible changes to Anbu and promised to approve them.
• Hiko demanded another Anbu expansion, arguing that the unit lacked manpower whenever major trouble struck the village.

Hiko told the Third Hokage he would reform Anbu by strengthening village defenses and preventing higher-ups from using Anbu as a private force. The Third Hokage gave Hiko authority to manage Anbu, and Hiko left to prepare its members for the changes.

• Hiko argued that Anbu needed more personnel and should take charge of the village's first line of defense.
• Hiko demanded that higher-ups be forbidden from mobilizing Anbu without authorization, and the Third Hokage left the personnel arrangements to him.
• The Third Hokage asked Hiko to submit a plan for expanding Anbu and promised to support his decisions unless they involved crimes or betraying the village.
• Hiko said he would gather Anbu for a meeting, teased the Third Hokage about reminiscing, and warned him to stop using the Crystal Ball to watch girls bathing.

Hiko teased the Third Hokage after catching him using his Crystal Ball to peep, then left for the Anbu. The Third Hokage returned to work, while Hiko worried that the Hokage’s relentless workload was wearing him down.

• Hiko caught the Third Hokage watching the village with his Crystal Ball and joked that he and Jiraiya could team up.
• Hiko left the Hokage’s Office after teasing the Third Hokage, who was embarrassed but amused by their easy relationship.
• The Third Hokage reflected on his different relationships with Hiko, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Hatake Sakumo.
• The Third Hokage returned to his paperwork and hoped Hiko would lead the Anbu well.
• Hiko headed to the Anbu and worried that the Third Hokage was working himself too hard.

Hiko summoned Anbu’s Battalion Captains and Squad Captains to a meeting soon after becoming Head of Anbu. As he reviewed their files, he noticed a Senju captain openly resentful of his promotion and considered how to deal with him.

• Hiko ordered all Anbu Battalion Captains and Squad Captains to assemble while leaving other personnel at their posts.
• The summoned captains returned to Anbu in under ten minutes, including two who had been on prison duty.
• Several Battalion Captains discussed Hiko’s age, accomplishments, and promotion, while one Senju captain called him lucky and complained that he had taken the position.
• Hiko overheard the criticism and examined the Senju captain’s file, then reviewed the other captains’ files before the meeting.

Uchiha Hiko held his first meeting as Head of Anbu and asked its members to avoid internal conflicts. When the Second Division Captain challenged him over his leisurely arrival, Hiko mocked the man’s demand that he lead by example.

• Uchiha Hiko arrived late to the Meeting Room and introduced himself as Anbu’s new Head, appointed with Lord Hokage’s recognition.
• Hiko called on Anbu members to remain harmonious and resolve any conflicts promptly.
• The Second Division Captain, a member of the Senju Clan, accused Hiko of leaving everyone waiting while he lived leisurely.
• Hiko asked what he should do to prove he was not leisurely, and the Second Division Captain told him to lead by example.
• Hiko laughed and called the Second Division Captain’s answer funny and stupid.

Uchiha Hiko clashed with Senju Shigehisa, the Second Division Captain, during his first meeting as Head of Anbu. Hiko threatened a life-or-death duel and widened their dispute into an attack on Konoha’s higher-ups, leaving the other captains scrambling to prevent a scandal.

• Senju Shigehisa challenged Hiko after Hiko accused him of getting his position through connections.
• Hiko confronted Shigehisa for criticizing him before the meeting and offered him a life-or-death duel.
• The other Anbu captains tried to calm Hiko and urged Shigehisa to apologize.
• Hiko mocked the demand that he lead by example and criticized the Senju Clan and Konoha’s idle higher-ups.

Uchiha Hiko intimidated Anbu's captains into accepting him as their Head, then announced that Anbu would become a “true Anbu.” His first proposed rule—that only the Hokage or Hiko could mobilize Anbu—sparked immediate protests.

• Hiko accused Senju Shigehisa of defying and slandering his superior, then gave him two choices: behave or leave Anbu and face a duel to the death.
• Hiko warned the other captains that they could challenge his authority, but none dared speak up or leave Anbu.
• Hiko announced that Anbu would become a true Anbu and began listing new rules.
• Hiko declared that only the Hokage or Uchiha Hiko could mobilize Anbu personnel, prompting the captains to object.

Uchiha Hiko laid down new rules for Anbu, asserting that only he and the Hokage could mobilize its forces. He left the unit preparing to end surveillance of the Uchiha Clan and admit Uchiha and Hyuga members as Anbu personnel.

• Hiko ordered Anbu members to reject mobilization orders from anyone except him or the Hokage, and warned that those who disobeyed would have to leave.
• The First Division Captain asked whether the Hokage knew about Hiko’s changes, and Hiko said the Hokage had delegated authority to him.
• Hiko ordered all surveillance of the Uchiha Clan revoked unless the clan later did something that genuinely threatened the village.
• Hiko announced that Anbu would expand and include members of the Uchiha Clan and Hyuga Clan, forbidding members from targeting one another.
• Hiko asked the division captains whether they had anything to add.

Uchiha Hiko ended the Anbu meeting after declaring that he would take firm control and warning Senju Shigehisa to submit or face expulsion and a fight to the death. Hiko left the Third Division Captain position open for a capable candidate, while the other Anbu officers resolved to cooperate and compete for advancement.

• Hiko adjourned the meeting and gave Senju Shigehisa the choice of obeying him or being expelled and challenged to a certified fight to the death.
• Hiko ordered the Anbu to follow only him and Lord Hokage, left the Third Division Captain position open, and departed the Meeting Room.
• Senju Shigehisa complained after Hiko left, and the First Division Captain rebuked him for failing to confront Hiko directly.
• Old Ape explained to the other officers that Hiko's forceful approach was meant to keep the Anbu in line and reminded them that capable performers could earn the vacant captaincy or future positions.
• The Squad Captains agreed to work hard and avoid challenging Hiko.

Hiko drafted an ambitious plan to expand the Anbu and sought the Third Hokage’s approval to recruit more members, including Uchiha and Hyuga clan ninja. The Third Hokage balked at Hiko’s goal of building the Anbu to five corps and insisted on a limit of five hundred people.

• After the meeting, Great Captains and Squad Captains relayed Hiko’s orders and urged their teams not to provoke him, while many Anbu members hoped to earn promotions through the expansion.
• Hiko finished writing the Anbu Expansion Plan and brought it to the Third Hokage, announcing that he wanted to recruit many Uchiha and Hyuga clan members.
• The Third Hokage read the plan and was alarmed when it proposed expanding the Anbu to twenty divisions, or four hundred people.
• Hiko explained that his ultimate goal was five corps of ten battalions each, with recruitment carried out gradually in batches.
• The Third Hokage rejected the thousand-person target and insisted that the Anbu could have no more than five hundred members.