Chapter Summaries

After driving off the Mist Ninja, Hiko shared a farewell drinking gathering with his companions before the Third Hokage summoned him about the Uzumaki Clan’s new Nine-Tails Jinchuriki candidate. Hiko refused to travel to the Land of Whirlpools to bring her to Konoha.

• Hiko had Manda and Gamabunta return, and the remaining Mist Ninja fled after the expulsion mission was completed.
• Hiko, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Hatake Sakumo drank together as they parted ways, and Hiko was the last to remain standing.
• An Anbu summoned Hiko to the Hokage Office Building at the Third Hokage’s request, while the other drunken companions were taken home.
• The Third Hokage told Hiko that the Uzumaki Clan had selected a new Nine-Tails Jinchuriki candidate and asked him to bring her to Konoha.
• Hiko flatly refused to return to the Land of Whirlpools.

The Third Hokage asked Uchiha Hiko to escort five-year-old Kushina Uzumaki from the Land of Whirlpools to Konoha, fearing other villages would try to intercept her. Hiko agreed after the Third Hokage offered to support his rise to Uchiha Clan Head, and they planned to leave as soon as his schedule allowed.

• Hiko learned that Kushina Uzumaki, the younger sister of his maid Kyuku Uzumaki, had come to Konoha to become a Jinchuriki.
• The Third Hokage warned Hiko that rival villages might try to capture Kushina during the journey to Konoha.
• Hiko refused to visit the Land of Whirlpools again at first and suggested sending Anbu instead.
• The Third Hokage told Hiko he could act as he pleased if anyone provoked him, then asked him to make the trip personally.
• Hiko agreed after the Third Hokage offered to support him in becoming the Uchiha Clan Head.

Hiko discussed his plans for the Nine-Tails with the Third Hokage, then returned home and confronted Kyuku Uzumaki about the request she had been holding back. He revealed that he would travel to the Land of Whirlpools to bring back Kushina Uzumaki, leaving Kyuku shaken by the news.

• Hiko proposed bypassing a Jinchuriki and controlling the Nine-Tails directly, though the Third Hokage considered the plan too risky for Konoha.
• Hiko left the Hokage Office Building with the Sixth Squad's final Mission Scroll and planned to bring Kushina Uzumaki back from the Land of Whirlpools.
• Kyuku Uzumaki greeted Hiko at home and prepared hot water for his bath, while continuing to withhold what she wanted to ask him.
• Hiko told Kyuku Uzumaki to speak up instead of remaining silent, then revealed that the Hokage had sent him to retrieve Konoha's new Jinchuriki.
• Kyuku Uzumaki reacted with alarm when Hiko said the new Jinchuriki was someone she knew.

Hiko told Kyuku Uzumaki that her younger sister Kushina had been chosen as the next Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki and challenged her to offer something in exchange for his help changing Kushina’s fate. Kyuku entered his bath, believing that offering herself might persuade him, and the chapter ended with Hiko realizing what she had done.

• Hiko told Kyuku Uzumaki that Kushina had been selected to become the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki and described the hardships that awaited her.
• Kyuku asked Hiko to help prevent Kushina from becoming a Jinchuriki, and he said that helping would mean opposing the village and demanded a benefit in return.
• Kyuku realized she had nothing she thought Hiko wanted and felt regret that she had not become a Konoha ninja earlier.
• Hiko blurted out that Kyuku should take off her clothes and get into the bath.
• Kyuku entered the tub beside Hiko, who was stunned to see her there.

Hiko planned to go to the Land of Whirlpools to bring Kushina Uzumaki back, then turned his attention to intelligence about Amegakure attacking trade caravans and ninja teams. He realized Hanzo’s village was taking resources from the great nations and might be inviting retaliation.

• Hiko told Kyuku Uzumaki that they would prepare to travel to the Land of Whirlpools and bring Kushina Uzumaki back.
• An Anbu ninja brought Hiko intelligence about Amegakure’s attacks on merchant caravans and mission squads from Konoha, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure.
• Hiko first ordered the intelligence sent to the Third Hokage, then called it back and read it himself.
• Hiko concluded that Amegakure was intercepting caravans to seize resources and that Hanzo’s growing ambitions could provoke the great nations.

Hiko delivered intelligence that Amegakure was stockpiling supplies, suggesting Hanzo of the Salamander planned to expand into neighboring Small Countries. The Third Hokage recognized that the threat of war was growing as Hiko prepared to leave for the Land of Whirlpools.

• Hiko reviewed intelligence on Amegakure and anticipated that the Second Ninja War would soon break out.
• Hiko told his subordinate to report any developments, then took the intelligence file to the Hokage Office Building.
• Hiko interrupted the Third Hokage's calligraphy and said he would travel to the Land of Whirlpools the next day.
• Hiko informed the Third Hokage that Amegakure had intercepted merchant caravans and was stockpiling supplies.
• The Third Hokage read the report and concluded that Amegakure might seize two neighboring Small Countries for resources.

Hiko left Konoha with Kyuku Uzumaki to bring Kushina Uzumaki back from the Land of Whirlpools, where the handover went smoothly. On the journey to Konoha, five-year-old Kushina hid from Hiko, frightened by rumors about him.

• Hiko warned the Third Hokage that Amegakure's expansion and other villages' ambitions could bring another Ninja War closer.
• Hiko left the Third Hokage to prepare for the trip to the Land of Whirlpools.
• The next day, Hiko traveled with Kyuku Uzumaki to the Land of Whirlpools, moving slowly because Kyuku Uzumaki was unwell.
• The Uzumaki Clan received Hiko and Kyuku Uzumaki and completed Kushina Uzumaki's handover without trouble.
• Kushina hid behind Kyuku Uzumaki and asked whether Hiko would hurt her, while Kyuku Uzumaki tried to reassure her.

Kyuku reassured Kushina about Hiko, and Hiko promised that Kyuku could become a Konoha ninja and teach Kushina. As they traveled back to Konoha, Hiko detected a Mist Village ambush targeting Kushina and separated from the sisters to confront it.

• Kyuku told Kushina that Hiko was a good person, and Hiko silently resented the frightening rumors the Uzumaki Clan had spread about him.
• Kushina asked whether Kyuku had become Hiko's maid, so Hiko explained that Kyuku could become a Konoha ninja and eventually teach at the Ninja Academy.
• Kyuku agreed that she might become Kushina's teacher and decided to start interacting with the outside world rather than staying shut away at home.
• On the return journey, Hiko noticed unnatural mist near the Land of Fire's coastline and realized that enemies were targeting Kushina.
• A Mist Village Jonin ordered his team to seize Kushina in one strike and retreat, hoping to bring Konoha's Jinchuriki candidate back to their village.

Hiko killed the Mist Ninja who tried to ambush him and steal the people he was escorting, then brought Kyuku Uzumaki and Kushina safely to Konoha. He left the sisters to explore the village and planned to arrange Kushina’s transfer to the Ninja Academy.

• Hiko saw through the Mist Ninja’s concealment and killed three Chunin with his Katana.
• The Mist Ninja captain ordered a retreat, but Hiko trapped the fleeing ninja with Wood Style vines and left them mortally wounded.
• Hiko caught up with Kyuku Uzumaki and Kushina, reassured the frightened Kushina, and continued toward Konoha without further interception.
• After the four-day round trip, Hiko brought the sisters to Konoha, where Kushina eagerly looked around at the busy village and its food stalls.
• Hiko asked Kyuku Uzumaki to show Kushina around while he went ahead to arrange for her to enroll in the Ninja Academy as a transfer student.

Hiko returned to Konoha with Kyuku Uzumaki and Kushina, arranged identification documents and a Ninja Academy teaching position for Kyuku, and planned for Kushina to enroll. The next morning, he waited while Kyuku dressed Kushina for her first day at the Academy.

• Kushina enjoyed Konoha’s snacks while Kyuku Uzumaki doted on her.
• Hiko told the Third Hokage that the trip had gone smoothly despite a brief encounter with Mist Ninja, and arranged documents and a teaching position for Kyuku Uzumaki along with Kushina’s enrollment.
• Hiko noticed Minato Namikaze’s student file on the Third Hokage’s desk and remarked that the boy looked promising and handsome.
• Kushina felt uneasy about living with outsiders but accepted her new home with Kyuku Uzumaki beside her.
• Kyuku Uzumaki received her identification documents and dressed Kushina for school while Hiko waited to take them to the Ninja Academy.

Hiko enrolled Kushina Uzumaki at the Ninja Academy and warned the staff to protect her from serious bullying. After Kushina was mocked by her classmates, Hiko left the school and ran into Mikoto Uchiha.

• Hiko escorted Kyuku Uzumaki and Kushina Uzumaki to the Ninja Academy, where he introduced Kyuku as an instructor and Kushina as a new student.
• Hiko assured Kushina he would protect her, and Kyuku asked her to greet the teachers politely.
• Kushina was mocked by her classmates for her red hair but tried to restrain her anger as Minato watched her from the back of the classroom.
• Hiko left the Ninja Academy after arranging the sisters' enrollment.
• Mikoto Uchiha spotted Hiko at the entrance, hurried over, and greeted him happily.

Hiko teased Mikoto Uchiha and helped her turn Nawaki Senju’s attempt to interfere into a threat of being beaten. After Nawaki fled, Mikoto complained that Hiko neglected her and asked him to become her teacher, but he only gave her an uncertain promise.

• Hiko denied being stupid while Mikoto Uchiha doubted him and teased him.
• Nawaki Senju confronted Hiko and Mikoto, but Hiko encouraged Mikoto to beat him if he misbehaved.
• Nawaki Senju realized he could not safely fight Mikoto or complain to Tsunade, so he ran into the Academy.
• Hiko told Mikoto Uchiha to work hard and promised to celebrate when she graduated.
• Mikoto Uchiha asked Hiko to become her teacher, and he gave her an ambiguous answer.

Hiko walked with Tsunade to the Hokage's Office, where she submitted a plan to assign a Medical Ninja to every Konoha squad. The Third Hokage rejected it because Konoha lacked enough Medical Ninja, leaving Tsunade dissatisfied.

• Hiko said goodbye to Mikoto Uchiha after she entered the Ninja Academy.
• Hiko met Tsunade on the way to the Hokage's Office and told her about his encounter with Nawaki.
• Hiko and Tsunade arrived at the Hokage's Office, where they found Jiraiya lounging on a sofa.
• Tsunade submitted her Medical Department expansion proposal to the Third Hokage.
• The Third Hokage rejected Tsunade's plan to assign a Medical Ninja to every squad because Konoha had too few Medical Ninja.

Tsunade’s proposal to assign a Medical Ninja to every squad was rejected because Konoha lacked the resources. After receiving intelligence that Sand Ninja and Rock Ninja were gathering near the Land of Fire’s border, the Third Hokage ordered Hiko to take command there and prepare for a possible invasion.

• The Third Hokage told Tsunade that Konoha could not assign a Medical Ninja to every squad, and Tsunade accepted the explanation.
• An Intelligence Department member brought an urgent report from the Border patrol forces, and Hiko asked Tsunade and Jiraiya to leave the Hokage's Office.
• Hiko read that Sand Ninja and Rock Ninja had appeared near the Land of Fire’s border, and the Third Hokage suspected the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth were preparing to invade.
• The Third Hokage ordered Hiko to lead forces to the Borderline while he discussed a response with the village’s higher-ups.
• Hiko requested a Battalion, Anbu personnel, and Hatake Sakumo’s return to the Anbu for the mission.

Hiko arranged for Hatake Sakumo to return to the Anbu and appointed him captain of the Thirteenth Battalion. The battalion assembled under Sakumo as Hiko prepared them for an important mission.

• Hiko convinced the Third Hokage to send Hatake Sakumo back to the Anbu and ordered the Thirteenth Battalion to assemble.
• An Anbu messenger told Hatake Sakumo that the Anbu, the village, Hiko, and the Third Hokage needed him, and Sakumo hurried back to duty.
• Hatake Sakumo reported to Hiko, who welcomed him and introduced him to the assembled Thirteenth Battalion.
• Hiko appointed Hatake Sakumo captain and said anyone who defeated him could take the position.
• The Thirteenth Battalion accepted Sakumo's appointment and prepared to follow Hiko's orders.

Hiko appointed Hatake Sakumo Great Captain of the Thirteenth Battalion and led the unit toward the Borderline to deter Sunagakure and Iwagakure, whose shinobi were gathering there. Meanwhile, Konoha’s senior officials debated a forceful response to the threat of war.

• Hiko appointed Hatake Sakumo Great Captain and ordered the Thirteenth Battalion to prepare for a prolonged mission.
• Hiko told Hatake Sakumo that Sunagakure and Iwagakure intended to provoke a war and warned him to keep the information secret.
• Hiko led the Thirteenth Battalion out of Konoha by smaller roads and headed secretly toward the Borderline.
• The Third Hokage told Konoha’s senior officials that Hiko had gone to hold the line and asked them to decide how to respond.
• Konoha’s senior officials agreed that the villages’ provocation should be answered with harsh retaliation.

Hiko arrived at the Borderline with the Thirteenth Battalion and questioned Big Beard about Sunagakure and Iwagakure’s movements. After Big Beard admitted that enemy ninja had entered the Land of Fire and been driven off, Hiko accused him of being a spy and demanded the truth.

• Hiko led the Thirteenth Battalion to the Borderline and asked Big Beard for a report on the Suna-nin and Iwa-nin.
• Big Beard reported that ninja from Sunagakure and Iwagakure had been active nearby and had tried to approach the Land of Fire.
• Hiko pressed Big Beard on whether enemy ninja had entered the Land of Fire, and Big Beard admitted that they had.
• Big Beard said his unit had fought the intruders but had only managed to drive them away, prompting Hiko to order Hatake Sakumo to arrest and interrogate him as a suspected spy.
• Hiko gave Big Beard one last chance to tell the truth before his subordinates took him away for interrogation.

Hiko uncovered that Big Beard had been exiled to the border by Danzo for killing an enemy, then recruited him into the Anbu and ordered a lethal response to anyone illegally entering the Land of Fire. The chapter ended with Hiko assigning three squads to patrol openly and two to operate in secret.

• Big Beard admitted that he had driven off the enemy because Danzo had exiled him for killing an enemy and allegedly provoking conflict.
• Hiko cursed Danzo, promised to appeal on Big Beard's behalf, and brought him into the Anbu.
• Hiko ordered the Anbu to kill anyone who entered the Land of Fire without proper notification and reception.
• Hiko assigned three squads to patrol openly in Anbu gear while two squads stayed disguised and operated in secret.

Hiko grew frustrated when Sunagakure and Iwagakure stopped infiltrating the Land of Fire after Konoha increased its border forces. He ordered Hatake Sakumo to lead a squad into the Land of Wind and retaliate without killing anyone, leaving the enemy villages with a warning.

• Sunagakure and Iwagakure ninja noticed Konoha’s increased border forces and stopped secretly entering the Land of Fire.
• Hiko complained to Hatake Sakumo that the enemy’s caution had left the Anbu without targets to hunt.
• Hiko kicked Hatake Sakumo out of a tree and demanded that he find a way to draw the enemy into the Land of Fire or cause trouble in their territories.
• Hatake Sakumo agreed to lead a squad into the Land of Wind, and Hiko ordered them to seize merchant goods, destroy what they could not carry, and deliver a warning without killing anyone.

Hiko ordered Konoha to spread false reports of Sunagakure and Iwagakure atrocities and secretly eliminate their border scouts, hoping to make the villages appear responsible for starting the war. As Konoha's teams moved into the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth, a group of enemy scouts in the Land of Rain remained unaware of the danger.

• Hiko told Hatake Sakumo to spread stories of Sunagakure atrocities and ensure no Sunagakure ninjas on the border survived to contradict them.
• Hiko decided to provoke Iwagakure as well and sent two Anbu squads toward the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth.
• Hatake Sakumo led one squad toward the Land of Wind, while a small Anbu squad headed for the Land of Earth.
• Hiko began moving against the Sunagakure and Iwagakure ninjas still watching Konoha's border.
• A squad of enemy scouts hiding in a tree hollow in the Land of Rain discussed Konoha's lack of movement and continued their surveillance.