Chapter Summaries

Hiko told his new students his unusual hobby and dream, then ended their first meeting with an early training appointment. He met Hatake Sakumo for barbecue and teased him about prioritizing his wife, leaving their conversation on Sakumo’s embarrassment.

• Minato Namikaze, Ainoino Ki, and Adachi Aida asked Hiko about his hobbies and dreams.
• Hiko said he wanted several beautiful wives and children, and to lead the Uchiha in conquering the world.
• Hiko told the three students to meet him at the Training Ground at five the next morning, warning them not to be late.
• Hiko left the Ninja Academy and met Hatake Sakumo at a barbecue restaurant.
• Hiko reminded Hatake Sakumo that he had once failed to meet him after returning to the village, then teased him for being a married man.

Hatake Sakumo told Hiko that his wife had given birth to a son, Hatake Kakashi, and asked to transfer back to Konoha to help care for his family. Hiko approved the transfer, and Danzo was left furious at losing Sakumo’s strength on the frontline.

• Hatake Sakumo asked Hiko to approve his transfer from the battlefield back to the village, explaining that his wife had given birth.
• Hiko learned the newborn was a boy named Hatake Kakashi and approved Sakumo’s transfer, telling him to get the Third Hokage’s seal.
• Hatake Sakumo celebrated with Hiko at a barbecue restaurant, where Hiko got drunk after one cup.
• Hatake Sakumo took Hiko home to Kyuku Uzumaki, then went to the Hokage Office Building and obtained the Third Hokage’s approval.
• Danzo cursed the transfer because Sakumo’s departure weakened his forces against the Third Kazekage.

Hiko overslept after drinking with Hatake Sakumo and left his three disciples waiting hungry at the Training Ground for hours. He treated them to barbecue and judged their patience sufficient to pass his test, leaving them to meet him at the village entrance at six the next morning.

• Minato Namikaze, Ainoino Ki, and Adachi Aida waited at the Training Ground from before five in the morning, growing hungry and thirsty as Hiko failed to appear.
• Hiko woke around noon, realized he had stood up his disciples, and hurried to the Training Ground.
• Hiko apologized and took the three children to a barbecue restaurant, where they ate eight portions.
• Hiko told Minato Namikaze, Ainoino Ki, and Adachi Aida that they had passed his test and ordered them to gather at the village entrance at six the next morning.

Hiko accepted Minato Namikaze, Ainoino Ki, and Adachi Aida as his disciples without giving them an assessment, then chose dangerous combat missions for their training. The Third Hokage worried about the risks and the complaints Hiko’s choices might provoke, while Hiko prepared to start their lessons the next morning.

• Minato Namikaze, Ainoino Ki, and Adachi Aida asked Hiko whether he would test them, and he explained that he had already accepted them as his disciples.
• Hiko warned the three children that his training would be harsh and told them to be ready at six the next morning.
• Hiko went to the Hokage Office Building and asked the Third Hokage for missions to use in his disciples’ training.
• Hiko chose combat missions for the fresh graduates, rejecting the basic cleaning and errand work that other students usually received.
• The Third Hokage worried about the danger to the children and the resentment from other teachers, while Hiko remained unconcerned and looked forward to their training.

Hiko took Minato Namikaze, Ainoino Ki, and Adachi Aida on their first mission as his disciples, forcing them to endure a punishing trek through a dark forest. He left them in a pasture to treat their thorn wounds during a strict half-hour break.

• Hiko arrived at the village entrance at six o'clock, where Minato Namikaze, Ainoino Ki, and Adachi Aida were waiting with their ninja supplies.
• Hiko led his three disciples off the main road and through a dark forest full of Thorn Vines, ignoring their complaints as they suffered cuts and embedded thorns.
• At sunrise, Hiko brought them to a grassy pasture and gave them half an hour to rest and remove the thorns.
• Minato Namikaze opened Hiko's medical box, and the three disciples began treating one another's wounds with alcohol and needles.

Hiko took Minato Namikaze, Ainoino Ki, and Adachi Aida to a pasture and revealed that their mission was to kill every wolf threatening the livestock. He gave the students the day to prepare, then demonstrated his skill by pinning a rabbit with a Kunai.

• Hiko made the three students remove thorns from their wounds and disinfect them before continuing the mission.
• Minato Namikaze explained that wild beasts were the greatest threat to the pasture.
• Hiko told the students to kill all the wolves near the pasture rather than drive them away, warning that the wolves would return for revenge.
• Hiko gave the students the day to plan their approach while the wolves were likely to be active at night.
• Hiko startled the students by throwing a Kunai that pinned a grazing rabbit.

Hiko left Minato Namikaze, Ainoino Ki, and Adachi Aida to prepare for the ranch mission on their own, while the wolf pack drew near. As the wolves surrounded them at night, Minato launched the first attack with explosive-tagged kunai.

• Hiko prepared and ate roasted rabbit while Minato Namikaze, Ainoino Ki, and Adachi Aida struggled to catch and cook fish without supplies.
• Minato gathered the students’ ninja tools and had them make crude traps from branches, while Hiko watched without offering guidance.
• As evening fell, wolf howls approached the ranch, and the exhausted students lit a bonfire before climbing into trees.
• The wolf pack reached the ranch, and one wolf fell into a trap, but the traps failed to stop the pack from surrounding the students.
• Minato Namikaze gritted his teeth and threw several kunai tied with Explosive Tags at the wolves.

Hiko led Minato Namikaze, Ainoino Ki, and Adachi Aida into a fight against a pack of wild wolves, exposing the three young ninjas’ lack of coordination. After Adachi Aida was injured, Hiko killed the remaining wolves and ordered the team to treat the wound and return to the village.

• Explosive Tags blasted many wolves, while Minato Namikaze recovered first and jumped down to fight them.
• Hiko urged Ainoino Ki and Adachi Aida to join Minato Namikaze, and they jumped down despite their fear of the bloodshed.
• The three fought without coordination, and a wolf bit Adachi Aida on the arm.
• Hiko drew his Katana and swiftly killed the remaining wolves.
• Hiko ordered Minato Namikaze and Ainoino Ki to bandage Adachi Aida and return to the village, warning that the bite could become infected.

After Adachi Aida was badly injured on his first mission with Hiko, Hiko assigned all three disciples daily battle reports and brushed off concerns about the incident. The children stayed at the hospital, resolved to improve together, and Hiko arrived the next morning to find them asleep beside their completed reports.

• Hiko told Minato Namikaze, Adachi Aida, and Ainoino Ki to write daily battle reports, including the injured Adachi Aida, and left Minato Namikaze and Ainoino Ki to decide whether to stay with him.
• Hiko told the Third Hokage that Minato Namikaze showed potential while the other two had performed poorly, asked for the mission reward for his disciples, and dismissed worries about the effect of Adachi Aida's injury.
• Minato Namikaze pointed out that their team lacked a name, and he, Ainoino Ki, and Adachi Aida vowed to work harder together.
• The three disciples discussed their mistakes and struggled to write their battle reports through the night, growing closer as they worked.
• Hiko brought breakfast to the hospital the next morning, found the three disciples asleep, and picked up their reports to read.

Hiko was dissatisfied with Minato Namikaze, Adachi Aida, and Ainoino Ki’s battle reports and punished them by making them tie themselves together and walk to the Training Ground. The three reached it exhausted and humiliated, while Hiko carried on with breakfast.

• Hiko read the three battle reports and angrily woke the disciples, demanding to know whether anyone else had read them.
• After learning they had not shared their reports, Hiko scolded each disciple for overlooking mistakes and struck them on the head.
• Hiko ordered Minato Namikaze, Adachi Aida, and Ainoino Ki to tear up their outer clothes, tie their hands and feet together, and go outside.
• The three shuffled through Konoha’s streets as passersby laughed and watched, while Hiko ate breakfast and walked ahead.
• Minato Namikaze calmed Adachi Aida and Ainoino Ki when they began arguing, and the exhausted trio finally reached the Training Ground after nearly two hours.

Hiko punished Minato Namikaze, Ainoino Ki, and Adachi Aida to teach them to rely on one another, then pushed them through difficult missions that accelerated their growth. As they finished a mission and asked for barbecue, an Anbu summoned Hiko to an urgent meeting about a change on the frontline.

• Hiko explained that his test had been meant to teach the three disciples teamwork and ordered them to run three laps together, with none allowed to fall behind.
• Hiko assigned the team difficult missions, and Minato Namikaze handled killing well while Ainoino Ki and Adachi Aida vomited after their first encounters with it.
• Hiko's three disciples grew quickly, surprising other newly appointed teachers.
• After the team completed a mission, Ainoino Ki asked Hiko to buy them barbecue as promised.
• An Anbu told Hiko that the frontline situation had changed and the Third Hokage wanted him back for an immediate meeting, so Hiko sent his disciples back with the Anbu and hurried ahead.

Hiko returned to Konoha and learned that a sandstorm had devastated its frontline forces, forcing them to withdraw from the Land of Wind. The Third Hokage then revealed that a large shipment of purchased supplies had vanished, leaving the cause unknown.

• The Third Hokage summoned Hiko back to Konoha while Hiko wondered how Danzo was faring as Frontline Commander.
• The Third Hokage told Hiko that Konoha had suffered a major defeat and withdrawn from the Land of Wind after a massive sandstorm struck.
• The Third Hokage said Konoha’s casualties were enormous, though the exact number remained unknown because many ninjas were still missing.
• The Third Hokage reported that Danzo wanted Konoha to trust him and keep fighting Sunagakure, while Hiko questioned that claim.
• The Third Hokage revealed that a large batch of supplies purchased by Konoha had vanished.

After Konoha’s wartime supplies vanished at sea, the Third decided to go to the frontline himself to restore morale and confront Sunagakure. He left Hiko in charge of Konoha despite Hiko’s protests, and Hiko was left facing the village’s problems and a mountain of duties.

• The Third learned that a shipment of vital ninja tools and Explosive Tags, along with its Land of Artisans escorts, had disappeared at sea.
• Hiko explained that Konoha’s dwindling supplies and the frontline’s low morale made the situation increasingly dire.
• The Third told Hiko he planned to lead Konoha’s forces against Sunagakure and asked him to oversee the village.
• Hiko objected, but the Third insisted that he trusted Hiko more than anyone else and would leave Konoha to him.
• The Third said he would notify the higher-ups and arrange an investigation into the missing supplies, while Hiko reluctantly accepted responsibility for the village.

Hiko found Minato Namikaze training late at night and explained that hand-sign speed and Kekkei Genkai were only parts of a ninja's strength. The chapter ended with Hiko encouraging Minato to understand that neither determined everything.

• Hiko left the Hokage Office after learning that the Third Hokage would depart for the frontline and appoint him to handle the village's duties.
• Hiko spotted Minato Namikaze practicing hand signs late at night and warned him that he was exhausted and low on Chakra.
• Minato Namikaze insisted that faster hand signs were important, and Hiko explained that they could help seize the initiative but did not define a ninja's strength.
• Hiko cited the Third Hokage's powerful Ninjutsu as an example of strength that did not depend on especially fast hand signs.
• Minato Namikaze pointed out that he lacked a Kekkei Genkai, and Hiko told him that Kekkei Genkai could not represent everything either.

Hiko encouraged Minato Namikaze to look beyond bloodline abilities and believe he could become powerful through hard work. Minato committed to strengthening his basic training, while Hiko watched from the shadows and approved of him.

• Hiko asked Minato Namikaze how enemies would respond to an Uchiha and explained that powerful Kekkei Genkai were not the only path to strength.
• Hiko pointed to Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Hatake Sakumo as formidable shinobi without powerful Kekkei Genkai, then told Minato he could surpass most people in the world.
• Hiko urged Minato to try developing Ninjutsu without hand seals and to add weights while focusing on basic training.
• Hiko left Minato at the Training Ground, where Minato resolved to train as hard as his teacher had.
• After Minato left, Hiko emerged from the shadows, and another voice said they liked the boy.

Uchiha Hiko met Jiraiya after his return to Konoha and learned that Jiraiya had trained three children in the Land of Rain, including Nagato, who possessed the legendary Sage's Eyes. Hiko warned that Nagato could become a major threat, while privately deciding that Nagato needed to survive long enough for Uchiha Madara's plans to unfold.

• Hiko met Jiraiya at a late-night eatery and asked where he had been for the past few years.
• Jiraiya revealed that he had trained three disciples in the Land of Rain who were prejudiced against Konoha.
• Jiraiya told Hiko that one disciple possessed the Sage's Eyes and Uzumaki Clan blood, confirming Hiko's suspicion that Nagato was among his students.
• Hiko warned Jiraiya that Nagato could become powerful enough to kill him once he mastered the Rinnegan.
• Hiko reflected that Nagato should not die yet because Black Zetsu would use his death to revive Uchiha Madara.

Uchiha Hiko ordered Jiraiya to arrange a meeting with Nagato, insisting he only wanted something from the child and would not harm him. With the Third Hokage leaving for the Land of Wind, Hiko took charge of village affairs and assigned Jiraiya to take Konan, Nagato, and Yahiko on missions, leaving Jiraiya suspicious of his motives.

• Jiraiya laughed at Hiko's warning about Nagato, then refused to help kill Konan, Nagato, or Yahiko.
• Hiko demanded that Jiraiya arrange a meeting with Nagato and said he wanted to obtain something from him without harming him.
• Hiko told Jiraiya that the Third Hokage would leave for the Land of Wind, so Hiko would handle the village's affairs in his place.
• Hiko ordered Jiraiya to take the three children on missions and told him to report to the Hokage's Office at eight the next morning.
• Jiraiya agreed on condition that Hiko would not harm the children and that Jiraiya's assignment would end when the Third Hokage returned.
• Jiraiya drank himself into a stupor but remained sober, privately questioning Hiko's intentions and the danger Nagato posed to Konoha.

After the Third Hokage left to command the Qia Frontline, Uchiha Hiko took over his duties and struggled through the Hokage’s Office workload. He reunited with Jiraiya and assigned him to teach Minato Namikaze, Ainoino Ki, and Adachi Aida while Hiko remained busy.

• The Third Hokage announced that he was heading to the Qia Frontline and appointed Uchiha Hiko to temporarily handle his duties, displeasing members of the Elder Council.
• Hiko took over the Hokage’s Office and made Minato Namikaze, Ainoino Ki, and Adachi Aida wait while he handled missions and paperwork.
• Jiraiya returned to Konoha and traded teasing remarks with Hiko, who threatened to fight him.
• Hiko told Minato Namikaze, Ainoino Ki, and Adachi Aida that Jiraiya would temporarily become their teacher while Hiko was busy.

Hiko introduced Jiraiya as the teacher of the three young shinobi, then warned them to stay alert around him at baths. Jiraiya took them to a barbecue restaurant, where he described Hiko’s overwhelming strength and the people he had beaten.

• Hiko introduced Jiraiya to Minato Namikaze, Adachi Aida, and Ainoino Ki, and warned them to run when Jiraiya went to bathe or soak in hot springs.
• Jiraiya took his three students to a barbecue restaurant and invited them to ask questions about Hiko.
• Jiraiya admitted that Hiko could beat him and said Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Hatake Sakumo had also lost to Hiko in sparring.
• Minato Namikaze identified the Third Kazekage as another of Hiko’s victims, and Jiraiya said the Kazekage had nearly been killed by him.

The Third Hokage took command of Konoha’s front against Sunagakure after supplies were intercepted and Danzo protested being sidelined. While the armies reorganized and resumed fighting, Hiko struggled with the burden of sitting in the Hokage’s Office as Jiraiya teased him.

• Jiraiya told Minato Namikaze, Adachi Aida, and Ainoino Ki to stay with him until their Teacher returned, then laughed at the trouble their Teacher was likely causing.
• Danzo angrily accused the Third Hokage of distrusting and misunderstanding him after Hiruzen came to the frontline to lead Konoha’s forces.
• The Third Hokage explained that Konoha’s supplies from the Land of Artisans had been intercepted and that the village could not afford to prolong the war.
• Hiruzen’s arrival restored Konoha’s troops’ morale, and after reorganizing from the sandstorm, Konoha and Sunagakure resumed battle.
• Hiko complained about the strain of occupying the Hokage’s Office while Jiraiya teased him and insisted he had no interest in becoming Hokage.