Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Hiko and The Second Prince visited The Eldest Prince and reported that the mysterious people were Hunters who oversaw the region’s divine beasts. The Eldest Prince proposed that they discuss whether the Hunters should stay or leave, leaving Uchiha Hiko and The Second Prince shocked as he prepared to explain his reasoning.

• The Second Prince told Uchiha Hiko that Father Emperor had beaten him as a child for climbing to the top of the royal residence, leaving him afraid of the place.
• Uchiha Hiko and The Second Prince reached The Eldest Prince’s residence, where The Eldest Prince dismissed the guards and said he had found information about the Hunters in Father Emperor’s records.
• Uchiha Hiko described the Hunters’ current circumstances and way of life, and The Eldest Prince praised his account.
• The Eldest Prince said he wanted to discuss whether the Hunters should stay and gave his opinion that they should not be kept there.
• Uchiha Hiko reacted with shock, while The Second Prince urged him to listen to The Eldest Prince’s reasons before deciding.

The Eldest Prince weighed whether to let the Hunters remain, citing their declining usefulness and potential danger, while Uchiha Hiko argued that they might still serve a purpose. The Eldest Prince chose to test them and decided to summon their village chief, leaving their future dependent on the test.

• The Eldest Prince argued that divine beasts were no longer needed in ordinary battles and that the Hunters could be dangerous with war looming.
• The Second Prince challenged The Eldest Prince, but The Eldest Prince warned him that he had not yet earned his trust.
• At Uchiha Hiko’s urging, The Eldest Prince decided to trust The Second Prince and cautioned him not to act recklessly.
• Uchiha Hiko told The Eldest Prince that the souls of divine beasts still wandered and that they had experienced this firsthand.
• The Eldest Prince said the Hunters could stay if they proved useful or passed his test, but he withheld the test’s details.
• The Eldest Prince ordered that the Hunters’ village chief be summoned with several capable people, and The Second Prince applauded his plan.

Uchiha Hiko eased tensions between The Eldest Prince and The Second Prince by getting the brothers to discuss their work and reconcile. With The Second Prince’s impatience settled, the three prepared to continue their task together.

• The Eldest Prince assigned Uchiha Hiko and The Second Prince to inform people while he investigated their backgrounds, but The Second Prince complained about having to repeat the task.
• Uchiha Hiko asked The Eldest Prince to explain his recent work, and he reviewed his notes, recognizing how much he had accomplished.
• The Second Prince’s mood improved as the brothers understood each other, and they thanked Uchiha Hiko for helping them reconcile.
• Uchiha Hiko asked the princes to help him when he needed it, and they promised they would.
• The Second Prince agreed to set out and suggested they change into ordinary clothes to avoid attracting attention.

Uchiha Hiko and The Second Prince set off again, testing a pair of shoes that could launch Hiko into the air. After Hiko’s first jump went straight up without crossing the mire, he tried again with a running start and aimed forward.

• Uchiha Hiko agreed to wear The Second Prince’s shoes and warned him not to try any tricks.
• The Second Prince urged Uchiha Hiko to jump across a mire that had grown deeper and softer.
• Uchiha Hiko leaped several stories into the air but landed in the same place because his jump had no forward momentum.
• The Second Prince encouraged him to try again, and Uchiha Hiko ran up and launched himself forward at an angle.

Uchiha Hiko demonstrated the shoes’ power by crossing a swamp, then the Second Prince took them and ran off before returning. Uchiha Hiko reclaimed the shoes and took the Second Prince with him, leaving him chastened for his trick.

• Uchiha Hiko leaped across the swamp with the shoes and asked whether adding a stone would make them stronger.
• The Second Prince asked Uchiha Hiko to throw him the shoes so he could cross the swamp too.
• Uchiha Hiko tossed the shoes across, but the Second Prince put them on and ran away, leaving Uchiha Hiko stranded.
• The Second Prince returned and claimed he had run around the swamp to demonstrate the shoes’ power.
• Uchiha Hiko snatched back the shoes, warned the Second Prince not to fool him again, and took him along.

Uchiha Hiko and The Second Prince explained The Eldest Prince’s trial to the Hunter village chief, who agreed to gather elite soldiers to undertake it. Uchiha Hiko then secretly shared additional information with the chief before departing, leaving the village’s future in the chief’s hands.

• Uchiha Hiko urged The Second Prince to knock on the village chief’s door and explain the situation.
• The Hunter village chief welcomed Uchiha Hiko and The Second Prince, then heard that the matter was not yet resolved and that The Eldest Prince’s trial was the next step.
• The Second Prince explained The Eldest Prince’s intentions with Uchiha Hiko’s guidance, and the chief agreed to lead elite soldiers to face the trial.
• Uchiha Hiko clarified that the chief’s group would challenge the trial, not The Eldest Prince himself.
• Uchiha Hiko whispered additional information to the village chief, then left the village’s prospects to the chief’s fortune.

Uchiha Hiko and The Second Prince discussed their plan to gain access to the divine beasts by having the village take on a challenge. They headed back to check The Eldest Prince’s preparations, while both admitted they were hungry.

• Uchiha Hiko told The Second Prince that the village’s challenge could give them a chance to see the divine beasts.
• Uchiha Hiko and The Second Prince agreed that The Eldest Prince would not make good use of the divine beasts.
• The Second Prince asked to inspect the divine beasts, but Uchiha Hiko refused and warned that they could disrupt the challenge.
• The Second Prince agreed to follow Uchiha Hiko back and act carefully so the challengers would not lose their opportunity.
• Uchiha Hiko teased The Second Prince for being hungry, then his own stomach growled.

Uchiha Hiko and the Second Prince ate at the village chief’s home before helping select people to face the challenges ahead. The Second Prince chose candidates too, but Uchiha Hiko immediately objected to one of his picks.

• Uchiha Hiko and the Second Prince realized they were hungry and accepted the village chief’s invitation to eat.
• After lunch, Uchiha Hiko followed the village chief to help select candidates, while the Second Prince questioned whether this violated The Eldest Prince’s instructions.
• Uchiha Hiko identified a clever, capable hunter as a promising choice, and the village chief praised his judgment.
• The Second Prince offered to select two more people, and Uchiha Hiko agreed to let him choose.
• Uchiha Hiko rejected one of the Second Prince’s selections, leaving the Second Prince puzzled by his certainty.

Uchiha Hiko and the Second Prince left the village chief and her chosen Hunters to fight for themselves, then headed to the Royal Palace to report their situation to the Eldest Prince. They arrived to find the Eldest Prince opening the door, eager to hear what had happened.

• Uchiha Hiko confirmed that the village chief’s chosen fighter was not ready for battle, and the Second Prince accepted that the village chief should select elite fighters instead.
• Uchiha Hiko and the Second Prince agreed to travel separately from the village chief so the Hunters would not rely on their help or blame them for the outcome.
• Uchiha Hiko hurried ahead in the special shoes, leaving the Second Prince behind, then stopped so he crashed into her.
• Uchiha Hiko told the Second Prince to respect others if he wanted them to consider his feelings, and he admitted that he had changed.
• Uchiha Hiko and the Second Prince returned to the Royal Palace, where the Eldest Prince opened the door to ask about the situation.

Uchiha Hiko and the princes prepared an outdoor challenge to test the Hunters’ abilities. The Eldest Prince planned to use the terrifying creature once kept on the Royal Palace’s third underground level, leaving the Second Prince uneasy but unwilling to interfere.

• The Eldest Prince asked why Uchiha Hiko and the Second Prince had returned without the Hunters, and Uchiha Hiko explained the arrangements for a fair challenge.
• The Eldest Prince closed the Royal Palace gates and called Uchiha Hiko and the Second Prince over to prepare the outdoor challenge.
• The Second Prince asked how Uchiha Hiko had earned the Eldest Prince’s trust, but Uchiha Hiko only told him to keep learning.
• The Eldest Prince reminded the princes of the terrifying creature on the Royal Palace’s third underground level and said it would test the Hunters.
• The Second Prince urged Uchiha Hiko to persuade the Eldest Prince, but Uchiha Hiko trusted the Eldest Prince’s judgment.

The Eldest Prince, Second Prince, and Uchiha Hiko brought the Hunters to face a divine beast whose confinement was about to expire. The Hunters began preparing to reseal it while the princes watched, leaving the beast’s fate unresolved.

• The village chief and the Hunters arrived before the Eldest Prince, Second Prince, and Uchiha Hiko, revealing their prepared hunter gear and accepting the consequences of the trial.
• The Eldest Prince ordered the guards to bring out the cage from the Royal Palace’s third underground level, but the frightened guards refused, so the Second Prince went down himself.
• The Eldest Prince warned the Second Prince that the divine beast would break free in a few days unless they resealed its cage, and Uchiha Hiko reassured him that the Hunters could handle it.
• The village chief directed the Hunters as they moved the intact cage and arranged their positions to distract the divine beast and prepare a new seal.
• Uchiha Hiko praised the village chief’s plan, then explained to the Second Prince that the chief’s experience across two generations made him indispensable.

The Hunters subdued the divine beast and impressed the Eldest Prince, who accepted them into the nation and arranged for them to settle and develop freely. Uchiha Hiko and the Second Prince wanted to see their own divine beast, but the Eldest Prince asked them to wait until more preparations were complete.

• The Hunters bound the divine beast, and the village chief produced a cage that sealed it.
• The Eldest Prince praised the Hunters' performance and welcomed them to stay in the nation.
• The Eldest Prince hosted the Hunters at the Royal Palace and urged them to live in harmony and protect the country.
• The Eldest Prince told the Hunters to develop according to their circumstances without setting targets.
• Uchiha Hiko and the Second Prince asked to see their divine beast, but the Eldest Prince said they should wait until the Hunters had established themselves.

At a feast, Uchiha Hiko praised The Eldest Prince and encouraged The Second Prince to support his brother. Uchiha Hiko then said he planned to return home, and The Eldest Prince asked him to help see off a Hunter before leaving.

• Uchiha Hiko raised a toast to The Eldest Prince, who said he and The Second Prince would work together on their father’s unfinished affairs.
• Uchiha Hiko urged The Second Prince to honor The Eldest Prince’s trust, and The Second Prince promised to assist him.
• Uchiha Hiko told The Eldest Prince he wanted to leave for a few days to attend to matters back home.
• The Eldest Prince agreed Uchiha Hiko could go but asked him to help see off a Hunter first.
• Uchiha Hiko agreed, recognizing that leaving without a send-off could undermine The Eldest Prince’s authority.

Uchiha Hiko prepared to leave after the Hunters’ gathering, but The Second Prince asked him to help secure a place and control over the northern Hunters. Hiko agreed in exchange for a favor, then said farewell to The Eldest Prince and left the return visit for later.

• The Second Prince asked Uchiha Hiko to help him with something when he returned, but refused to explain until Hiko threatened not to help.
• The Second Prince revealed that he wanted to compete for influence in the north and gain control over the Hunters, while keeping the request secret.
• Uchiha Hiko agreed to help after The Second Prince promised to repay him, and advised him to behave better before The Eldest Prince.
• Uchiha Hiko watched the Hunters and village chief before telling The Eldest Prince that he was leaving.
• The Eldest Prince declined to see Uchiha Hiko off and said they would contact him if they needed help.

Uchiha Hiko returned to his family and found that they had changed addresses and left a mountain of work for him to handle. While helping the clan leader catch up, he told them that the Second Prince had become his little brother after ending their feud.

• Uchiha Hiko returned to the family gates and found a notice announcing their changed address, which he could not tear down.
• The clan leader and Hinata Hinata greeted Uchiha Hiko and explained that they had struggled to handle his duties while he was away.
• Uchiha Hiko complained about being handed more work, then helped the clan leader organize the family's affairs.
• Uchiha Hiko teased Hinata Hinata about his new little brother, then revealed that the Second Prince had joined him after the two princes stopped fighting.
• Hinata Hinata expressed disbelief, and Uchiha Hiko insisted that he was telling the truth.

Uchiha Hiko asked the clan chief about the Hunters, but the clan chief reacted with shock and refused to explain. Hinata Hinata offered to share what she knew, and Uchiha Hiko took her aside to hear more.

• Uchiha Hiko asked the clan chief and Hinata Hinata to help clean up, then told them he wanted to learn about the Hunters.
• The clan chief froze at the question, walked away without answering, and told Uchiha Hiko that the subject was not for a child to know.
• Hinata Hinata urged Uchiha Hiko to understand the clan chief's difficulties, but Uchiha Hiko remained convinced the chief knew about the Hunters.
• Hinata Hinata offered to provide information about the Hunters, and Uchiha Hiko took her by the hand to hear what she knew.

Uchiha Hiko learned that the clan chief rejected the Hunters because they had accidentally injured his father, and he worried that his earlier remarks had reopened that old wound. Hinata Hinata advised him to greet the clan chief casually the next morning, and Hiko put the plan into action.

• Hinata Hinata told Uchiha Hiko that the Hunters had accidentally injured the clan chief's innocent father.
• Uchiha Hiko realized he might have offended the clan chief and asked Hinata Hinata what he should do.
• Hinata Hinata advised Uchiha Hiko to act normally and greet the clan chief early the next morning.
• Uchiha Hiko prepared for the morning and greeted the clan chief, who teased him for waking up early.

Uchiha Hiko learned that the clan was running smoothly but the weather had grown dangerously hot, and the clan head suspected the Flame Mythical Beast was about to awaken. Hiko confidently promised to defeat it, but the clan head’s sneer left him wondering why his abilities were in doubt.

• Hinata Hinata hinted that she had helped Uchiha Hiko deal with the clan head, but refused to explain her reasoning.
• Uchiha Hiko asked the clan head how things had gone while he was away, and learned the clan was being maintained well.
• The clan head warned Uchiha Hiko that trouble was brewing outside the clan, as the weather had become intensely hot.
• Hinata Hinata said the Flame Mythical Beast might soon emerge and awaken.
• Uchiha Hiko claimed he could defeat the Flame Mythical Beast, but the clan head sneered, prompting Hiko to demand an explanation.

Uchiha Hiko persuaded the clan chief to set aside his longstanding grudge against the Hunters so they could seek help against the Flame Mythical Beast. He prepared to ask the Eldest Prince to authorize the Hunters’ involvement and left the village with gifts from the clan chief.

• The clan chief warned Uchiha Hiko that the Flame Mythical Beast was too powerful, then admitted his old feud with the Hunters had severed ties between them.
• Uchiha Hiko promised that the Hunters would help and pledged to handle the matter himself.
• Uchiha Hiko explained that the Eldest Prince had approved the Hunters’ status and could issue an order to bring them in.
• The clan chief agreed to leave the negotiations to Uchiha Hiko, though he would not accompany him because of his unresolved resentment.
• The clan chief gave Uchiha Hiko gifts for the journey, and Uchiha Hiko set out to seek the Eldest Prince’s help.

Uchiha Hiko returned to the Eldest Prince and helped him sort through their father’s belongings before asking to speak privately with the Second Prince. He reminded the Second Prince of his plan to control the Hunters, leaving them poised to address the matter together.

• Uchiha Hiko left the clan territory and went to the Eldest Prince’s residence.
• Uchiha Hiko called to the princes, and the Eldest Prince answered that he and the Second Prince were sorting through their father’s belongings.
• Uchiha Hiko quickly organized the items, impressing the Eldest Prince.
• Uchiha Hiko asked to speak with the Second Prince, and the Eldest Prince agreed while urging him to stay safe.
• Uchiha Hiko reminded the Second Prince of his wish to control an entire village of Hunters, and the Second Prince recalled the plan.