Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Obito watched Uchiha Itachi train while Hiruzen Sarutobi investigated reports of a masked figure near the Uchiha. Hiruzen assigned Kakashi and Hyuga Makoto to a special operations team, leaving Makoto with permission to seek new techniques in the village’s secret vault.

• Uchiha Obito observed Uchiha Itachi training and considered whether Itachi might eventually work for him.
• Hyuga Makoto and Kakashi showed Hiruzen Sarutobi a drawing of the masked figure they had seen with Itachi, and Hiruzen compared it with Danzo’s matching profile.
• Hiruzen ordered Kakashi and Hyuga Makoto to investigate Itachi and the masked figure in secret.
• The Sensory Team captain reported another barrier crossing, and the compiled sightings placed the intruder near the Uchiha area.
• Hiruzen asked Hyuga Makoto to recommend a Hyuga for the Anbu, then agreed to let Makoto visit the secret vault to learn useful techniques.

Hyuga Makoto entered the Hokage secret vault with Kakashi to study its jutsu and clan techniques, while jokingly suggesting Kakashi carve enemies’ loved ones into his Earth Release walls. Hiruzen Sarutobi later watched through a crystal ball and was stunned to see a powerful chakra aura and two markings on Makoto’s face that resembled the Yin Seal.

• Kakashi escorted Hyuga Makoto to the secret vault and urged him to focus on studying the jutsu Hiruzen had made available.
• Hyuga Makoto asked Kakashi why he did not use his Earth Release walls to carve statues of enemies’ Kage or loved ones and distract them in battle.
• Hiruzen finished reviewing documents about Uchiha Itachi and used a crystal ball to check on Kakashi and Makoto in the vault.
• Hiruzen saw that Makoto had examined several scrolls and then froze when he noticed markings on Makoto’s face and a powerful chakra aura around him.

Hyuga Makoto impressed Hiruzen Sarutobi by mastering the Yin Seal in a single afternoon, then considered how to develop it into a way for the Hyuga Branch Family to escape the Caged Bird. He left excited about his gains and realized his plans might start a “Tattoo Era” early.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi questioned Hyuga Makoto about mastering the Yin Seal, and Makoto confirmed he had learned it but still needed to accumulate chakra.
• Hyuga Makoto admitted he had secretly studied Sealing Jutsu because he belonged to the Hyuga Branch Family, and Hiruzen encouraged him to develop the Yin Seal further.
• After Hiruzen Sarutobi and Kakashi departed, Hyuga Makoto celebrated learning secret techniques such as Five Layered Rashomon, Adamantine Sealing Chains, and the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique.
• Hyuga Makoto decided to combine the principles of the Yin Seal and Orochimaru's Curse Mark to create versions that could affect the Caged Bird and strengthen the Hyuga Branch Family.
• Hyuga Makoto considered making a version that stored natural energy, then realized his plans might bring forward the start of the Tattoo Era.

Hyuga Makoto trained Hinata, Neji, and Naruto while discussing the Hyuga clan’s Caged Bird seal with Hyuga Hiashi. Their conversation hinted that Makoto might be able to remedy past regrets, but it was interrupted by approaching Anbu members.

• Hyuga Makoto pushed Hinata, Neji, and Naruto through training, then encouraged them with the story of a hard-working Jonin before teasing them about how easily he had learned as a child.
• Hyuga Hiashi watched the children train and thanked Hyuga Makoto for helping Hinata and Neji improve.
• Hyuga Makoto told Hyuga Hiashi that Neji might be suited for the Anbu and said he needed Hiashi’s help.
• Hyuga Makoto asked Hyuga Hiashi how he viewed the Caged Bird, and Hiashi acknowledged that the seal had become distorted and caused Hizashi’s death.
• Hyuga Makoto suggested that some regrets might still be remedied, but he and Hyuga Hiashi turned toward several Anbu members approaching them.

Danzo decided to send Anbu after Orochimaru to learn about the Mysterious Organization. Hiruzen assigned Kakashi and Hyuga Makoto to investigate Orochimaru in the Land of Fields, and the pair left after Makoto reframed the mission as a trap for the organization.

• Danzo grew furious that Orochimaru had withheld information about the Mysterious Organization and decided to use Anbu to investigate him.
• Kakashi and Hyuga Makoto received an urgent summons from Hiruzen, interrupting their vacation.
• Hiruzen assigned them to investigate signs of Orochimaru in the Land of Fields and said Jiraiya was already on his way from the Land of Hot Water.
• Makoto argued that including Uchiha Itachi and Jiraiya would pressure the Mysterious Organization to reveal itself, and Hiruzen accepted his interpretation of the plan.
• As Kakashi and Makoto prepared to depart, Hiruzen suggested that they burn incense first for good luck and a safe return.

Kakashi’s team traveled to the Land of Fields, where Hyuga Makoto considered a new mission involving the Akatsuki and White Zetsu. Uchiha Obito and Zetsu prepared to observe Uchiha Itachi, while Black Zetsu remained unsettled by a strange familiarity he sensed in Makoto.

• Tenzo teased Kakashi and Hyuga Makoto about burning incense before their mission, and Kakashi told the team to focus and hurry after Jiraiya.
• Hyuga Makoto noticed Uchiha Obito’s covert surveillance and considered how to use the new mission to join the Akatsuki and obtain White Zetsu.
• Uchiha Obito and Black Zetsu emerged in the Land of Fields and discussed observing Uchiha Itachi after Orochimaru’s exposure.
• Obito decided to summon Juzo Biwa as reinforcement, while Black Zetsu warned that Jiraiya and the Mysterious Person could complicate the mission.
• White Zetsu questioned Black Zetsu about his interest in Hyuga Makoto, and Black Zetsu admitted that Makoto felt strangely familiar.

Kakashi's team met Jiraiya in the Land of Fields and set out to find Orochimaru. After Hyuga Makoto detected chakra-marked snakes in the forest, the group prepared for an attack, and several figures appeared around them.

• Kakashi greeted Jiraiya, who joked about the Hyuga and Uchiha members on Kakashi's team before asking where Orochimaru was.
• Kakashi showed Jiraiya a map marking Orochimaru's likely location, and the group headed into the forest.
• Hyuga Makoto noticed chakra traces on numerous snakes and warned that Orochimaru's forces seemed to know their route.
• Kakashi and Hyuga Makoto suspected that someone had begun acting against them, and Kakashi wondered if there was an insider among the group.
• Hyuga Makoto called the team to battle as several figures landed in the surrounding trees and one insulted them.

Orochimaru and Jiraiya fought while Kakashi’s group clashed with Scorpion and Juzo Biwa. Hyuga Makoto revealed a strange Curse Mark and overwhelmed Juzo Biwa, leaving Uchiha Obito puzzled and Black Zetsu stunned.

• Jiraiya confronted Orochimaru and attacked him after demanding that he return to Konoha.
• Scorpion sent iron-sand attacks against Kakashi’s group, but Hyuga Makoto deflected them with Rotation.
• Juzo Biwa engaged Hyuga Makoto while Scorpion’s puppets fought Kakashi, Tenzo, and Uchiha Itachi.
• Hyuga Makoto’s Curse Mark spread as he broke the Kubikiribōchō and shattered Juzo Biwa’s Water Dragon Bullet.
• Hyuga Makoto struck Juzo Biwa with overwhelming force, while Uchiha Obito wondered about his power and Black Zetsu reacted in shock.

Black Zetsu concluded that Hyuga Makoto might be one of a mysterious clan member’s former vessels, while Makoto continued using his fight with Juzo Biwa to mislead those watching. As Juzo unleashed a Great Waterfall Technique, Makoto created a Shadow Clone and disappeared beneath the water.

• Black Zetsu grew alarmed by Makoto’s Chakra and Curse Marks, then connected them to Kaguya’s vessel technique and suspected Makoto had once been a candidate.
• Black Zetsu reasoned that a surviving member of Kaguya’s clan had experimented on multiple candidates and might be hiding in the Shinobi World.
• Makoto battered Juzo Biwa, whose Water Clone and broken Kubikiribōchō could not keep him from being thrown through trees.
• Makoto assessed Juzo’s weakened state and considered how to mislead Black Zetsu and give Uchiha Obito a chance to cover for him.
• Juzo unleashed Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique, and Makoto produced a Shadow Clone before his real body vanished into the rushing water.

Jiraiya and Orochimaru prepared to fight seriously before a strange force interrupted them. Kakashi and his team nearly fell to Scorpion, but the masked man appeared, recognized Scorpion as a descendant of Kaguya, and attacked him with a black sphere.

• Jiraiya questioned Orochimaru about his organization and its goals, but Orochimaru refused to explain and said he wanted the organization's interesting pair of eyes.
• Jiraiya and Orochimaru stopped their duel after sensing something unusual in the sky.
• Scorpion sent his puppets and Iron Sand against Kakashi, Uchiha Itachi, and Tenzo, while Kakashi used a carving of Scorpion's parents to distract him.
• Kakashi struck toward Scorpion's core with Lightning Cutter, but Scorpion counterattacked with Iron Sand and tried to take them both down.
• The Iron Sand froze, and the masked man appeared, called Scorpion a descendant of Kaguya, and launched a black sphere that produced a strange explosion.
• The masked man tumbled from the sky in a sorry state as a mushroom cloud rose without causing apparent damage.

Hyuga Makoto, disguised as a white-clad figure, confronted Obito and Black Zetsu and overwhelmed them with a powerful attack. As Orochimaru and Scorpion joined forces against him, Makoto prepared to reveal some of the world’s truth before they died.

• Jiraiya checked on Kakashi, Tenzo, and Uchiha Itachi after the white-clad figure appeared, and Kakashi identified him as a dangerous enemy.
• Hyuga Makoto recognized Obito and Black Zetsu, while Black Zetsu feared that Makoto’s eyes and power confirmed his suspicions.
• Makoto attacked Obito and Black Zetsu with a black Chakra Bead, splitting the ground and forcing Black Zetsu back aboveground.
• Black Zetsu urged everyone to attack together, and Orochimaru summoned Manda as Scorpion unleashed an Iron Sand barrier against Makoto.
• Makoto remained calm as the attacks converged and said he would reveal some of the truth of the world before they died.

Hyuga Makoto revealed that Chakra came from a forbidden act within a clan and overwhelmed Scorpion, Orochimaru, and Manda with immense power. As Kakashi and the others fled, Obito and Black Zetsu attacked, and Hyuga Makoto unleashed a golden strike while confronting Black Zetsu about Kaguya.

• Hyuga Makoto returned to Kakashi and the others, then attacked Scorpion and explained that Chakra had been passed down by the descendants of a punished traitor.
• Hyuga Makoto repelled Orochimaru’s Wind Release and sent Manda crashing into the ground, prompting Kakashi to order the others to retreat.
• Hyuga Makoto prepared to draw on power from the moon while Kakashi, Jiraiya, Tenzo, and Uchiha Itachi withdrew.
• Orochimaru and Obito launched a surprise attack, but Hyuga Makoto evaded Obito’s strike and severed his right arm.
• Hyuga Makoto addressed the hidden Black Zetsu as a descendant of Kaguya, then unleashed a streak of golden light that shook the sky and earth.

The Otsutsuki elders discussed the Tenseigan’s stolen power and worried about protecting Toneri. After the Orbital Cannon devastated the Land of Fields, Orochimaru, Scorpion, Obito, and Black Zetsu speculated about the Mysterious Person and Kaguya, while Hyuga Makoto secretly completed his side quest.

• The Otsutsuki elders explained that someone was siphoning energy from the Tenseigan and rejected taking action because they needed to protect Toneri.
• The Orbital Cannon struck the forest in the Land of Fields, and Orochimaru, Scorpion, Obito, and Black Zetsu emerged from space amid the devastation.
• Scorpion questioned Obito about the Mysterious Person, while Orochimaru and Scorpion discussed the figure’s claims about Chakra, Kaguya, and the Sage of Six Paths.
• Black Zetsu concluded that the Mysterious Person might be targeting the Uchiha and decided to investigate while gathering allies.
• Obito noticed someone was missing as Hyuga Makoto’s system announced that he had completed his side quest and gained Black Zetsu’s Yin-Yang Release knowledge.

Hyuga Makoto gained Black Zetsu’s complete knowledge of Yin-Yang Release and planned to study it while keeping a low profile. Meanwhile, his Shadow Clone revealed clues about the masked man to Jiraiya and Kakashi, and Makoto’s main body awakened with two Chakra Beads and wondered if he was evolving toward Otsutsuki Hamura.

• Hyuga Makoto received Black Zetsu’s knowledge of Yin-Yang Release and decided to learn it before switching places with his clone.
• Jiraiya and Kakashi discussed Orochimaru’s interest in a pair of eyes, and Hyuga Makoto’s Shadow Clone suggested the target was the masked man’s Sharingan.
• Hyuga Makoto’s Shadow Clone revealed that the masked man’s Sharingan had a shuriken-shaped pattern and that he had appeared suddenly, leading Jiraiya and Kakashi to suspect the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Hyuga Makoto’s Shadow Clone drew the Flying Thunder God Mark he had seen on the masked man’s back, shocking Jiraiya and Kakashi.
• Hyuga Makoto’s main body opened his eyes, sensed two Chakra Beads behind him, and wondered whether he was evolving toward Otsutsuki Hamura.

Hyuga Makoto grew stronger after absorbing Black Zetsu’s knowledge and sensed a new ability forming in his Tenseigan. In Konoha, he advised Hiruzen Sarutobi that Uchiha Itachi was central to investigating the masked man behind the Nine-Tails Incident, and suspected the two had been in contact for a long time.

• Hyuga Makoto found that Black Zetsu’s Yin-Yang Release knowledge boosted his understanding, bloodline, and Tenseigan progress.
• Hyuga Makoto noticed stronger bones, faster recovery, and his Tenseigan absorbing more Chakra as a new ability developed.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi, Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Hyuga Makoto discussed evidence that Orochimaru and a space-ninjutsu user were connected to the Nine-Tails Incident.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi worried that informing the Uchiha about the misunderstanding could worsen their resentment and lead them to join forces with Uchiha Itachi.
• Hyuga Makoto suggested focusing the investigation on Uchiha Itachi and said he suspected Itachi and the masked man had been in contact for a long time.

Hyuga Makoto led Hiruzen Sarutobi, Kakashi, and Jiraiya to suspect that a mysterious figure had cultivated Uchiha Itachi’s Mangekyo and may have been behind an old mission where Itachi was the sole survivor. They agreed to investigate in secret, and as Hiruzen reconsidered Itachi’s conduct, Makoto received a new exclusive mission.

• Hyuga Makoto pointed out that Uchiha Itachi had awakened his Sharingan at eight after surviving an attack that killed his employer and companions.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi, Kakashi, and Jiraiya suspected that the attacker had deliberately spared Itachi and might have helped him obtain the Mangekyo.
• Hyuga Makoto proposed tracking how the mysterious figure had cultivated Itachi so they could predict the figure’s actions and capture them.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered the group to keep their theory secret, added Jiraiya to the investigation team, and offered Makoto more funding and access to records.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi reconsidered his claim that Itachi was behaving himself, while Makoto’s system announced a new World Nucleus exclusive mission.

Hiruzen Sarutobi confirmed that the masked intruder possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan and suspected Uchiha Itachi was concealing a ruthless plan. Meanwhile, Hyuga Makoto received a new mission urging him to rise above his position, and Hinata and Neji arrived at his home.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura that Makoto had confirmed the intruder possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, space abilities, and Minato's Flying Thunder God Mark.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi questioned whether Uchiha Itachi had withheld information to use Konoha against the Uchiha, while Danzo remained suspicious of the clan.
• Hyuga Makoto received an exclusive mission called “I Am Hyuga Too,” which urged him to stop languishing beneath others and included a task about taking a lord as his adoptive father.
• Hyuga Makoto decided that the mission aligned with his plans to inspect jutsu records and challenge the Hyuga Main Branch elders.
• Hinata brought food to Hyuga Makoto, and Neji arrived soon afterward; Makoto was pleased that Neji had come at what he called a great time.

Hyuga Makoto used his sealing abilities to weaken Neji’s Caged Bird and remove its Byakugan restriction, giving Neji hope of freedom. He then teased Neji into calling him his adoptive father, while Hyuga Hiashi arrived and witnessed the scene.

• Hyuga Hiashi worried over the Main Branch’s resistance to change and went to check on Hinata at Hyuga Makoto’s house.
• Hinata examined Neji’s Caged Bird mark while Hyuga Makoto asked Neji what he would do for freedom.
• Neji said he would do anything if someone could free him from the Caged Bird, and Hyuga Makoto began altering the seal.
• Neji’s Byakugan restriction disappeared and the Caged Bird weakened, leaving him overwhelmed with gratitude.
• Hyuga Makoto demanded that Neji acknowledge him as his adoptive father, just as Hyuga Hiashi arrived and stared in confusion.

Hyuga Makoto discussed his Caged Bird seal with Hyuga Hiashi, who approved cautious testing and urged him to build his standing within the clan. Meanwhile, Uchiha Fugaku pressed Itachi to attend a clan meeting, while Obito and Black Zetsu planned to exploit the growing conflict between Itachi, the Uchiha, and Konoha.

• Hyuga Hiashi praised Makoto for developing a way to suppress the Caged Bird and advised him to test it on a small scale rather than publicize it.
• Hiashi warned Makoto that lifting the seal could spark conflict, and said he needed to gain prestige and help the clan grow stronger.
• Hiashi asked Makoto to take Hinata home, called him by the name Uncle, and reflected on his regrets as Neji remained silent.
• Uchiha Fugaku told Itachi to attend the next clan meeting, but Itachi resisted and silently considered his strained position between the village and clan.
• Obito and Black Zetsu watched the Uchiha, planning to exploit Itachi's dilemma by leaking information and investigating the descendant of Kaguya and Makoto.

Black Zetsu suspected Hyuga Makoto might be the power his mother intended to harvest, while Makoto spent time with Kakashi and Jiraiya at a bathhouse and considered how strong he had become. The scene ended when Makoto spotted Naruto passing by and his system flashed.

• Black Zetsu considered whether Hyuga Makoto was the power his mother planned to harvest after she was unsealed.
• Hyuga Makoto complained about joining Kakashi and Jiraiya at the bathhouse while Jiraiya peeked through the wall and Kakashi defended their surveillance of Uchiha Itachi.
• Kakashi and Jiraiya accused Makoto of keeping mission funds, and Makoto justified saving the money for future expenses.
• Jiraiya and Kakashi praised Makoto's talent, and Makoto assessed his strength as potentially strong-Kage or super-Kage level when fully unleashed.
• Makoto used his Byakugan to offer Jiraiya a look through the wall, and Kakashi covered Makoto's eyes.
• Makoto spotted Naruto passing outside the bathhouse as his system flashed.