Chapter Summaries

Tsunade took Hikawa to Kushina Uzumaki to learn the Rasengan, while Hikawa urged Tsunade to become Hokage and free Kushina from Konoha’s restrictions. Kushina taught Hikawa the second stage of Rasengan training, which he completed by sunset.

• Tsunade gave Hikawa the mission reward and arranged for him to learn the Rasengan from Kushina Uzumaki.
• Hikawa suggested that Tsunade become Hokage to remove Danzo and restore Kushina’s freedom, but Tsunade warned that the Hokage could not act as a dictator.
• Kushina agreed to teach Hikawa the Rasengan’s training method and demonstrated how to burst a water-filled balloon with controlled Chakra.
• Hikawa trained until sunset and successfully burst his water balloon, completing the second stage.
• Tsunade and Hikawa left after Kushina agreed to teach him the next stage the following day.

Hikawa mastered the Rasengan, then learned the Shadow Clone Technique and Crescent Moon Dance while training with Maruboshi Kosuke. By December, he had gained an Earth Release entry and acquired the Mangaka talent entry, which improved his eyesight.

• Hikawa mastered the Rasengan and joined Kushina Uzumaki, Tsunade, and the Nine-Tails for a card game, where the Nine-Tails secretly used an extra tail to borrow his luck.
• After lunch, Hikawa visited Yuhi Kurenai and learned that she had become Maruboshi Kosuke's student; Kosuke agreed to teach Hikawa the Shadow Clone Technique and Crescent Moon Dance.
• Hikawa learned both techniques and gained the Earth Release Chunin entry after sparring with Hatake Kakashi.
• In December, Hikawa acquired the Mangaka talent entry after owning three bestselling manga, and his eyesight improved.

Hikawa met Samui, the Kumogakure ninja sent to check on him and deliver a reward. After Samui identified herself and gave him a Lightning Release Chakra Crystal, she challenged him to a fight on Yugito Nii’s behalf.

• Hikawa learned from Tsuchihashi that a Kumogakure ninja would meet him in Konoha, and agreed to rendezvous at Cat Granny’s shop.
• Hikawa arrived at Cat Granny’s Ninja Tool Shop and paid Hina to guide him to the Empty District.
• Hina brought Hikawa to a room where he met Samui, who verified the Kumogakure restriction seal inside his body.
• Samui gave Hikawa a Lightning Release Chakra Crystal as a reward and said he could use it to enhance his Lightning Release.
• Samui drew her short sword and challenged Hikawa to settle Yugito Nii’s grudge over losing to him.

Hikawa defeated Samui in a spar, earned her respect, and met with Dodai before commissioning two blades from Cat Granny. He returned to Konoha to train in medical ninjutsu, then received his upgraded Thunder Fire Sword and new wakizashi, Zangetsu, ahead of the fourth-grade Final Exam.

• Hikawa beat Samui in a series of sword fights, then offered to teach her and patted her head; Samui acknowledged him as a fellow Kumogakure ninja.
• Dodai confirmed Hikawa’s seal remained intact, thanked him on the Raikage’s behalf, and said Tsuchihashi would contact him if needed.
• Hikawa asked Cat Granny to forge his samurai sword with a Lightning Release Chakra Crystal and make him a Chakra Metal wakizashi.
• Hina escorted Hikawa back to Konoha, where he paid her one thousand ryō to let him pet her head.
• Hikawa operated alongside Yakushi Nonō and asked her to teach him the Mystical Palm Technique, then continued training as March arrived.
• Hikawa collected Thunder Fire Sword and Zangetsu from Cat Granny before the Final Exam; Thunder Fire Sword gained stronger Lightning Release effects, while Zangetsu received standard Chakra Metal enhancements.

Hikawa submitted a new novel concept to Tsuchihashi, then encouraged Yuhi Kurenai as she prepared for the Ninja Academy exams. Kurenai defeated Sarutobi Asuma in the practical exam and retained third place, while Hikawa remained first and Kakashi second.

• Hikawa gave Tsuchihashi the outline for "Redo of Healer," and Tsuchihashi agreed to arrange for the novel and manga to be published together.
• Hikawa advised Yuhi Kurenai to use Water Release to distract Asuma before catching him with genjutsu, then went with her to Ichiraku Ramen.
• Eiichirō announced that Hikawa had placed first in the theory exam and Obito Uchiha had placed last.
• Yuhi Kurenai used Water Release and genjutsu to defeat Sarutobi Asuma in their practical exam match.
• Hikawa, Hatake Kakashi, and Yuhi Kurenai placed first, second, and third, respectively, and Asuma treated their classmates to grilled meat.

Hikawa sparred with Uchiha Shisui and defeated his newly created Uchiha Style: Sword Leap Flame with the Rasengan. After placing first in his test, Hikawa asked Tsunade to graduate him next year and assign Yuhi Kurenai and Rin Nohara as his teammates, and Tsunade agreed.

• Uchiha Shisui arrived late and challenged Hikawa to a spar, showing off his new Fire-and-Wind-enhanced Uchiha Style: Sword Leap Flame.
• Hikawa broke Shisui's flaming attack with the Rasengan, and Shisui conceded the match.
• Obito Uchiha grew envious as Rin Nohara watched Hikawa, and a tomoe briefly appeared in Obito's eye before vanishing unnoticed.
• Hikawa waited for Tsunade and told her he had placed first in his test.
• Hikawa asked Tsunade to let him graduate next year and choose Yuhi Kurenai and Rin Nohara as his teammates, and Tsunade agreed before telling him to cook.

Hikawa operated on Hatake Kakashi after Kakashi was injured while training in Lightning Release, then learned that Tsunade had discovered Uchiha Mikoto was pregnant. The chapter left Hikawa anticipating the birth of Mikoto’s child.

• Hikawa was promoted to attending physician after mastering the B-Rank Medical Special Jōnin entry and successfully performing surgeries on his own.
• Hikawa operated on Hatake Kakashi, treating his burns and nervous system damage after Kakashi accidentally drew too much lightning during training.
• Sarutobi Asuma told Hikawa that Kakashi was trying to create a Lightning Release technique inspired by the Rasengan, and Hikawa thought Kakashi might develop the Lightning Blade.
• Hikawa gained the B-Rank Doom Alchemist entry, which doubled the potency of poisons he made.
• Hatake Kakashi woke up and told Hikawa he felt well, while Hikawa reassured him that his friends would understand his recovery break.
• Tsunade told Hikawa that Uchiha Mikoto was pregnant after examining her at the Uchiha Clan compound.

Tsunade cooked dinner for Hikawa, who asked her to help him learn the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique. The academy students applied for early graduation, and Sarutobi Hiruzen began arranging their teams as Tsunade insisted she would lead Hikawa’s team with Yuhi Kurenai and Rin Nohara.

• Tsunade cooked teriyaki chicken thighs and tofu vegetable soup, and Hikawa endured the salty meal while asking to learn the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique.
• Tsunade agreed to ask Sarutobi Hiruzen for the technique and teased Hikawa about accompanying her to the casino; Hikawa said he had already learned the Mystical Palm Technique and Chakra Scalpel.
• At the academy, Rin Nohara decided to apply for early graduation, and Obito Uchiha applied too so he could graduate alongside her.
• Hikawa collected the early-graduation applications from his classmates, including one he had written for Hatake Kakashi, and delivered them to Eiichirō.
• Eiichirō took the applications to Sarutobi Hiruzen, who approved the list and began considering how to form the students’ teams.
• Tsunade asked Sarutobi Hiruzen to give Hikawa the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique as a graduation gift and insisted she would lead a team with Hikawa, Yuhi Kurenai, and Rin Nohara.

Hikawa and his friends prepared for the Ninja Academy graduation assessment while speculating about their future teams. As the exam approached, Uchiha Shisui arrived for early graduation, and Sarutobi Hiruzen discussed the graduates and team leaders with his advisors.

• Yuhi Kurenai said she wanted to protect Hikawa, and Yuhi Shinko realized Hikawa would look after her instead.
• Hikawa, Yuhi Kurenai, and Sarutobi Asuma headed to the academy, where Asuma revealed he had asked Sarutobi Hiruzen to put them on the same team.
• Rin Nohara, Obito Uchiha, and Hatake Kakashi joined them, and Hikawa asked Kakashi about his Lightning Release research.
• Uchiha Shisui revealed that he had applied for early graduation because Fugaku Uchiha urged him to prepare for the approaching war.
• While waiting for the assessment, Hikawa completed his B-Rank Genjutsu Special Jōnin entry, which doubled the effects of his genjutsu.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen gave Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu the graduate and team-leader lists, and Koharu noted that Minato was among the team leaders.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō argued over the graduating students’ squad assignments, with Hiruzen rejecting Danzō’s attempts to claim Uchiha Shisui and object to Obito Uchiha joining Minato’s team. At the graduation exam, Obito Uchiha and Hikawa passed, and Hikawa gained new talent entries that greatly increased his Chakra potential.

• Shimura Danzō barged into Sarutobi Hiruzen’s meeting and tried to recruit Hikawa, Hatake Kakashi, and Uchiha Shisui as his students.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen assigned Uchiha Shisui to Hatake Sakumo’s squad with Asuma and Shizune, and placed Hikawa with Yuhi Kurenai and Rin Nohara.
• Shimura Danzō objected to Obito Uchiha joining Minato’s squad with Hatake Kakashi and Might Guy, but Sarutobi Hiruzen defended the assignment and ordered Danzō to stop arguing.
• Obito Uchiha passed the Three Body Technique exam with full marks, received his Konoha Headband, and proudly returned to class.
• Hikawa passed with full marks, received his Konoha Headband, and acquired the God of Study and Ninja Academy First entries.
• Hikawa synthesized the Genius Genin entry, which increased his Chakra refinement speed by 100% and his Chakra limit by 50%.

Hikawa and his classmates collected their Ninja Archives and celebrated graduating, while Sarutobi Hiruzen finalized the new teams and explained why he had chosen their leaders. The chapter ended with Namikaze Minato accepting Team Three and learning that Obito Uchiha’s assignment was meant to ease tensions with the Uchiha Clan.

• Hikawa reviewed the requirements for advancing his Genius Genin entry and gained the Five Elements Chunin entry after collecting all five elemental entries.
• Hikawa and his classmates collected their Ninja Archives, then he invited them and Shizune to celebrate at a grilled meat restaurant.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen finalized the team assignments and chose Hatake Sakumo to lead Team Two, explaining that he trusted him to guide his son, Sarutobi Asuma.
• Namikaze Minato returned from the Land of Lightning and accepted responsibility for Team Three, which included Hatake Kakashi, Obito Uchiha, and Might Guy.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen told Namikaze Minato that he had assigned Obito Uchiha to the team in hopes of easing tensions with the Uchiha Clan.

Eiichirō assigned the new graduates to teams, and Obito Uchiha awakened his Sharingan after learning he would not be teamed with Rin Nohara. Tsunade arrived late to lead Hikawa, Rin Nohara, and Yuhi Kurenai, then took Hikawa to find missions without testing the team first.

• Eiichirō announced Team One as Hikawa, Yuhi Kurenai, and Rin Nohara, prompting Obito Uchiha to awaken his Sharingan in distress.
• Eiichirō assigned Uchiha Shisui, Sarutobi Asuma, and Shizune to Team Two, and Hatake Kakashi, Obito Uchiha, and Might Guy to Team Three.
• Namikaze Minato and Hatake Sakumo arrived as teachers for Teams Three and Two, while Hikawa, Rin Nohara, and Yuhi Kurenai waited for Tsunade.
• Tsunade arrived late and asked her new teammates to introduce their abilities on the Academy rooftop.
• Hikawa listed more than forty techniques, astonishing Rin Nohara, Yuhi Kurenai, and Tsunade.
• Tsunade told the team to meet at her doorstep the next morning and took Hikawa to the Hokage Building to find missions, dismissing his suggestion that she test their strength.

Hikawa and his teammates began their first D-rank mission while Tsunade started teaching him the Yin Seal and assigned the girls training with their new ninjutsu. The chapter ended with Tsunade preparing to teach Hikawa as Yuhi Kurenai and Rin Nohara worked on catching ninja cats.

• Tsunade chose a D-rank mission for the team to collect ninja-cat paw prints in the Paw Encyclopedia.
• Tsunade took Hikawa to the Hokage Building and obtained the Second Hokage's Water Release scrolls for Yuhi Kurenai.
• Fugaku Uchiha learned that Uchiha Shisui was assigned to Hatake Sakumo's team and that Obito Uchiha was studying under Namikaze Minato, and he took it as goodwill from Sarutobi Hiruzen.
• Hikawa and Yuhi Kurenai met Rin Nohara at Tsunade's home, where Tsunade gave Rin Medical Ninjutsu training and Kurenai Water Style training.
• Tsunade gave Hikawa the Yin Seal scroll and explained its principles while the team took on the ninja-cat mission.
• Tsunade assigned Yuhi Kurenai and Rin Nohara to catch cats for the mission, then began teaching Hikawa the Yin Seal.

After Team One qualified for C-Rank missions, Tsunade chose an escort mission to take merchant Eijiro to the Land of Grass. The team reached the country and settled in for the night, where Tsunade warned them to watch out for Kusagakure ninja.

• Hikawa showed Tsunade his progress with the Yin Seal and the sensing ninjutsu Entry he had gained while Yuhi Kurenai and Rin Nohara continued improving their skills.
• Tsunade selected a mission to escort Eijiro to a metropolis in the Land of Grass, and Sarutobi Asuma later celebrated his own C-Rank mission with Hikawa and their friends over grilled meat.
• Hikawa defeated Sarutobi Asuma in a spar and obtained two ninjutsu from him before the group arranged to meet the next morning for the escort mission.
• Tsunade led Hikawa, Yuhi Kurenai, Rin Nohara, Eijiro, and his two companions north, and they reached the Land of Grass by the following evening.
• Tsunade warned the team that Kusagakure had a poor reputation and told them to remain alert around its ninja.

Hikawa and Yuhi Kurenai defeated a Kusagakure ambush during their escort mission, and Hikawa captured a female chunin for questioning. He learned that the red-haired woman he sought had gone to the Land of Waterfall with Lord Shun Yuan, then killed the captive.

• Hikawa and Yuhi Kurenai kept watch overnight, then the group continued into the Land of Grass the next morning.
• Hikawa detected eight Kusagakure ninja hiding in an abandoned village and went in with Yuhi Kurenai to confront them.
• Hikawa and Yuhi Kurenai quickly killed or incapacitated the ambushers, while Hikawa trapped the remaining female chunin with a genjutsu as she tried to flee.
• Hikawa interrogated the female chunin, who admitted they had attacked to rob the group after mistaking them for easy targets.
• The female chunin revealed that a red-haired woman who could restore injuries and Chakra by being bitten had gone with Lord Shun Yuan to the Land of Waterfall.
• Hikawa killed the female chunin with his sword after questioning her.

After learning that Kusagakure had captured a red-haired woman who could heal others with her body, Tsunade led Hikawa, Yuhi Kurenai, and Rin Nohara to the Land of Waterfall to rescue her. They found Shun Yuan’s group, and the chapter ended with Tsunade killing the Kusagakure jonin in a single blow.

• Hikawa told Tsunade that Kusagakure had captured a red-haired woman with a healing ability, and Tsunade suspected she was an Uzumaki survivor named Shun Yuan.
• Tsunade summoned the Slug Lord to contact Konoha and request help locating Shun Yuan, then continued escorting Eijiro and his companions to the capital of the Land of Grass.
• After delivering Eijiro’s group, Tsunade accepted an A-rank rescue mission to the Land of Waterfall and traveled there with Hikawa, Yuhi Kurenai, and Rin Nohara.
• While waiting for the Slug Lord’s report, Tsunade agreed to teach Rin Nohara taijutsu, and Hikawa dried the women’s hair and cooked rabbits for the group.
• The Slug Lord guided the group to four Kusagakure ninja, including a red-haired woman; Tsunade ordered an attack and killed their jonin, Shun Yuan, with one punch.

Hikawa, Tsunade, and their team rescued Uzumaki Miho from Kusagakure and brought her to Konoha, where Sarutobi Hiruzen arranged for her to live with Kushina Uzumaki. Kushina welcomed Miho and vowed to avenge her, while Hikawa suggested waiting for a war to strike Kusagakure.

• Hikawa and Yuhi Kurenai killed two fleeing Kusagakure ninja while Rin Nohara treated and reassured Uzumaki Miho.
• Tsunade learned Miho was an Uzumaki and promised to take her to Konoha to see Kushina.
• Hikawa burned the Kusagakure ninja's bodies, and Sarutobi Hiruzen approved Miho living with Kushina and paid the mission reward.
• Kushina welcomed Miho, became furious about her abuse, and agreed with Hikawa's suggestion to wait until war broke out before attacking Kusagakure.
• Tsunade examined Miho, found that she had lost Chakra but was otherwise healthy, and prescribed medicine for her recovery.

Kushina Uzumaki introduced Uzumaki Miho to the Nine-Tails and planned to teach her ninjutsu, while Tsunade and Hikawa spent the day playing cards and joking. Tsunade announced that she would give Hikawa special training in battle experience, and Hikawa later asked Yuhi Kurenai to teach him Water Style: Water Formation Wall.

• Kushina Uzumaki revealed the Nine-Tails to Uzumaki Miho, who cautiously shook one of its tails before joining a card game with Kushina and Tsunade.
• Tsunade guided Uzumaki Miho during cards until Hikawa intervened, and Miho then won three rounds on her own.
• After lunch, Tsunade told Hikawa she would give him special training in battle experience, admitting she also wanted to beat him up.
• Hikawa returned home and asked Yuhi Kurenai to teach him Water Style: Water Formation Wall, which she had learned from Uncle Kosuke.

Hikawa trained with Tsunade, enduring her powerful attacks while improving his taijutsu and gaining an invitation to Uchiha Itachi’s Hundred Day Banquet. By September, the Uchiha Clan Compound was preparing for the banquet amid a warmer attitude from Konoha’s leaders toward Uchiha Shisui and Obito Uchiha.

• Hikawa trained with Tsunade while Yuhi Kurenai and Rin Nohara practiced nearby, and Tsunade learned that Might Duy knew the Eight Gates.
• Rin Nohara used Medical Ninjutsu to treat Hikawa’s bruises, while Hikawa’s repeated sparring with Tsunade improved his taijutsu.
• Uchiha Shisui delivered invitations to Tsunade and Hikawa for Uchiha Itachi’s Hundred Day Banquet, and Hikawa said he would attend with Tsunade.
• Hikawa turned twelve in August, then the Uchiha Clan prepared for Itachi’s September banquet as Konoha’s leaders showed greater favor toward Uchiha Shisui and Obito Uchiha.

Obito Uchiha, Hatake Kakashi, and Might Guy returned to Konoha and reunited with Rin Nohara and Hikawa, where Guy demonstrated the Eight Gates against Tsunade. Hikawa revealed that Konoha would hold a Chunin Exam after New Year, setting up a future showdown.

• Obito Uchiha, Hatake Kakashi, and Might Guy returned from the Land of Lightning and found Rin Nohara treating Hikawa's injured ankle.
• Rin Nohara finished treating Hikawa, and the group discussed returning to attend Uchiha Itachi's Hundred Day Banquet.
• Hikawa suggested Tsunade spar with Might Guy, who opened three of the Eight Gates and fought her before she stopped him at his limit.
• Hikawa told Might Guy to save their next battle for the Chunin Exams and revealed that Konoha would hold them after New Year.