Recaps

Hyuga Hane undermined the Caged Bird seal, gathered allies among the Branch Family, and advanced his Byakugan research while earning a place in Minato’s Shadow Guard. As the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist threatened Konoha, Hane used a Flying Thunder God mark to teleport into their midst.

• Hyuga Hane betrayed Hyuga Hisanobu to the Mist, removed his eyes, and partnered with Orochimaru to expose the Caged Bird seal’s weakness, prompting Konoha to recall its Hyuga shinobi.
• Hane aided Hyuga Miyuki’s Byakugan experiments and used the unrest to recruit dissatisfied Branch Family members, while Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen clashed over how to handle the seal.
• Minato became the Fourth Hokage and announced a revised Caged Bird seal, but Hane and Hyuga Yuki continued preparing Branch Family members to resist the Main Family’s control.
• Hane passed the Jonin examination by defeating Uchiha Yakumaru, and Minato selected both of them for the Shadow Guard and began teaching them the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Hane developed spatial abilities in his Byakugan and trained with the Flying Thunder God as Minato learned that the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist planned to attack Konoha.
• Hane’s Shadow Clone drew the Seven Ninja Swordsmen away from Konoha and secretly marked Raiga Kurosuki’s blade, then Hane teleported toward the enemy as Minato rushed to respond.

Hyuga Hane maneuvered through Konoha’s clan struggle while Minato led the war against Kirigakure. The Hyuga Branch Family fled Konoha, Tsunade left for the front, and Hiruzen began preparing to curb Danzo and the Old Clans as Hane’s influence grew.

• Minato and Hane defeated the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, but Raiga escaped with Ranmaru, and Hane later discovered that Raiga’s mark had appeared inside Konoha.
• Hiruzen and Hane maneuvered Tokuma into Root to protect the Hyuga Clan and monitor Danzo, while Hane began experimenting on Ranmaru and the reanimated swordsmen.
• Tsunade revealed Fission as a dangerous way to escape the Caged Bird Seal, then Danzo abducted Shizune to force her to give up the technique.
• Tsunade rescued Shizune and fought Root, while Danzo used the upheaval to turn Konoha’s advisors against Hiruzen and demand control of the Anbu.
• The Hyuga Main Branch collapsed into violence, and Hiashi gave Yuki the Fission scrolls and a token that let Yuki, Miyuki, and their followers leave for the Land of Snow.
• Tsunade left Konoha with Shizune and headed for the battlefield, while Minato and Hane joined the war effort and planned to exploit divisions in Kirigakure.
• Kushina’s squad captured Terumi Mei, and Hane escaped an approaching Kirigakure force before bargaining with Yagura for information about the Third Mizukage.
• Hane exposed Masaaki’s role in the crisis around Tsunade and advised Hiruzen on the Nine-Tails and Danzo’s political leverage, prompting Hiruzen to consider Hane as Minato’s assistant and move against Danzo and the Old Clans.