Recaps

Uchiha Genya pressed Yugito to come to Konoha, offering her limited freedom while concealing that he had already manipulated her subconscious. Yugito recognized that refusal meant losing the remaining Tailed Beast Chakra, leaving her with no real choice but to consider going with him.

• Yugito realized Uchiha Genya had used the Flying Thunder God Technique to enter her cell and mark her, and she asked about his Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
• Uchiha Genya claimed he had mastered the technique and invited Yugito to come to Konoha, where he said she would be mostly free and would not have to fight Kumogakure.
• Yugito accused Uchiha Genya of framing her, and he admitted that they were enemies before asking her to help him frame someone else.
• Yugito asked why Uchiha Genya did not take her by force, and he said he would not forcibly extract the Tailed Beast Chakra because a forced choice would not make her a willing companion.
• Yugito understood that refusing would let Uchiha Genya extract the remaining Tailed Beast Chakra and escape with Matatabi, so she felt trapped without control over her fate.

Xuanye persuaded Yugito to leave Kumogakure and brought her to Konoha, where he made her a Hokage bodyguard. After Hong Dou questioned the risks of taking in another village’s Jinchuriki, Xuanye asked what had happened in Konoha while he was away.

• Xuanye convinced Yugito to take his hand and abandon Kumogakure, and she warned him she might unleash a Tailed Beast Bomb in Konoha one day.
• Yugito said she had no family or friends she wished to see, so Xuanye used the Flying Thunder God to take her from her cell.
• Xuanye brought Yugito to the Hokage Office, where Hong Dou reacted with suspicion to the new arrival.
• Xuanye appointed Yugito a Hokage bodyguard with jōnin pay and gave her a Konoha Forehead Protector; Yugito replaced her Kumogakure one.
• Hong Dou warned that taking Kumogakure’s Jinchuriki could cause conflict, but Xuanye cited Kumogakure’s past abduction of Kushina and its recent defeat.
• Xuanye asked Hong Dou whether anything major had happened in Konoha while he was away.

Xuanye learned that a Hyuga Main Family Elder had used Caged Bird against an Anbu Chunin who refused to surrender his wages, then broken his leg and taken his pay. He reprimanded Fugaku and Kakashi for their handling of the attack and turned to Hizashi as he prepared to deal with the Hyuga Main Family.

• Hong Dou gave Xuanye a scroll describing how a Hyuga Main Family Elder had attacked an Anbu Chunin and seized his wages.
• Xuanye summoned Fugaku, Hizashi, and Kakashi to the Hokage Office after deciding the incident had been mishandled.
• Xuanye warned Fugaku that the Security Division belonged to Konoha and threatened to remove him as captain if he neglected his duties again.
• Xuanye docked Kakashi six months' pay for failing to stand up for his Anbu subordinate.
• Xuanye told Hizashi that the Hyuga Main Family had tested his limits while he was away.

Xuanye confronted Hizashi about whether he would act against the Hyuga Main Family, then took him to the Hyuga estate to demand accountability for an attack on the Anbu. He gathered the Main Family Elders and asked what penalty Konoha imposed for attacking the Anbu.

• Xuanye asked Hizashi whether he would act against the Hyuga Main Family or his brother, and Hizashi said he would obey Xuanye’s orders while pleading for Hiashi.
• Xuanye ordered Hizashi to accompany him to the Hyuga estate, while Fugaku and Kakashi stayed behind to address their own mistakes.
• Yugito joined Xuanye at the estate, where his presence cowed the Branch Family guards and drew Hiashi out to meet him.
• Xuanye rejected Hiashi’s offer to discuss compensation and told him to summon the Main Family Elders.
• After the Elders gathered, Xuanye asked Hiashi what penalty Konoha imposed for attacking the Anbu.

Xuanye confronted the Hyuga Clan after Hyuga Sosuke extorted and beat an Anbu operative, turning the incident into a test of whether the clan would submit to Konoha's authority. Hiashi tried to contain the damage, but Sosuke's defiance left the confrontation unresolved.

• Xuanye asked Hizashi to identify who had attacked the Anbu operative, and Hizashi named Hyuga Sosuke.
• Xuanye challenged Hiashi to decide how Sosuke should be punished, but Sosuke argued that the Hokage had no right to interfere in Hyuga Clan affairs.
• Xuanye made Sosuke's admission a matter of Konoha law and ordered Hizashi to record the extortion, assault, and seizure of property.
• Hiashi offered an apology and compensation for the injured operative, while recognizing Xuanye was using the incident to rein in the Main Family.
• Sosuke defied Xuanye again, asking whether he intended to drive the Hyuga Clan into betraying Konoha.

Xuanye ordered Hizashi to punish Hyuga Sosuke after the Main Family elder openly threatened the Hokage. Hizashi killed Sosuke, and Xuanye ordered Hiashi to arrange the highest-grade fallen-soldier compensation for him.

• Xuanye singled out Hyuga Sosuke after Sosuke openly threatened the Hokage.
• Hizashi stopped Sosuke from using the Caged Bird and subdued him with Gentle Fist strikes.
• Hiashi ordered the Main Family Elders to stand down and recognize that Hizashi was acting under the Hokage's orders.
• Hizashi killed Sosuke with a Gentle Fist strike to the back of his neck.
• Xuanye told Hiashi to go to the Finance Department and give Kakuzu elite-jonin-level fallen-soldier compensation for Sosuke.

Uchiha Genya left the Hyuga compound after laying down strict rules against attacks on Branch Family members and their families. Hyuga Hiashi confronted the Main Family elders and headed to the Hokage's office, reminding them that the clan had already agreed to let Branch Family Shinobi control their own earnings.

• Genya warned the Hyuga Main Family that anyone who attacked Shinobi under the Hokage or their families would face consequences, then left with Hizashi and Yugito.
• The Main Family elders blamed Hiashi for Elder Sosuke's death and demanded an explanation after Genya had left.
• Hiashi rebuked the elders for staying silent in Genya's presence and then trying to bully him, while they refused to risk challenging the Hokage.
• Hiashi set out for the Hokage's office and reminded the elders that their alliance with the Uchiha required them to leave Branch Family Shinobi in control of their earnings.

After Hiashi left the Hyuga Clan grounds to address the Main Family’s crisis of trust, Xuanye visited injured Branch Family ninja Ryuichi Hyuga at Konoha Hospital. By reassuring and compensating Ryuichi, Xuanye won his fierce loyalty, and Kakashi realized the Branch Family would likely answer to Xuanye alone.

• The First Elder let Hiashi handle the Main Family’s crisis himself and watched him leave with hope that the family rift might someday heal.
• Xuanye took Hizashi and Yugito to Konoha Hospital, where he found Ryuichi Hyuga recovering from his injury and Kakashi visiting him.
• Xuanye told Ryuichi that the Main Family elder who attacked him was dead and promised that the Main Family would not retaliate against him or his family.
• Xuanye declared Ryuichi’s injury to be sustained in the line of duty and ordered Konoha to cover his medical expenses and continue his salary.
• Xuanye urged Ryuichi to stay alive and use his name if anyone bullied him, then left for the Hokage Office with Hizashi and Yugito.
• Kakashi saw Ryuichi’s devotion to Xuanye and concluded that the Hyuga Branch Family would probably answer to Xuanye alone.

Xuanye explained to Hiashi why Hyuga Sosuke had been killed and warned that the Hyuga Clan would not be punished unless it broke his rules again. He then told Hizashi he could remove the Caged Bird, but would not allow the Hyuga Clan’s system to be abolished for now.

• Xuanye told Hiashi that Sosuke had died for challenging his authority and breaking the order he had established.
• Xuanye said the death benefit preserved the Hyuga Clan’s public dignity and that he had used the incident to lay down rules for the village.
• Xuanye explained that Hizashi’s actions had shown the Main Family that the Caged Bird did not make Branch Family members powerless.
• Hiashi left the Hokage Office understanding that the Hyuga Clan would avoid punishment this time but would face consequences if it repeated the offense.
• Xuanye asked Hizashi whether he wanted his Caged Bird removed, and Hizashi admitted that he did.
• Xuanye said he knew how to remove the Caged Bird but would not allow the Hyuga Clan’s Caged Bird system to be abolished for now.

Xuanye used the Rule Breaker to remove Hizashi Hyuga’s Caged Bird seal, freeing his Byakugan from its blind spot. He ordered Hizashi to conceal his freedom and keep the Branch Family’s situation unchanged for now.

• Xuanye asked Hizashi whether he trusted him, and Hizashi pledged his loyalty before removing his Forehead Protector.
• Xuanye swept the Rule Breaker across Hizashi’s forehead and erased the Caged Bird seal without injuring him.
• Hizashi activated his Byakugan and confirmed that the seal and its blind spot were gone.
• Xuanye told Hizashi to disguise his forehead, keep the secret even from other Branch Family jonin, and consider his son’s safety when the time came.
• Xuanye said he might free other Branch Family Shinobi who proved strong and made sufficient contributions, but advised leaving the Main Family and Branch Family relationship unchanged for now.

Hizashi accepted that the Hyuga Branch Family could gain freedom by serving Uchiha Genya, while Anko and Yugito learned about the seal-breaking sword and argued over Yugito’s place in Konoha. The chapter ended with Yugito teasing Anko about her jealousy toward Genya.

• Hizashi left after accepting Genya’s approach to the Hyuga Branch Family and choosing not to ask about the dagger.
• Anko examined the Sword of Betrayal and Denial, and Genya explained that it destroyed Sealing Techniques on contact.
• Yugito realized the sword could break the seal containing the Two-Tails and feared what that meant for her.
• Anko questioned Yugito’s loyalty and suggested extracting her Tailed Beast, while Genya insisted she had no way back to Kumogakure.
• Yugito noticed Anko’s jealousy and asked Genya what his relationship with the “little girl” was.

Yugito provoked Hong Dou while taking up her new role as Xuanye’s Hokage guard, then used the position to follow him into his private quarters. Hong Dou was left furious and determined to stop Yugito’s advances.

• Yugito clung to Xuanye and called him “darling,” provoking Hong Dou while noticing Xuanye’s reaction to her flirtation.
• Xuanye introduced Yugito to Konoha’s affairs and explained that she would serve as his Hokage guard.
• After work, Yugito tried to go upstairs to Xuanye’s private quarters, but Hong Dou blocked her and warned that the area was private.
• Yugito argued that her guard duties required her to protect Xuanye up close, teased Hong Dou for not being allowed upstairs, and pushed past her.
• Hong Dou let Yugito go but scratched the wall in anger and vowed not to let her scheme succeed.

Yugito used Matatabi’s chakra to tease Xuanye and stayed with him, while Matatabi left in disgust. After work, Hong Dou complained to Kurenai about Yugito’s closeness to Xuanye, and Kurenai warned her not to underestimate Yugito’s connection to Matatabi.

• Yugito entered Xuanye’s room and said she was there to guard him, while Matatabi wondered why she wanted to borrow her power.
• Yugito transformed with Matatabi’s chakra and teased Xuanye until they rolled together, prompting Matatabi to flee through the window.
• Hong Dou went to a bar after work and complained to Kurenai that Yugito had gone upstairs with Xuanye and stayed with him.
• Hong Dou explained Yugito’s defection and new role as Xuanye’s guard, and Kurenai warned her that Matatabi might favor Yugito.

Kurenai Yuhi warned Hong Dou that Yugito could become Xuanye’s wife and offered to help her win his affection in exchange for a meal. After spending the night together, Xuanye and Yugito considered what their relationship might become, though Xuanye knew their feelings were not yet mutual.

• Kurenai Yuhi explained that Yugito’s position as an outsider and Two-Tails Jinchuriki made her a valuable potential wife for Xuanye, alarming Hong Dou.
• Kurenai Yuhi offered to teach Hong Dou how to win Xuanye’s heart, then made Hong Dou pay for their meal.
• Xuanye woke beside Yugito, who wondered whether they might become lovers or marry.
• Yugito asked how Xuanye had extracted the Lightning Release Chakra Secret Technique from her mind, but he refused to explain.
• Xuanye recognized that their relationship was still physical rather than romantic, but believed love could grow over time.

Hong Dou received Orochimaru’s request to upgrade her Cursed Seal, but Xuanye declined to accompany her, so she went alone. In Kumogakure, A’s search for the vanished Yugito had produced no answers, and he ordered the Anbu to find her alive or dead.

• Yugito teased Hong Dou in the Hokage Office before Orochimaru’s white snake delivered a scroll summoning Hong Dou to upgrade her Cursed Seal.
• Hong Dou tried to persuade Xuanye to come with her, but he reassured her about the seal’s safety and offered to send another jonin instead.
• Hong Dou left using the Reverse Summoning Technique, while Yugito took up her administrative duties and Xuanye considered the new seal’s commercial value.
• Kumogakure remained on high alert after Yugito disappeared from its underground prison, and A ordered the Anbu to find her alive or dead.

After Yugito vanished from Kumogakure’s prison, A and Dodai concluded that she had gone willingly and suspected Konoha’s Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Genya, had used the Flying Thunder God Technique to take her. They declared Yugito a rogue ninja and discussed Ōnoki’s proposal for a secret alliance against Konoha, though Dodai questioned whether A could cooperate with his father’s killer.

• A ordered his Anbu to find Yugito, but Dodai dismissed them and explained that the prison showed no signs of a struggle.
• Dodai reasoned that Yugito had left willingly and warned that the intruder’s undetected entry and escape exposed a dangerous breach in Kumogakure’s security.
• Dodai proposed that the intruder had used the Flying Thunder God Technique, and A suspected Uchiha Genya was responsible based on Yugito’s reaction and the other evidence.
• A and Dodai agreed to declare Yugito a rogue ninja and considered Ōnoki’s proposal for a secret summit to unite the Four Great Ninja Villages against Konoha.
• Dodai asked whether A could join forces with Ōnoki, who had caused the death of A’s father, the Third Raikage.

A agreed to discuss an alliance with Iwagakure to contain Konoha, while Dodai worried that compromising would weaken him and destabilize Kumogakure. Across the other villages, Kirigakure struggled to choose a new Mizukage and Sunagakure feared Uchiha Genya would take its Tailed Beast, leaving the Ninja World braced for conflict.

• A decided to reply to Ōnoki and discuss an alliance, while ordering Killer B to stay hidden.
• Dodai warned that working with Iwagakure could undermine A and trigger turmoil in Kumogakure.
• Genji oversaw Kirigakure's urgent election for the Fifth Mizukage as the village tried to recover from Uchiha Genya's attack.
• The Land of Water's Daimyo allocated funds to help Kirigakure rebuild, while Utakata remained hidden and withdrawn.
• Rasa feared Uchiha Genya would seize Sunagakure's One-Tail and remained wary of Ōnoki's alliance plans.
• The other villages sensed that the calm created by Uchiha Genya's threat would not last.

Hong Dou arrived at Orochimaru’s laboratory, where she met his assistant Kabuto and learned Orochimaru had no plans to take another disciple. Orochimaru showed her a newly developed Cursed Seal technique and tried to persuade her to help, but Hong Dou remained wary of his schemes.

• Hong Dou arrived at Hozuki Castle and accused Orochimaru of abducting Kabuto, who explained that he was an intern assigned to the Research Department.
• Orochimaru refused to take Kabuto as a disciple, despite recognizing his talent, and continued to train him as an assistant.
• Orochimaru showed Hong Dou a scroll describing a revised Cursed Seal technique that could be prepared in advance and applied by individual ninjas.
• Orochimaru began trying to persuade Hong Dou to help with the technique, but she cut off his claim that he had always treated her well.

Anko brought Orochimaru to Xuanye after Isobu’s clone revealed that Orochimaru had tried to research Tailed Beast Chakra without approval. Orochimaru presented his new Cursed Seal, and Xuanye tested it on himself.

• Orochimaru asked Anko about her Summoning Contract with Isobu, but Isobu’s clone warned him that Uchiha Genya knew of his research plans.
• Orochimaru dropped his threats and used the Reverse Summoning Technique to take Anko from Hozuki Castle to Xuanye.
• Xuanye examined Orochimaru’s prepared Cursed Seal and asked about its effects.
• Orochimaru explained that the seal increased ninjutsu power and physical speed by roughly ten to fifteen percent, while greatly improving physical defense.
• Xuanye pressed the Cursed Seal onto the back of his hand and activated it, forming a sinister ouroboros mark.

Xuanye used Mirror Flower, Water Moon to warn Orochimaru against secretly tampering with the Cursed Seal, then rewarded him with a Sharingan containing Kamui. Orochimaru began studying the eye, which Xuanye had marked with Flying Thunder God because its owner—the man who controlled Karatachi Yagura—was still alive.

• Xuanye sensed Natural Energy through the Cursed Seal while Orochimaru asked whether he feared it had been tampered with.
• Xuanye revealed that Orochimaru was caught in Mirror Flower, Water Moon and warned him to avoid secret schemes.
• Orochimaru swore that he had not tampered with the Cursed Seal, and Xuanye accepted his explanation after frightening him.
• Xuanye gave Orochimaru a Sharingan containing Kamui and told him not to use it carelessly.
• Xuanye explained that the eye belonged to the surviving man who had controlled Karatachi Yagura and bore a Flying Thunder God mark.

Xuanye warned Orochimaru that using Kamui could attract the mysterious man, then ordered him to produce two hundred Cursed Seals despite the difficulty of obtaining Manda’s venom. Xuanye confronted Manda over his demands and, after severing the snake’s contracts, struck him down with a single punch.

• Xuanye warned Orochimaru that Kamui could draw the mysterious man’s attention and made him responsible for protecting Hozuki Castle.
• Xuanye ordered Orochimaru to make two hundred Cursed Seals, and Orochimaru explained that Manda’s venom would be difficult to obtain.
• Xuanye took Orochimaru to a cleared training ground and confronted Manda after the snake demanded a hundred sacrifices.
• Xuanye used a golden dagger to sever Manda’s contracts with Orochimaru and Ryūchi Cave.
• Manda tried to throw Xuanye off, but Xuanye punched his enormous body flat against the ground.

Xuanye overwhelmed Manda with Lightning Release Chakra Mode and Monster Strength, then severed his Ryūchi Cave contract and resisted his poison. Manda finally begged him to stop and offered to cooperate.

• Xuanye combined Lightning Release Chakra Mode with Monster Strength and sent Manda flying with a punch.
• Manda discovered that his contract with Ryūchi Cave had been severed and called on Orochimaru for help, but Orochimaru warned him to cooperate with Xuanye.
• Xuanye tried to collect Manda’s venom, but Manda released poisonous mist and demanded a sacrifice.
• Xuanye remained unharmed behind an invisible barrier and punched Manda in the nose until Manda begged him to stop and offered him whatever he wanted.

Xuanye forced Manda to surrender his venom, then Orochimaru examined how Xuanye had severed Manda’s Ryūchi Cave contract. Manda reclaimed the summoning scroll and prepared to leave, while Orochimaru suggested they sign a new contract.

• Xuanye held Manda down while Orochimaru collected venom from both of his fangs.
• Orochimaru examined Manda and realized Xuanye had completely severed his contract with Ryūchi Cave.
• Xuanye returned to his office, and Manda threatened Orochimaru once Xuanye was gone.
• Manda demanded the Ryūchi Cave Summoning Scroll, and Orochimaru produced it for him to swallow.
• Orochimaru urged Manda to sign another contract, but Manda refused and continued his departure.

Orochimaru recruited Kabuto to help with his research after Manda returned to Ryūchi Cave. Back in Konoha, Yugito and the Security Division captured White Zetsu infiltrators, and Matatabi warned Xuanye that the creatures were as ancient as the Tailed Beasts.

• Orochimaru persuaded Manda to keep their contract, then Manda returned to Ryūchi Cave to recover.
• Orochimaru ordered Kabuto to develop a drug that would keep people awake for twenty-four hours while maintaining their concentration.
• Yugito used Matatabi’s ability to sense malice to identify spies, and the Security Division captured them as White Zetsu.
• Matatabi told Xuanye that White Zetsu were an ancient species and warned that their appearance meant someone had harnessed the power of the Ten-Tails.

Xuanye dealt with captured White Zetsu and removed Uchiha Hikari’s Chakra seal after she admitted defeat to Itachi. Hikari regained her power but became fixated on Xuanye’s seal-breaking dagger, Rule Breaker.

• Xuanye ordered the captured White Zetsu sent to Orochimaru’s Research Department and appointed Yugito a special adviser authorized to hunt them.
• Uchiha Hikari admitted she could not beat Itachi and asked Xuanye to remove her seal.
• Xuanye warned Hikari not to use her power on anyone in Konoha without permission, then used Rule Breaker to shatter her Eight Trigrams Seal.
• Uchiha Hikari admired Rule Breaker and considered how to get it from Xuanye.
• Xuanye offered to let Hikari borrow Rule Breaker if she called him big brother, and Hikari angrily refused.