Recaps

Hyuga Shinichi and Jiraiya helped Namikaze Minato begin training in combination techniques, but his attempts to combine Wind Release and Fire Release only produced smoke. Shinichi suggested using Shadow Clones to speed up Minato’s practice, and they agreed to continue training the next morning.

• Hyuga Shinichi and Namikaze Minato shared a fist bump after Shinichi promised to protect him.
• Jiraiya agreed to start Minato’s training with combination techniques, and Shinichi taught him Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.
• Minato repeatedly tried to combine Wind Release with Fire Release but produced thick smoke, while Jiraiya and Nawaki encouraged him to keep practicing.
• Hyuga Shinichi suggested teaching Minato the Shadow Clone Technique so he could gain training experience faster, and Jiraiya agreed.
• The group returned to the Senju Clan Compound for dinner, then Jiraiya and Dan Katō left together and the others planned to meet the next morning.

Hyuga Shinichi took Namikaze Minato and his family to the new Shanxi Bathhouse, where they met its owner and explored the facilities. After the boys found the hot pool too hot and cooled off in the cold pool, they asked an attendant to take them to the hot spring pools.

• Hyuga Shinichi brought Namikaze Minato to the newly built bathhouse, and Tsunade and Uzumaki Mito joined them with Nawaki.
• Shinichi recognized the name Shanxi Bathhouse and realized that Big Brother Shanxi had acted on his ideas for a bath and leisure center.
• Shanxi greeted Shinichi, praised his business suggestions, and welcomed Uzumaki Mito and Tsunade before covering the family's expenses.
• Tsunade and Uzumaki Mito went to the women's baths while Shinichi, Nawaki, and Minato followed an attendant to the men's baths.
• Shinichi, Nawaki, and Minato jumped into the hot pool, fled because it was too hot, and cooled off in the cold pool.
• The three boys left the hot-and-cold pool area and asked the attendant to take them to the hot spring pools.

Hyuga Shinichi left his private hot spring bath to investigate a disturbance and found the Hyuga and Uchiha clans arguing. He defused the conflict, and Shanxi offered to cover the Hyuga brothers’ expenses before they returned to their bath.

• Hyuga Shinichi heard a commotion outside his private bath and went to investigate.
• Shinichi found Shanxi caught in the middle of an argument between Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hizashi and several Uchiha.
• Hiashi and Hizashi explained that an Uchiha had bumped into Hizashi, mocked him, and refused to apologize.
• Shinichi called out Uchiha Zuho, who abruptly ended the argument and led his men away.
• Shinichi stopped Hiashi from pursuing the Uchiha, and Shanxi offered to cover the Hyuga brothers’ expenses as an apology.

After leaving the hot spring, Uchiha Zuho wandered through the shopping district and watched two brothers walk together, leaving him lost in thought. A shadowy figure observed him and considered him as a possible pawn.

• Hyuga Shinichi calmed Hyuga Hiashi and Hyashi Hyuga, then joined them and the others in the hot spring.
• Uchiha Zuho left the bathhouse alone and wandered through the shopping district before stopping on a dark street.
• Zuho watched two young brothers hold hands and walk into the bright shopping district together.
• After the children disappeared, Zuho entered the alley they had come from.
• A shadowy figure emerged from the ground, watched Zuho, and considered whether he could be a useful pawn alongside Uchiha Madara.

Uchiha Zuho returned home after his older brother Uchiha Fun knocked him down and berated him. He faced his grandfather Uchiha Setsuna, whose history and ambitions revealed why Zuho had been named to serve Fun.

• Uchiha Fun knocked Uchiha Zuho down, insulted him, and tried to kick him before leaving.
• Uchiha Zuho entered the house and greeted his grandfather Uchiha Setsuna, father Uchiha Shin, and mother Uchiha Kaori.
• Uchiha Setsuna's history revealed that he had been imprisoned for plotting against Konoha and later released after Uchiha Shin paid for his freedom.
• Uchiha Setsuna named his first grandson Uchiha Fun, intending to raise him to pursue his ambitions.
• After Uchiha Shin and Uchiha Kaori had a second son, Uchiha Setsuna named him Uchiha Zuho so he could help Fun.

Uchiha Zuho endured harsh training and, after defeating a Sarutobi classmate, awakened his Two-Tomoe Sharingan and earned his grandfather's first praise. At the Ninja Academy, Zuho discovered that Hyuga Shinichi—not him—was taking the graduation exam early, and watched Shinichi finish the written test with ease.

• Uchiha Setsuna trained Zuho harshly and treated him as someone destined to support Uchiha Fun, while Zuho resolved to become a dependable brother.
• Zuho defeated a Sarutobi classmate in a spar after awakening his Two-Tomoe Sharingan, which Hyuga Shinichi observed with his Byakugan.
• Uchiha Setsuna praised Zuho for the victory, and Zuho grew more confident, trained harder, and gained a reputation at the Ninja Academy.
• Students mistakenly believed Zuho was taking the graduation exam early, but Zuho corrected them and went to see who was taking it.
• Zuho arrived at the exam hall and watched Hyuga Shinichi quickly complete the written questions.

Uchiha Zuho learned from Hyuga Shinichi that he had awakened the Sharingan when he fought to become someone’s support, and the two boys formed an awkward friendship through their private rooftop encounters. After Shinichi passed the graduation exam, Zuho challenged him to a match at the Ninja Academy, where Shinichi quickly landed a punch and made Zuho realize he had underestimated him.

• Hyuga Shinichi explained that he had seen Zuho awaken the Sharingan and asked what had driven him to do so.
• Zuho admitted he had been thinking that he needed to become someone’s support, and Shinichi encouraged him not to lose his way.
• Zuho and Shinichi continued trading insults whenever they met, while Zuho privately treasured their easygoing friendship.
• After Shinichi passed the graduation exam, Zuho challenged him to fight, drawing a crowd of students and teachers at the training ground.
• When the match began, Zuho charged at Shinichi, who dodged and punched him in the stomach, leaving Zuho to recognize that Shinichi was stronger than he had expected.

Hyuga Shinichi defeated Uchiha Zuho in a school match by piercing Zuho’s Great Fireball with Wind Style: Vacuum Blast. After Zuho accepted the loss and the two made peace, Shinichi invited him to celebrate Shinichi’s graduation with Akimichi Clan barbecue.

• Zuho tried to fight Shinichi at close range, then used Fire Style: Great Fireball when he could not gain an advantage.
• Shinichi countered with Wind Style: Vacuum Blast, which pierced the Great Fireball and battered Zuho with the hot wind that followed.
• Zuho admitted defeat, and Shinichi offered him a hand and encouraged him not to give up after one setback.
• The referee declared Shinichi the winner, and the two performed the Seal of Reconciliation.
• Nawaki, Inuzuka Gai, and Aburame Tomohiro congratulated Shinichi after the match.
• As Shinichi prepared to leave, he invited Zuho to join him for Akimichi Clan barbecue to celebrate his graduation.

Uchiha Zuho remembered how Hyuga Shinichi had invited him to eat barbecue after defeating him, but Uchiha Setsuna forbade him from associating with Shinichi. Years later, Setsuna continued to berate Zuho for lacking a Sharingan and being weaker than his brother, leaving Zuho questioning his family after seeing two Hyuga brothers stand up for each other.

• After Uchiha Zuho lost to Hyuga Shinichi, Shinichi invited him to eat barbecue, but Uchiha Zuho went home instead.
• Uchiha Setsuna asked Uchiha Zuho what he thought of Shinichi, then forbade him from seeing Shinichi and ordered him to train harder.
• Uchiha Zuho and Hyuga Shinichi gradually became strangers as Shinichi trained under Uzumaki Mito.
• In the present, Uchiha Setsuna scolded Uchiha Zuho for being weak and ordered him to stay home and train, while Uchiha Kaori tried to defend him.
• Uchiha Zuho went to his room and wondered why a Hyuga Main Family member had protected his Branch House brother when he himself felt inferior to his own brother.

Uchiha Zuho fell asleep in tears after his brother Uchiha Fun rejected him, while Hyuga Shinichi spent time with his cousins and Namikaze Minato at a bathhouse. Shinichi praised Minato’s potential to become Hokage, then said his own dream was to travel freely.

• Uchiha Zuho wondered why Uchiha Fun treated him so coldly, cried himself to sleep, and was watched by a shadow outside his window.
• Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga teased Hyuga Shinichi about becoming a Special Jonin while they bathed with him and Nawaki.
• Hyuga Shinichi said he had two months of leave and planned to visit the Hyuga Clan after helping Minato train.
• Hyuga Shinichi praised Minato as a future Hokage, prompting Nawaki to defend his own Hokage ambitions.
• Hyuga Shinichi explained that Hokage needed the village’s approval and said he wanted to explore unknown places instead.

Hyuga Shinichi and Nawaki took Namikaze Minato to the hot spring, where Minato fainted from the heat before the family returned to the Senju Compound. During Shinichi’s leave, he and Jiraiya guided Minato’s training, and Minato’s progress accelerated with the Shadow Clone Technique.

• Hyuga Shinichi encouraged Minato to pursue becoming Hokage and teased Nawaki about needing to train harder to beat him.
• Hiashi and Hizashi left to study clan management, while Shinichi reflected on their childhood and drank a bottle of milk instead of the white liquor he had requested.
• Nawaki and Shinichi discovered that Minato had fainted beneath the hot spring water and pulled him out safely.
• Uzumaki Mito scolded Shinichi and Nawaki for failing to notice Minato had passed out, but Minato defended them.
• The group returned to the Senju Compound and let Minato stay overnight because it was late and his home was far away.
• Shinichi and Jiraiya helped Minato train over the next several days, and his use of Shadow Clones made his progress amaze them.

Namikaze Minato successfully performed the Wind and Fire Style combination technique Flame Wind Bow and Arrow with guidance from Hyuga Shinichi and Jiraiya. Hyuga Shinichi proposed rewarding Minato with the Flying Thunder God Formula, and he and Jiraiya agreed to ask the Hokage about exchanging for it.

• Namikaze Minato combined Wind Style and Fire Style chakra to incinerate a wooden post and scorch the surrounding ground.
• Jiraiya praised Minato's achievement, while Hyuga Shinichi encouraged him to keep experimenting with chakra combinations.
• Namikaze Minato vowed to train harder and protect the home that had given him warmth.
• Hyuga Shinichi suggested that Jiraiya reward Minato with the Flying Thunder God Formula.
• Jiraiya agreed to combine his contribution points with Hyuga Shinichi's and ask the Hokage about exchanging for the formula.

Namikaze Minato accepted Hyuga Shinichi and Jiraiya’s offer to exchange for the Flying Thunder God Formula, promising to master it. At the Hokage’s office, Sarutobi Hiruzen questioned whether the young student could handle the S-rank technique.

• Namikaze Minato initially refused the Flying Thunder God Formula as a gift, but Hyuga Shinichi and Jiraiya persuaded him to accept it as their reward and encouragement.
• Namikaze Minato vowed to work hard and master the Flying Thunder God Formula.
• Hyuga Shinichi, Jiraiya, and Namikaze Minato went to the Hokage’s office and met Sarutobi Hiruzen.
• Jiraiya told Sarutobi Hiruzen that he and Hyuga Shinichi planned to exchange their points for the Flying Thunder God Formula for Namikaze Minato.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen recalled that the technique had gone unmastered for years and worried that attempting it might discourage Namikaze Minato.

Hyuga Shinichi and Jiraiya helped Namikaze Minato obtain the Flying Thunder God Formula records from Sarutobi Hiruzen, who deducted the required contribution points. Jiraiya left to prepare for a month-long mission, while Shinichi took Minato to train.

• Hyuga Shinichi assured Sarutobi Hiruzen that he and Jiraiya would guide and protect Namikaze Minato as he learned the technique.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen led the three to the guarded storeroom and gave Minato a scroll containing the Second Hokage’s research on the Flying Thunder God Formula.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen checked Jiraiya and Hyuga Shinichi’s contribution records and deducted the points needed for the exchange.
• Jiraiya told Hyuga Shinichi he had to leave on an urgent mission for about a month and asked him to train Minato.
• Hyuga Shinichi took Minato to their usual waterfall training spot, while Jiraiya went home to prepare for his mission.

Namikaze Minato reflected on how Hyuga Shinichi had become his closest family and helped him recover from his parents’ deaths. After Minato broke down crying, the brothers reaffirmed their bond and continued on to study the Flying Thunder God Formula.

• Namikaze Minato walked with the Flying Thunder God Formula scroll and remembered how Hyuga Shinichi had given him a home, support, and hope.
• Hyuga Shinichi noticed Minato crying in the street, hugged him, and leaped with him onto a nearby roof.
• Minato thanked Shinichi for helping him through his grief, and Shinichi assured him that they were family.
• Shinichi told Minato that they would remain brothers even if their lives took them in different directions, and Minato cried again.
• Shinichi told Minato to wipe his tears and snot, then the two set off to study the Flying Thunder God Formula.

Hyuga Shinichi and Namikaze Minato continued training, but made little progress with the Flying Thunder God Formula or awakening a Kekkei Genkai. Shinichi returned to the Hyuga Clan compound and reunited with the young Kaede.

• Shinichi and Minato struggled to make progress combining chakra natures and studying the Flying Thunder God Formula.
• Shinichi practiced Taiji Sword on the rushing water while Minato watched from the riverbank.
• Shinichi reminded Minato that he had promised Hiashi and Hizashi he would visit the Hyuga Clan compound, and they agreed to take two days off.
• Shinichi arrived at the compound, where the guards and clan members warmly welcomed him.
• Kaede recognized Shinichi, ran to him, and giggled as he lifted her into his arms.

Shinichi returned to the Hyuga Clan, reunited with its children, and attended a meeting about training a new Eye-Nose-Ear Squad. He examined twin candidates and helped the clan decide how to train them.

• Shinichi hugged Kaede and the other children, then promised to cook for them later.
• Shinichi greeted the clan heads, elders, Hiashi, and Hizashi at the meeting.
• Nimitsu told Shinichi the clan was discussing a partnership with the Inuzuka and Aburame Clans and selecting candidates to train as the next Eye.
• Shinichi examined two-year-old twins with his Byakugan and judged both to have excellent physiques and potential in the Gentle Fist.
• Nimitsu and the elders agreed to assign one skilled elder to train each twin.

Over half a year, Hyuga Shinichi was promoted to Special Jonin, continued training Namikaze Minato, and helped the Eye-Nose-Ear Team become a respected force. The Third Hokage increasingly supported the three clans’ plan to train the team for important reconnaissance and combat missions.

• Hyuga Shinichi stayed after the clan meeting to teach the children Gentle Fist and was promoted to Special Jonin before the New Year.
• Namikaze Minato trained with Hyuga Shinichi while the Ino-Shika-Cho trio followed him, learned what was happening, and were reassured that he was safe.
• Hyuga Shinichi resumed missions with Inuzuka Gai and Aburame Tomohiro, whose teamwork and success brought their Eye-Nose-Ear Team growing attention.
• Jiraiya took over Minato’s training when Hyuga Shinichi was unavailable, and Minato’s abilities improved under Jiraiya’s guidance.
• The Eye-Nose-Ear Team used its tracking, surveillance, and combat skills to complete difficult missions, including pursuing rogue ninja.
• The Third Hokage became more supportive of the three clans’ plan to develop the Eye-Nose-Ear Team for wartime reconnaissance and combat.

Uzumaki Mito sent Hyuga Shinichi and a team to the Land of Whirlpools to secretly bring back a girl with a unique constitution who was likely Uzumaki Kushina, the future Jinchūriki. Led by Jiraiya, the group reached the island and headed toward Uzushio Village, with Nawaki weakened by seasickness.

• Uzumaki Mito told Hyuga Shinichi she wanted to prepare a new Jinchūriki and asked him to bring a girl from the Land of Whirlpools back safely.
• Uzumaki Mito and Hyuga Shinichi asked Sarutobi Hiruzen to issue the mission, and Nawaki insisted on joining them.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen appointed Jiraiya as leader and Hyuga Shinichi as deputy, and ordered the team to keep the mission secret.
• Jiraiya, Hyuga Shinichi, Nawaki, Inuzuka Gai, Aburame Tomohiro, and the dog sailed from the Land of Fire to the Land of Whirlpools.
• Nawaki became seasick during the journey, and Jiraiya carried him as the group headed directly toward Uzushio Village.

Jiraiya and the Konoha delegation reached Uzushio Village, where the Village Chief welcomed them after reading Lady Uzumaki Mito’s letter. Hyuga Shinichi took the seasick Nawaki for treatment and learned from Uzumaki Michiko that repeated attacks on the Uzumaki Clan had left the village dangerously understaffed.

• Jiraiya showed the guards Lady Uzumaki Mito’s letter, and the Village Chief invited the Konoha delegation into Uzushio Village.
• Hyuga Shinichi found Nawaki unconscious from seasickness and asked the Village Chief for medical help.
• The Village Chief asked Uzumaki Michiko to guide Shinichi and Nawaki to treatment while the others went with him to rest.
• As Michiko led them through the village, Shinichi asked why so few people lived there.
• Michiko explained that unknown forces had repeatedly attacked the Uzumaki Clan to steal its Sealing Jutsu, killing and injuring many villagers.
• Shinichi considered how Konoha’s preparations for the coming Second Shinobi World War might have prevented it from aiding the Land of Whirlpools, whose destruction he suspected involved Kumogakure and Kirigakure.

Hyuga Shinichi brought the unconscious Nawaki to a clinic, where Uzumaki Michiko treated him and sent Shinichi to gather a missing herb. At the lakeshore, Shinichi was attacked by a talking Little Green Snake that used root-based techniques, which he mistook for Wood Style.

• Hyuga Shinichi brought Nawaki to the clinic, and Uzumaki Michiko explained that she was the doctor on duty.
• Uzumaki Michiko treated Nawaki and said he would soon wake, but she discovered the clinic had run out of an herb.
• Hyuga Shinichi offered to gather the herb so Uzumaki Michiko could stay with Nawaki, then headed to the lakeshore.
• Hyuga Shinichi dodged a wooden spike from the grass and struck the attacker with Wind Style: Vacuum Blast.
• The attacker revealed itself as a talking Little Green Snake and sent roots whipping toward Hyuga Shinichi.
• The Little Green Snake made roots spring up around Hyuga Shinichi in a dense net, while he wondered if it could use Wood Style.

At the clinic, Nawaki recovered under the care of Uzumaki Michiko and the two became friends. Meanwhile, Hyuga Shinichi offered Little Green Snake a summoning contract, and the snake asked him to help it become a dragon.

• Uzumaki Michiko helped Nawaki sit up, fed him porridge, and told him that Shinichi had gone to gather medicine.
• Nawaki and Michiko talked about Konoha and Uzushio Village and became good friends.
• Hyuga Shinichi defeated Little Green Snake and offered to release it if it became his summoning beast.
• Little Green Snake asked Hyuga Shinichi whether he could help it become a dragon.
• Hyuga Shinichi admitted he could not guarantee a snake could become a dragon, though he had a place in mind that might help.

Hyuga Shinichi persuaded the little green snake to become his summoning beast, named her Ao Qing, and completed their contract. On his way back to Uzushio Village with medicinal herbs for Uzumaki Michiko, he was stopped and questioned by a wary patrol before the village guards confirmed his identity.

• Hyuga Shinichi convinced Little Green Snake to leave the island with him and explore the world.
• Hyuga Shinichi named the snake Ao Qing, and they signed a summoning contract using their blood.
• Ao Qing hid inside Hyuga Shinichi's breastplate as he carried the medicinal herbs back toward Uzushio Village.
• A patrol of red-haired Uzumaki clan members stopped Hyuga Shinichi and questioned him about his identity and the herbs.
• The village guards verified that Hyuga Shinichi was a guest from Konoha, and the patrol leader apologized, explaining that Uzumaki Michiko was his daughter.

Hyuga Shinichi brought Uzumaki Gangwu back to the clinic, where Nawaki and Uzumaki Michiko’s close encounter led to a misunderstanding. After the truth was explained, Gangwu treated them, and Michiko prepared medicine for Nawaki, leaving Gangwu increasingly suspicious of their closeness.

• Hyuga Shinichi learned that Uzumaki Gangwu was Uzumaki Michiko’s father and accompanied him to the clinic.
• Uzumaki Michiko fell from a ladder, and Nawaki caught her, but they both toppled to the floor.
• Uzumaki Gangwu and Hyuga Shinichi walked in on Michiko and Nawaki in an intimate-looking position, and Hyuga Shinichi assumed they were romantically involved.
• Uzumaki Michiko explained the accident, clearing up the misunderstanding, while Uzumaki Gangwu treated her sprained ankle and Nawaki’s injuries.
• Uzumaki Michiko made medicinal broth for Nawaki, and Uzumaki Gangwu watched him with growing suspicion.

Hyuga Shinichi and his team met Uzumaki Kushina and persuaded her to travel to Konoha, then returned to the clinic to prepare for departure. After learning Uzushio Village had only about two hundred people left and faced repeated attacks, Shinichi offered to ask Uzumaki Mito to help the villagers relocate to Konoha, but the Village Chief hesitated.

• Inuzuka Gai told Hyuga Shinichi that Jiraiya wanted him to meet their mission target, and Shinichi left Nawaki in Uzumaki Michiko's care.
• Hyuga Shinichi and the others met Uzumaki Kushina, explained that Uzumaki Mito had sent them to bring her to Konoha, and Kushina agreed to go.
• Hyuga Shinichi used Sealing Jutsu to pack Kushina's belongings and accompanied her back to the clinic.
• The Village Chief warned Jiraiya that setting out near nightfall was dangerous, but Jiraiya said the group could detect threats in advance.
• Hyuga Shinichi learned that Uzushio Village had about two hundred people left and offered to ask Uzumaki Mito to persuade the Hokage to let them move to Konoha, but the Village Chief hesitated.