Chapter Summaries

Inuzuka Oto and Hatake Sakumo married, while Hyuga Shinichi reflected on the coming war and resolved to protect Tsunade’s loved ones. At the market, Xiao Chun surprised him by revealing that she and A-Dai were getting married that day.

• Inuzuka Oto and Hatake Sakumo exchanged vows and rings, then kissed as their guests applauded.
• Tsunade caught Inuzuka Oto’s bouquet, and Hyuga Shinichi resolved that Nawaki and Dan Katō would survive the Second Shinobi World War.
• After the wedding feast, Hyuga Shinichi went to the market and unexpectedly met Xiao Chun.
• Xiao Chun invited Hyuga Shinichi to celebrate her wedding to A-Dai, leaving him astonished.
• Xiao Chun explained that A-Dai had proposed marriage the previous day.

Hyuga Shinichi attended Might Duy and Xiao Chun’s wedding feast, bringing gifts and learning how their kindness and perseverance had brought them together. The couple began their married life surrounded by Xiao Chun’s grandmother and Shinichi.

• Hyuga Shinichi congratulated Xiao Chun on marrying Might Duy and went home to prepare wedding gifts for them.
• Hyuga Shinichi brought exercise equipment for Might Duy and kitchenware for Xiao Chun to their house, where Xiao Chun’s grandmother welcomed him.
• Hyuga Shinichi joined Might Duy, Xiao Chun, and her grandmother for their wedding feast and learned he was their only invited guest.
• Xiao Chun told Hyuga Shinichi that Might Duy had once carried her ill grandmother to a clinic and that seeing him endure mockery while training had inspired her to pursue him and work on her shyness.

In Konoha Year 36, Hyuga Shinichi’s team detected suspicious activity near the Land of Fire’s border, and Orochimaru and Sarutobi Hiruzen suspected the Land of Rain was preparing an operation. Hanzo revealed that he planned to invade the Land of Iron by way of the Land of Waterfalls and later attack the Land of Fire from two directions.

• Orochimaru ordered Shinichi’s team to keep watch after receiving their report about unidentified people near the Land of Fire’s border.
• Shinichi suspected the people were observing the country rather than merely trying to infiltrate it, so he led his teammates forward to listen with Sound-Stealing Bugs.
• Orochimaru told Sarutobi Hiruzen that the Land of Rain might be planning an operation, and Hiruzen ordered Konoha’s border defenses strengthened.
• Hanzo learned that activity along the Land of Fire’s border had alerted Konoha, so he changed his route and ordered his forces toward the Land of Iron by way of the Land of Waterfalls.
• Hanzo declared that he intended to conquer the Land of Iron and then attack the Land of Fire from two directions.

Shinichi realized Nawaki was in danger and raced toward the Land of Rivers, where Orochimaru's team was pursuing spies. Nawaki triggered Explosive Tags and faced imminent death, leaving his fate unresolved.

• Hanzo vowed to lead the Land of Rain's expansion and create peace through absolute fairness.
• Shinichi learned the date was August tenth, remembered Nawaki's death, and hurried toward the Land of Rivers with Gai and Tomohiro following.
• Orochimaru's team caught up with the fleeing spies, defeated the combatants they left behind, and continued the pursuit.
• Nawaki rushed ahead, eager to prove himself, while Orochimaru watched confidently.
• Nawaki triggered Explosive Tags planted behind a boulder and remembered Tsunade giving him their grandfather's necklace before he whispered an apology to her.

Hyuga Shinichi saved Nawaki from an Explosive Tag trap and joined Orochimaru in pursuing the fleeing spies. Shinichi incapacitated the exhausted spies and helped capture their captain alive.

• Hyuga Shinichi used a Wind Release slash to shield Nawaki from an Explosive Tag blast, leaving Nawaki unconscious but otherwise unharmed.
• Orochimaru sent Nawaki and the surviving spies back to the village, then pursued the escaped spies with Hyuga Shinichi, Inuzuka Gai, and Aburame Tomohiro.
• Hyuga Shinichi tracked the spies with his Byakugan while Inuzuka Gai followed their scent, and the group caught up with them.
• Hyuga Shinichi used Byakugan: Pressure to incapacitate the spies before their captain could kill the intelligence officer.
• Aburame Tomohiro's Earth Centipede bound the spy captain, and Orochimaru watched in surprise at the Byakugan's power.

Uzumaki Hospital grew into a trusted medical center, and Tsunade rushed there after hearing that Nawaki had been injured on a mission. She found him safe, learned he had recklessly rushed ahead for credit, and Hyuga Shinichi left to investigate the invasion of the Land of Iron.

• Uzumaki Mito became acting director of Uzumaki Hospital, Tsunade served as deputy director, and the hospital gradually earned Konoha's trust.
• Tsunade learned that Nawaki had been injured and lost consciousness, then hurried to Uzumaki Hospital.
• Tsunade found Nawaki awake and chatting with Uzumaki Michiko, and she embraced him in relief.
• Orochimaru and the Eye-Nose-Ear Team arrived, and Tsunade scolded Nawaki for rushing ahead recklessly to claim credit.
• Nawaki apologized to Hyuga Shinichi, who warned him not to risk his life again before leaving with Inuzuka Gai and Aburame Tomohiro to investigate the invasion of the Land of Iron.

Hyuga Shinichi and his teammates left Konoha to investigate the invasion of the Land of Iron, which Shinichi suspected was orchestrated by the Land of Rain. In the Land of Iron, Hanzo the Salamander defeated Mifune in a single exchange.

• Hyuga Shinichi visited Muchun Rice Ball Shop, where Might Duy packed rice balls for Shinichi and his teammates before their mission.
• Hyuga Shinichi, Inuzuka Gai, Aburame Tomohiro, and Black Charcoal left Konoha for the Land of Iron, and Shinichi told his teammates he suspected the Land of Rain was behind the invasion.
• Hyuga Shinichi said Hanzo the Salamander might have ambitions beyond the Land of Iron and warned that war was coming.
• Samurai arrived at the invasion site and fled after recognizing Hanzo, but Mifune stood his ground and attacked him.
• Hanzo blocked Mifune's Iaijutsu strike, broke his sword, and wounded his forehead, leaving Mifune kneeling and unable to open his right eye.

Hanzo defeated Mifune but spared him after recognizing his convictions and giving him an antidote. Later, Hyuga Shinichi and his companions found the unconscious Mifune and were stopped by samurai who demanded to know where they were taking him.

• Hanzo explained his poison and told Mifune that true failure came from abandoning one’s convictions, not dying in battle.
• Mifune asked Hanzo to promise not to hurt his fellow samurai, and Hanzo gave him an antidote and vowed not to attack the Land of Iron again.
• Hanzo left, resolved to pursue peace by expanding his territory and making his voice heard across the Shinobi World.
• Hyuga Shinichi, Inuzuka Gai, and Aburame Tomohiro entered the Land of Iron and found Mifune unconscious with his broken sword still in hand.
• Hyuga Shinichi carried Mifune toward a nearby town, but a group of samurai blocked their way and demanded to know who they were and where they were taking him.

Hyuga Shinichi and his companions saved Mifune and confirmed that the Land of Rain had invaded the Land of Iron. Months later, the Eye-Nose-Ear Team discovered Sunagakure forces trying to enter the Land of Rain, where Amegakure blocked their way, leaving the border situation tense.

• Hyuga Shinichi explained that he had found Mifune unconscious, and a samurai confirmed his account before leading them to a doctor.
• The old doctor treated Mifune, who woke and thanked Hyuga Shinichi and his companions for saving him.
• Inuzuka Gai and Aburame Tomohiro confirmed that invaders in the Land of Iron came from the Land of Rain, then sent a Konoha ninja to report to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
• Hyuga Shinichi turned eleven and became Konoha's youngest Jonin, while Inuzuka Gai, Aburame Tomohiro, and Nawaki were appointed Special Jonin.
• The Eye-Nose-Ear Team infiltrated the Land of Rivers and discovered Sunagakure ninja attempting to enter the Land of Rain, where Amegakure forces stopped them.

Hanzo declared war on the Shinobi World, prompting Sunagakure and Konoha to send forces into the Land of Rain. After Hanzo’s poison and a nighttime ambush weakened Sunagakure, Orochimaru waited for an opening to attack.

• Hanzo declared war on the Shinobi World, and the Land of Fire’s daimyo pressured Sarutobi Hiruzen to send Konoha into the conflict.
• The Third Kazekage ordered Chiyo and Ebizo to lead Sunagakure’s invasion of the Land of Rain, while Orochimaru led Konoha’s vanguard toward the border.
• Chiyo fought Hanzo, who poisoned Sunagakure’s forces and withdrew, forcing the injured shinobi to stop and seek treatment.
• Orochimaru halted Konoha’s advance after learning of the clash and sent scouts to investigate Sunagakure’s position.
• Amegakure launched a nighttime ambush in heavy rain, and Orochimaru chose to wait until Sunagakure was further weakened before attacking.

Chiyo developed an antidote to Ibuse’s poison, allowing Sunagakure to prepare an attack on Amegakure. Chiyo and Ebizo led the advance into the Land of Rain, where Chiyo was attacked by a chained scythe as she tried to draw out Hanzo.

• Chiyo completed an antidote for Ibuse’s poison, and tests confirmed it could treat poisoned Sunagakure shinobi who had not inhaled too much gas.
• Ebizo arranged for the Sunagakure Medical Corps to produce the antidote while Orochimaru ordered his forces to prepare and Hanzo assessed the movements of the great nations.
• After two days of Amegakure raids, Ebizo sent shinobi to guard the camp so the Sunagakure army could rest before attacking.
• Chiyo and Ebizo led the Sunagakure army into the Land of Rain, where Amegakure shinobi emerged from pits and fought them.
• Chiyo summoned the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets to draw out Hanzo, but she had to block a chained scythe aimed at her vitals.

Hanzo and Chiyo fought, matching his Water Release and sickle attacks against her Chikamatsu Ten Puppets. Unable to gain the upper hand, Hanzo summoned Ibuse, leaving the battle poised to escalate.

• Chiyo mocked Hanzo for his sneak attack, then sent her puppets to attack him.
• Hanzo used the Water Body Flicker Technique to strike from behind, but Chiyo blocked him with the Ox-Head Puppet and deflected his hammer with two linked puppets.
• Chiyo attacked Hanzo with her puppets’ blades, whips, and Explosive Tag shells, while Hanzo dodged and fought back with his sickle and hammer.
• Hanzo and Chiyo paused at a standoff, each unable to overcome the other’s defenses.
• Hanzo summoned Ibuse and stood atop the giant creature’s head, facing Chiyo.

Chiyo used the Three Treasures Suction Crush to counter Ibuse’s poison and revealed that she had developed an antidote. Hanzo ordered Amegakure to retreat, while Ebizo sent the recovered Sunagakure shinobi after them.

• Chiyo used her three puppets to absorb Ibuse’s poison and attack Hanzo while testing how often Ibuse could produce another cloud.
• After observing Ibuse’s five-minute recovery interval, Chiyo anticipated Hanzo’s poison attacks and kept fighting beside her puppets.
• Hanzo tried to exploit Chiyo’s timing by poisoning the battlefield and striking her from behind, but the Ox-Head Puppet blocked his sickle.
• Chiyo told Hanzo that she had cracked Ibuse’s poison and made an antidote, and Sunagakure shinobi swallowed pills that restored them.
• After a masked Amegakure shinobi reported to him, Hanzo ordered a retreat, and Ebizo commanded the recovered Sunagakure shinobi to pursue.

Hanzo used Konoha’s entry into the Land of Rain to draw Konoha and Sunagakure into a three-way battle, then escaped while they were separated by Amegakure’s Water Release. Konoha and Sunagakure were left fighting each other, realizing they had fallen into Hanzo’s trap with no easy way to disengage.

• Hanzo planned to lure Konoha and Sunagakure into fighting each other while Amegakure withdrew through familiar terrain.
• Orochimaru learned that Sunagakure had developed an antidote and ordered Konoha’s forces to advance faster.
• Orochimaru sent Konoha into the battle, and Hanzo ordered Amegakure to counterattack as all three sides clashed.
• Amegakure’s Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique split the battlefield, allowing Hanzo’s forces to retreat through the mist.
• Konoha and Sunagakure resumed fighting after Amegakure escaped, and their commanders realized they had been trapped.

After concealed attacks on Sunagakure and Konoha bases shattered negotiations, the two villages declared war in the Land of Rain, and Hanzo ordered Amegakure to join the fighting. In Konoha, Hyuga Shinichi predicted he would be sent to the Sunagakure front and considered which of its shinobi might appear there.

• Heavy rain halted the clash between Sunagakure and Konoha, and both sides established camps in the Land of Rain.
• The Land of Wind and the Land of Fire disputed responsibility for the battle and sent envoys to negotiate, while both villages reinforced their defenses.
• Unknown attackers raided Sunagakure's border base and Konoha's base in the Land of Rain, fleeing toward the opposing side's position.
• The negotiations broke down, and Sunagakure and Konoha declared war in the Land of Rain.
• Hanzo ordered two Amegakure units to attack Konoha and Sunagakure and begin a war of attrition.
• Hyuga Shinichi told Inuzuka Gai, Aburame Tomohiro, and Nawaki that he expected Konoha to assign him to the Sunagakure front, where Rasa and Pakura might fight.

Hyuga Shinichi attended Namikaze Minato’s Ninja Academy graduation ceremony as his older brother and reflected on his own past. He found Uzumaki Kushina alone watching the ceremony and approached her, realizing she was missing the family warmth her classmates shared.

• Hyuga Shinichi said goodbye to his companions and went to Namikaze Minato’s graduation ceremony.
• Hyuga Shinichi greeted Namikaze Minato and learned that Uzumaki Kushina had left the classroom.
• Hyuga Shinichi accompanied Namikaze Minato to the field, where Minato lined up with his classmates for graduation.
• Hyuga Shinichi spotted Uzumaki Kushina sitting alone on a swing and recognized her loneliness as she watched the ceremony.
• Hyuga Shinichi went to Uzumaki Kushina, apologized for failing to consider her feelings, and touched her head.

Hyuga Shinichi comforted Kushina Uzumaki as she cried over missing her parents and feeling left behind, then stayed through the graduation ceremony and Hiruzen Sarutobi’s Will of Fire speech. Hiruzen abruptly left after receiving an urgent message, and the ceremony ended as Shinichi wondered whether something had happened in the Land of Rain.

• Kushina Uzumaki cried in Hyuga Shinichi’s arms about missing her parents and feeling envious of her classmates, and he comforted her until she felt better.
• Kushina vowed to stop crying so easily and become a Hokage everyone recognized, while Hyuga Shinichi encouraged her.
• Hyuga Shinichi watched Namikaze Minato and other students receive awards, and remembered his absent friend Uchiha Zuho.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi delivered a long speech about the Will of Fire while repeatedly watching Hyuga Shinichi, who could not get away.
• A ninja interrupted Hiruzen Sarutobi with an urgent message, and Hiruzen left before the teacher ended the graduation ceremony.
• Hyuga Shinichi suspected trouble on the Land of Rain battlefield, but stopped worrying when Namikaze Minato came over.

Hyuga Shinichi celebrated Namikaze Minato’s graduation and joined Nawaki, Inuzuka Gai, and Aburame Tomohiro as they searched for a Water Release scroll by Tobirama Senju. Nawaki found the scroll and revealed the battlefield technique he wanted to learn: Water Style: Heavenly Weeping.

• Uzumaki Kushina congratulated Namikaze Minato on graduating, then challenged him to a future contest as the three friends walked to the Senju Clan Compound.
• Hyuga Shinichi, Uzumaki Kushina, and Namikaze Minato greeted Uzumaki Mito, who welcomed Minato and gave him candy.
• Hyuga Shinichi found Nawaki, Inuzuka Gai, and Aburame Tomohiro searching the storehouse for a bundle of Water Release Ninjutsu scrolls.
• Nawaki remembered he had taken the scrolls to his room, found them there, and explained that he wanted a useful battlefield technique.
• Nawaki showed the others Water Style: Heavenly Weeping, which fired fast water needles from the user's mouth at an enemy's vital points.

Hyuga Shinichi advised Nawaki on adapting Water Release techniques and close-combat tactics before the group celebrated Minato’s promotion to Genin. The next day, Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned Konoha’s Jonin to discuss attacks by Amegakure and Sunagakure and plans for a counterattack.

• Shinichi explained how Nawaki could adapt Water Release techniques for close combat and suggested ways to use chakra-enhanced shuriken.
• Shinichi, Inuzuka Gai, and Aburame Tomohiro prepared dinner, and the group celebrated Namikaze Minato’s promotion to Genin.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen gathered eighteen Jonin, including Shinichi and representatives of Konoha’s major clans, in the Hokage Building.
• Hiruzen reported that Amegakure had attacked Konoha’s outpost in the Land of Rain and Sunagakure had attacked as well.
• Hiruzen announced plans to reinforce the outpost and counterattack both villages, then asked the Jonin to choose a commander and advise on transporting supplies.

Sarutobi Hiruzen finalized the command assignments and preparations for the Konoha forces heading to the Land of Rain. At the Konoha Gate the next morning, Hyuga Shinichi clashed with Uchiha Fun, while Uchiha Fugaku intervened and apologized.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen assigned the battlefield command positions, confirmed clan troop contributions, and ordered everyone to gather at the Konoha Gate at six the next morning.
• Hyuga Shinichi met Nawaki, Inuzuka Gai, and Aburame Tomohiro, and the four prepared to serve together as a squad.
• Hyuga Shinichi and the others arrived at the gate before dawn, where he greeted the Hyuga shinobi and exchanged a nod with Uchiha Zuho.
• Uchiha Fun mocked Hyuga Shinichi for being a Hyuga who carried a sword, and Hyuga Shinichi answered with a sarcastic insult that made the onlookers laugh.
• Uchiha Fugaku stopped Uchiha Fun and apologized to Hyuga Shinichi, while Uchiha Zuho followed his brother back to the Uchiha ranks.