Chapter Summaries

Mizuki Rei persuaded Ryu to give up seeking death and join them as an outer member of Dawn. Hinata accepted Ryu as the person responsible for the Land of Birds base, while Ryu began to feel a faint hope for the future.

• Kurama Mutsu tried to sketch the anticipated clash between Mizuki Rei and Ryu, but they instead spoke calmly.
• Mizuki Rei asked Ryu to join them and do something different, and Ryu agreed.
• Mizuki Rei told Hinata that Ryu could join Dawn and manage the Land of Birds base.
• Hinata reluctantly accepted Ryu, who put on his hat and followed his new leader.

Hinata accepted Liu into Dawn as a peripheral member and assigned him responsibility for the secret base in the Land of Birds. The group traveled to a remote, miasma-filled valley to establish their base, where a rustling sound interrupted them as they waited outside.

• Hinata welcomed Liu into Dawn as a peripheral member, explained the organization's rules, and assigned him the Land of Birds base.
• Hinata, Liu, Kurama Mutsu, and Mizuki Rei traveled together toward a secluded valley in the mountains.
• The four reached the valley's outskirts and waited for the miasma to disperse before entering.
• A rustling sound came from the forest, and the group turned to look.

Hinata identified the eight armed men emerging from the miasma as the contacts Toki had arranged and met their leader, Fan. Fan confirmed his group’s role and said they could guide Hinata and her companions to the base, but the miasma’s antidote remained to be used.

• Hinata and Kurama Mutsu watched eight armed men emerge from the miasma and considered whether they were Toki’s appointed contacts.
• Hinata noticed black cloth on the men’s left arms, signaled Mizuki Rei and Kurama Mutsu, and approached them in disguise.
• The leader, Fan, saluted Hinata and confirmed that his group would handle communications with the Land of Birds and follow-up matters.
• Hinata asked Fan how they would deal with the miasma and urged him to take them to the base.
• Fan said a physician could prepare an antidote and claimed the miasma posed little danger to ninja.

Hinata and her group entered Fan’s hidden underground base after crossing the miasma. She put Liu in charge of managing it and heard his request to recruit more people.

• Fan gave Hinata and her group antidote pills and led them through the miasma to the base entrance.
• Fan revealed the concealed entrance and guided everyone down into the underground base.
• Hinata inspected the candlelit, dust-free base and praised Fan for preparing it.
• Hinata told Fan to discuss base matters with Liu, who had authority to handle them.
• Hinata asked Liu to manage the base, and Liu asked whether he could recruit people.

Hinata left the Land of Birds after handing control of the new organization over to Ryu and traveled back toward the Land of Fire. Near the end of her journey through the Land of Rain, she spotted two Akatsuki members, including Kisame Hoshigaki.

• Hinata gave Ryu rules for recruiting and warned him not to reveal her group's name without permission.
• Hinata left the Land of Birds with Mizuki Rei and Kurama Mutsu, leaving Ryu and Fan in charge.
• Hinata traveled through the Land of Rain and imagined Dawn becoming a neighbor and rival to the Akatsuki Organization.
• Hinata worried that White Zetsu might discover them and decided he should be eliminated or suppressed as soon as possible.
• As Hinata's group neared the Land of Rain's border, she saw two Akatsuki members approaching and recognized Kisame Hoshigaki.

Hinata's group encountered Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki on a forest road, and both sides mistook the meeting for an ambush. Hinata realized the misunderstanding but held back from explaining, leaving the groups poised for a possible fight.

• Hinata's group kept their transformed appearances as they approached two Akatsuki members on a narrow forest road.
• Hinata recognized Itachi Uchiha and worried that he and Kisame Hoshigaki had come to block them.
• Kisame Hoshigaki stepped in front of Itachi and demanded to know how the three had found them.
• Kisame accused Hinata's group of returning for revenge, while Itachi prepared to fight if they said the wrong thing.
• Hinata realized Itachi and Kisame thought her group was the one seeking an interception, but she did not explain the misunderstanding.

Hinata and her companions avoided a fight with Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki at Akatsuki’s headquarters. After both groups went their separate ways, Hinata wondered where the two men had been and whether Itachi’s intervention meant she should treat Sasuke more kindly.

• Itachi Uchiha suggested the encounter might be a misunderstanding and walked past Hinata’s group, with Kisame Hoshigaki following him.
• Hinata led Mizuki Rei and Kurama Mutsu past the two Akatsuki members without either side starting a fight.
• After they had gone their separate ways, Kurama Mutsu said the encounter had been suffocating, and Mizuki Rei admitted she could not yet match either man.
• Hinata told her companions to keep a lower profile at Akatsuki’s headquarters and reflected that Itachi had prevented an unnecessary conflict.
• Hinata considered whether to go easier on Sasuke in the future and wondered whether Itachi and Kisame had returned from the Land of Rivers or the Land of Fire.

Hinata and Kurama Mutsu discussed making the Dawn Organization’s outfits more striking while Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki headed back to Amegakure. White Zetsu appeared with a message from Pain, who wanted them to return for another assignment.

• Hinata and Kurama Mutsu compared the Dawn Organization’s presence with the Akatsuki Organization’s flashy hats and discussed upgrading their outfits.
• Kisame Hoshigaki asked Itachi Uchiha about Hinata’s group, and Itachi said he knew nothing about them and suggested informing Pain.
• White Zetsu emerged from a tree and confirmed that he had overheard Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki discussing his abilities.
• White Zetsu told Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki that Pain had ordered them to return to Amegakure after their mission because another assignment awaited them.

White Zetsu and Black Zetsu failed to catch up with Hinata's group after learning that they had traveled through a river. Once the group entered the Land of Fire, Hinata separated from Kurama Mutsu and Mizuki Rei and began planning how to profit from the third exam and obtain the special Chakra-infused sand linked to One-Tails Shukaku within Gaara.

• Itachi told White Zetsu that he and Kisame Hoshigaki had encountered three unusual people and asked him to investigate them.
• White Zetsu and Black Zetsu followed clues to a small river, but Black Zetsu decided they should abandon the search when they realized the group had traveled through the water.
• Hinata, Kurama Mutsu, and Mizuki Rei entered the Land of Fire and resumed their original appearances.
• Hinata parted ways with Kurama Mutsu and Mizuki Rei after agreeing to meet them at Konoha's temporary base.
• Hinata planned to use her knowledge of the third exam's matches to make a profit and seek the special Chakra-infused sand connected to One-Tails Shukaku within Gaara.

Hinata returned to Konoha carrying sand infused with One-Tails Shukaku’s chakra and felt confident that her cover story would withstand scrutiny. Back at the Hyuga Clan, she learned Hanabi was training with the elders and found Hyuga Hiashi buried in clan paperwork.

• Hinata decided to keep the Tailed Beast Chakra sand as a trophy and considered other possible targets, including the Ten-Tails, Zero-Tails, and Samehada.
• Hinata entered Konoha, registered with Izumo Kamizuki and Gekko Hayate, and returned to the Hyuga Clan without worrying about an investigation.
• Hinata reasoned that her Shadow Clone, Hyuga Hiashi, and Konoha’s coming turmoil would protect her cover story.
• Hinata learned that the clan elders had taken Hanabi away for training, then found Hyuga Hiashi working through piles of documents.
• Hinata felt relieved that she had not become the Hyuga Clan heir, since she did not want to handle the clan’s paperwork.

Hinata reported her journey to Hyuga Hiashi, who acted as though he was focused on paperwork and showed little interest in her account. Hinata caught him holding a document upside down, teased him about it, and left the study amused by his excuse.

• Hinata entered Hyuga Hiashi’s study and reported the journey taken by her Shadow Clone.
• Hyuga Hiashi told Hinata she could leave, while inwardly considering whether to verify her report.
• Hinata pointed out that Hyuga Hiashi was holding his document upside down.
• Hyuga Hiashi denied it and claimed the pattern needed to be viewed from that angle.
• Hinata left the study and privately mocked Hyuga Hiashi for his thick-skinned excuse.

Hinata visited Konoha Hospital and found Iruka ready to leave after recovering from his injuries. Iruka forgave her and invited her to Ichiraku Ramen to celebrate his discharge.

• Hinata went to Konoha Hospital, wondering whether Iruka had recovered enough to leave.
• Iruka finished changing and reflected on his students’ growth and their upcoming Chunin Exams.
• Iruka completed his discharge after Hyuga Hiashi paid his medical expenses.
• Hinata met Iruka at the hospital entrance and apologized for causing his injuries.
• Iruka assured Hinata he was fine and invited her to Ichiraku Ramen.

Hinata went with Iruka to Ichiraku Ramen to celebrate his recovery, where they unexpectedly ran into Naruto. The chapter ended with Naruto declining Iruka’s offer of ramen after spotting Hinata.

• Hinata decided to limit how much she ate while Iruka treated her to a meal.
• Hinata and Iruka arrived at Ichiraku Ramen and found Naruto there after his training.
• Naruto greeted Iruka and explained that he had a day off and planned to visit him after eating.
• Iruka told Naruto that Hinata had visited him at the hospital and offered to treat them both to ramen.
• Naruto nervously refused, saying he was already full, and asked Iruka to treat him another time.

Naruto fled Ichiraku Ramen after asking whether Iruka had enough money, leaving Iruka to dine with Hinata. Hinata ordered thirty bowls, and Iruka fell off his stool in shock.

• Naruto made an excuse about meeting Jiraiya and hurried out of Ichiraku Ramen.
• Iruka asked Hinata why Naruto had seemed afraid, and Hinata said she had no idea.
• Iruka and Hinata sat down, and Ayame asked what they wanted to eat.
• Ayame told Iruka that Hinata usually ate more than ten bowls and had once eaten twenty-four.
• Hinata ordered thirty bowls, and Iruka fell off his stool; Ichiraku wondered whether Ayame had spilled water.

Hinata returned home after ramen with Iruka, and the third round of the Chunin Exams arrived with contestants gathering for the tournament. Sakura worried that Kakashi and Sasuke would miss the exam, and Kurenai told her she had not seen Kakashi since he entrusted Sakura to her.

• Iruka treated Hinata to ramen, then hurriedly left with her after the meal.
• Hinata considered visiting Neji in the hospital but decided against it.
• On July 1st, Year 60 of the Konoha Calendar, the Chunin Exams reached their third-round climax with contestants and spectators gathered.
• Sakura worried that Kakashi had taken Sasuke away and might miss the exams, while Naruto's remarks upset her.
• Sakura asked Kurenai where Kakashi was, and Kurenai said she had not seen him since he left Sakura in her care.

Hinata and the other genin gathered for the third examination, where Shiranui Genma announced the contestants and Gaara arrived with his team. Hinata wondered how the changing events would affect the story as the match was about to begin.

• Asuma told Sakura that Kakashi had taken Sasuke away from Konoha for training, and Kurenai reassured her that Kakashi would return.
• Hinata noticed that Dosu was still alive despite expecting him to be killed by Gaara, and saw that Shiranui Genma had replaced the deceased Gekko Hayate as referee.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Rasa formally opened the examination, with Namiashi Raidō standing beside Hiruzen's seat.
• Shiranui Genma announced the ten genin, and Hinata, Shino Aburame, and Shikamaru entered the arena after receiving encouragement from their teachers.
• Gaara entered with Temari, Kankuro, and Dosu, while Hinata admired the power and versatility of his sand techniques.

Hinata watched the third exam’s matchups, which differed from what she remembered, and wondered whether she might earn a Chunin promotion. The chapter left Naruto and Dosu alone in the arena for the first match.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi had Namiashi Raidō quiet the spectators who were shouting about Sasuke’s absence.
• The matchups were drawn after the exam began: Naruto faced Dosu, Shikamaru faced Temari, Shino faced Kankuro, Hinata faced Sakura, and Sasuke faced Gaara.
• Hinata suspected the matchups had been manipulated and considered whether winning against Sakura could help her become a Chunin.
• Shiranui Genma announced the rules, and the other competitors returned to the stands as Naruto and Dosu remained in the arena.
• Hyuga Hiashi sat with Hanabi and Neji in the stands, while Tenten and a less severely injured Rock Lee were nearby.

Pain assigned Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki to travel to Konoha during the coming Chunin Exams and capture the Nine-Tails while the village was vulnerable. After they left, Nagato began coughing badly, prompting Konan to check on him.

• Rock Lee arrived on crutches with Might Guy, while Choji Akimichi, Ino Yamanaka, and Kiba Inuzuka gathered nearby.
• Pain told Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki that the Chunin Exams might plunge Konoha into turmoil and ordered them to capture the Nine-Tails if possible.
• Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki accepted the mission and left to prepare for their journey to Konoha.
• Nagato broke into a coughing fit in a secret room, and Konan hurried to ask if he was all right.

Nagato insisted to Konan that he would continue his plan despite the toll on his body. In the tournament, Naruto faced Dosu, who hoped to regain Orochimaru’s favor, and the fight had not yet begun.

• Nagato told Konan he would continue making the shinobi world experience pain so they could understand the value of peace.
• Dosu recalled Orochimaru taking Zaku and Kin away and believed that defeating Naruto could restore Orochimaru’s favor.
• Naruto recognized Dosu as one of the Sound Ninja who had attacked him and Sasuke while they were unconscious, then challenged him angrily.
• Dosu laughed at Naruto, and Hinata silently judged him to be a hopeless villain.
• Naruto asked Dosu why he was laughing.

Naruto fought Dosu in the arena, but Dosu’s sound-based attack destroyed Naruto’s Shadow Clones and his punch left Naruto badly injured. Naruto got back up and continued defending against Dosu, leaving the match still underway as Dosu pressed his attack.

• Naruto used Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, but Dosu’s sound vibrations erased the clones one after another.
• Dosu appeared behind Naruto and punched him in the lower back, sending him crashing to the ground.
• Naruto forced himself to stand, and Shiranui Genma ruled that the match would continue.
• Naruto vowed not to lose and said Dosu would face consequences for bullying Sakura.
• Dosu attacked Naruto again and landed three heavy punches while Naruto defended himself.