Chapter Summaries

Hinata spoke with Winter Rain, who agreed to follow her instructions and wait in the shadows until she was needed. After Winter Rain departed on a paper airplane, Hinata rejoined the caravan and pretended to sleep so Shikamaru would not suspect anything.

• Hinata told Winter Rain to find her, stay hidden, and help when the time came to wrap things up.
• Hinata asked Winter Rain to call her Shuoyue, and Winter Rain agreed.
• Winter Rain used Paper Release: Paper Airplane Technique and flew away on a giant paper airplane.
• Hinata asked the system about buying its 3D projection technology, but learned it cost one million Reward Points.
• Shikamaru called Hinata back to the moving caravan, and she climbed into their vehicle with him.
• Hinata closed her eyes and pretended to sleep so she would not arouse Shikamaru's suspicions.

Hinata considered how the strength of newly generated characters compared with her own and the other summoned characters. At the Hokage's Office, Shino Aburame arrived just as Tsunade swallowed a piece of flatbread that had nearly choked her.

• Hinata realized that summoning a new character seemed to raise the strength of all her summoned characters to roughly the same level.
• Hinata suspected that generated characters could never become stronger than she was, though she still needed to verify her theory.
• Shino Aburame entered the Hokage's Office and saw Tsunade choking while Shizune apologized beside her.
• Shino Aburame inferred that Shizune had accidentally shoved flatbread into Tsunade's mouth, causing her to choke.
• Tsunade swallowed the lodged flatbread and began breathing heavily.

Shino Aburame returned to Konoha and reported the events of his team's B-rank mission to Tsunade, who had been arguing with Shizune. After hearing his account, Tsunade considered the matter while Shino waited for her orders.

• Tsunade drank the tea Shizune handed her, then berated Shizune as Shino quietly tried to leave.
• Tsunade noticed Shino and ordered him back into the office.
• Shino identified himself and said he had returned to report important news.
• Tsunade calmed herself, asked what had happened, and recalled Shino's team and mission.
• Shino recounted the mission in detail, then stepped back and waited for Tsunade's orders.

Tsunade questioned Shino Aburame about the events surrounding the flying pancake and summoned Asuma Sarutobi. The story then showed the pancake smacking a rejected suitor before Hinata and Shikamaru continued riding together.

• Tsunade ordered Shizune to summon Jonin Asuma Sarutobi and asked Shino Aburame to recount the events in detail.
• Shino Aburame repeated everything he knew while Tsunade listened.
• A man proposed to b, but she rejected him and called him a scumbag.
• A flying pancake struck the man in the face.
• Hinata emerged from meditation and judged Shikamaru for slouching in his seat.

Shikamaru Nara saw a massive fortress-like enemy approaching the convoy and told Heyan to split his people into five groups and flee while he stayed behind. As the enemy drew near, Shikamaru revealed that Hinata Hyuga’s Byakugan had exposed the chakra Heyan was hiding.

• Shikamaru Nara identified the massive shape approaching behind the convoy as a likely enemy and warned Heyan it would catch them.
• Shikamaru advised Heyan to abandon the supplies, divide his clansmen into groups, and stay behind while they fled.
• Heyan arranged for the convoy to split into five groups and sent families fleeing in different directions.
• As the fortress came into view, Shikamaru said he did not want to face the enemy directly, while Hinata doubted his apparent reluctance.
• Shikamaru told Heyan that Hinata Hyuga’s Byakugan could see the chakra in his body and that he could no longer pretend to hide it.

Shikamaru and Hinata pursued Heyan, who continued pretending to be an ordinary old man as they left him behind. Inside the mobile fortress, Heide and Camilla watched them and identified Heyan as the person who knew what they were seeking.

• Heyan decided Shikamaru and Hinata were bluffing about suspecting him and kept up his act.
• Shikamaru chose a direction and sped off with Hinata, leaving Heyan to follow on his donkey.
• Heyan struggled to keep up and worried that Shikamaru and Hinata might use force against him.
• Camilla told Heide that Heyan was a caravan captain and likely the only person who knew what they sought.
• Camilla identified Shikamaru and Hinata as Konoha ninjas, and Heide declared that no one would stop their pursuit of their dream.

Gaara joined Shikamaru, Hinata, and Heyan as they pursued the mobile fortress, explaining that its people had attacked Sunagakure. The group agreed to work together, and Gaara shared what he had learned about their unusual abilities.

• As Shikamaru, Hinata, and Heyan retreated, they encountered Gaara waiting ahead of them.
• Gaara told Shikamaru that he had come to confront the people who attacked Sunagakure.
• Shikamaru proposed that they join forces against their powerful opponents, and Gaara agreed.
• Gaara warned them that the enemy did not use Chakra and described a high-ranking member who transformed into an ape, gaining speed, strength, and electrical power.

Heyan arrived at the forest as a massive mobile fortress caught up with the group. As its gate and stairs extended, he asked Hinata, Shikamaru, and Gaara what they should do.

• Shikamaru recounted Heyan and the caravan’s story, and Konoha and the Sand Ninja formed a temporary alliance.
• Heyan rode into the forest on his little donkey and urged the others to keep running.
• Hinata, Shikamaru, and Gaara ignored Heyan and looked behind him at the approaching fortress.
• The fortress stopped less than two hundred meters away and began extending a gate and stairs.
• Heyan climbed down from his donkey and asked the ninjas what they should do.

As Camilla, Feng Wai, and more than a hundred Steel Straight Men approached, Shikamaru, Hinata, and Gaara considered their options. Heyan told them to leave and handed Shikamaru a handkerchief, leaving his own plans unclear as the three ninjas departed.

• Shikamaru realized Heyan might be able to escape but was choosing to remain, while the ninjas felt unable to abandon him.
• Camilla and Feng Wai led more than a hundred Steel Straight Men toward the group.
• Shikamaru judged that the three ninjas could not defeat the approaching force, and Heyan asked what they should do.
• Heyan told Shikamaru, Hinata, and Gaara to leave, then handed Shikamaru a handkerchief.
• Shikamaru, Hinata, and Gaara left, recognizing that Heyan had another plan.

Heyan’s scheme had led Shikamaru and the others toward a mysterious map and the secret it represented, leaving them resentful despite recognizing his intentions. The group departed, while Hinata silently fumed over being deceived.

• Heyan had scattered the team and drawn Heide’s attention toward himself so the caravan members could get away.
• Shikamaru realized Heyan had planted hints about his secret from the start and had manipulated them into pursuing the map.
• Shikamaru explained that the map concerned something guarded across generations and that Heyan expected them to bring helpers to investigate it.
• The others left with resentment, while Gaara only now understood the scheme and felt little resentment.
• Hinata stayed silent but crushed a hard stone underfoot, privately deciding not to trust another familiar-looking old man.

Heyan was captured and brought to Lord Heide, who welcomed him aboard the moving fortress and offered to show him around. Heyan remained quiet and seemed puzzled by how the fortress worked.

• Heyan released his donkey and allowed the Steel Straight Men to surround him.
• Feng Wai and Camilla arrived, and Heyan asked to meet their leader.
• Camilla escorted Heyan to the fortress hall and said Lord Heide would be pleased to see him.
• Heide greeted Heyan enthusiastically while Timsi stood beside the throne.
• The mobile fortress began moving, and Heide offered to show Heyan around while asking him questions.

Heyan told Heide that he wanted to see Nilu Gu, the snow ferret, and she arranged for Feng Wai to bring it over. Nilu Gu recognized Heyan immediately and seemed eager to tell him about everything it had suffered.

• Heide asked Heyan to reveal the secret he was guarding, but he said he wanted to see Nilu Gu.
• Heide agreed and told Feng Wai to bring Nilu Gu while she continued showing Heyan around.
• Feng Wai arrived with Nilu Gu in a cage and opened it, letting the ferret out.
• Nilu Gu bared its teeth at Feng Wai until Heyan called it back.
• Nilu Gu recognized Heyan and turned to him, its intelligent eyes seeming to recount its misfortunes.

Heyan agreed to lead Heide and the others onward after warning them that their destination would bring no good luck. Nilu Gu stayed close to Heyan but became fixated on Timsi, drawn to the ancient Empire Royal Family blood in his veins.

• Nilu Gu darted into Heyan's arms, and Heyan stroked its fur before agreeing to show the group the route.
• Heyan gave the route to the group, and Camilla turned the mobile fortress in the right direction.
• Nilu Gu climbed onto Heyan's shoulder and stared intently at Timsi, who wondered why the ferret was watching him.
• Nilu Gu hesitated between approaching Timsi, whose Royal Family blood attracted it, and staying with Heyan, whom it trusted.
• Nilu Gu remembered Feng Wai's kick and silently planned to get revenge when it had the chance.

Nilu Gu chose Timsi over Heyan, while Heide kept Heyan cooperative as a guide until they reached their destination. Shikamaru, Hinata, and Gaara then considered whether to search for the mysterious item Heyan had given them.

• Nilu Gu leaped from Heyan onto Timsi, and Heyan reacted with disappointment.
• Timsi caught Nilu Gu and stroked his face as the two appeared close.
• Heide claimed that Timsi had rescued and cared for Nilu Gu, then arranged for Camilla to take Heyan to rest.
• Heyan asked to rest and told Heide to find him after they reached their destination.
• Shikamaru, Hinata, and Gaara gathered around the mysterious item and weighed whether to search for it.

Shikamaru, Hinata, and Gaara studied a map showing a difficult-to-reach location and decided they could not all wait for reinforcements. Gaara and Hinata both insisted on going ahead, leaving Shikamaru to decide who would stay behind.

• Shikamaru explained the map and the need to split up while they evaded Heide's men.
• Gaara unfolded the handkerchief and revealed a detailed map of the Land of Rivers.
• Shikamaru proposed that one person wait for Sand Ninja reinforcements while the other two went ahead.
• Gaara declared that he was definitely going.
• Hinata told Shikamaru that she wanted to go too and refused to stay behind.

Hinata and Gaara set out ahead to scout the route through the Land of Rivers while Shikamaru stayed behind to lead the reinforcements. After navigating the difficult terrain, they reached the summit of a sheer mountain peak.

• Shikamaru agreed that Hinata and Gaara should advance first and use their scouting skills to find a route for the reinforcements.
• Hinata and Gaara immediately set off, with Hinata using her Byakugan to guide them through the Land of Rivers.
• Hinata privately decided it was better for Shikamaru to stay behind so he would not notice what she planned to do later.
• Hinata and Gaara crossed the rugged terrain in silence and reached the top of a tall, sheer mountain.

Hinata and Gaara spotted Heide’s group heading toward the ancient entrance near their destination. Heide prepared to enter, ordering guards to delay any Konoha and Sand Ninja who might interfere, while keeping his own strength and other allies in reserve.

• Hinata and Gaara saw Heide’s mobile fortress and his group approaching a place roughly twenty li ahead.
• Heide grew increasingly excited as he neared his long-awaited goal, while Heyan remained silent and resolute.
• Heide ordered men to guard the entrance against intruders, intending to delay the Konoha and Sand Ninja who had contacted Heyan.
• Heide planned to rely on Camilla, Feng Wai, Timsi, and his own strength if the guards failed to stop the ninjas.

Shikamaru waited anxiously in the dark until Asuma Sarutobi and Shino Aburame arrived with a large Konoha force, then headed toward Hinata and Gaara. The chapter left Hinata concealed near the entrance, watching a group of men.

• Shikamaru waited in the forest as night fell, worried about Hinata, Gaara, and whether Shino Aburame could bring reinforcements.
• Asuma Sarutobi and Shino Aburame arrived with about twenty Konoha ninja in the Land of Rivers.
• Shikamaru revealed himself, briefly explained the situation, and hurried after Hinata and Gaara.
• Hinata hid behind grass and watched a large group at the entrance.

Gaara used a Sand Clone Technique to lure the Steel Straight Men away from their post. After they followed the clone, Gaara emerged from the grass, while he and Hinata wondered whether the apparent ease of their escape concealed a trap.

• Gaara formed a sand clone and sent it toward the Steel Straight Men.
• The Steel Straight Men attacked the clone, which dodged their blows and drew them away from the area they guarded.
• Gaara emerged from the grass after the Steel Straight Men had gone far enough.
• Gaara concluded that the Steel Straight Men’s commander had not accounted for the Clone Technique, while Hinata wondered if a trap remained.

Heide and his companions followed Heyan through the underground ruins to a vast central chamber, where Heyan recounted the history behind its murals. Heide then asked where the object he sought was, and Heyan pointed toward the chamber’s center.

• Heyan opened a concealed gate and led Heide, Camilla, Feng Wai, Timsi, and Heyan through it.
• Heyan explained the murals’ history, telling the story of an ancient Empire and his own past.
• The group reached the underground ruin’s central hub and took time to recover from Heyan’s tale.
• Heide asked Heyan where the object he wanted was, and Heyan pointed toward the center of the chamber.