Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Xuan Yu confronted Sarutobi Konohamaru after Konohamaru bumped into him and refused to apologize, then punished him when he and his servant threatened violence. After leaving Konohamaru and the servant injured, Xuanyu went to the Mission Hall with Yuhi Kurenai and accepted a C-rank escort mission.

• Konohamaru bumped into Xuanyu, refused to apologize, and insulted him, so Xuanyu slapped him.
• Konohamaru ordered his servant to cripple Xuanyu, but Uchiha Xia stopped the servant at swordpoint.
• Xuanyu broke one of Konohamaru's arms and ordered Uchiha Xia to break one of the servant's arms before letting them leave.
• Xuanyu went to the Mission Hall with Yuhi Kurenai and took a C-rank escort mission.

Xuanyu accepted a suspicious C-Rank escort mission to the Land of Lightning after injuring Konohamaru, Hiruzen Sarutobi’s grandson. As Xuanyu, Hinata, Shino Aburame, and Yuhi Kurenai prepared to leave together, the servant brought the unconscious Konohamaru to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

• Xuanyu took the C-Rank escort mission and learned the old man would leave for the Land of Lightning the next day at noon.
• Yuhi Kurenai warned Xuanyu that the mission seemed like retaliation, and he revealed that he had crippled one of Konohamaru’s arms.
• Hinata and Shino Aburame explained that Konohamaru had tried to have Xuanyu injured, while Yuhi Kurenai warned that Hiruzen Sarutobi would hold Xuanyu responsible.
• Xuanyu said the team would travel together, and Hinata, Shino Aburame, and Yuhi Kurenai agreed to accompany him.
• Konohamaru’s servant rushed into Hiruzen Sarutobi’s office carrying the unconscious boy, and Hiruzen demanded to know what had happened.

Sarutobi Hiruzen learned that Uchiha Xuan Yu had injured Konohamaru and secretly planned to have him killed during an escort mission, while Xuanyu uncovered the scheme and chose to go anyway. The chapter ended with Xuanyu meeting Hideyoshi Me, a Land of Lightning ninja gathering intelligence on Konoha.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen stopped Sarutobi Asuma from confronting the Uchiha Clan and planned to kill Uchiha Xuan Yu during the escort mission, while plotting the clan’s eventual destruction.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen sent Sarutobi Asuma to investigate a village linked to an evil cult.
• Uchiha Xia told Xuanyu that Hideyoshi Me was a powerful Land of Lightning ninja whose identity Sarutobi Hiruzen knew.
• Xuanyu chose to proceed with the mission, intending to expose Sarutobi Hiruzen during the Chunin Exams, and told Uchiha Xia to alert the Experiment Base if the Sarutobi Clan attacked.
• Xuanyu, Hinata Hyuga, Shino Aburame, and Yuhi Kurenai left Konoha and met Hideyoshi Me at the village entrance.

Uchiha Xuan Yu escorted Hideyoshi Me toward the Land of Lightning, while Hideyoshi suspected Sarutobi Hiruzen had arranged the mission to use him against the Uchiha. Back in Konoha, Hyuga Sosuke pressed his grandfather to let him confront Neji’s mother, and Neji sensed an ominous feeling at the laboratory.

• Hideyoshi Me inspected the mission scroll, realized Uchiha Xuan Yu was the Uchiha Clan’s Young Clan Leader, and suspected Sarutobi Hiruzen was using Hinata as bait.
• Uchiha Xuan Yu warned Hideyoshi Me that he understood the scheme and told him not to become anyone’s weapon as they set out for the Land of Lightning.
• Sarutobi Asuma watched the group leave through a crystal ball, but Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered him to abandon plans against Xuan Yu and take his students on a mission.
• Hyuga Sosuke asked the Eighth Elder about Neji, then demanded permission to question Neji’s mother; the Eighth Elder ordered a wheelchair prepared.
• Neji Hyuga worried about his twitching eye while Kimimaro suggested it was a side effect of their fusion, and an aged voice announced that it had finally found a direction.

Owuya Bai altered a Hyuga Branch Family member’s Caged Bird Curse Mark, weakening its control and allowing him to withstand Neji’s activation of it. As other branch members hoped for the same freedom, the chapter ended with the Eighth Elder demanding that a suffering woman reveal Neji Hyuga’s whereabouts.

• Owuya Bai carefully reshaped a Hyuga Branch Family member’s Caged Bird Mark into an intricate, lotus-like seal, leaving him exhausted.
• The altered seal loosened the mark’s restraint on the man’s Byakugan and nearly erased Neji’s ability to sense his Caged Bird Imprint.
• Neji activated the Caged Bird Curse Mark at full strength, but the man endured it with only mild pain and realized he was no longer under its control.
• Owuya Bai warned that the new seal was still imperfect, while the freed man thanked him and other bound Hyuga clansmen pleaded for their marks to be altered.
• At Neji’s home, the Eighth Elder kicked a woman’s head and demanded to know where she had hidden Neji Hyuga.

Neji's Mother endured the Eighth Elder and Hyuga Sosuke's torture without revealing Neji's whereabouts, while the elders decided to keep her alive as bait. Hyuga Hiashi treated her injuries and promised to keep the abuse from Neji, then left to confront the Eighth Elder.

• Neji's Mother refused to reveal where Neji was, even as Hyuga Sosuke activated the Caged Bird to torture her.
• The Eighth Elder stopped Hyuga Sosuke from killing her and ordered that she be tormented until Neji appeared.
• Neji's Mother resolved to endure the pain so Neji would stay away and remain safe.
• Hyuga Hiashi found Neji's Mother injured, took her to Konoha Hospital for treatment, and promised to seek justice.
• Neji's Mother begged Hyuga Hiashi to keep the incident from Neji, and he agreed before leaving to confront the Eighth Elder.
• The door to Hyuga Sosuke's luxury ward at Uchiha Hospital was violently thrown open.

Hyuga Hiashi confronted the Eighth Elder over the attack on Neji Hyuga’s mother and negotiated eighteen days to find Neji. At the laboratory, Neji learned the Caged Bird modification would take at least a week, while Xuanyu and Hinata continued escorting Hideyoshi Me toward the Land of Lightning.

• Hyuga Hiashi challenged the Eighth Elder for targeting Neji Hyuga’s mother, but the Eighth Elder defended punishing the Branch Family and asserted the Elders Council’s authority.
• Hyuga Hiashi and the Eighth Elder bargained over how long Hiashi had to find Neji, settling on eighteen days without harm to Neji’s mother.
• After Hyuga Hiashi left, the Eighth Elder ordered someone to watch Neji’s mother’s courtyard so she could not leave Konoha.
• Neji asked Owuya Bai when the Caged Bird modification would be complete, and Owuya Bai estimated seven or eight days if research went smoothly, or at least a month otherwise.
• Owuya Bai examined Neji’s twitching right eye and said it was likely a temporary effect of the Shikotsumyaku fusion, which should finish in about ten days.
• Xuanyu told Hideyoshi Me that they were nearing the Land of Lightning’s border as he and Hinata continued escorting him.

Uchiha Xuan Yu escorted Hideyoshi Me into Kumogakure, where Darui noticed Hinata’s Byakugan and considered taking her eyes. Xuan Yu completed the mission and led his team into the village, while Hideyoshi Me and Darui deferred deciding what to do until they spoke with the Raikage.

• Hideyoshi Me asked Xuan Yu’s team to escort him to Kumogakure, and Xuan Yu agreed to continue the mission.
• Sarutobi Clan members who had followed the group stayed outside the Land of Lightning and planned to attack Xuan Yu if he returned.
• Xuan Yu, Hideyoshi Me, Yuhi Kurenai, Shino Aburame, and Hinata entered Kumogakure without encountering danger, where Darui met them.
• Darui focused on Hinata’s Byakugan, and Xuan Yu stepped between them to warn Darui away.
• Hideyoshi Me signed Xuan Yu’s mission document, and Xuan Yu led Hinata and the others into Kumogakure to look around.
• Darui offered to follow and deal with the team, but Hideyoshi Me told him to see the Raikage first.

Hideyoshi Me returned to Kumogakure with the First Hokage Cells, which Fourth Raikage Ai ordered Dodai to research. After learning that Hinata Hyuga and Uchiha Xuan Yu had escorted Hideyoshi Me, Dodai suspected Sarutobi Hiruzen was trying to use Kumogakure against the Uchiha and decided to meet the visitors himself.

• Hideyoshi Me presented the First Hokage Cells to Fourth Raikage Ai and Dodai, who took them away to begin research.
• Hideyoshi Me told Dodai that Hinata Hyuga had personally escorted him back to Kumogakure.
• Hideyoshi Me explained the conflict between the Uchiha Clan and the Sarutobi Clan, leading Dodai to suspect Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted Kumogakure to kill Uchiha Xuan Yu.
• Dodai refused to capture Uchiha Xuan Yu, citing the danger of provoking the united Uchiha Clan, while Hideyoshi Me revealed Xuan Yu had crippled Sarutobi Hiruzen's grandson's arm.
• Dodai decided to meet Hinata Hyuga and Uchiha Xuan Yu himself.

Xuanyu and his companions ate their way through Kumogakure while Dodai confirmed Hinata’s identity and the Raikage prepared to seize her Byakugan. Killer B was assigned to intercept Xuanyu’s group, who remained under surveillance as they sampled local food.

• Hinata spotted a barbecue restaurant, and Xuanyu led the group inside despite Shino Aburame and Yuhi Kurenai’s worries about staying in Kumogakure.
• Dodai recognized Hinata as a Hyuga Main Family member and watched her while Xuanyu’s group ate.
• Dodai told Fourth Raikage Ai that Hinata had a pure Byakugan, and Ai ordered the group monitored so they could seize her when they left.
• Killer B arrived at the Raikage’s Office and accepted a mission to deal with Xuanyu, with Hideyoshi Me assigned to accompany him.
• Shino Aburame warned Xuanyu that two people fifty meters away were watching them.

Xuanyu and his companions left Kumogakure under constant surveillance, while the Raikage sent Killer B, Hideyoshi Me, Darui, and other ninjas to pursue them. Two days into their journey, Xuanyu spotted the ambush forming behind them just as the attackers struck.

• Xuanyu identified numerous watchers around the group in Kumogakure, but said the Land of Lightning was safer than leaving immediately.
• Yuhi Kurenai booked two rooms and told everyone to rest before leaving Kumogakure the next morning.
• Yuhi Kurenai and Hinata found Xuanyu training at dawn, and Yuhi Kurenai felt a terrifying pressure when she met his eyes.
• Xuanyu's group left Kumogakure, and the Raikage sent Killer B, Hideyoshi Me, Darui, and more than a dozen jonin to follow them.
• After two days, Shino Aburame spotted two followers, while Xuanyu revealed that seventeen more ninjas were waiting to attack.
• Several shuriken flew at the group, and Yuhi Kurenai knocked them down as she called out the enemy attack.

Uchiha Xuan Yu and his team faced Hideyoshi Me, Killer B, Darui, and Kumogakure shinobi, who demanded that Hinata be handed over. Xuan Yu refused to abandon his teammate, and the chapter ended as Darui charged while Hideyoshi Me wondered why Xuan Yu seemed confident despite having no Uchiha reinforcements nearby.

• Hideyoshi Me confronted Xuan Yu and demanded that he surrender Hinata, threatening the team if he refused.
• Hinata offered to stay behind to protect her teammates, but Xuan Yu and Shino declared they would defend her.
• Xuan Yu dismissed the Kumogakure shinobi and said he needed no other Uchiha to deal with them.
• The Eight-Tails told Killer B that no shinobi were within three li, and Killer B allowed Darui to test Xuan Yu.
• Darui charged at Xuan Yu while Hideyoshi Me worried that Xuan Yu was still acting confident without hidden Uchiha support.

Yuhi Kurenai fought Killer B while Xuanyu and the others were surrounded by Kumogakure ninja. As Shino was sent flying, Kurenai entered a strange state and unleashed a new genjutsu.

• Yuhi Kurenai trapped Darui with genjutsu, but Killer B intervened and challenged her with his Seven Swords Style.
• Kurenai tried to hold Killer B off so Xuanyu, Hinata, and Shino could escape, but Xuanyu stayed after noticing her chakra surging.
• Hideyoshi Me ordered his ninja to kill everyone except the Hyuga Clan member, and they surrounded Xuanyu's group.
• Hinata and Shino fought the attackers while Xuanyu guarded them, but Shino was sent flying as Kurenai watched anxiously.
• Kurenai entered a strange state, formed hand seals, and used Genjutsu: God's Binding.

Yuhi Kurenai briefly trapped Killer B with genjutsu, but Gyūki freed him and he overwhelmed her with his Tailed Beast Chakra cloak. Xuanyu appeared to shield Kurenai, and Killer B's punch stopped a foot from him against an invisible barrier.

• Yuhi Kurenai used genjutsu to trap Killer B and Gyūki, then moved in to kill Killer B.
• Gyūki broke free of the genjutsu, and Killer B grabbed Kurenai and formed his Tailed Beast Chakra cloak.
• Killer B struck Kurenai and prepared a second attack while she struggled to move.
• Xuanyu appeared in front of Kurenai and stood his ground as Killer B punched him.
• Killer B's fist stopped a foot from Xuanyu, blocked by an invisible barrier.

Xuanyu blocked Killer B’s powerful attack while a dozen Kumogakure ninja surrounding Hinata and Shino died without anyone seeing how they were killed. The survivors feared Xuanyu’s strength, and Gyūki warned Killer B that Xuanyu possessed immense Chakra and was dangerous.

• Xuanyu blocked Killer B’s punch with an invisible barrier and rebounded him several meters.
• Yuhi Kurenai checked that Xuanyu was unharmed, and Xuanyu reassured her that he would get everyone back to Konoha safely.
• The Kumogakure ninja surrounding Hinata and Shino abruptly fell dead, their throats bleeding, while the two survivors stared in shock.
• Darui tried to investigate the bodies, but Hideyoshi Me stopped him and slapped him to keep him from rushing into danger.
• Killer B focused on Xuanyu, and Gyūki warned him that Xuanyu’s Chakra exceeded its own and that it sensed danger from him.

Xuanyu confronted Killer B after Gyūki sensed his immense Chakra, overpowering Killer B in their first exchanges. Killer B transformed into his full Tailed Beast state and reached for Xuanyu, leaving their fight poised to escalate.

• Gyūki warned Killer B that Xuanyu possessed terrifying Chakra, but Killer B doubted the warning and challenged him.
• Xuanyu reassured Yuhi Kurenai that he would get her safely back to Konoha, then faced Killer B’s attack with his own Chakra-coated fist.
• Xuanyu struck Killer B hard enough to send him sliding across the ground, impressing Kurenai with his immense Chakra.
• Killer B stopped to write lyrics during the fight, and Xuanyu caught him off guard with a palm strike that sent him flying again.
• Killer B summoned Gyūki and transformed into his full Tailed Beast state, then reached down to grab Xuanyu.

Xuan Yu revealed Wood Release and Chakra-devouring Black Flames while fighting Killer B and the Eight-Tails. As the battle escalated, Killer B tore apart Xuan Yu’s Wood Golem and fired a Tailed Beast Ball at him.

• Xuan Yu used Wood Release to block Gyūki’s massive palm, astonishing Yuhi Kurenai, Hideyoshi Me, Hinata, and Shino Aburame.
• Hideyoshi Me ordered Killer B to capture Xuan Yu alive for Dodai-sama’s research, while Killer B warned that defeating him might be impossible.
• Xuan Yu spread Black Flames that devoured the Eight-Tails’ Chakra, leading Yuhi Kurenai to suspect that Xuan Yu had been the Konoha Assassin as a child.
• Xuan Yu formed a Wood Golem to fight the Eight-Tails and sent Hinata and Shino Aburame behind him while he checked Yuhi Kurenai’s injuries.
• Killer B tore off the Wood Golem’s arms, bound it with Gyūki’s tails, and launched a Tailed Beast Ball at Xuan Yu.

Xuanyu used his Black Flames and Gravity Domain to overwhelm Killer B and the Eight-Tails, then awakened his Sixth Tomoe and pinned the beast down with Black Rods. He introduced himself to the defeated Eight-Tails as Zhatian Qitian.

• Yuhi Kurenai urged Xuanyu to flee with Hinata and the others, but Xuanyu stopped the Eight-Tails’ Tailed Beast Ball by absorbing its Chakra with Black Flames.
• Xuanyu activated his Gravity Domain and Super Heavyweight Rock Technique, forcing the Eight-Tails to the ground.
• Xuanyu’s Sixth Tomoe emerged, and he used Perfected Ultra Instinct to create Black Rods that pinned the Eight-Tails’ arms and tails.
• Gyūki recognized that the Eight-Tails had lost and questioned how Xuanyu had created Truth-Seeking Orbs without senjutsu.
• Xuanyu told the Eight-Tails that he was Zhatian Qitian.

Xuanyu defeated Killer B and Gyūki, then revealed he was a member of the Akatsuki Organization. He pursued Hideyoshi Me and Darui with a new space-time technique and ordered them to return with him.

• Xuanyu subdued Killer B and Gyūki, draining Gyūki's Chakra until Killer B admitted defeat.
• Hideyoshi Me stopped Darui from attacking Xuanyu, then fled with him to report the encounter to the Raikage.
• Xuanyu told Killer B that the Akatsuki Organization sought peace and asked what conditions he wanted.
• Xuanyu used his Doujutsu Power to create a Flying Thunder God Mark and catch Hideyoshi Me and Darui four kilometers away.
• Xuanyu told Hideyoshi Me and Darui to return with him so he could discuss some matters.

Xuan Yu defeated Darui and brought him and Hideyoshi Me back to the battlefield with Space-Time Ninjutsu. After sending Yuhi Kurenai, Hinata, and Shino Aburame away, he prepared to discuss peace with the Kumogakure shinobi, while the others kept his strength secret.

• Darui challenged Xuan Yu, who defeated him in a brief exchange and crippled both his arms.
• Xuan Yu transported Darui and Hideyoshi Me back to the battlefield, where Killer B remained trapped.
• Xuan Yu told the Eight-Tails that he wanted peace, and Hideyoshi Me asked what he wanted them to do.
• Xuan Yu sent Yuhi Kurenai, Hinata, and Shino Aburame ahead, and Yuhi Kurenai told them to keep his strength secret.
• Xuan Yu called out that revealing his strength would not change the outcome, though it would make his plans more troublesome.