Chapter Summaries

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō found the Hyuga Main Family nearly destroyed, while Neji and the Hyuga elders had vanished. After learning the survivors had been blinded as well as crippled, Hiruzen offered to put Neji Hyuga on a wanted list, but Hyuga Sanming insisted the clan would handle the matter itself.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō discovered nearly a hundred injured Hyuga Main Family members, but Root could not find Neji.
• An Anbu ninja reported that the Hyuga elders had disappeared, leading Sarutobi Hiruzen to suspect an enemy had used Space-Time Ninjutsu.
• Shimura Danzō ordered Medical Ninja to treat the survivors, and they found that nearly all had broken bones and blindness.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen comforted Hyuga Hiashi and promised to issue a wanted notice for Neji Hyuga.
• Hyuga Sanming told Sarutobi Hiruzen that the incident was an internal Hyuga Clan matter and declined his help.

Hyuga Hiashi kept Konoha from intervening in Neji Hyuga’s conflict with the Hyuga Clan, leaving the clan to handle its crisis internally. As Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō departed to plan for the clan’s possible shift in power, Yuhi Kurenai and Shino Aburame arrived at the grounds.

• Hyuga Sanming urged Hyuga Hiashi to treat Neji Hyuga’s actions as an internal clan matter, and Branch Family members gathered in support.
• Hyuga Hiashi refused Sarutobi Hiruzen’s intervention and said the Hyuga Clan would handle the matter itself.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered Konoha’s forces to withdraw, while Shimura Danzō warned the Hyuga Clan to bear the consequences.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō left together, considering the end of Main Family control and the risks posed by Neji and the Akatsuki Organization.
• Naruto asked Kakashi about Neji, and Kakashi reassured him that Neji was safe; Sasuke resolved to become stronger.
• Yuhi Kurenai and Shino Aburame arrived at the Hyuga Clan Grounds and encountered Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō as they were leaving.

Yuhi Kurenai returned to Konoha with Shino Aburame while Uchiha Xuan Yu and Hinata Hyuga were still behind her, prompting Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others to question her about the mission. After Kakashi told her about Xuanyu’s hidden strength, Kurenai asked whether one person could suppress the Tailed Beasts.

• Yuhi Kurenai returned with Shino Aburame and said Xuanyu and Hinata were still on their way back.
• Sarutobi Asuma questioned Kurenai about the mission, and she said Xuanyu had the signed handover document.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen claimed he had worried about Kurenai because Hideyoshi Me might have been a Land of Lightning agent, then left with Asuma and Shimura Danzō.
• Kurenai asked Kakashi to speak privately, and he recounted how Xuanyu had defeated him when Xuanyu was only a few years old.
• Kurenai asked Kakashi whether someone could suppress the Tailed Beasts alone.

Yuhi Kurenai told Kakashi that Uchiha Xuan Yu had easily subdued Killer B and the Eight-Tails, leaving Kakashi to wonder what Xuanyu planned to do next. At the Hokage’s office, Sarutobi Asuma urged his father to eliminate Xuanyu, but Shimura Danzō hinted that Asuma did not understand the Uchiha Clan’s influence around Konoha.

• Yuhi Kurenai told Kakashi that Xuanyu had restrained the Eight-Tails and nearly drained its chakra, shocking him with the scale of Xuanyu’s strength.
• Kakashi asked what Xuanyu had done to Killer B, and Kurenai said she did not know but suspected Xuanyu had a larger purpose.
• Kakashi recalled Xuanyu’s retaliation against the Sarutobi Clan and questioned whether he would spare the Land of Lightning after its attempt to kill him.
• Sarutobi Asuma asked Sarutobi Hiruzen whether Xuanyu was still alive, and Hiruzen said the monitors sent to watch the group had not returned.
• Asuma demanded that Konoha send people to eliminate Xuanyu, but Shimura Danzō warned him that he did not understand the Uchiha Clan’s influence around Konoha.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō discussed the threat posed by the Akatsuki Organization and the Uchiha Clan after Uchiha Xuan Yu returned toward Konoha. Hiruzen ordered them to accelerate the Impure World Reincarnation experiment before the Chunin Exams, where he expected unrest to break out.

• Shimura Danzō told Sarutobi Asuma that Deidara had been brought back by Uchiha Xuan Yu and warned that confronting Xuanyu could mean war with the powerful Uchiha Clan.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen sent Asuma away after Asuma angrily blamed the Land of Lightning for letting Xuanyu escape.
• Hiruzen asked Danzō about the Akatsuki Organization, and Danzō warned that it was strong, hostile to Konoha, and closely connected to the Uchiha Clan.
• Hiruzen said Konoha should prepare for a possible alliance between the Akatsuki Organization and the Uchiha Clan and ordered Danzō to continue the Impure World Reincarnation experiment.
• Danzō warned that accelerating the experiment would require more living test subjects and risk stirring suspicion in Konoha.
• Hiruzen predicted unrest during the upcoming Chunin Exams and ordered the Impure World Reincarnation technique perfected before they began.

Shimura Danzō agreed to intensify his Impure World Reincarnation research under Sarutobi Hiruzen’s supervision, while secretly planning to hide his own schemes. In the underground laboratory, Owuya Bai successfully engraved a new Lotus Mark on Neji's Mother with Xuanyu’s help, stabilizing her soul, though she remained unconscious.

• Shimura Danzō accepted Sarutobi Hiruzen’s approval to expand his research, and Sarutobi Hiruzen insisted that his own people join and monitor the work.
• Shimura Danzō recognized Sarutobi Hiruzen’s distrust and decided to conceal his secret plans from the people sent to watch him.
• Xuanyu used Soul Power to keep Neji's Mother's badly injured soul from dissipating while Owuya Bai engraved a new Lotus Mark.
• Owuya Bai completed the sixty-four-petal Lotus Mark and told Neji that the engraving had succeeded because Xuanyu had stabilized his mother's soul.
• Neji thanked Xuanyu and learned from Owuya Bai that Neji's Mother would remain unconscious while the Lotus Mark nurtured her fragile soul.

Xuanyu asked Owuya Bai to examine Neji and Hinata as their Byakugan evolved into blood-red and icy-blue eyes. Owuya Bai found both evolutions unstable and proposed a modified Lotus Cursed Seal to stabilize Hinata’s eyes.

• Xuanyu told Owuya Bai that Neji and Hinata had absorbed energy from other Byakugan, and explained that Neji’s eyes had affected his mind.
• Owuya Bai examined both of them with Chakra and sensed violent energy around Neji’s eyes and gentler, immense energy around Hinata’s.
• Owuya Bai warned Xuanyu that Hinata’s eye evolution risked irreversible damage because her Doujutsu Power was too immense.
• Owuya Bai proposed carving a Perfect Lotus Cursed Seal on Hinata’s forehead to stabilize her evolution.
• Owuya Bai explained that he would modify the Lotus Cursed Seal to fuse with Hinata’s Caged Bird, while anticipating how many petals she might condense.

Hinata chose to receive Owuya Bai’s Lotus Mark so she could grow stronger and keep up with Xuanyu. Owuya Bai inscribed the seal, which reached an astonishing 3,600 petals as Xuanyu sensed powerful spatial interference from Hinata’s evolving Doujutsu Power.

• Hinata firmly agreed to receive the Lotus Mark, explaining that she wanted the strength it could give her.
• Xuanyu worried that Hinata might regret the decision, but agreed after she pleaded with him; Owuya Bai insisted the seal should be inscribed immediately because her Byakugan’s energy could become unstable.
• Owuya Bai led Hinata inside with Xuanyu and Neji Hyuga, then began inscribing the Lotus Cursed Seal without Xuanyu’s help.
• As the lotus petals unfolded, Xuanyu sensed intense spatial interference and suspected it came from Hinata’s evolving Doujutsu Power.
• Xuanyu counted 3,600 petals on Hinata’s Lotus Cursed Seal as the lotus continued to unfold.

Owuya Bai’s Lotus Cursed Seal merged with Hinata’s soul and Byakugan, prompting Xuanyu to punish him for lying about the danger she faced. Hinata awakened with her eyes greatly strengthened and her Lotus Mark vanished, which Owuya Bai explained was the sign of a perfect seal that appeared only when she used its power.

• Owuya Bai celebrated the successful creation of Hinata’s Lotus Cursed Seal, but Xuanyu confronted him over whether Hinata had truly needed it.
• Owuya Bai admitted the danger was unlikely, and Xuanyu took him away and beat him before returning with him bruised and battered.
• Owuya Bai explained that Hinata’s mark was merging with her soul and absorbing Chakra, so Xuanyu and Neji waited for her to awaken.
• Hinata opened her eyes as the space shuddered, and the Lotus Mark on her forehead faded away completely.
• Owuya Bai concluded that Hinata’s Caged Bird-free seal had perfectly merged with her body and would appear only when she used its power.

Owuya Bai completed a Perfect Cursed Seal, and Hinata received the Lotus Mark, while Neji struggled to control the mixed Blood Qi affecting his eyes. Outside, Deidara, Kimimaro, and Jugo asked to join the Akatsuki Organization, and Neji joined their request.

• Owuya Bai created a Perfect Cursed Seal, strengthening his confidence in his research.
• Hinata manifested the Lotus Mark, and Xuanyu encouraged her to keep working toward his level.
• Owuya Bai warned Neji to control his Killing Intent as mixed Blood Qi affected his eyes.
• Xuanyu kicked Deidara aside when he tried to challenge him, then Kimimaro asked for the three of them to join Zhatian.
• Xuanyu explained the Akatsuki Organization's no-betrayal rule, and Deidara, Kimimaro, and Jugo affirmed their decision to join.
• Neji hurried over and told Xuanyu that he wanted to join the Akatsuki Organization too.

Xuanyu and Hinata returned to Konoha after rescuing Neji and his mother, while Neji joined the Akatsuki Organization and the Hyuga Eighth Elder was captured. Xuanyu learned that Sarutobi Hiruzen had schemed against him and vowed to retaliate, just as Sarutobi Asuma approached him.

• Neji told Xuanyu that he knew about the Akatsuki Organization and asked to join, and Xuanyu agreed to bring him a mask the next day.
• A shadow took the Eighth Elder and Hyuga Sosuke to a room where Hyuga Changliu was bound and eyeless, and Neji said he had spared Changliu after Changliu tried to kill him.
• Xuanyu and Hinata returned to Konoha and sensed people watching them.
• Shino Aburame and Yuhi Kurenai greeted Xuanyu and Hinata, and Kurenai told Xuanyu what had happened after he left.
• Xuanyu told Kurenai that Neji's Mother had received treatment and would recover, then vowed to make Sarutobi Hiruzen repay him.
• Sarutobi Asuma saw Xuanyu and Hinata alive, blamed the Land of Lightning for failing to capture them, and walked toward Xuanyu.

Xuanyu confronted Sarutobi Asuma over the failed ambush on his team and revealed that the Sarutobi shinobi sent after them had been killed. Asuma reported their deaths to Sarutobi Hiruzen, who reacted with concealed killing intent.

• Sarutobi Asuma approached Xuanyu and accused him of returning alive, but Xuanyu challenged him over whether he had wanted them dead.
• A shinobi beside Asuma claimed the Hokage had sent protection, and Xuanyu said the group sent to find them had been ambushed and killed.
• Xuanyu said he and Yuhi Kurenai had buried the dead shinobi, and Yuhi Kurenai confirmed his account while hiding how they had actually died.
• Sarutobi Asuma stormed into the Hokage Office and told Sarutobi Hiruzen that the shinobi sent to ambush Uchiha Xuan Yu were dead.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen questioned Asuma and grew furious as he considered how many Sarutobi Clan elites had already been lost.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Sarutobi Asuma plotted to purge the Uchiha Clan after the Chunin Exams, while Xuanyu resumed training as Konoha recovered from the Hyuga Clan turmoil. In Kumogakure, Raikage Ai learned that Neji had nearly destroyed the Hyuga Main Family and erupted in anger when he linked the incident to the Akatsuki Organization.

• Sarutobi Asuma told Sarutobi Hiruzen about meeting Xuanyu, and the two blamed the Uchiha Clan for their losses.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen vowed to purge the Uchiha Clan after the Chunin Exams and planned to use Impure World Reincarnation to summon the Second Hokage.
• Xuanyu returned to training and simple missions while Neji cared for his mother, leaving Owuya Bai's plan to remove the Caged Bird temporarily postponed.
• Raikage Ai read that Neji Hyuga had nearly wiped out the Hyuga Main Family, and Hideyoshi Me explained Neji's ties to Hizashi and Xuanyu.
• Raikage Ai tore up the report and shouted that the Akatsuki Organization was involved again, just as Killer B entered the room rapping.

Raikage Ai briefed his office on the Akatsuki Organization, Neji Hyuga’s strength, and the removal of the Hyuga Clan’s Caged Bird curse. Killer B revealed that the Eight-Tails feared Xuanyu and urged Kumogakure to consider his conditions, but Raikage Ai rejected the idea of merging the Land of Lightning with other countries.

• Killer B entered the Raikage’s office and wrote down a new rap while the others waited silently.
• Raikage Ai described Neji Hyuga’s strength and reported that Deidara, Sasori, and Hidan had held off Konoha’s elite forces as members of the Akatsuki Organization.
• Dodai and Hideyoshi Me worried about the Akatsuki’s size and the consequences of Neji removing the Hyuga Clan’s Caged Bird curse.
• Gyūki panicked at the mention of the Akatsuki Organization and warned Killer B never to oppose Xuanyu, who had nearly drained its Chakra.
• Killer B told Raikage Ai that Xuanyu’s conditions might be worth considering, but Raikage Ai refused to let the Land of Lightning merge with other countries.

Killer B defended Xuan Yu’s vision of uniting the Shinobi World, but Raikage Ai dismissed him and had him removed from Kumogakure’s affairs. In Konoha, Xuan Yu accepted a mission to escort Tazuna to the Land of Waves, realizing it might lead him to encounter Zabuza.

• Killer B argued that peaceful unification could end the cycle of wars, while Raikage Ai rejected his belief that Xuan Yu could unite the Shinobi World.
• Raikage Ai declared Killer B unfit to participate in Kumogakure’s affairs and ordered Hideyoshi Me to watch him.
• Raikage Ai asked Dodai which young shinobi Kumogakure should send to the Chunin Exams.
• Shino Aburame brought Xuan Yu a C-rank mission to escort Tazuna from Konoha to the Land of Waves, hoping to register for the Chunin Exams afterward.
• Xuan Yu recognized the mission as one originally associated with Kakashi and Naruto, then wondered whether he might encounter Zabuza.

Xuan Yu’s team rested before their mission to the Land of Waves, while Sarutobi Hiruzen arranged for them to encounter trouble there. At night, Xuan Yu returned to the Underground Laboratory and asked Neji Hyuga, Deidara, Kimimaro, and Jugo one last time whether they were sure they wanted to join the Akatsuki Organization; all four stood firm.

• Xuan Yu accepted the three-day delay before the Land of Waves mission and planned to take the Chunin Exams after returning.
• Shino Aburame asked about his insects, and Xuan Yu said Hua Yu’s research had begun evolving them and would produce results after the mission.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen watched Xuan Yu’s team through a Crystal Ball and said their mission would lead them into trouble in the Land of Waves.
• Xuan Yu arrived at the Underground Laboratory, where Deidara, Neji Hyuga, Kimimaro, and Jugo gathered to meet him.
• Xuan Yu warned the four that joining the Akatsuki Organization meant there would be no turning back, and all four confirmed their resolve.

Xuanyu assigned masks and codenames to four new Akatsuki members, bringing the Twelve Zodiac Signs roster to seven, while Neji and Owuya Bai worked to free Hyuga Branch Family members from their curse marks. The chapter ended with Tazuna disputing his escort team for the journey back to the Land of Waves.

• Xuanyu gave Deidara the Rooster Mask and the codename Morning Star, Jugo the Pig Face Mask and Overlord Pig, Kimimaro the Ram Head Mask and White Ram, and Neji the Horse Face Mask and Crossing Horse.
• Xuanyu confirmed that Hua Yu would have a reserved place in the Akatsuki Organization, while Owuya Bai would remain behind to lead its research work.
• Over the next two days, Neji led trusted Hyuga Branch Family members out of the village as Owuya Bai removed the Caged Bird Curse Mark from five people each day.
• The Anbu and Root monitored the operation, while Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō decided to act after the Chunin Exams ended.
• Tazuna complained to Yuhi Kurenai that his escort team lacked elite ninja, and Xuanyu snapped that Tazuna's payment only covered a C-rank mission.

Xuanyu confronted Dazner and started to abandon the escort mission, but Dazner apologized and asked the team to continue. Xuanyu agreed, and the group resumed its journey toward the Land of Waves.

• Xuanyu told Dazner to submit a new mission application, then turned back toward Konoha with Hinata and Shino Aburame.
• Dazner threatened to complain, but Xuanyu revealed that he was Uchiha Xuan Yu, the Uchiha Clan’s Young Clan Leader, and identified Hinata and Shino Aburame as heirs of their clans.
• Hinata and Yuhi Kurenai reassured Dazner that the team could protect him, while Kurenai explained that stronger ninja would require a higher mission rank and payment.
• Unable to afford a higher-ranked mission, Dazner apologized to Xuanyu and asked the team to escort him to the Land of Waves.
• Xuanyu agreed to continue the mission, and Yuhi Kurenai, Hinata, the others, and Dazner followed him onward.

Xuanyu and his group stopped in a lawless border town, where a drunken Senju Tsunade tried to move him and he recognized her. After Xuanyu threw her into a wall, Shizune and Yuhi Kurenai discussed Tsunade’s condition, and Tsunade confronted Xuanyu again.

• Yuhi Kurenai led Xuanyu and the others to a busy border town to rest for the night.
• A drunken Tsunade bumped into Xuanyu and tried to lift him, but she could not move him.
• Xuanyu recognized Tsunade, restrained her, and flung her into a wall to make her sober up.
• Shizune rushed to check Tsunade and spoke with Yuhi Kurenai, who said Konoha wanted Tsunade to return.
• Tsunade staggered back to Xuanyu and demanded to know whether he had thrown her, leaving Shizune astonished.

Xuanyu and Yuhi Kurenai tried to leave the drunken Tsunade, but Tsunade charged at Xuanyu and was hurled backward again. After Tsunade knocked out a heckler, Shizune recognized Xuanyu as the Uchiha dismissed as useless and was left baffled by his strength.

• Shizune insisted Tsunade had drunk too much, while Tsunade maintained that Xuanyu had thrown her.
• Xuanyu and Yuhi Kurenai started to leave, with Kurenai saying she would visit after Tsunade sobered up.
• Tsunade broke free of Shizune and rushed at Xuanyu, but she was sent flying backward before she could grab him.
• A sleazy man taunted Tsunade, and she punched him hard enough to send him flying and bleeding.
• Shizune recognized Xuanyu’s Double Pupils and wondered how the Uchiha called useless could have such strength.
• Xuanyu told his group to leave and headed on, deciding not to waste time talking to Tsunade.