Chapter Summaries

Ryosuke saw that Gato’s men on the shore were weak and told Hizashi Hyuga to handle negotiations while keeping him hidden. After the group landed, Gato’s representative invited them to a banquet, claiming Gato wanted cooperation and would offer gifts, but Hizashi challenged his lack of sincerity.

• Ryosuke used his Byakugan to assess the crowd on the shore and concluded they were too weak to be a serious ambush.
• Ryosuke told Hizashi Hyuga to determine Gato’s intentions, negotiate for the greatest benefits, and then make Gato wait.
• Hizashi Hyuga led the Konoha group ashore, with Iroha, the Hyuga Chunin, Ryosuke, and Seisai following.
• Gato’s representative invited the group to a banquet to discuss cooperation and said Gato would give each of them a generous gift.
• Hizashi Hyuga questioned Gato’s sincerity because Gato had not come to meet them in person, and the representative said Gato was timid and begged them to attend.

Ryosuke and the Hyuga entered Gato’s castle in the Land of Waves, where three rogue Jonin recognized Hizashi Hyuga and abandoned their plans to confront the group. Akutagawa led them upstairs to meet their host.

• A riffraff leader escorted Hizashi Hyuga, Ryosuke, and the other Hyuga through the castle while the maids bowed to them.
• Three rogue Jonin—Akutagawa, Kinoshita, and Atsushi—blocked the stairway and recognized Hizashi Hyuga.
• Hizashi identified Kinoshita and Akutagawa as former enemies from other ninja villages and questioned whether Gato had sent them to intimidate him.
• Akutagawa and the others backed down, dismissed the riffraff leader, and cautiously escorted the Hyuga upstairs.
• A voice welcomed the Konoha ninja as they arrived on the castle’s lavishly decorated top floor.

Ryosuke and Hizashi Hyuga met Gato, whose appearance differed from Ryosuke’s memories, and learned that Gato was a title held by several leaders of the Seagull Transport Chamber. The meeting ended with Ryosuke questioning whether Gato’s explanation was true.

• Gato’s hired Jonin warned him that Hizashi Hyuga was among the visitors, making them reconsider their planned show of force.
• Gato approached Hizashi and explained that he had been ready to retreat rather than risk a conflict.
• Ryosuke used the Byakugan’s Genjutsu to influence Hizashi’s words and asked Gato why he looked different from the person Ryosuke remembered.
• Gato said that Gato was a title for a principal person in the Seagull Transport Chamber and that three others shared the name.
• Ryosuke understood the explanation but remained unsure whether Gato had told the truth.

Ryosuke, speaking through Hizashi Hyuga, heard Gato’s proposal to turn the Land of Waves into a major trade hub and involve the Hyuga Clan. He rejected Gato’s vague terms and warned that the plan’s risks could bring the clan disaster, leaving the possibility of further negotiations open.

• Gato welcomed Ryosuke and the Hyuga group to a lavish banquet, but they ignored the food and entertainment and asked to discuss business.
• Gato presented a map and proposed developing the Land of Waves into a trade center managed with the Hyuga Clan’s support.
• Ryosuke recognized that Gato wanted the Hyuga Clan to provide security and backing without clearly defining how risks and profits would be shared.
• Ryosuke controlled Hizashi Hyuga and had him interrupt Gato, calling the proposal one-sided and Gato an unqualified merchant.
• Hizashi argued that the Hyuga Clan could not protect Gato’s association from rival powers and said the deal could bring the clan disaster.

Ryosuke and Hizashi Hyuga agreed with Gato to pursue a trade alliance centered on the Land of Waves, which they hoped would strengthen peace among nations. After leaving Gato’s castle to find the detained Hyuga scouts, they were approached by a fisherman named Kaisa, who begged Konoha’s ninja to save the Land of Waves.

• Hizashi Hyuga shook hands with Gato, who agreed to contact other countries’ Daimyos about forming a commercial alliance.
• Ryosuke declined Gato’s banquet invitation and said the Hyuga group would first visit the clansmen Gato had detained.
• Ryosuke withdrew his Genjutsu, and Hizashi Hyuga warned Gato that the clan already knew where its scouts were being held.
• Hizashi Hyuga asked Ryosuke whether cooperating with Gato was wise, and Ryosuke explained that shared commercial interests could strengthen peace and alliances.
• A fisherman named Kaisa rushed toward the Konoha group and pleaded for them to save the Land of Waves.

Ryosuke told Kaisa’s family that the people of the Land of Waves could either become citizens of the Land of Fire or remain under Gato’s rule as slaves. Kaisa led the village in joining the Land of Fire, and Ryosuke reflected on how the country’s incompetent nobles had left it vulnerable to ruin.

• Kaisa returned home with Ryosuke and the Konoha ninja, where Tsunami and Inari greeted him warily.
• Ryosuke explained the two choices facing Kaisa’s family and the rest of the Land of Waves: join the Land of Fire or become Gato’s slaves.
• Ryosuke told Kaisa that the Land of Fire had never intended to intervene and that the country’s nobles had squandered its resources.
• After Tsunami comforted him, Kaisa chose to join the Land of Fire, and the village followed his lead.
• That night, Ryosuke looked out at the moon and blamed the Land of Waves’ downfall on its nobles’ complacency and misrule.

Ryosuke experienced another involuntary glimpse of Gato’s future and learned that Gato planned to entrust the Land of Waves project to an associate. After waking exhausted, Ryosuke prepared to return to Konoha, while Gato noticed how the Hyūga clan protected him.

• Ryosuke saw a future conversation in which the real Gato told an associate to manage the Land of Waves plan and warned him not to fail.
• Ryosuke woke after using Future Sight in his sleep and realized he still could not control whose future he saw.
• Ryosuke concluded that the vision showed events after his departure and that Gato was likely in the Land of Soup.
• Ryosuke considered how a successful commercial alliance could reshape the Ninja World and help prevent war while he developed his strength.
• Seisai Hyuga and Hizashi Hyuga noticed Ryosuke’s exhaustion, and Hizashi asked whether his ability had caused it.
• As the Hyūga prepared to leave, Gato studied Ryosuke and noticed that the others had kept him protected.

After returning from the Land of Waves, Ryosuke waited at home while Hizashi Hyuga and Hiashi Hyuga took the mission’s intelligence to Konoha’s leaders. He trained Hanabi, reunited with Hinata, and explained the alliance and its consequences to her.

• Ryosuke, Hizashi Hyuga, and their group returned to Konoha after three days, and Ryosuke reminded Gato not to mistreat the civilians of the Land of Waves.
• Hizashi Hyuga followed Ryosuke home, where Ryosuke briefed Hiashi Hyuga before the two brothers went to the Hokage Building; Ryosuke stayed behind.
• Ryosuke had Hanabi practice her horse stance while she struggled to keep training and grew upset when Hinata returned and initially ignored her.
• Hinata rushed to Ryosuke and told him she had worried about his safety during the mission.
• Ryosuke recounted the mission to Hinata and explained how the alliance with the Land of Waves could affect the future Ninja World.

After a quiet evening with Hinata, Ryosuke learned that his mission to the Land of Waves had triggered meetings among Konoha’s leaders and attracted attention from other nations. The chapter left the proposed alliance under discussion and its participants working to keep news of it secret.

• Hanabi stopped sulking at dinner and moved beside Hinata to eat with her.
• Ryosuke and Hinata waited for Hyuga Hiashi, but he did not return from the Hokage Building meeting.
• Ryosuke discussed Sasuke Uchiha’s prospects and Naruto’s growth with Hinata.
• Ryosuke learned that Konoha’s leaders had met with clan heads after his Land of Waves mission.
• Other nations preparing to cooperate learned of the matter through Gato’s operations and tried to keep it secret until the alliance was complete.

Ryosuke accompanied Hinata to the Academy, where he encountered Sasuke, who had hurried in to challenge him. The chapter left Ryosuke avoiding Sasuke’s demand because he wanted him to remain at the Academy rather than graduate early.

• Ryosuke reasoned that his plan could make war more complicated and delay a large-scale conflict, then took Hinata to the Academy.
• Iruka welcomed Ryosuke and introduced Mizuki as an intern instructor.
• Sasuke arrived late, ignored his usual seat, and sat beside Ryosuke.
• Sasuke challenged Ryosuke to a fight, saying he would listen if Ryosuke beat him.
• Ryosuke suspected Sasuke had rushed to the Academy after learning he was there and decided he did not want to influence Sasuke into graduating early.

Ryosuke considered how his presence could alter the Ninja World’s timeline and decided to steer disruptions while avoiding unnecessary interference with Sasuke. During practical sparring, Sasuke challenged Ryosuke, then redirected his challenge to their instructor, Mizuki.

• Ryosuke reflected on how small changes could create far-reaching consequences and resolved to keep the world’s broader course under control.
• At practical sparring, Sasuke asked Mizuki to pair him with Ryosuke.
• Ryosuke declined and requested to spar with Hinata to practice their Gentle Fist Style.
• Sasuke abandoned his challenge to Ryosuke and challenged Mizuki instead, hoping to find a stronger opponent and possibly pass the graduation examination.
• Mizuki reacted with surprise and felt angry at being underestimated by his student.

Sasuke Uchiha challenged Mizuki and grew sharper as their battle pushed him to learn and adapt, though Ryosuke judged that he could not win without awakening the Sharingan. Hinata expressed her wish to graduate and travel with Ryosuke, who encouraged her while reflecting on the approaching year.

• Sasuke Uchiha fought Mizuki, using tactics to evade the Chunin’s attacks as his wounds and the pressure of battle sharpened his movements.
• The students, including Ryosuke and Hinata, watched Sasuke’s improved Chakra control and his attempts to use Chakra beneath his feet.
• Hinata asked whether Sasuke could win, and Ryosuke said the gap was too wide unless Sasuke awakened the Sharingan.
• Hinata said she believed she could beat Sasuke in close combat, and Ryosuke praised her while warning her never to underestimate an opponent.
• Hinata told Ryosuke she wanted to graduate and go on missions with him; he encouraged her as he thought about the coming year and Hanabi turning four.

After Hinata and Hanabi left to train, Ryosuke began studying the Hyuga Clan’s vast collection of techniques to overcome his growth bottleneck. He planned to master all seven Chakra attributes and eventually develop a Kekkei Mōra.

• Mizuki defeated Sasuke, while Hinata memorized their fighting methods.
• Ryosuke sent Hinata and Hanabi to train together and worried that Hanabi would receive the Caged Bird Seal when she turned four.
• Ryosuke returned to his room, where scrolls containing the Hyuga Clan’s collected techniques had been gathered for him.
• Ryosuke concluded that he needed to learn new abilities because his existing Byakugan skills had reached a bottleneck.
• Ryosuke decided to master all seven Chakra attributes and pursue a Kekkei Mōra like Kaguya Otsutsuki’s.

Hyuga Hiashi briefed Ryosuke and Hinata on the village’s approval of the Alliance Plan and the proposed role and rewards for the Hyuga Clan. He rejected Konoha’s offer of the Guard Unit duties, while Ryosuke agreed to attend the next negotiations only if he felt prepared.

• Hyuga Hiashi told Ryosuke and Hinata that Hiruzen Sarutobi and the village’s senior officials had approved the Alliance Plan and that preparations were underway to seek the Daimyo’s approval and investigate the Seagull Shipping Merchants Association.
• Hyuga Hiashi explained that Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted the village to handle the next steps, with the Hyuga Clan later joining negotiations and receiving a share of the alliance’s profits.
• Hyuga Hiashi said Konoha had offered the Hyuga Clan the Guard Unit duties, but he had rejected the offer and proposed that the clan serve as retainers to Land of Fire officials instead.
• Hyuga Hiashi warned Ryosuke that the next negotiations could be targeted by hostile nations, but Ryosuke promised not to attend unless he was confident he could handle the danger.

After Hiashi left, Ryosuke explained the Hyūga clan’s political position to Hinata and showed her that Hiashi was not the clan’s strongest fighter. Hinata questioned why the clan chose its leader by bloodline rather than ability, leaving Ryosuke with a complicated reaction.

• Hiashi returned to his room to rest, and Ryosuke stayed in the study to explain the clan’s situation to Hinata.
• Ryosuke described why the clan should avoid seeking direct control of Konoha’s Guard Unit and instead reduce conflicts of interest.
• Hinata recognized that Ryosuke and Hiashi considered more than strength and personal gain when planning for the clan’s future.
• Ryosuke told Hinata that Hiashi ranked only sixth in the clan by combat strength and gave her records of five stronger Hyūga Jonin.
• Hinata questioned whether Main Family bloodline alone should determine the clan’s future leader, and Ryosuke reacted with a complicated expression.

Hinata recognized the flaws in the Hyūga system and told Ryosuke she was willing to challenge it, but his explanation of the Main Family’s power over the Branch Family left her shaken. In the days afterward, she remained troubled while Ryosuke focused on training as the village and clan worked to secure an alliance with the Land of Waves.

• Hinata argued that clan leaders should be capable and that the Hyūga system was flawed, even though she benefited from it as a Main Family member.
• Ryosuke asked whether Hinata would risk her standing to change the system, and she said she was willing because capable people should lead.
• Ryosuke explained the Main Family and Branch Family structure and how the Caged Bird Seal restricted the Branch Family’s Byakugan and placed their lives in the Main Family’s hands.
• Hinata left Ryosuke’s study in a daze, and Ryosuke hoped the responsibility of changing the system would help her grow rather than making decisions for her.
• Hinata remained troubled in the following days while the clan and village focused on forming an alliance with the Land of Waves, and Ryosuke continued training.

Ryosuke tested the growing range and strength of his Byakugan Genjutsu by controlling Seisai Hyuga and making her resist. He reviewed plans for the upcoming Land of Waves trip, which now included Konoha's delegation and Land of Fire nobles.

• Ryosuke controlled Seisai Hyuga from afar and had her travel through the forest while he tested his ability's range.
• At Ryosuke's instruction, Seisai tried disrupting her chakra to resist his Genjutsu, forcing him to expend more chakra to control her.
• Ryosuke ended the test and released Seisai from his Genjutsu.
• Ryosuke reviewed the itinerary and personnel list for the Land of Waves trip scheduled for a week later.
• Ryosuke saw that Mitokado Homura would lead Konoha's delegation and that Land of Fire nobles would also join the trip.

Ryosuke prepared to join the expedition to the Land of Waves by secretly practicing controlling Soki Mitokado’s body, then returned home and spoke with Hinata about her determination to reunite the Hyūga Main and Branch Families. Hinata vowed to protect Hanabi, and Ryosuke encouraged her.

• Ryosuke used genjutsu to control Soki Mitokado at night and practiced refining chakra in preparation for the Land of Waves expedition.
• Ryosuke learned that Mitokado Homura would represent Konoha on the expedition and that Soki Mitokado would join the traveling party.
• Hyuga Hiashi realized Ryosuke had decided to go and expressed concern, while Ryosuke reassured him that he had prepared.
• Ryosuke found Hinata training at the Training Ground and advised her to improve her strength and speed.
• Hinata told Ryosuke she would find a way to reunite the Main and Branch Families and protect Hanabi, and Ryosuke praised her determination.

Before leaving for the Land of Waves, Ryosuke took Hinata and Hanabi out to eat, and their visit to a familiar fried food shop brought back memories of Hinata’s childhood. Hinata realized Ryosuke had protected her from hurtful gossip years earlier, and Ryosuke reaffirmed that he intended to stand beside her.

• Ryosuke took Hinata and Hanabi around the village to help Hinata relax before their departure.
• Hinata recognized the fried food shop they had visited as children and led the others inside.
• Ryosuke ordered one of every dish, and the diners watched the three Hyuga family members enter a private room.
• Hinata used her Byakugan to notice the diners’ conversations about her and felt comforted by how much she had changed.
• Hinata asked Ryosuke whether he had once arranged for Souji and Seisai to tell him about people calling her weak, and Ryosuke confirmed it.
• Ryosuke told Hinata that he had always kept a place beside him for her and recalled her promise to face the future with him.

Ryosuke secretly followed Hizashi Hyuga and Konoha’s delegation toward the Land of Waves, where Anbu and Root were also sent as hidden protection. When Kirigakure Anbu prepared an ambush along a mountain pass, Hizashi halted the delegation and Konoha’s hidden forces moved to attack them.

• After spotting Sasuke Uchiha entering a private room with Mizuki, Ryosuke learned that Mizuki had been guiding Sasuke’s training since their fight.
• Before dawn, Hizashi Hyuga and Konoha’s delegation departed for the Land of Waves, and Ryosuke secretly followed them.
• Ryosuke discovered that Konoha Anbu and Root were accompanying the delegation, suggesting Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō had agreed to cooperate.
• Less than half a day into the journey, Hizashi halted the group after detecting trouble on a mountain road.
• Ryosuke used his Byakugan to see Kirigakure Anbu hiding along the pass, and Konoha’s Anbu and Root moved to attack them.