Chapter Summaries

Hyuga Xiao escaped the Main House pursuers by diverting the Caged Bird Seal’s power into an ancient tree, then fled through an underground passage toward Orochimaru’s base. He reached the laboratory and faced Orochimaru, while the Main House and ANBU remained in pursuit.

• Hyuga Xiao discovered that Main House pursuers and ANBU were closing in as the Caged Bird Seal began forcibly activating.
• Hyuga Xiao diverted much of the seal’s power into the ancient tree, then took Concentrated Soldier Pill Liquid to boost his chakra.
• Hyuga Xiao escaped through an underground passage after using a triggered seal to delay the Main House ninjas.
• Hyuga Xiao found the concealed entrance to Orochimaru’s base and met a masked man with snake-like pupils, who led him inside.
• Orochimaru welcomed Hyuga Xiao in his underground laboratory as the Main House pursuers approached the hidden entrance.

Hyuga Xiao raided Orochimaru’s hideout for supplies and information about the Caged Bird Seal, but triggered a trap and was forced to fight Kimimaro. Xiao broke Orochimaru’s control over Kimimaro and escaped, while Orochimaru learned of Xiao’s Tenseigan Prototype and began pursuing him.

• Xiao used the map to locate Orochimaru’s hideout, incapacitated its guards, and stole medical supplies, chakra supplements, weapons, and research scrolls.
• Xiao found records linking the Caged Bird Seal to a pupil-power transmission signal and discovered Orochimaru’s baited Curse Mark of Earth seed core.
• A triggered barrier trapped Xiao in the laboratory, where Kimimaro attacked him under Orochimaru’s orders.
• Xiao used the Tenseigan Prototype to locate and destroy the curse mark’s control rune, freeing Kimimaro but nearly collapsing from the backlash.
• Xiao escaped into the forest, and Kimimaro freed the imprisoned test subjects, left a warning for Orochimaru, and departed in the opposite direction.
• Orochimaru arrived at the wrecked hideout, learned Xiao had the Tenseigan Prototype, and vowed they would meet again.

Hyuga Xiao fought Kimimaro in the underground laboratory and disrupted his Curse Mark after Kimimaro transformed and unleashed Seedling Fern Dance. Kimimaro briefly regained consciousness and directed Xiao toward the laboratory’s deepest area, while a message from Orochimaru revealed that Xiao had passed a test and that the Seed Core lay beneath the altar.

• Kimimaro attacked Xiao while unconscious, and Xiao discovered that the Curse Mark had overwhelmed his chakra flow.
• Xiao’s Gentle Fist attacks failed against Kimimaro’s bone defenses, so he provoked Kimimaro’s transformation into Curse Mark of Earth: State Two.
• Kimimaro unleashed Seedling Fern Dance, and Xiao used Eight Trigrams: Empty Wall before collapsing the passageway to interrupt the technique.
• Xiao disrupted Kimimaro’s Curse Mark core, and both fell into an underground cavern where Kimimaro lost consciousness after pointing Xiao toward the laboratory’s deepest area.
• A white snake delivered Orochimaru’s message that Xiao had passed the test and that the Seed Core was beneath the altar.

Hyuga Xiao unleashed the Tenseigan Prototype to defeat Kimimaro, remove his Curse Mark, and escape the Snake Den with Orochimaru’s research. He learned of a Counter-Seal that could temporarily suppress his Caged Bird Seal and, carrying a clue to a meeting with Danzo’s Root, set his sights on the Hyuga Main House.

• Xiao awakened the Tenseigan Prototype and shattered Kimimaro’s bone attacks with the Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four World-Breaking Palms.
• Xiao ripped the Curse Mark core from Kimimaro, freeing him from its control; Kimimaro later died after telling the Sound Ninja that his survival was a betrayal of Orochimaru.
• Xiao found Orochimaru’s research scroll, which described a Counter-Seal that could suppress the Caged Bird Seal for up to seven days but increase its later backlash by 300%.
• Xiao escaped through a ventilation duct and found the mortally wounded Yakushi Nonō, who revealed she was Danzo’s spy and gave him a token marked with a Root meeting place and time.
• After Nonō died, Xiao kept the scroll and token, rejected her suggestion to give the research to Danzo, and resolved to kill the Hyuga Main House members before the Counter-Seal’s backlash struck.

Hyuga Xiao uncovered how the Caged Bird Seal drained the Branch House’s ocular power and followed a Curse Mark Fragment’s visions to an underground altar in the Forest of Death. There he learned of the Hyuga Branch House’s origins as “Sinblood” descendants and found a dangerous path to seven days of freedom, ending with his choice between submission and risking everything.

• Hyuga Xiao used the Curse Mark Fragment to resonate with his Caged Bird Seal, identify its seven anchors, and temporarily block the Main House’s control over it.
• The fragment shattered into Xiao and showed him the location of an altar beneath the Forest of Death, where he found ancient writing identifying the Branch House as Sinblood descendants punished for rebellion.
• Xiao reached the underground chamber, where nine pillars revealed a star chart marked with the Ōtsutsuki Homeworld, God Tree Plantation, and an unexplained Forbidden Zone.
• Xiao read a scroll describing how the Sin Blood Crystal could strike the seal’s seven anchors and grant him seven days of freedom, but warned that failure would destroy his soul.
• Xiao learned that he had to reach the Forbidden Zone and obtain the Primordial Blood Seed within seven days, then faced the choice to remain a prisoner or gamble everything.

Hyuga Xiao activated an ancient altar beneath the Forest of Death and learned that the Caged Bird Seal had been twisted from an equal pact into a tool of enslavement. He resolved to gather the remaining Covenant Stone Fragments, return to Leaf Village to use the truth against the Main House, and then travel to the Land of Water, while an ancient presence began to stir beneath the altar.

• Hyuga Xiao used Kimimaro's Curse Mark Fragment to open a hidden passage beneath a cedar and found an underground altar.
• Hyuga Xiao placed the fragment in the altar and saw an illusion revealing how the Main House corrupted the original Guardian Pact into the Caged Bird Seal.
• An ancient Ōtsutsuki elder told Hyuga Xiao that he needed all three Covenant Stone Fragments to undo the alteration, warning that each would intensify Divine Erosion without enough Humanity Anchors.
• Hyuga Xiao learned that the remaining fragments lay in the deep sea of the Land of Water and within the moon, and decided to return to Leaf Village before pursuing them.
• After Hyuga Xiao left the cavern, a new crack appeared in its wall as an ancient presence began to awaken.

Hyuga Xiao escaped Danzo’s Root operatives with help from Gekko Hayate, who offered him a deal on Orochimaru’s behalf. Xiao left for the Land of Hot Water to seek the second Covenant Stone Fragment, unaware that an ANBU agent was monitoring his movements.

• Root operatives cornered Xiao beneath the Forest of Death and demanded that he go with them, revealing that Danzo wanted the Tenseigan.
• Xiao used Eight Trigrams: Skybreaker Palm to kill three Root operatives, but the remaining four pressed their attack.
• Gekko Hayate arrived, killed the remaining Root operatives, and told Xiao that Danzo and other factions knew about his abilities.
• Hayate offered information on the second Covenant Stone Fragment in the Land of Hot Water in exchange for Xiao’s voluntary cooperation with Orochimaru’s bloodline experiment at Hidden Sound Village in three months.
• Xiao accepted the risk of the deal, left the Forest of Death, and headed toward the Land of Hot Water.
• An ANBU agent reported that Xiao had contacted Orochimaru’s forces and recommended watching him until he found the second fragment.

Kurenai Yuhi found the wounded Hyuga Xiao hiding in the Forest of Death and learned that the Caged Bird Seal was draining his emerging Tenseigan power. After she trapped two Hyuga Main House pursuers in an illusion, Hong chose to take Xiao to Asuma Sarutobi for help, while a Root Raven carried news of their escape toward Leaf Village.

• Hong intercepted a report that the Hyuga Main House had issued a warrant for Xiao and searched the Forest of Death for him.
• Hong found Xiao badly wounded in a tree hollow, stabilized his pain, and learned that a Curse Mark fragment had briefly interfered with the Caged Bird Seal and that his eyes showed the embryonic Tenseigan.
• Hong lured two Hyuga Main House Middle Ninja away from Xiao and trapped them in a powerful illusion that left them unconscious.
• Hong told Xiao that Asuma Sarutobi might help him, and Xiao agreed to go with her to Tanzaku Street.
• Hong helped Xiao leave the forest under an invisibility technique, while a Root Raven carrying an intelligence capsule flew toward Leaf Village.

Hyuga Xiao negotiated protection and information from Asuma Sarutobi while revealing that the Caged Bird Seal secretly drained the Branch House’s ocular power. He and Hong prepared to seek the second Covenant Stone Fragment in the Land of Hot Water, leaving Xiao to investigate the exiled Hyuga who possessed it.

• Asuma Sarutobi tested Xiao’s reflexes, then explained that the Hyuga warrant was based on a false charge and offered to conceal him.
• Xiao revealed that the Caged Bird Seal had been altered to siphon the Branch House’s ocular power, and Asuma described the Covenant Stone Fragments that could restore the original covenant.
• Asuma traded temporary protection and information about the second fragment for Xiao’s agreement to accept a dangerous future mission, then gave him a map to the Land of Hot Water’s Underground Bounty Exchange.
• Asuma hinted that he suspected Xiao had leaked the map that led ANBU to Orochimaru’s laboratories, while keeping Xiao’s involvement secret.
• Hong agreed to leave Leaf Village with Xiao, and Xiao asked her to investigate the exiled Hyuga who had hidden the fragment for fifteen years.

Hyuga Xiao and Kurenai Yuhi crossed into the Land of Hot Water under a disguise, but the Caged Bird Seal drew Xiao toward an ancient Ōtsutsuki shrine. As Kurenai secretly followed, Xiao reached the shrine and saw an inscription he could not read.

• Kurenai Yuhi bandaged Xiao and planned their route to Asuma's safe house in the Land of Hot Water, where they could avoid patrols using forged identities.
• Xiao detected a coming landslide, led Kurenai along a safer route, and used chakra to form a path across a marsh.
• Xiao and Kurenai fooled the final checkpoint with a genjutsu, but the Caged Bird Seal resonated with a second Covenant Stone Fragment beyond the border.
• Xiao told Kurenai to go to the safe house and set out alone toward the fragment; Kurenai followed with Crystal Beetles after preparing the safe house.
• Xiao reached an ancient Ōtsutsuki-style shrine, where the fragment and the shrine's power intensified the conflict between his Covenant Stone Fragment and Caged Bird Seal.
• Xiao climbed the shrine stairs despite the violent backlash and arrived at its main hall, where he found an inscription in Ōtsutsuki Script.

Xiao and Kurenai investigated the Bounty Exchange for Hyuga Sousuke and learned that a Kumogakure-style squad had taken him because of his Byakugan-related knowledge. They planned to pursue the squad at dawn, while a hidden observer reported Xiao’s abnormal eyes to an unknown figure and Sousuke’s captors continued west.

• Xiao and Kurenai entered the Land of Hot Water in disguise and reached Asuma’s safe house, where Xiao discovered that his Caged Bird Seal was worsening the damage to his shoulder as his Tenseigan Prototype awakened.
• Kurenai insisted on joining Xiao, and the two entered the underground Bounty Exchange after dark to search for Hyuga Sousuke.
• An information broker told Xiao that six powerful ninja had taken Sousuke three evenings earlier, led by a masked woman with faintly blue-glowing eyes and wearing Kumogakure forehead protectors.
• Xiao told Kurenai that they would pursue the captors and recover Sousuke’s copied ancient scroll, and they returned to the safe house to plan their departure at dawn.
• After Xiao and Kurenai left, the broker reported Xiao’s abnormal eyes to an unknown figure through a communication talisman.
• Beyond the western border, the six-person squad carried the unconscious Sousuke, while their masked female leader’s blue eyes glowed like a dim, unstable imitation of Xiao’s.

Hyuga Xiao infiltrated a Hidden Cloud prison to rescue Hyuga Sousuke, uncovering the Main House’s use of the Caged Bird Seal and the Covenant Stone fragments. Sousuke died after revealing a plan involving the moon, while Xiao escaped with a Lunar Migration Map as the inhuman female ninja pursued him.

• Hyuga Xiao and Kurenai Yuhi found Hyuga Sousuke imprisoned at a hot spring inn, and Xiao sent Kurenai to create a diversion while he infiltrated the underground cell.
• Hyuga Xiao slipped past the guards and overheard the masked female ninja order Sousuke tortured for information about Byakugan transplantation and a hidden object guarded by the Hyuga Main House.
• Hyuga Xiao freed Sousuke, who revealed that the Caged Bird Seal drained Branch House ocular power and that the Pact Stone could open the Moon Passage.
• The masked female ninja attacked Xiao and revealed that she carried part of the Covenant Stone Core and wanted to become human again.
• Hyuga Xiao collapsed the cell ceiling, escaped through the underground passage with Sousuke, and received the Lunar Migration Map before Sousuke died.
• Hyuga Xiao continued through the passage as the female ninja pursued him, and he recognized her as another monster corroded by Covenant Stone fragments.

Hyuga Xiao used the Covenant Stone Fragment to awaken more of the Tenseigan Prototype and repel the masked female ninja, who called him a vessel that had finally matured before escaping. As Xiao and Kurenai Yuhi prepared to flee with the captive Hyuga Sousuke, Xiao warned Kurenai to kill him if he stopped being himself, while the two fragments began to fuse.

• Xiao found a Covenant Stone Fragment on Sousuke, and its chill eased the Caged Bird Seal’s pain while accelerating his chakra flow.
• The masked female ninja attacked Xiao, but he activated the Tenseigan Prototype and drove her through the warehouse wall with a Repulsive Force Field.
• The female ninja survived, called Xiao a matured vessel, and escaped into the night sky.
• Xiao guided the fragment’s chill toward his eyes as the Tenseigan Prototype began stabilizing, then prepared to leave with the captive Sousuke.
• Xiao asked Kurenai Yuhi to kill him if he ever ceased to be himself, and she insisted that he would not.
• Xiao and Kurenai fled as Hidden Cloud reinforcements approached, while the two Covenant Stone Fragments began an irreversible fusion.

After the Covenant Stone Fragments showed Hyuga Xiao visions of the moon’s history, he learned they could remove his Caged Bird Seal and awaken the Tenseigan, but their power was eroding his humanity. Xiao and Kurenai Yuhi set out for the Land of Iron to find another fragment, while Hong promised to keep him anchored and kill him if he became a monster.

• When the two fragments touched, Hyuga Xiao saw visions of the moon, imprisoned Branch House souls, the complete Tenseigan, and an unidentified figure, then collapsed with a nosebleed.
• Xiao told Hong that the moon’s Main House had used the original Caged Bird Seal to steal the Branch House’s Byakugan purity, and that Covenant Stone power had driven its users mad.
• Xiao identified the blue-eyed female ninja as an experiment carrying a complete Pact Stone core and learned that the third fragment was at Glacier Shrine in the Land of Iron.
• Xiao revealed that seven Pact Stones could restore the complete Covenant Stone Core, remove his Caged Bird Seal, and safely purify his Byakugan, while the fragments’ blue starlight marked the start of his erosion.
• Xiao asked Hong to remain one of his Humanity Anchors and to kill him if he lost his humanity; Hong promised, and they left for the Land of Iron.

Hyuga Xiao and Kurenai Yuhi learned that Glacier Shrine was controlled by rebel Guardian Ninja who had set a trap for anyone seeking the third Covenant Stone Fragment. Xiao chose to approach through an abandoned underground mine and planted a false trail toward the Akatsuki Organization, while Baki prepared for their arrival at the shrine.

• Kurenai Yuhi received Asuma’s message that Leaf Village had declared Xiao an S-Rank Rogue Ninja and ordered him captured alive.
• Tsunade warned Xiao and Kurenai through a summoned slug that rebel Guardian Ninja controlled Glacier Shrine and were waiting for people drawn by the Covenant Stone Fragments.
• Xiao decided to reach Glacier Shrine through an abandoned mine and sent a black lizard to tell Mitaraishi Anko to spread a false report that he had fled to the Land of Rain to join the Akatsuki Organization.
• Kurenai chose to remain with Xiao despite the danger, and Xiao said they would dismantle the trap and take the fragment.
• Baki stood with five rebel Guardian Ninja at Glacier Shrine as their barrier and trap awaited Xiao.

Hyuga Xiao and Kurenai Yuhi fought Hidden Mist rogue ninja guarding the route to the shrine and learned that a Leaf Village ANBU had offered a partial scroll for breaking the Caged Bird Seal. They entered the mine tunnel toward the underground palace, where Xiao sensed shrine guardians using a crude curse mark related to the seal.

• Hyuga Xiao used a Shadow Clone to lead Kurenai Yuhi through Glacier Canyon while his original body circled behind the Hidden Mist ambush.
• Hyuga Xiao and Kurenai Yuhi defeated the rogue ninja, and Kurenai’s genjutsu revealed that a scarred, hoarse-voiced Leaf Village ANBU had hired them with a partial Caged Bird Seal-breaking scroll.
• Hyuga Xiao overcame the one-eyed Elite Ninja, who warned that people possessing Covenant Stone Fragments were being targeted before a sealing formula shut down his consciousness.
• Hyuga Xiao and Kurenai Yuhi gathered the rogue ninja’s information, cleaned up the battlefield, and entered the mountain mine tunnel toward the shrine’s underground palace.
• Hyuga Xiao sensed five shrine guardians ahead, including two whose crude Curse Marks came from the same source as the Caged Bird Seal.

Hyuga Xiao and Kurenai Yuhi uncovered the shrine’s secrets and combined three fragments into a complete Covenant Stone, revealing the moon’s imprisoned Ōtsutsuki souls and a passage leading there. Xiao suppressed the Caged Bird Seal temporarily, then prepared to confront the guardian ninja closing in.

• Hyuga Xiao and Kurenai Yuhi found evidence that Leaf Village’s leaders were developing a universal curse mark and learned that twenty-three guardian ninja waited beneath the shrine.
• Hyuga Xiao opened the shrine’s hidden staircase and discovered murals showing the Main House’s exploitation of the Branch House and the origin of the Caged Bird Seal.
• The altar’s holograms revealed imprisoned Ōtsutsuki souls on the moon, including Ōtsutsuki Yexiao, whose face resembled Hyuga Xiao’s; the three fragments then merged into a complete Covenant Stone.
• The Covenant Stone revealed a secret passage beneath the shrine, but Hyuga Xiao found its teleportation array needed seven fragments or an equivalent charge of eye power to activate.
• Hyuga Xiao used the Covenant Stone to suppress the Caged Bird Seal temporarily and left with Kurenai Yuhi as twenty-three guardian ninja approached.

Hyuga Xiao fused three Covenant Stone Fragments, partially transforming his Caged Bird Seal and gaining temporary power to shield it and borrow the Giant Lunar Tenseigan’s vision. After learning that Hiashi planned to capture him and make him a vessel, Xiao chose to return to Konoha to uncover the masked ANBU’s identity and confront the forces plotting against him.

• Hyuga Xiao fused the Covenant Stone Fragments, endured the clash with the Caged Bird Seal, and gained beginner access to the Giant Lunar Tenseigan.
• Xiao activated ten minutes of absolute shielding, temporarily severed the Main House’s control over his Curse Mark, and projected his vision to Konoha.
• Xiao overheard Hiashi and the elders plan to capture him alive and turn him into a container for a permanent link to the Giant Tenseigan.
• A bird-masked ANBU delivered the Hokage’s order for the Hyuga Clan to lure Xiao back to Konoha, then sensed Xiao’s projection and severed the link.
• After the shielding ended and the Caged Bird Seal returned, Xiao decided to go back to Konoha with Kurenai to identify the ANBU and settle matters face-to-face.

Hyuga Xiao’s Tenseigan-driven erosion began turning him cold and calculating, but Kurenai Yuhi’s memories and affection helped him hold onto his humanity. After he promised not to become a monster in front of her, he saw a vision of Kurenai’s death at the hands of Asuma Sarutobi.

• Hyuga Xiao assessed Kurenai Yuhi as a potential sacrifice to accelerate his power, but stopped when she approached him with concern.
• Kurenai told Xiao she would bring him back if he lost himself, and his emotional bond with her slightly reduced his Divine Erosion.
• Kurenai recalled first seeing Xiao at the Hyuga New Year festival and described how she had watched him suffer under the Branch House system.
• Kurenai embraced Xiao, further stabilizing his Humanity Anchor, and Xiao kissed her before saying he would not become a monster in front of her.
• Xiao lay beside Kurenai and saw a vision of her dead in the rain, with Asuma Sarutobi standing over her holding a bloodied chakra blade.

Hyuga Xiao weakened the Caged Bird system and exposed memories of the Hyuga Main House’s ancient crimes, sparking a revolt among the Branch House. As Konoha prepared a Kill Order against him, he and Hong split up to investigate Danzo and seek allies, while Akatsuki planned to exploit Konoha’s turmoil.

• Tsunade warned Hyuga Xiao that Danzo had accused him of treason and that Konoha would issue a Kill Order, while the Hyuga Main House’s punishment of Branch House members had begun to fail.
• Hyuga Xiao used the Pact Stone to weaken the Caged Bird Seals and send Branch House members memories showing that the Moon’s Ōtsutsuki Main House had sacrificed Branch House members to create the Giant Tenseigan.
• Koichi Hyuga and other Branch House members learned of the ancient sacrifice, rebelled against the Main House, and left Hyuga Hiashi unable to control them through the Curse Marks.
• Hyuga Xiao told Hong that the Caged Bird Seal had been used to harvest Branch House members’ Byakugan, then sent her to contact Gekko Hayate and Kakashi Hatake while he headed for the Land of Hot Water to investigate Danzo’s evidence and the masked ANBU.
• Konan received a report that Konoha was distracted by the Hyuga clan’s internal conflict, and Pain ordered Akatsuki to accelerate its Tailed Beasts capture plan.