Chapter Summaries

After a White Zetsu clone was swallowed near Konoha, Black Zetsu wrongly suspected an awakened Hyuga and ordered an infiltration to find and recruit them. Toru Kujyo continued searching underground for the remaining White Zetsu while examining his captive, but his mind-reading experiment revealed an unexpected complication.

• White Zetsu reported that a clone near the Naka River had been swallowed and its connection forcibly severed.
• Black Zetsu concluded that an evolved Hyuga ability had exposed the Mayfly Technique and ordered his forces to investigate the Hyuga Clan.
• Black Zetsu told White Zetsu to infiltrate Konoha under another identity, watch Toru Kujyo from a distance, and seek the awakened Hyuga.
• Toru Kujyo's Wood Clone expanded its underground search for the fleeing White Zetsu.
• Toru Kujyo used the Yamanaka Clan's mind-reading technique on his captive White Zetsu clone, then opened his eyes with a furrowed brow.

Toru Kujyo discovered that the White Zetsu Clone held no memories or intelligence, then sealed it away for study. In Konoha, news spread that Tsunade had returned and was being considered for Fifth Hokage, lifting the village’s morale.

• Toru Kujyo found that the White Zetsu Clone was an empty, remotely controlled body and sealed it inside a scroll.
• Toru Kujyo invited Sasuke to help prepare the fish he had caught, and they shared a meal by the campfire.
• More than half a month after the Konoha Crush Plan, Konoha remained damaged and its ninja struggled with low morale and few missions.
• A returning ninja announced that Jiraiya had come back with Tsunade and that village leaders were considering her for Fifth Hokage.
• Word of Tsunade’s return spread across Konoha, renewing the villagers’ hope and excitement.

As Konoha prepared to celebrate Tsunade’s inauguration as Fifth Hokage, Sasuke teased Hinata by calling her his sister-in-law, then was tricked and restrained by Toru Kujyo. Toru led Sasuke, Hinata, and Hanabi toward the Hokage Building through a village enjoying its renewed hope.

• Hinata and Hanabi brought Sasuke and Toru Kujyo formal clothes for Tsunade’s inauguration ceremony.
• Sasuke called Hinata “sister-in-law,” flustering her, and Toru Kujyo tricked Sasuke into repeating a nonsensical greeting.
• Sasuke attacked Toru Kujyo after realizing he had been tricked, but Toru stopped him with the Pressure Point Technique.
• Toru Kujyo released Sasuke, and the four changed into their formal outfits before heading to the Hokage Building.
• Hinata and Hanabi celebrated Tsunade’s return as they walked through Konoha’s lively streets with Toru Kujyo and Sasuke.

Tsunade appeared before a vast crowd in Konoha and pledged to protect the village as its Fifth Hokage. As the celebration unfolded, Hanabi learned about the Yin Seal but decided she would rather stick to Gentle Fist.

• Toru Kujyo lifted Hanabi onto his shoulders so she could see the crowd gathered outside the Hokage Building.
• Tsunade appeared on the rooftop, and the people of Konoha cheered her as their new Fifth Hokage.
• Toru Kujyo explained the Yin Seal to Sasuke, Hinata, and Hanabi, describing its chakra reserves, healing, and youth-preserving effects.
• Hanabi worried that learning Tsunade's techniques would make her chest grow, so she declared she would stick to Gentle Fist.
• Tsunade put on the Hokage hat and vowed to protect Konoha and everyone in the village with her life.

After Tsunade became Fifth Hokage, Konoha regained its energy, while Sasuke and Toru Kujyo argued over Sasuke’s ambition and Toru’s patience. Hinata then told Toru and Sasuke that Tsunade wanted to see them, and Toru flew Hinata toward the Hokage Building.

• Konoha’s villagers celebrated Tsunade’s appointment, and missions, reconstruction, and businesses resumed with renewed vigor.
• Sasuke packed his gear and criticized Toru Kujyo for avoiding missions, while Toru said he was waiting for opportunities to come to him.
• Sasuke left after cursing Toru to live a long, boring life, and Toru took the curse as a blessing.
• Hinata arrived with Kurenai’s message that Tsunade wanted to see her and Sasuke at the Hokage Office immediately.
• Toru put an arm around Hinata and used wind-nature chakra to fly with her above Konoha toward the Hokage Building.

Toru Kujyo and Hinata Hyuga arrived at the Hokage Office, where Tsunade promoted them to Chunin for their performance in the third round of the exams. After explaining their new responsibilities and the disbandment of Team 8, Toru asked to recommend someone to join Konoha and their squad.

• Toru Kujyo and Hinata Hyuga flew to the Hokage Building, shared a tender moment, and entered Tsunade's office with Shizune.
• Tsunade praised Toru Kujyo's Storm Release and strength, and Hinata Hyuga's tenacity and potential.
• Tsunade promoted Toru Kujyo and Hinata Hyuga from Genin to Chunin, and Shizune gave them new green vests.
• Tsunade explained that Team 8 had been disbanded and that the new Chunin could work as a pair or lead a squad.
• Toru Kujyo asked to recommend someone to join Konoha and become their comrade.

Toru Kujyo revealed to Tsunade that he was descended from both the Uzumaki and Senju Clans and demonstrated his Wood Release. He explained that he had concealed his identity after fleeing Konoha with his younger sister, leaving Tsunade stunned and demanding answers.

• Toru Kujyo told Tsunade that Karin was an Uzumaki descendant and revealed that he was one as well.
• Toru Kujyo cut his palm, showed it healing rapidly, and asked Hinata to use her Byakugan to confirm his immense, life-filled chakra.
• Toru Kujyo revealed that his father belonged to the Senju Clan and demonstrated Wood Release by growing a sapling in his palm.
• Hinata believed Toru Kujyo's heritage would overcome the Hyuga Main Family's objections to their relationship.
• Tsunade examined the sapling and demanded to know who Toru Kujyo was and why he had hidden his ability.
• Toru Kujyo explained that his parents died after the Uchiha Clan Massacre and that he had fled Konoha with his younger sister to protect his dangerous kekkei genkai.

Toru Kujyo secured Tsunade’s protection and her promise to personally vouch for Karin when she reached Konoha. After leaving the Hokage Building with Hinata, he set off with her to find Hanabi and spend the day together.

• Tsunade promised to protect Toru Kujyo and ensure no one in Konoha threatened him.
• Toru Kujyo told Tsunade that Karin was being exploited in Kusagakure, and Tsunade vowed to protect her and personally vouch for her arrival.
• Toru Kujyo and Hinata left the Hokage Building as newly promoted chunin, and Hinata hugged him joyfully.
• Toru Kujyo noticed someone watching them and moved with Hinata to a secluded training ground, where she could not bring herself to confess her feelings.
• Toru Kujyo suggested they celebrate together and later hold a housewarming party at his home in the Uchiha Clan Compound.
• Toru Kujyo and Hinata decided to find Hanabi and take her out for the day.

Toru Kujyo and Hinata reached the Land of Waves, where Karin showed that she had mastered the Rasengan and was invited to join Konoha and their squad. Toru Kujyo collected his puppet weapons and Gato’s wealth, then copied selected techniques from his mother’s Uzumaki sealing scroll.

• Toru Kujyo and Hinata traveled leisurely to the Land of Waves, growing closer along the way.
• Karin greeted Toru Kujyo and demonstrated her Rasengan, impressing Hinata.
• Toru Kujyo told Karin that she could return to Konoha as an official ninja and squad member.
• Toru Kujyo sealed away the puppets in the basement, including Shimura Danzō, and collected Gato’s wealth.
• Toru Kujyo copied selected techniques from the Uzumaki Clan scroll to create a new sealing-jutsu scroll.

Toru Kujyo brought Karin to Konoha and arranged for her to pose as the teacher of Hinata and Sasuke in Uzumaki sealing techniques. Tsunade made Karin her apprentice, and Karin chose to live with Toru Kujyo as she settled into the village.

• Toru Kujyo gave Karin the yellow scroll and told her to claim it held secret techniques inherited from her mother, with Hinata and Sasuke studying under her.
• Toru Kujyo, Hinata, and Karin returned to Konoha, where Karin excitedly asked about the village and its people.
• Toru Kujyo introduced Karin to Tsunade, who recognized her Uzumaki heritage and offered to take her as an apprentice.
• Karin accepted Tsunade's offer, and Toru Kujyo approved of the apprenticeship.
• Karin declined Tsunade's offer to live with her and chose to stay with Toru Kujyo, while Hinata quietly reacted to her decision.

Toru Kujyo helped Karin settle into Konoha and arranged a warm welcome with Hinata, then the trio began their first Chunin mission with Shino. Over the next month, Team 8 completed several missions, and Hinata grew more confident and active in the field.

• Toru Kujyo planned for Karin to study under Tsunade, creating a path for her to learn Medical Ninjutsu and eventually reveal her Uzumaki sealing talent.
• Toru Kujyo took Karin and Hinata shopping, then hosted Karin’s welcome party at Sasuke Uchiha’s empty residence.
• Toru Kujyo and Hinata met Shino at Konoha’s gates for their first Chunin mission, escorting a merchant to the Land of Hot Water.
• Team 8 completed three missions under Tsunade’s arrangements, including assignments to find lost pets, guard a merchant’s warehouse, and clear field pests.
• Hinata increasingly used her Byakugan, observed their surroundings, and discussed strategy with Toru Kujyo during missions.

Toru Kujyo, Hinata, and Shino escorted a tea merchant whose shortcut led them into an ambush, then Toru upgraded the mission and secured A-Rank payment. Afterward, Toru and Hinata’s growing intimacy wore Shino down until he went to Tsunade to speak.

• The tea merchant demanded that Toru Kujyo’s team take a dangerous shortcut despite Shino’s warning.
• Toru Kujyo accepted the route after secretly sending chakra underground, and wandering ninjas ambushed the group soon after.
• Toru Kujyo, Hinata, and Shino defeated the attackers, and Toru demanded A-Rank payment from the frightened merchant.
• Toru Kujyo submitted the A-Rank commission document to Tsunade, who approved his actions.
• On later missions, Toru and Hinata grew increasingly affectionate, leaving Shino exasperated.
• After returning from a mission, Shino went to Tsunade’s office and spoke with an unusually exhausted tone.

Shino secured leave from Tsunade after explaining that his teammates’ emotional exchanges were disrupting his focus. At Orochimaru’s base, Kabuto learned Sasuke had to be captured within three days, while Sasuke narrowly avoided Karin’s unexpectedly powerful punch during training.

• Shino asked Tsunade for time off, blaming his reduced mission efficiency on his teammates’ frequent emotional exchanges, and she approved his request.
• Orochimaru suffered severe soul backlash and learned from Kabuto that he had to transfer to another body within a week.
• Orochimaru declared Sasuke Uchiha his ideal vessel and ordered the Sound Four to bring Sasuke to him within three days.
• Kabuto visited a dark room where a suffering figure lay, then left without speaking to them.
• During taijutsu training by the Naka River, Karin instinctively struck at Sasuke with Cherry Blossom Impact, and he escaped with the Body Flicker Technique as her punch blasted a deep crater in the riverbank.

After Karin’s instinctive taijutsu nearly injured Sasuke, he refused to train with her and praised Hinata’s more controlled sparring. Later, Toru Kujyo gave Sasuke two forbidden technique scrolls he had stolen from the Hokage Office, leaving Sasuke to infer how highly Toru valued him.

• Sasuke told Karin he would stop coming to her for taijutsu training and said Hinata’s Gentle Fist was safer.
• Karin found Toru Kujyo fishing and told him Sasuke was angry; Toru teased her about whether they would keep fishing.
• Karin prepared dinner for Toru Kujyo and Sasuke, and the three shared a quiet meal at the Uchiha residence.
• Toru Kujyo gave Sasuke two scrolls to celebrate his eyes evolving, and Sasuke recognized the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique among their contents.
• Toru Kujyo admitted he had taken the scrolls from the Hokage Office, and Sasuke concluded that Toru considered him worth more than the forbidden techniques.

Sasuke negotiated with Toru Kujyo for a powerful addition to his training, but Karin sensed the Sound Five closing in on the Uchiha residence. Kimimaro attacked Toru Kujyo while the others moved to capture Sasuke.

• Sasuke argued that two scrolls were not enough compensation for his value and asked Toru Kujyo for something that could greatly increase his strength.
• Karin sensed five powerful intruders crossing Konoha’s outer barrier and warned that they were targeting Sasuke.
• Near the Naka River, Kimimaro ordered the Sound Four to capture Sasuke while he kept Toru Kujyo occupied.
• The Sound Five arrived at the Uchiha residence, where Kimimaro identified Toru Kujyo as the greater threat.
• Kimimaro fired Bone Bullets at Toru Kujyo as Kidomaru, Tayuya, Jirobo, and Sakon and Ukon attacked Sasuke.

Toru Kujyo overwhelmed Kimimaro’s attacks, but Kimimaro unleashed the Dance of the Young Ferns, drawing Konoha’s attention and filling the Uchiha compound with deadly bone spikes. Toru began forming a powerful counterattack, leaving the clash unresolved.

• Toru deflected Kimimaro’s bone bullets with Gale Palm and countered his cursed-seal assault with Wood Release techniques.
• Toru used the Body Flicker Technique to get behind Kimimaro and shattered the bones on his back with a powerful punch.
• Kimimaro, badly injured, forced out his remaining chakra and unleashed the Dance of the Young Ferns, sending bone spikes across the courtyard.
• Konoha’s Sensor Division detected the S-Rank chakra and sent the captain and other ninja to reinforce the Uchiha compound.
• Toru prepared a massive counterattack as Kimimaro’s bone forest surged toward him.

Toru Kujyo overwhelmed the Sound Five with Wood Release and annihilated Kimimaro with his Radiant Light Cannon. After fusing the traits he gained from Kimimaro, Toru began transforming, while the chaos at the Uchiha Clan Compound drew the attention of Konoha’s ninja and villagers.

• Toru Kujyo unleashed Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence, engulfing the Uchiha residence and trapping the Sound Five in a vast forest.
• Kidomaru, Tayuya, Jirobo, and Sakon and Ukon were struck or bound by the trees, while Sasuke Uchiha and Karin were lifted above the forest.
• Konoha’s Sensor Division captain and nearby ninja saw the forest and ordered an immediate report to Lord Hokage.
• Toru Kujyo bound Kimimaro Kaguya with branches and destroyed him with his Radiant Light Cannon.
• Toru Kujyo obtained Kimimaro’s Otsutsuki bloodline and Shikotsumyaku traits, fused them, and felt his body begin to transform.

Sasuke and Karin fought the Sound Four, and Sasuke killed Kidomaru before Toru Kujyo unleashed Wood Release and transformed the Uchiha Clan Compound into a forest. Sasuke was left awed by Toru’s power and began to worship him as the embodiment of the strength he wanted to attain.

• Sasuke used Chidori Stream to destroy Kidomaru’s web, while Karin’s chakra chains disrupted the Sound Four’s attack.
• Sasuke killed Kidomaru with Chidori, and Sakon prepared to enter his cursed seal’s second state.
• Toru Kujyo unleashed Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence, tearing apart the Uchiha Clan Compound and trapping Sasuke, Karin, and the remaining Sound Four members among the trees.
• Sasuke recognized Toru as the inheritor of Hashirama Senju’s Wood Release and felt his pride and ambition give way to awe and fervent admiration.
• The forest stopped growing, leaving Sasuke and Karin surrounded by the transformed compound and the defeated Sound Four.

After Toru Kujyo defeated the Sound Ninja, Konoha learned that he had awakened Wood Release, prompting the Hyuga Clan to pledge him support. At the Hyuga residence, an elder urged Hyuga Hiashi to place the Caged Bird Seal on Hanabi to protect Hinata’s place in the succession.

• Toru Kujyo ordered Sasuke and Karin to finish off the captured Sound Ninja, and they killed Tayuya, Jirobo, Sakon, and Ukon.
• Shizune arrived with Anbu and summoned Toru Kujyo, Sasuke, and Karin to meet Tsunade.
• Konoha’s sensors identified the vast chakra and Wood Release behind the transformed forest, shocking Tsunade and the High Command.
• Hyuga Hiashi saw the forest’s life energy and ordered the Hyuga Clan to support Toru Kujyo.
• Hanabi defeated Hinata in a training bout, and a Clan Elder urged Hyuga Hiashi to put the Caged Bird Seal on Hanabi.

Hyuga Hiashi faced pressure from the Clan Elders to place the Caged Bird Seal on Hanabi, but their attitude changed after Toru Kujyo revealed his Wood Release. The elders praised Hiashi for supposedly foreseeing Toru’s power, while Hiashi knew he had only been trying to protect his daughters.

• The Clan Elders pressured Hyuga Hiashi over Hinata’s relationship with Toru Kujyo and Hanabi’s talent, while Hiashi recalled how their opinion of Toru had changed after the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• A servant summoned Hyuga Hiashi to an emergency clan meeting, and Hiashi feared the elders intended to force him to seal Hanabi.
• Hyuga Hiashi entered the meeting hall expecting a confrontation but found the Clan Elders excited and warmly welcoming him.
• The Clan Elders celebrated Toru Kujyo’s Wood Release in the Uchiha Clan Compound and praised Hiashi for supposedly anticipating Toru’s extraordinary bloodline.
• Hyuga Hiashi realized the elders had mistaken his efforts to protect his daughters for a calculated plan to bind Toru to the Hyuga Clan.