Chapter Summaries

After driving off the mist ninja, Hikaru shared a farewell drinking gathering with Tsunade, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Hatake Sakumo. The Third Hokage summoned him about the Uzumaki Clan’s new Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and asked him to bring her to Konoha, but Hikaru refused.

• Hikaru decided the mission was complete despite several mist ninja escaping, and the group prepared to leave.
• Hikaru, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Hatake Sakumo held a drinking gathering before parting ways.
• Hikaru was the only one still standing after the others drank themselves unconscious, and an Anbu operative delivered the Third Hokage’s summons.
• Hikaru went to the Hokage’s Office despite his hangover, where the Third Hokage told him the Uzumaki Clan had chosen a new Jinchuriki candidate.
• The Third Hokage asked Hikaru to bring the new candidate to Konoha, but Hikaru flatly refused.

Hikaru was ordered by the Third Hokage to escort Kushina Uzumaki from the Land of Whirlpools to Konoha, despite his reluctance to return there. The Third Hokage won Hikaru’s agreement by offering to secure support for him becoming Uchiha Clan Head, and Hikaru prepared to leave soon.

• Hikaru learned that Kushina Uzumaki, the new Jinchuriki candidate arriving in Konoha, was Kujou Uzumaki’s younger sister.
• The Third Hokage explained that rival villages might target Kushina and ordered Hikaru to escort her from the Land of Whirlpools.
• Hikaru refused to go at first and suggested sending Anbu instead, but the Third Hokage insisted that Hikaru was best suited to handle possible interception.
• Hikaru asked what he would gain, and the Third Hokage offered to secure unanimous support for Hikaru becoming Uchiha Clan Head.
• Hikaru accepted the assignment and agreed to leave as soon as possible.

Hikaru discussed his plans for the Nine-Tails with the Third Hokage, then returned home and hinted to Uzumaki Kujou that he would travel to the Land of Whirlpools to bring back Kushina. He left Kujou fearing that her younger sister was being brought to Konoha as the village’s new Jinchuriki.

• Hikaru told the Third Hokage that he intended to control a Tailed Beast directly, though the Hokage believed the plan was too risky for the village to approve.
• Hikaru received Sixth Squad’s final Mission Scroll and went home, planning to bring Kushina Uzumaki back from the Land of Whirlpools when the time was right.
• Hikaru asked Uzumaki Kujou to prepare his bath, while Kujou hesitated to tell him what she wanted after five years of living quietly in his home.
• Hikaru noticed Kujou waiting outside the bath and urged her to speak instead of keeping her request to herself.
• Hikaru said the Hokage had sent him to retrieve Konoha’s new Jinchuriki, and Kujou realized he meant her younger sister.

Hikaru told Uzumaki Kujou that her younger sister, Kushina, had been chosen to become the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki and challenged her to offer something in exchange for his help. Uzumaki Kujou believed he could change Kushina's fate and, desperate for hope, climbed into his bath after he told her to undress.

• Hikaru told Uzumaki Kujou that Kushina had been selected as the next Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki and described the suffering that awaited her.
• Uzumaki Kujou asked Hikaru to help prevent Kushina from becoming a Jinchuriki, and he asked what she could offer in return.
• Uzumaki Kujou realized she had little to offer Hikaru and felt powerless to protect her sister.
• Hikaru told Uzumaki Kujou to take off her clothes and get into the bath, then waited for her to leave.
• Uzumaki Kujou undressed and climbed into the tub, believing that Hikaru wanted her.

Hikaru prepared to retrieve Kushina Uzumaki from the Land of Whirlpools, then turned his attention to reports that Amegakure had been attacking trade caravans and mission squads. After reviewing the intelligence, he suspected Hanzo of the Salamander was using the raids to expand Amegakure’s power.

• Hikaru told Uzumaki Kujou to rest and said he would bring Kushina Uzumaki back from the Land of Whirlpools the next day.
• Hikaru’s intelligence officer brought him reports of Amegakure attacks on Konoha, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure caravans and mission squads.
• Hikaru initially told the officer to send the report to the Third Hokage, then called him back and read it himself.
• Hikaru concluded that Amegakure was stirring up trouble by intercepting caravans and taking resources to grow stronger.

Hikaru brought the Third Hokage intelligence showing that Amegakure was stockpiling supplies and appeared ready to expand into neighboring small countries. The Third Hokage recognized that Hanzo of the Salamander’s ambitions could threaten the region, while Hikaru looked forward to the coming war.

• Hikaru read a report about Amegakure’s growing strength and concluded that Hanzo of the Salamander would need to seize resources to develop his village.
• Hikaru brought the intelligence file to the Hokage Office Building, pleased that the report hinted the Second Ninja War was approaching.
• The Third Hokage asked when Hikaru would leave for the Land of Whirlpools, and Hikaru said he planned to go the next day for two or three days.
• Hikaru told the Third Hokage that Amegakure had intercepted merchant caravans and was stockpiling supplies.
• The Third Hokage read the report and concluded that Amegakure might try to annex nearby small countries to gain land, food, and resources.

Hikaru left for the Land of Whirlpools with Uzumaki Kujou and returned to Konoha with Kushina Uzumaki. Kushina was frightened of Hikaru because of his fearsome reputation, and Uzumaki Kujou tried to reassure her.

• Hikaru warned the Third Hokage that tensions among the villages could lead to another great war, then left to prepare for the Land of Whirlpools.
• Hikaru traveled to the Land of Whirlpools with Uzumaki Kujou, whose poor health slowed their journey.
• The Uzumaki Clan welcomed Hikaru and Uzumaki Kujou, completed the handover, and sent Kushina Uzumaki back to Konoha with them.
• Kushina hid behind Uzumaki Kujou and asked whether Hikaru would hurt her, while Uzumaki Kujou tried to comfort her.

Hikaru escorted Uzumaki Kujou and Kushina back toward Konoha, while Kujou reassured Kushina and agreed she would become a ninja and attend school. Near the Land of Fire, Hikaru separated from the sisters as Kirigakure ninja ambushed them to capture Kushina.

• Uzumaki Kujou reassured Kushina that Hikaru was a good person, and Hikaru silently resented the rumors the Uzumaki Clan had spread about him.
• Kushina asked whether her sister had become Hikaru’s little maid, so Hikaru explained that Kujou was a Konoha ninja who might take Kushina on missions or teach at the Ninja Academy.
• Kujou agreed that Kushina could become her student and resolved to help her younger sister experience life beyond their home.
• As the group returned from the Land of Whirlpools, Hikaru stopped near the Land of Fire and told Kujou to take Kushina ahead while he handled something.
• A Kirigakure jonin and his team used thick mist to surround the sisters, planning to kill quickly and capture Kushina, their village’s intended Jinchuriki.

Hikaru defeated the Mist ninja who tried to intercept his escort and brought Uzumaki Kujou and Kushina safely to Konoha. He left the sisters to explore the village while he went to arrange Kushina’s transfer to the Ninja Academy.

• Hikaru appeared beside the Mist ninja and attacked, killing three Chunin with his katana.
• The Mist Jonin ordered a retreat, but Hikaru trapped the fleeing ninja with spiked Wood Release vines and left them to die.
• Hikaru caught up with Uzumaki Kujou and Kushina, reassured the frightened Kushina, and continued toward Konoha without further attacks.
• After four days of travel, Hikaru brought Uzumaki Kujou and Kushina to Konoha, where Kushina marveled at the busy village and its food stalls.
• Hikaru asked Uzumaki Kujou to show Kushina around while he went to arrange her transfer to the Ninja Academy.

Hikaru brought Uzumaki Kujou and Kushina to Konoha, where Kujou received identification documents and a position as a Ninja Academy teacher, while Kushina prepared to enroll. The chapter ended with Hikaru escorting the sisters to the academy for Kushina’s first day.

• Kushina eagerly enjoyed snacks with Uzumaki Kujou as they explored Konoha.
• Hikaru reported to the Third Hokage that the escort mission had gone smoothly and arranged Kujou’s documents and a teaching position, along with Kushina’s enrollment.
• Hikaru noticed Namikaze Minato’s file on the Third Hokage’s desk and remarked that the boy looked good.
• Kushina accepted that she could not return to the Land of Whirlpools and found comfort in living with Uzumaki Kujou.
• Uzumaki Kujou dressed Kushina for school, and Hikaru prepared to take the sisters to the Ninja Academy.

Hikaru brought Uzumaki Kujou and Kushina to the Ninja Academy, where he arranged for Kujou to teach and Kushina to enroll. After Kushina began class and faced teasing from her classmates, Hikaru left and unexpectedly met Mikoto Uchiha at the entrance.

• Hikaru introduced Uzumaki Kujou as a new instructor and Kushina as a beginner-class student, warning the teachers to look after her.
• Kushina greeted the teachers but lost confidence after her sister left and classmates called her a red-haired monster.
• Kushina tried to endure the teasing while Minato watched her with curiosity from the back of the classroom.
• Hikaru left the Academy and met Mikoto Uchiha, who ran over happily to greet him.

Hikaru teased Mikoto Uchiha and helped her gang up on Nawaki Senju, who fled rather than risk being beaten or snitching to Tsunade. Mikoto complained that Hikaru had missed her approaching graduation and asked him to become her teacher, but Hikaru only gave her an ambiguous promise.

• Mikoto Uchiha teased Hikaru until Nawaki Senju interrupted them, looking unhappy.
• Hikaru encouraged Mikoto to beat Nawaki if he caused trouble, and Nawaki ran to school rather than risk a fight or tell Tsunade.
• Hikaru ruffled Mikoto's hair and urged her to graduate early, while Mikoto complained that he had not noticed she was about to graduate.
• Mikoto asked Hikaru to become her teacher so she could go on missions with him, and Hikaru said he would if possible.

Hikaru accompanied Tsunade to the Hokage's Office, where she submitted a proposal to assign a Medical Ninja to every Konoha squad. The Third Hokage rejected it because Konoha did not have enough Medical Ninja, and Tsunade turned to Hikaru for an explanation.

• Hikaru said goodbye to Mikoto Uchiha after walking her to the Ninja Academy.
• Hikaru met Tsunade on the way to the Hokage's Office and told her about his encounter with Nawaki.
• Hikaru and Tsunade entered the Hokage's Office, where they found Jiraiya lounging while the Third Hokage worked.
• Tsunade submitted her Medical Department expansion proposal to assign a Medical Ninja to every Konoha squad.
• The Third Hokage rejected Tsunade's proposal, and Hikaru explained that Konoha had too few Medical Ninja.

Hikaru and Tsunade’s proposal to assign a Medical Ninja to every team was rejected because Konoha lacked the personnel. After receiving intelligence that Sand and Stone shinobi were gathering near the Land of Fire’s border, the Third Hokage sent Hikaru to take command there.

• The Third Hokage explained that Konoha could not assign a Medical Ninja to every team, and Tsunade accepted that the proposal was unworkable.
• An Intelligence Department member delivered an urgent report from the border, and Hikaru sent Tsunade and Jiraiya away before reading it.
• Hikaru learned that Sand and Stone shinobi had gathered near the Land of Fire and asked whether the two nations had recently accused the Land of Rain; the Third Hokage confirmed they had.
• The Third Hokage ordered Hikaru to lead a unit to the border and prevent enemy forces from entering the Land of Fire.
• Hikaru agreed to go with Anbu support and asked for Hatake Sakumo to return to the Anbu.

Hikaru disbanded Sixth Squad and arranged for Hatake Sakumo to return to the Anbu, where he appointed him captain of Thirteenth Squad. The chapter left Hikaru and the assembled squad preparing to carry out an important mission.

• Hikaru asked the Third Hokage to send Hatake Sakumo back to the Anbu, and the Third Hokage agreed.
• Hikaru ordered Hatake Sakumo to return to duty and summoned every member of Thirteenth Squad for an important mission.
• Hatake Sakumo, who had been restless and idle since leaving the Anbu, eagerly accepted the order and hurried back without going home first.
• Hikaru welcomed Hatake Sakumo back, appointed him captain of Thirteenth Squad, and challenged anyone who disagreed to defeat him for the position.
• Thirteenth Squad accepted Hatake Sakumo’s appointment and declared they would not gossip behind Hikaru’s back.

Hikaru appointed Hatake Sakumo as the Thirteenth Division’s Head Captain and led the unit out of Konoha to deter Sunagakure and Iwagakure forces gathering near the border. As Konoha’s senior officials debated how to respond to the threat of war, they agreed that the villages could not let the provocation go unanswered.

• Hikaru appointed Hatake Sakumo as Head Captain and ordered the Thirteenth Division to prepare for a long border mission.
• Hikaru told Hatake Sakumo that Sunagakure and Iwagakure intended to provoke a war, and warned him to keep the classified information secret.
• Hikaru led the Thirteenth Division out of Konoha by secluded routes toward the border.
• The Third Hokage told Konoha’s senior officials that Hikaru had been sent to the border and called for an appropriate response.
• Konoha’s senior officials agreed that the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth’s provocation required a forceful answer.

Hikaru arrived at the border and questioned Big Beard about Sunagakure and Iwagakure’s movements. After learning that their ninja had entered the Land of Fire and been driven away, Hikaru accused Big Beard of hiding information and threatened to have him interrogated.

• Hikaru and the Thirteenth Division reached the border at midnight.
• Big Beard reported that Sunagakure and Iwagakure ninja had been active near the border and had entered the Land of Fire.
• Big Beard admitted that his group had fought the intruders but had only managed to drive them away.
• Hikaru ordered Hatake Sakumo and the Anbu to arrest Big Beard as a suspected spy.
• Hikaru gave Big Beard a choice between telling him everything and being taken away for interrogation.

Hikaru uncovered why Big Beard had driven enemy intruders away instead of killing them: Danzo had exiled him for killing an enemy before. Hikaru recruited Big Beard into the Anbu and ordered his forces to kill anyone entering the Land of Fire without reporting to Konoha.

• Hikaru ordered Big Beard and his teammates arrested, and Big Beard admitted he had feared taking responsibility for killing the intruders.
• Big Beard explained that Danzo had exiled him after accusing him of provoking conflict by killing an enemy.
• Hikaru cursed Danzo and brought Big Beard into the Anbu, promising to protect him from retaliation.
• Hikaru ordered the Anbu to kill all unauthorized intruders and warned them against showing mercy or driving them away.
• Hikaru divided the Anbu into three squads for open patrols and two squads for covert operations.

Hikaru grew frustrated when Iwagakure and Sunagakure stopped infiltrating the Land of Fire after Konoha increased its border forces. He ordered Hatake Sakumo to lead a squad into the Land of Wind and provoke Sunagakure, leaving the story with a plan to retaliate without killing anyone.

• Iwagakure and Sunagakure ninja noticed Konoha's increased border forces and stopped secretly entering the Land of Fire.
• Hikaru learned from Hatake Sakumo that the enemy had become wary, then kicked him out of a tree for not explaining sooner.
• Hikaru ordered Hatake Sakumo to find a way to draw the enemy into the Land of Fire or take a squad into the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth.
• Hikaru told Hatake Sakumo to raid merchant caravans in the Land of Wind, take what they could carry, and spread a warning that Konoha would kill them next time.

Hikaru sent Anbu squads to eliminate Sunagakure and Iwagakure scouts while spreading rumors that they had started the war, so Konoha could claim the moral advantage. As the squads moved toward the two countries, a group of scouts in the Land of Rain remained unaware of the danger approaching them.

• Hikaru ordered Hatake Sakumo to spread rumors of Sunagakure atrocities and ensure no Sunagakure ninjas at the border survived to contradict them.
• Hikaru decided to provoke Iwagakure as well and sent Anbu squads toward the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth.
• A day later, Hikaru moved against the scouts still watching Konoha's border, who were debating whether to provoke Konoha further.
• Three scouts hid in a tree hollow in the Land of Rain as their captain ordered them to keep watching, while one scout dismissed concerns about Konoha's silence.