Chapter Summaries

Hikaru told Minato, Ainoiki, and Aita that his hobby was finding several beautiful wives and having several children, while his dream was to lead the Uchiha to trample the world beneath their feet. He ended their meeting with an early-morning training order, then went to meet Hatake Sakumo, whom he teased about prioritizing his wife.

• Minato asked Hikaru about his hobbies and dreams, and Ainoiki and Aita joined in.
• Hikaru said he wanted several beautiful wives and children, and to lead the Uchiha to trample the world beneath their feet.
• Hikaru ordered Minato, Ainoiki, and Aita to meet him at the Training Ground at five the next morning, then left the Ninja Academy.
• Hikaru met Hatake Sakumo at a barbecue restaurant and complained that Sakumo had once left him waiting while spending time with his wife.
• Hatake Sakumo explained that circumstances had delayed their previous meeting, and Hikaru remarked that married people were different.

Hikaru approved Hatake Sakumo’s request to leave the front lines after his wife gave birth to their son, Kakashi Hatake. Sakumo headed back to the village, leaving Danzo furious at losing a powerful ally against the Third Kazekage.

• Hatake Sakumo told Hikaru he wanted to transfer from the battlefield back to the village because his wife had given birth to their son, Kakashi Hatake.
• Hikaru approved the transfer and told Sakumo to arrange the paperwork with the Third Hokage.
• Sakumo teased Hikaru about becoming the children’s squad leader, then drank with him until Hikaru passed out.
• Sakumo took the paperwork to the Hokage Office Building, where the Third Hokage approved the transfer.
• Danzo cursed Sakumo’s departure because he had been a valuable support against the Third Kazekage.

Hikaru overslept after drinking with Hatake Sakumo and left his three disciples waiting hungry at the Training Ground. He made it up to them with barbecue, judged their patience and respectful attitude enough to pass his test, and told them to meet him at the village entrance the next morning.

• Namikaze Minato, Ainoiki, and Adachi Aita waited at the Training Ground from five in the morning, believing Hikaru was testing them.
• Hikaru woke around noon, realized he had stood up his disciples, and hurried to the Training Ground.
• Hikaru apologized and treated the starving children to barbecue, where they ate enough for eight people.
• Hikaru told Namikaze Minato, Ainoiki, and Adachi Aita they had passed his test and ordered them to meet him at the village entrance at six the next morning.

After declaring Namikaze Minato, Ainoiki, and Adachi Aita his disciples without testing them, Hikaru warned them that his training would be harsh and set their first meeting for six the next morning. He chose dangerous, combat-focused missions for them, leaving the Third Hokage to worry about the risks and the other teachers’ complaints.

• Hikaru told Namikaze Minato, Ainoiki, and Adachi Aita that they had graduated without taking a test and warned that his training would leave them no chance to fall back.
• Hikaru told the three children to meet him at six the next morning, then went to the Hokage Office Building to get missions for their training.
• The Third Hokage showed Hikaru a pile of mission scrolls, and Hikaru chose missions involving real weapons and combat instead of basic chores.
• The Third Hokage questioned Hikaru’s choices, but Hikaru said his disciples needed different training and that they could handle the missions.
• The Third Hokage worried about the danger to the fresh graduates and the other teachers’ reactions, while Hikaru left with the scrolls and praised the missions as exciting.

Hikaru took Namikaze Minato, Ainoiki, and Adachi Aita on their first grueling mission, forcing them through a dark forest full of thorny vines. At sunrise, he gave them half an hour to tend to their wounds before the mission continued.

• Hikaru arrived at the village entrance at six and told his three disciples they were beginning their first mission.
• Hikaru led Namikaze Minato, Ainoiki, and Adachi Aita through a pitch-black forest instead of taking the main road.
• Ainoiki complained about the darkness and thorny vines, but Hikaru ordered the disciples to keep up or leave.
• The three disciples endured the thorny forest until Hikaru led them into a grassy pasture at sunrise.
• Hikaru gave them half an hour to rest and remove the thorns, and Namikaze Minato opened the medical kit he had brought.

Hikaru took Namikaze Minato, Ainoiki, and Adachi Aita to a ranch and revealed that their mission was to eliminate a wolf pack threatening its livestock. He told them to prepare during the day and kill every wolf that night, then demonstrated his accuracy by pinning a rabbit with a kunai.

• Hikaru made the three students remove thorns from their wounds with needles and limited medical alcohol before setting off again.
• Hikaru asked what dangers threatened the ranch, and Namikaze Minato identified wild beasts as its greatest concern.
• Hikaru explained that a wolf pack had appeared near the ranch and ordered the students to kill all the wolves rather than drive them away.
• Hikaru told the students to use the daytime to prepare for the wolves' nighttime activity and said he cared only about the results.
• Hikaru threw a kunai and pinned a grazing rabbit to the ground.

Hikaru left Namikaze Minato, Ainoiki, and Adachi Aita to prepare for their first mission without his help as a wolf pack approached the ranch. After their traps caught a few wolves, the pack surrounded them, and Minato launched an attack with explosive-tagged kunai.

• Hikaru refused to provide food or guidance, so Minato, Ainoiki, and Adachi Aita caught and poorly cooked fish for their meal.
• Minato had the three gather their Ninja Tools and use branches to build traps, while Hikaru watched without helping.
• At dusk, wolf howls drew closer, and the exhausted students lit a bonfire before climbing into a tree.
• The wolf pack approached the ranch, and a few wolves fell into the students' stake-lined pit traps.
• After the pack surrounded their tree, Minato threw several kunai tied with Explosive Tags.

Uchiha Hikaru’s newly graduated team fought a wolf pack after Explosive Tags killed many of the animals, but poor teamwork left Adachi Aita injured. Hikaru swiftly killed the remaining wolves and ordered the others to bandage Aita before returning to the village.

• Explosive Tags blasted many wolves, and Namikaze Minato began fighting while Ainoiki and Adachi Aita froze in shock.
• Hikaru urged Ainoiki and Adachi Aita to help Minato, and the three graduates jumped down to fight the wolves.
• The graduates failed to coordinate, and a wolf bit Adachi Aita on the arm.
• Hikaru drew his katana and killed the remaining wolves with a flash of silver light.
• Hikaru told Minato and Ainoiki to bandage Adachi Aita and ordered the team to return to the village.

After Adachi Aita was badly injured on his first mission with Hikaru, Hikaru assigned all three disciples daily battle reports and remained unconcerned about the criticism the incident might bring. The disciples worried that Hikaru was disappointed in them, but working through the reports brought them closer together, and Hikaru arrived early the next morning with breakfast to read their work.

• Hikaru told his disciples, including the injured Adachi Aita, to rest and write daily battle reports about their strengths and mistakes.
• Hikaru told the Third Hokage that Namikaze Minato showed potential, dismissed concerns about the injury's impact, and asked for the mission reward to go to the children.
• At the hospital, Namikaze Minato, Adachi Aita, and Ainoiki worried that Hikaru was disappointed and might ask to transfer them to another teacher.
• The three disciples promised to work harder and discussed their mistakes while trying to complete their battle reports, which brought them closer together.
• Hikaru arrived at the hospital with breakfast early the next morning, found the disciples asleep, and picked up their reports to read.

Hikaru punished Namikaze Minato, Adachi Aita, and Ainoiki for failing to address their mistakes in their battle reports by tying them together and making them travel to the Training Ground as a unit. After nearly two hours of struggling through Konoha, the exhausted trio finally arrived.

• Hikaru read the three disciples’ battle reports and grew furious that they had recognized mistakes but left important issues unaddressed.
• Hikaru woke the disciples, scolded them, and struck each one while criticizing their failures in combat awareness and teamwork.
• Hikaru ordered Namikaze Minato, Adachi Aita, and Ainoiki to tie their hands and feet together so they would have to coordinate their movements.
• The tied-together trio shuffled through Konoha as onlookers laughed, while Namikaze Minato calmed his frustrated teammates.
• After a journey that took nearly two hours, the exhausted disciples reached the Training Ground.

Hikaru forced Namikaze Minato, Ainoiki, and Adachi Aita to train as a team and pushed them through increasingly difficult missions. As they returned from a mission expecting barbecue, an Anbu summoned Hikaru to an urgent meeting because the battle situation at the front had changed.

• Hikaru explained that his assessment had been meant to teach the three students teamwork, then ordered them to run three laps together or go without food.
• Hikaru intensified their training and gave them difficult missions, and the three students grew quickly despite struggling to face killing.
• On the way back to Konoha, Namikaze Minato, Ainoiki, and Adachi Aita asked Hikaru to buy them barbecue as their mission reward.
• An Anbu told Hikaru that the front-line battle situation had changed and that the Hokage Lord wanted him back in the village immediately.
• Hikaru left his students with the Anbu and hurried ahead, suspecting Konoha had suffered a major loss and that Danzo might be removed if the war worsened.

Hikaru learned that a massive sandstorm had forced Konoha’s forces to withdraw from the Land of Wind with enormous casualties, while Danzo insisted he could still lead them to victory. The Third Hokage then revealed that a large shipment of supplies Konoha had purchased had disappeared.

• Hikaru hurried back to the village after the Third Hokage summoned him and wondered how long Danzo could remain in command.
• The Third Hokage told Hikaru that a massive sandstorm had driven Konoha’s forces out of the Land of Wind and caused enormous casualties.
• Hikaru asked about Danzo and the higher-ups, and the Third Hokage said Danzo wanted Konoha to trust him and continue fighting Sunagakure.
• The Third Hokage revealed that a large batch of supplies Konoha had purchased had disappeared.

After Konoha’s shipment of wartime supplies disappeared at sea, the Third Hokage decided to go to the front lines and asked Hikaru to take charge of the village. Hikaru protested but surrendered to the Third Hokage’s pleading, leaving Konoha in his care as the Hokage prepared to depart the next day.

• The Third Hokage learned that a vital shipment of supplies and its Craftsman Country escorts had vanished at sea, threatening Konoha’s front lines.
• Hikaru warned that the loss would worsen the troops’ morale and said Danzo’s failures had left the village in disarray.
• The Third Hokage announced that he would personally lead Konoha’s forces against Sunagakure and asked Hikaru to guard the village.
• Hikaru objected that the higher-ups would protest and that he did not want the responsibility, but the Third Hokage insisted that he trusted him most.
• Hikaru gave in, and the Third Hokage said he would notify the higher-ups and leave Konoha in Hikaru’s hands the following day.

Hikaru found Namikaze Minato training hand seals late at night and explained that speed and Kekkei Genkai were only small parts of a ninja’s strength. The Third Hokage was set to leave for the front lines the next morning, leaving Hikaru to handle his duties in Konoha.

• Hikaru considered the benefits of the Third Hokage going to the front lines and regretted being left to manage the village and its paperwork.
• Hikaru spotted Namikaze Minato training hand seal speed at the Ninja Academy’s Training Ground and warned him that his chakra was running low.
• Minato asked whether faster hand seals meant greater strength, and Hikaru explained that speed could help seize the initiative but did not determine a ninja’s overall ability.
• Hikaru told Minato that skilled ninjas could use powerful techniques without relying on hand seals and pointed to the Third Hokage as an example.
• Minato noted that he lacked a Kekkei Genkai, and Hikaru replied that Kekkei Genkai did not represent everything either.

Hikaru encouraged Namikaze Minato to look beyond his lack of a Kekkei Genkai and believe he could become one of the world's strongest shinobi. After Hikaru left him with demanding training advice, Minato resolved to follow it, while Hikaru observed that he liked the boy.

• Hikaru explained to Namikaze Minato that shinobi without powerful Kekkei Genkai, such as the Sannin and Hatake Sakumo, could still become formidable.
• Hikaru told Minato to believe in himself and his potential to surpass most people in the world.
• Hikaru advised Minato to strengthen his basic training, add weights, and experiment with ninjutsu that did not require hand seals, suggesting inspiration from Kumogakure's Lightning Armor.
• Minato decided that if Hikaru could endure such training, he could too, and set off exhausted but determined.
• Hikaru emerged from the Training Ground shadows and said he liked Minato despite not expecting him to submit to the Third Elder's pressure.

Hikaru confronted Jiraiya about his years away and learned that one of the three Rain Country children Jiraiya had trained possessed the legendary Eyes of the Sage. Hikaru warned that the child’s Rinnegan could make him a grave threat, while he concealed his knowledge of the danger surrounding Nagato.

• Hikaru met Jiraiya at a Konoha shop and mocked him for returning only after Hikaru had been conscripted by the Third Hokage.
• Jiraiya said he had gathered material for a book and trained three disciples in the Land of Rain who could not join Konoha because they resented the village.
• Jiraiya asked Hikaru about the Eyes of the Sage, then revealed that one of his disciples possessed them and had Uzumaki Clan blood.
• Hikaru joked that Jiraiya might be arrested for endangering Konoha by training the Rain Country children.
• Hikaru warned Jiraiya that once the disciple mastered the Rinnegan, he would be powerful enough to kill Jiraiya with ease.

Uchiha Hikaru ordered Jiraiya to arrange a meeting with Nagato, insisting he only wanted to obtain something from him and would not harm him or the other children. Hikaru was left to manage Konoha while the Third Elder went to the front, and Jiraiya agreed to take the three children on missions as he weighed Hikaru’s true intentions.

• Jiraiya laughed at Hikaru’s warning about Nagato until he realized Hikaru was serious, then refused to kill Nagato, Konan, or Yahiko.
• Hikaru said he wanted to meet Nagato and obtain something from him, promised not to harm the children, and explained that he would handle Konoha’s affairs while the Third Elder went to the Land of Wind.
• Hikaru ordered Jiraiya to arrange the meeting and take the three children on missions, threatening to use his authority if Jiraiya refused.
• Jiraiya agreed on the condition that Hikaru leave the children unharmed and end his assignment once the Third Elder returned.
• Hikaru left for the Hokage’s Office, while Jiraiya drank himself home and privately considered whether Nagato was a threat and whether Hikaru was telling the truth.

After the Third Hokage left for the front lines, Uchiha Hikaru took over his duties and struggled through the Hokage’s Office workload. Jiraiya returned to Konoha, and Hikaru appointed him to temporarily teach Minato, Ainoiki, and Adachi Aita.

• The Third Hokage announced that he would go to the front lines and left Uchiha Hikaru in charge of his duties in Konoha.
• Hikaru summoned Minato, Ainoiki, and Adachi Aita, then made them wait while he assigned missions and processed paperwork.
• Jiraiya returned to the village and waited in the Hokage’s Office while Hikaru finished his work.
• Hikaru threatened to spar with Jiraiya after Jiraiya teased him about the paperwork, startling the people watching.
• Hikaru told Minato, Ainoiki, and Aita that Jiraiya would temporarily replace him as their teacher.

Hikaru assigned Jiraiya to lead the three youngsters, and Jiraiya took them to a barbecue restaurant to explain their teacher’s fearsome reputation. He left them hoping the Hokage would return soon while they worked to become a team.

• Hikaru introduced Jiraiya to Ainoiki, Adachi Aita, and Namikaze Minato, warning them to be cautious around him at hot springs and baths.
• Jiraiya explained that he and Hikaru had grown up together and said Hikaru hated paperwork and official duties.
• Jiraiya treated the three youngsters to grilled meat and invited them to ask him questions.
• Jiraiya admitted Hikaru had beaten him repeatedly and had also defeated Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Hatake Sakumo in sparring.
• Jiraiya told the youngsters that Hikaru had nearly killed the Third Kazekage and asked them to keep the story secret.

Danzo confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi after Hiruzen took personal command of Konoha’s forces against Sunagakure, while Hikaru struggled with the burden of sitting in the Hokage’s Office. The battle resumed after Konoha reorganized, and Hikaru was left enduring Jiraiya’s teasing.

• Jiraiya told Namikaze Minato, Adachi Aita, and Ainoiki to stay with him until their Hokage returned and joked that their teacher was throwing a tantrum.
• Danzo angrily accused Hiruzen Sarutobi of distrusting him after Hiruzen arrived at the front to lead Konoha’s forces.
• Hiruzen explained that Konoha’s supplies from the Craftsman Country had been intercepted and that the village could not afford to prolong the war.
• Hiruzen’s arrival restored Konoha’s morale, and after a period of reorganization, the battle against Sunagakure resumed.
• Hikaru complained about the strain of sitting in the Hokage’s Office while Jiraiya teased him about holding Konoha’s power.