Recaps

Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha survived dangerous missions, earned unexpected promotions, and chose teaching over further fieldwork. As Zou pursued experiments with natural chakra and quietly advised Itachi, Oto saw the Uchiha Clan’s political isolation begin to trouble its members.

• Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha rescued Asuma Sarutobi from Kumogakure pursuers, then helped drive off another Cloud Ninja force before returning to Konoha with Jiraiya’s help.
• Zou and Oto received Chunin promotions despite Zou’s reluctance, and Zou learned that Minato Namikaze might become the next Hokage.
• Zou experimented with a strange chakra that enhanced animals but often killed them, then found that Bell Cat could vent the chakra through exertion and returned to the Cat Village with some remaining.
• Zou and Oto chose Ninja Academy teaching posts instead of missions, and Zou began advising young Uchiha Itachi about the clan’s troubles.
• Oto sparred with Zou, then helped him test natural chakra on Bell Cat and promised to protect him from anyone who tried to harm him.
• Fugaku declined to run for Fourth Hokage, and Oto told Itachi that the Uchiha lacked battlefield achievements and had alienated the other clans.
• Oto kept Zou’s identity secret as she recalled his warning that the Uchiha needed to change their conduct and give up some Military Police authority.

Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha were assessed, recruited into Kakashi’s ANBU squad, and fought Kirigakure Ninja before returning to Konoha. Zou continued experimenting with natural chakra and sought to connect the Hyuga clan with Minato, who prepared to leave for a peace treaty with Iwagakure.

• The Third assessed Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha, confirmed their strength through a spar with Kosuke, and made them ANBU reserves under Kakashi while letting them keep teaching.
• The Third assigned Kakashi’s squad an A-rank mission against Mist Ninja raiders, and the team traveled to an offshore island where they faced Suikazan Fuguki and Kisame Hoshigaki.
• Zou Hyuga defeated Kisame and helped Kakashi, Asuma, and Oto kill Fuguki, then claimed Samehada and secretly infused Kisame with natural chakra.
• The squad returned to Konoha, where Minato became Fourth Hokage and ruled that Zou could keep Samehada while Zou and Oto remained in ANBU and continued teaching.
• Hiashi asked Zou to remain in ANBU and keep the Hyuga informed about village leadership, while Zou and Oto tested Bell Cat and discovered Zou could hear its thoughts and control its natural chakra.
• Zou asked Kakashi to arrange a private visit with Minato, then delivered Hiashi’s invitation to the Namikaze residence and left a letter for the Hokage.
• Minato learned that Hiashi had invited him to the Hyuga compound, then announced he would travel to the Land of Earth with Jiraiya and Kakashi’s team to sign a peace treaty with Iwagakure.