Chapter Summaries

Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha enjoyed their work as Ninja Academy teachers before going to practice ninjutsu. Asuma Sarutobi confronted the Third about Zou's conduct, but the Hokage chose to observe the new teachers longer before acting.

• Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha discussed their teaching day and the low salary, then headed to the grove to practice ninjutsu.
• The Third used the Telescope Technique in his office, hid his crystal ball when Asuma Sarutobi entered, and offered him missions.
• Asuma asked the Third why he had made Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha Ninja Academy teachers.
• The Third explained that the pair had saved Asuma, understood the Will of Fire, and had wanted the positions themselves.
• Asuma accused Zou of taking credit for missions and demanding protection fees and tuition from students, but the Third said he would observe them longer before reconsidering his recommendation.

Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha practiced taijutsu in the Forest of Death, using their strongest abilities in a spar. Oto gained the upper hand, but Zou insisted his powerful palm technique was Wind Release as they finished their match.

• Zou and Oto entered the Forest of Death, where Zou checked the area with his Byakugan and reflected on his experiments with natural chakra in animals.
• Zou and Oto began their spar on the lake, activating Oto's Three-Tomoe Sharingan and Zou's Sage Mode.
• Oto attacked with a Great Fireball Technique and explosive-tagged kunai, but Zou countered with his Wind Release: Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm.
• Oto used genjutsu and rushed in with her poisoned short sword, then told Zou that she had won.
• Zou claimed his palm technique was Wind Release, while Oto dismissed his explanation and sheathed her sword.

After sparring, Zou Hyuga told Oto Uchiha about his ability to give animals natural chakra and asked her to find summoning beasts for his experiments. Oto summoned Bell Cat, who immediately sensed that Zou had dangerous plans.

• Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha ended their sparring match with a Seal of Reconciliation, and Oto promised to kill anyone who tried to harm him.
• Zou Hyuga demonstrated that he could infuse a wild rabbit with natural chakra, greatly increasing its strength and speed, then explained that previous animal experiments had left the subjects dangerously weak.
• Oto Uchiha agreed to help Zou find summoning beasts to test, and he insisted that the natural chakra would not harm them.
• Oto Uchiha summoned Bell Cat, and Zou Hyuga offered the wary cat some roasted rabbit as Bell feared its peaceful days were over.

Zou Hyuga tested natural chakra on Bell Cat, whose ability to tolerate it left him questioning the risks of using it on Oto Uchiha. After returning to Konoha, Oto noticed unusual activity deep inside the Uchiha compound and went to investigate.

• Bell Cat accepted foxtail grass and dried fish, then Zou infused natural chakra into its body while Oto watched.
• Bell Cat vented the chakra by running and attacking until it was exhausted, while Zou recorded the experiment and Oto observed with her Sharingan.
• Bell Cat warned Zou that humans, including Uchiha, might not withstand much natural chakra, then returned to the Cat Village with some chakra left to aid its training.
• Zou decided not to test natural chakra on Oto until he had made thorough preparations, and he and Oto returned to Konoha.
• After entering the Uchiha compound, Oto noticed unusual activity in its innermost section and went to investigate.

Uchiha Itachi learned that his father, Fugaku, had refused to run for Hokage, and sought to understand why the Uchiha lacked support. Oto Uchiha explained the clan’s political isolation, while reflecting on how little her warnings had changed its course.

• Itachi returned from the Academy and overheard Fugaku tell visiting jonin that they wanted him to run for Fourth Hokage.
• At the clan meeting, Fugaku announced he would not run, and most Uchiha accepted his decision despite grumbling from radicals.
• Itachi asked Oto why she was troubled, and she told him Fugaku lacked battlefield achievements and the Uchiha had alienated other clans.
• Itachi asked who had taught Oto about the clan’s political weakness, but she refused to identify Zou Hyuga and left the shrine.
• Oto followed her usual route and recalled Zou’s warning that the Uchiha would face the Hokage faction and other village forces unless they changed their arrogant conduct and surrendered some Military Police authority.

Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha were summoned to the Hokage’s office after the Third investigated their unusually dangerous missions. Asuma Sarutobi burst in asking whether the Third had handled his request, leaving Zou and Oto to suspect Asuma was behind their summons.

• Zou Hyuga met Oto Uchiha the morning after her clan’s dispute, and she told him Uchiha Fugaku had refused to run for Hokage.
• Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha continued teaching at the Ninja Academy and planned another experiment in the Forest of Death.
• Kakashi, disguised as an ANBU operative, summoned Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha to the Hokage’s office.
• The Third explained that he had investigated their records and found they had survived missions far more dangerous than their assigned ranks suggested.
• Asuma Sarutobi barged into the office and asked the Third whether he had taken care of what he promised, prompting Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha to suspect Asuma had caused their summons.

The Third summoned Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha for an assessment of their Chunin ranks, then assigned Kakashi to test them. Zou and Oto welcomed the possibility of being demoted and prepared to fight while holding back.

• The Third told Zou Hyuga he and Oto Uchiha needed an assessment before serving as Chunin instructors, and Zou suspected Asuma had prompted it.
• Zou tried to avoid being assessed by the Third, but the Third insisted and led everyone to a nearby training ground.
• The Third appointed Kakashi to test Zou and Oto, saying they would pass if they defeated him.
• Zou recognized Kakashi as the renowned genius Jonin and signaled Oto to keep their strength in check.
• The Third warned Zou and Oto that failure would cost them their Chunin ranks, and they exchanged pleased smiles before promising to fight seriously.

Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha faced Kakashi in an assessment, hoping to lose and return to Genin rank. They defeated themselves convincingly enough for Kakashi to win, then looked ahead to life as Genin.

• The Third ordered Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha to put away their Explosive Tags, and both revealed large stashes of them.
• Kakashi began the assessment by creating Shadow Clones and raising an earthen wall as Zou and Oto closed in.
• Zou Hyuga pretended to fall after Kakashi's Chidori grazed his waist, leaving Oto to face Kakashi alone.
• Oto Uchiha feigned exhaustion and lost to Kakashi's swordsmanship.
• Zou and Oto discussed their acting and Kakashi's strength, then hoped to return to Genin rank.

Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha tried to convince the Third that they were too weak to remain Chunin, but he accepted their excuses and confirmed their ranks. He then insisted they prove themselves against a real Genin, introducing the elderly Kosuke.

• Zou and Oto asked the Third to demote them to Genin after their staged defeat, but he officially confirmed they had passed the Chunin assessment.
• The Third questioned their mission records, and Zou blamed his performance on his reliance on Explosive Tags.
• Oto said she would never use her Sharingan against village comrades, earning the Third’s approval.
• Asuma tried to challenge the Third’s decision, but Kakashi stopped him, and Asuma relented because Zou and Oto had saved his life.
• The Third said Chunin instructors needed strength to protect Academy students and summoned a genuine Genin, who arrived carrying an iron pot and was revealed to be Kosuke.

The Third had Kosuke test Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha, who fought hard but failed to defeat the veteran Genin. He approved their Academy teaching positions while also assigning them as his direct subordinates and ANBU reserves under Kakashi.

• The Third asked Kosuke, a veteran Genin who had refused promotion to Jonin, to gauge Zou and Oto's strength.
• Zou and Oto fought Kosuke, using Gentle Fist, swordsmanship, and shuriken techniques while concealing their full abilities.
• After the pair feigned exhaustion, Kosuke judged them to be among the strongest Chunin and possibly Special Jōnin.
• The Third treated Zou and Oto with Medical Ninjutsu and confirmed that Kosuke was still a Genin despite his strength.
• The Third let Zou and Oto keep their Academy teaching positions, then made them his direct subordinates and ANBU reserves under Kakashi.

The Third assigned Zou Hyuga, Oto Uchiha, and Asuma to Kakashi’s ANBU team, then refused Danzo’s request to take Kakashi into Root. Danzo left the Hokage Office without approval to begin the Wood Release Experiment.

• The Third made Kakashi captain of a team with Zou Hyuga, Oto Uchiha, and Asuma, despite Asuma’s refusal to join ANBU.
• Kakashi briefly addressed his new teammates and vanished, while Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha blamed Asuma for their forced recruitment.
• Danzo asked the Third to transfer Kakashi to Root, but the Third refused because Kakashi was Minato’s student.
• Danzo urged the Third to approve the Wood Release Experiment, but the Third refused and told him to seek Minato’s approval after he became Hokage.

Zou Hyuga attended a grave Hyuga Clan Meeting about the loss of a Byakugan and listened as the Main Family blamed the Branch Family guards. Afterward, his uncle Hyuga Yu offered a more compassionate account of the dead guard’s motives, and Zou returned home to continue experimenting with natural chakra.

• Zou Hyuga was summoned to the Main Family’s mansion, where Branch Family members gathered under the shadow of the Caged Bird Seal.
• Hyuga Hiashi announced the Hyuga Clan’s support for Minato as the next Hokage and reported that a Byakugan had been stolen after a Main Family member and two Branch Family guards went missing.
• The Main Family condemned the Branch Family guards and warned the Branch Family that they must not let a Main Family member die before them.
• Hyuga Yu told Zou Hyuga that the returning guard had taken his own life to protect his brother and escape his physical and emotional pain.
• Zou Hyuga told Hyuga Yu that Lord Third might make him join ANBU, then said he could never become a Jonin while the Caged Bird Seal remained.
• Zou Hyuga returned home, bathed, and resumed his experiments with natural chakra.

Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha joined Kakashi and Asuma on an A-rank mission to eliminate Kirigakure forces infiltrating the Land of Fire. The squad left Konoha and began discussing their abilities as teammates.

• Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha chose ANBU masks and collected standard gear before Kakashi stopped them from taking more supplies.
• The Third assigned Kakashi's squad an A-rank mission against Kirigakure Ninja near the Land of Fire's coast and told them they could retreat if the danger was too great.
• The Third explained that he had chosen the mission to train Kakashi, Asuma, Zou Hyuga, and Oto Uchiha.
• Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha met Kakashi and Asuma at Konoha's gate after eating, and the squad set out.
• Kakashi revealed that he had a Sharingan given to him by his dead friend Obito, and Asuma described his combat specialties.
• Asuma said the squad could treat Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha as elite Chunin based on their previous performance.

Kakashi’s squad traveled toward the Borderlands on an A-Rank mission, sharing food and discussing how they would operate together. During the night watch, Zou Hyuga worried about Kakashi’s condition and decided to talk with him.

• Kakashi, Asuma, Zou Hyuga, and Oto Uchiha left Konoha, and Zou and Oto stayed alert as they traveled.
• At camp, Zou shared roast chicken with Kakashi and Asuma before Kakashi explained the mission and his assessment.
• Zou considered the possibilities of his natural chakra, then remembered the Caged Bird Seal still bound him to Konoha.
• Zou found Oto asleep during their watch, left camp to patrol, and spotted Asuma secretly smoking while Kakashi kept watch nearby.
• Zou approached Kakashi, concerned that the jonin’s condition might lead him to make a dangerous decision.

Zou Hyuga tried to draw Kakashi out of his grief, and the ANBU squad reached Coastal Town to investigate Mist Ninja raids. After locating an offshore base, the squad encountered the raiders at sea and attacked their boats.

• Zou Hyuga told Kakashi to prioritize the squad’s survival in battle, and Kakashi agreed to consider it.
• The ANBU squad reached Coastal Town, where Kakashi learned that Mist Ninja raiders were likely operating from a base at sea.
• Zou Hyuga estimated the enemy force was larger than reported and considered where he might retire with Oto Uchiha.
• The squad disguised itself as fishermen and set out for an island ten kilometers offshore.
• Zou Hyuga identified the surrounding pirates as Mist Ninja, and the Kirigakure chunin ordered an attack as the ANBU charged aboard their vessels.

The ANBU squad landed on the island and fought Kirigakure ninja, only to discover that Suikazan Fuguki of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had arrived. Kakashi recognized the powerful enemy as Fuguki challenged the squad.

• Kakashi, Asuma, Zou Hyuga, and Oto Uchiha destroyed the approaching Mist boats and captured a chunin who revealed the island's defenses.
• The squad disguised themselves as Mist ninja and landed, but enemy shinobi destroyed their boat and surrounded them.
• Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha prepared explosive-tag traps while Kakashi and Asuma killed Mist ninja in the forest.
• Kakashi identified the approaching leader as Suikazan Fuguki, a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and signaled Zou Hyuga to flee.
• Suikazan Fuguki addressed the Konoha squad and asked whether any of them were genin.

Zou Hyuga’s ANBU squad faced Suikazan Fuguki and Kisame Hoshigaki on an island, where the Mist Ninja’s Water Release disrupted their traps. Zou assigned the team to fight Kisame and Fuguki separately, then the battle began with Zou confident he could defeat Kisame.

• Suikazan Fuguki drew Samehada and Kisame Hoshigaki used Great Waterfall Technique to flood the ANBU squad’s trapped battlefield.
• Zou Hyuga assessed Kisame’s large chakra reserves and told Kakashi, Asuma, and Oto Uchiha to fight him while Zou took Kisame’s orange-haired companion, Fuguki.
• Zou asked to claim Samehada as spoils if they won, then advised Oto to use her Three-Tomoe Sharingan or summon Bell Cat if needed.
• The ANBU squad and the Mist Ninja clashed, and Zou focused on Kisame, confident that his own chunin strength gave him the advantage.

Zou Hyuga fought Kisame Hoshigaki and drove him to flee toward the coast, while Kakashi, Asuma, and Oto Uchiha struggled against Suikazan Fuguki. The chapter left the fight with Fuguki unresolved as Asuma questioned why Kirigakure’s elite were attacking the town despite being at war with Sunagakure.

• Zou Hyuga dodged Kisame Hoshigaki’s Water Shark Bullet Technique and struck him with a powerful Gentle Fist attack.
• Kisame summoned sharks to conceal his escape toward the coast, and Zou Hyuga chased after him.
• Kakashi, Asuma, and Oto Uchiha fought Suikazan Fuguki, whose Samehada absorbed chakra and resisted their attacks.
• Oto Uchiha used poisoned weapons and explosive-tagged kunai against Fuguki, impressing Kakashi and Asuma.
• Asuma wondered why a Mist ninja of Fuguki’s rank was attacking the town while Kirigakure was at war with Sunagakure.

Zou Hyuga killed Kisame and helped Kakashi, Asuma, and Oto Uchiha defeat Suikazan Fuguki. The team completed its A-rank mission, while Zou ensured he received no credit for Fuguki's death.

• Zou Hyuga overwhelmed Kisame with Gentle Fist and slit his throat after knocking him into a reef.
• Zou found Oto Uchiha and joined Kakashi and Asuma as they faced Suikazan Fuguki.
• Zou sealed Fuguki's chakra points while Oto and Kakashi held off Samehada, allowing Kakashi to pierce Fuguki with Chidori.
• Oto severed Fuguki's sword arm, and Zou cut off his head; Oto then burned the corpse with Fire Release.
• Kakashi and Asuma received the credit for killing Fuguki, while Zou was satisfied that he had no involvement.

Zou Hyuga and the ANBU squad divided their spoils after defeating Fuguki and raiding the Mist Ninja’s cave, then came under attack at sea. Zou identified the attacker as Kisame Hoshigaki and revealed that he had secretly spared him and infused him with natural chakra.

• Zou Hyuga claimed Samehada and agreed with Kakashi and Asuma to split Fuguki’s bounty, while Oto Uchiha reported the location of the Mist Ninja’s plunder.
• The squad found a cave full of stolen goods, but they took a boat back because it could not carry most of the cargo.
• Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha counted their loot and divided it into four shares, handing Kakashi and Asuma their portions.
• Several water arrows struck the boat, and Kakashi raised an Earth-Style Wall before the squad moved onto the sea to find their attacker.
• Zou Hyuga used his Byakugan to locate Kisame Hoshigaki underwater and revealed that he had spared him and infused him with natural chakra.