Recaps

A year after the Nine-Tails attack, Ruri had reached jonin-level chakra and developed powerful Flame-Flame Fruit abilities as he prepared for his early graduation assessment. He expected to face three genin the next day and looked forward to testing his strength.

• Ruri used Eight Trigrams: Mountain Crusher to blast apart two trees during training.
• Ruri reflected on his year of training, his growing strength, and his hopes of fighting in the coming war against the Cloud Ninja.
• Ruri learned that his graduation assessment would include a fight against three genin and dismissed them as no challenge.
• The Third Hokage reviewed Ruri Hyuga's early graduation application and expressed surprise at the request.

The Third Hokage approved Ruri’s application for early graduation and planned a strict test before sending him to the Anbu. Ruri reassured Momokusa Harukawa that she could join him after graduating, and she promised to find him there.

• The Third Hokage compared Ruri’s talent to Orochimaru’s, approved his application, and decided to test him before graduation.
• News spread that Ruri would have to avoid defeat by three Genin within a set time to qualify for early graduation.
• Momokusa Harukawa confronted Ruri about leaving the Ninja Academy, and he told her he had outgrown its lessons.
• Ruri comforted the tearful Momokusa Harukawa by promising to pave the way for her to join the Anbu after she graduated.
• Momokusa Harukawa promised to find Ruri and admitted she would miss his Ninjutsu lessons.

Ruri Hyuga completed the first two parts of his graduation assessment with perfect scores and began the final test against three elite Genin. As the Genin attacked, Ruri watched a thrown Ruowu approach without moving.

• A crowd gathered at the Ninja Academy to watch Ruri Hyuga's early graduation assessment, while the Third Hokage observed through a crystal ball.
• Ruri earned perfect scores on the basic test and the Ninjutsu test, as Momokusa Harukawa and Reika Hyuga watched nervously.
• A Chunin teacher set the final test: Ruri had to last ten minutes against three Genin or defeat them.
• The three Genin mocked Ruri, and he answered that he might try killing someone before smiling wickedly.
• The Genin charged, and the scarred Genin hurled a Ruowu at Ruri as Ruri watched it approach without dodging.

Ruri defeated two Genin with chakra and taijutsu techniques, then discovered that the third had used an earth clone. The remaining Genin appeared stronger, leaving Ruri facing him next.

• Ruri struck the scarred Genin in the stomach with concentrated chakra, making him collapse.
• The Genin with a cigarette attacked Ruri with a Great Fireball Technique, but Ruri dispersed it with Eight Trigrams: Mountain Crusher and struck him down.
• The last Genin charged Ruri with a large blade, and Ruri countered with Leaf Great Whirlwind.
• The two watching Chunin praised Ruri's skill as the Genin he had kicked turned into mud.
• Ruri recognized the mud as an earth clone and judged the remaining Genin stronger than the others.

Ruri defeated a Genin in his graduation match and received his ninja Forehead Protector, becoming the first student of Asuma Sarutobi to graduate. After saying goodbye to his classmates, he was summoned by the Third Hokage, who wanted to discuss his joining the Anbu.

• Ruri used Rotation to defeat the Genin who attacked him from underground, and the Genin surrendered.
• A masked ninja watched Ruri's victory and left to report his talent to Danzo.
• Asuma Sarutobi congratulated Ruri and gave him a ninja Forehead Protector, which he wore over his Caged Bird Seal Cursed Seal.
• Ruri congratulated Momokusa Harukawa and spoke with Uchiha Itachi and Reika Hyuga before saying goodbye to his classmates.
• A masked ninja appeared and told Ruri that the Third Hokage wished to see him.

Ruri was escorted to the Hokage Office, where the Third Hokage had just rejected Shimura Danzō’s request to recruit Ruri and Uchiha Itachi into Root, choosing instead to assign them to the Anbu. The chapter ended with the Third Hokage welcoming Ruri and calling him a remarkable genius.

• Ruri teased the cat-masked ninja as they walked to the Hokage Office Building, but the ninja ignored him.
• Shimura Danzō argued that Ruri Hyuga and Uchiha Itachi should join Root, while the Third Hokage insisted they would join the Anbu.
• The Third Hokage offered Danzō an outstanding Yamanaka Clan student instead, and Danzō left angrily, vowing to take the Hokage's seat.
• The cat-masked Anbu ninja brought Ruri into the Third Hokage's office and then left.
• The Third Hokage praised Ruri as a remarkable genius.

After passing his early graduation test, Ruri accepted the Third Hokage’s offer to join the Anbu and was assigned to Kakashi’s unit. On his way home, two masked figures confronted him, and he demanded to know who they were and what they wanted.

• The Third Hokage congratulated Ruri on passing his early graduation test and asked whether he preferred a Jonin instructor and squad or the Anbu.
• Ruri weighed the freedom of squad missions against the combat experience of Anbu work, then chose to join the Anbu.
• The Third Hokage assigned Ruri to Kakashi’s unit and told him to report to the Anbu in three days.
• Ruri left the Hokage Office Building and headed home as evening settled over Konoha.
• Two figures wearing cat masks appeared in front of and behind Ruri on a tree-lined road, and he asked who they were and what they wanted.

Ruri refused to go with two Root ninja sent to bring him to Shimura Danzō and defeated them when they tried to take him by force. Shimura Danzō then appeared and expressed interest in Ruri’s knowledge of Root and ninjutsu.

• Two Root ninja told Ruri that Shimura Danzō wanted to see him, but Ruri refused and tried to leave.
• The Root ninja blocked Ruri and threatened to knock him out and take him away.
• Ruri used Eight Trigrams One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms to defeat one Root ninja and Lightning Blade and Rasengan to defeat the other.
• Shimura Danzō emerged from the woods and praised Ruri’s strength and ninjutsu.
• Ruri identified Shimura Danzō and criticized the strength of his subordinates, making Danzō more interested in him.

Shimura Danzō tried to recruit Ruri into Root, but Ruri refused because he had promised to join the Anbu. Danzō then tempted him with documents about the Caged Bird Seal, leaving Ruri to consider whether Danzō could help him break it.

• Ruri recognized Shimura Danzō as a dangerous Konoha schemer when Danzō approached him after his battle.
• Shimura Danzō praised Ruri’s strength and reconnaissance skills, then invited him to join Root.
• Ruri refused, saying he had already promised the Third Hokage he would join the Anbu.
• Shimura Danzō mentioned having documents about the Hyuga Clan and the Caged Bird Seal, then left Ruri with an invitation to visit him.
• Ruri returned home, wondered whether Danzō could break the Caged Bird Seal, and entered his ring to train.

The morning after graduating from the Ninja Academy, Ruri told Mei Ling Hyuga that he had chosen to join the Anbu. Mei Ling comforted him, gave him supplies, and invited him to a family meal before he reported for duty in three days.

• Ruri put on his ninja forehead protector the morning after graduating from the Ninja Academy.
• Mei Ling Hyuga visited Ruri and asked what he planned to do after graduation.
• Ruri told Mei Ling that the Third Hokage had offered him a choice between missions with a teacher and joining the Anbu, and that he chose the Anbu.
• Mei Ling gave Ruri food and daily necessities prepared by her and Uncle Hizashi, and they embraced as she urged him to take care of himself.
• Mei Ling invited Ruri to stay with her the day before he reported to the Anbu so they could share a family meal with little Neji.

Ruri trained at the Back Mountain while waiting to report to the Anbu, then his friends arrived to celebrate his graduation. He agreed to get ready and join them.

• Ruri went to the Back Mountain and practiced his Eight Trigrams One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms, Rasengan, and Fire Fist.
• Momokusa Harukawa and Reika Hyuga visited Ruri's home, found him away, and headed to the Back Mountain.
• Ruri noticed the visitors approaching and relaxed when he recognized Harukawa and Reika.
• Harukawa told Ruri that she, Reika, Akagimaru, and Itachi planned to celebrate his graduation.
• Ruri agreed to get ready before joining the celebration.

Ruri celebrated his early graduation with his friends, then visited Hizashi Hyuga and met with Neji. Hizashi advised Ruri about joining Kakashi's Anbu squad and warned him to watch out for Shimura Danzō.

• Ruri celebrated his early graduation at a restaurant with Akagimaru, Uchiha Itachi, Reika Hyuga, and Momokusa Harukawa.
• Ruri praised Uchiha Itachi's talent, and Itachi left the group by leaping into a tree.
• Ruri put his forgotten beef jerky in his backpack and planned to visit Hizashi Hyuga the next day.
• Ruri visited Hizashi Hyuga's home, picked up Neji Hyuga, and chatted with Hizashi.
• Ruri told Hizashi that the Third Hokage had assigned him to Kakashi's Anbu squad, and Hizashi warned him to learn from his seniors and beware of Shimura Danzō.

Ruri Hyuga reported to the Anbu and joined Kakashi Hatake's team. After meeting Uzuki Yugao, he was introduced to Kakashi, who named Yamato and Tenzo as the team's other members.

• Ruri woke up, ate breakfast, and left home after Hizashi and Mei Ling reminded him to learn from his seniors and take care of himself.
• Ruri reached the Anbu headquarters and showed two masked guards his appointment letter from the Third Hokage.
• Ruri received Anbu clothing, a cat mask, and a short sword, then changed and went to the assembly point.
• Uzuki Yugao welcomed Ruri to the team and took him to meet Captain Kakashi Hatake.
• Kakashi introduced himself as the team's captain and said Uzuki Yugao, Yamato, and Tenzo were its other members.

Ruri Hyuga joined Kakashi Hatake's young Anbu team and spent several days monitoring Konoha, finding the work tedious while continuing to train in the Ring. Kakashi then announced that the Third Hokage had called them to receive a mission.

• Ruri introduced himself to Kakashi, then met Yamato Tenzo with Uzuki Yugao.
• Yugao and Yamato explained that the Anbu team watched over Konoha and received special missions directly from the Third Hokage.
• Ruri spent the next several days monitoring the village and occasionally guarding the Hokage Office Building while training in the Ring.
• Kakashi arrived with Yamato and Yugao and ordered the team to gather in the Hokage's office in five minutes for a mission briefing.
• Ruri eagerly packed his equipment after hearing that the Third Hokage had a mission for them.

Ruri joined Kakashi’s squad for a mission to eliminate Sunagakure spies along the Land of Fire’s border. After reaching the hideout, the squad prepared to attack under Kakashi’s plan.

• The Third Hokage briefed Ruri, Kakashi, Tenzo, and Uzuki Yugao on the spies and ordered Kakashi’s squad to eliminate them.
• Ruri and the others prepared their equipment and set out for the mission site the next day.
• Ruri used his Byakugan to spot the ruins where the hideout was located, and Uzuki Yugao warned the squad to be careful.
• Kakashi confirmed that five Sunagakure spies were inside the abandoned building and assigned the squad roles for the attack.

Ruri, Kakashi, Yamato Tenzo, and Uzuki Yugao entered the ruins and were ambushed by five spies. After they fought off a concealed rockfall, the spies surrounded them and split up to attack, leaving the battle underway.

• Ruri used his Byakugan to spot enemies concealed in the ruins and warned Kakashi, Yugao, and Yamato Tenzo.
• Two enemies unleashed Earth Release: Rock Lodging Destruction, and Kakashi and Yamato shattered the falling rocks while Ruri protected himself and Yugao with Eight Trigrams: Mountain Crusher.
• Five masked spies surrounded the group, and their leader identified Kakashi as the Sharingan Kakashi.
• Kakashi attacked the leader with Chidori and told the others to handle the remaining four spies.
• The four spies divided their attacks among Yamato, Yugao, and Ruri, intending to defeat them before joining their leader against Kakashi.

Ruri defeated a Sand Ninja spy with Rotation and Eight Trigrams One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms. He then rushed to help Uzuki Yugao, who was struggling against two enemies but still trusted that Ruri would survive.

• A Sand Ninja mocked Ruri and attacked him with Ruowu, but Ruri dodged the weapons and evaded the ninja’s first Earth Release attack.
• Ruri saw that Kakashi was suppressing his opponent, Yamato had only a slight advantage, and Uzuki Yugao was struggling against two enemies.
• The Sand Ninja trapped Ruri in midair with Earth Flow Spears, but Ruri used Rotation to destroy the rocks and landed beside him.
• Ruri struck the Sand Ninja with Eight Trigrams One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms, killing him, then headed to help Uzuki Yugao.
• One of Yugao’s opponents taunted her and claimed Ruri had been killed, but Yugao said she believed in Ruri and charged at the enemy.

Ruri rescued Uzuki Yugao from two Sand ninja and joined the fight against the remaining enemies. After Ruri and Yamato defeated another opponent, Kakashi attacked the enemy leader, leaving his fate unresolved.

• Ruri killed one Sand ninja with a Rasengan, allowing Uzuki Yugao to kill the other with her sword.
• Ruri helped Uzuki Yugao bandage her shoulder, and she asked him to call her Yugao; he chose to call her Big Sis Yugao.
• Ruri left Yugao and used Eight Trigrams: Mountain Crusher to kill the ninja fighting Yamato.
• Kakashi distracted the enemy leader with a powerful electric attack while using his Sharingan.

Ruri completed his first mission with Kakashi’s team, defeating seven enemies, including three Chunin, and revealed that he could use the Rasengan. After Kakashi told the Third Hokage about Ruri’s talent and Hyuga cursed seal, Kakashi worried about the future awaiting him.

• Kakashi killed the last enemy with Chidori, and Ruri explained that he had developed the Rasengan by experimenting with chakra.
• Kakashi led Ruri, Uzuki Yugao, and Yamato back to Konoha and reported that Ruri had defeated seven enemies, including three Chunin.
• The Third Hokage praised the team and decided that Ruri deserved the village’s investment and trust.
• Kakashi told the Third Hokage that Ruri had used Minato Namikaze’s seal-less A-rank Rasengan, and the Third Hokage said Ruri’s talent matched Minato’s.
• Kakashi fell silent at the mention of Ruri’s Hyuga cursed seal and felt sorrow for the child’s uncertain future.

After completing his training, Ruri upgraded his Rasengan into Wind Release: Rasenshuriken. He successfully formed the powerful S-rank technique on his first attempt.

• Ruri went to the Back Mountain after leaving the Anbu and entered the training ring.
• Ruri completed the day's objectives and received a ninjutsu upgrade.
• Ruri chose to upgrade his Rasengan and received a scroll for Wind Release: Rasenshuriken.
• Ruri absorbed the upgrade and recalled the technique's power and risks.
• Ruri infused wind-nature chakra into a Rasengan and formed Wind Release: Rasenshuriken on his first try.

Ruri tested his Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, discovering that he could throw it and that it caused devastating damage while consuming much of his chakra. After Anbu investigated the damage, Ruri left the mountain and considered training inside the Ring instead.

• Ruri threw a Wind Release: Rasenshuriken and blasted a crater nearly a hundred meters across, while suffering no wrist damage.
• Ruri found the technique consumed more than half his chakra and estimated he could use it only two or three times at full strength.
• Ruri struck several trees with another Rasenshuriken, slicing clean through their trunks and leaving him with about sixty percent of his chakra.
• Two Anbu ninja investigated the severed trees, recognized the work of a powerful Wind Release user, and left to report to the Hokage.
• Ruri hid from the Anbu, then left the mountain and considered training inside the Ring as he walked through Konoha.

After returning from a mission, Ruri ate the meal Mei Ling Hyuga had prepared and rested before Momokusa Harukawa visited with breakfast the next morning. Ruri told Harukawa about her Anbu work and first mission, then sparred with her in the courtyard and saw how much stronger she had become.

• Ruri found Mei Ling Hyuga's note and warmed the food she had left in the pot.
• After sleeping off her exhaustion, Ruri made breakfast and answered a knock at her gate from Momokusa Harukawa.
• Momokusa Harukawa brought Ruri breakfast, and the two ate and chatted at Ruri's home.
• Ruri told Momokusa Harukawa about her Anbu teammates, duties, and successful first mission, while advising her to wait before joining the Anbu.
• Ruri asked about Harukawa's Rasengan practice, then sparred with her in the courtyard and saw that Harukawa had grown strong.

Ruri taught Momokusa Harukawa the Body Flicker Technique, and she quickly learned its basic principles through an afternoon of practice. After taking her to Ichiraku Ramen for dinner, Ruri brought her home and went to work at the Anbu.

• After sparring, Ruri offered to teach Momokusa Harukawa a ninjutsu and demonstrated the Body Flicker Technique.
• Ruri explained how to gather chakra in the soles and use it to move rapidly, then had Momokusa Harukawa practice.
• Momokusa Harukawa quickly learned to channel chakra into her feet and grasped the technique's key points by the end of the afternoon.
• Ruri stopped her training and took her to Ichiraku Ramen, where they ate Tonkotsu Chashu Ramen.
• Ruri took Momokusa Harukawa home, then left to begin his work at the Anbu.

After a year in the Anbu, Ruri had grown closer to Uzuki Yugao and spent time advising Momokusa Harukawa, who worried about graduating and disliked his frequent missions. As Ruri prepared to leave for another mission, Uzuki Yugao summoned him to the Hokage's office, where the Third Hokage had called for them.

• Ruri spent a year serving in the Anbu and grew closer to Uzuki Yugao, while Momokusa Harukawa often visited him with food and ninjutsu questions.
• Momokusa Harukawa told Ruri that Uchiha Itachi planned to apply for early graduation, and Ruri urged her to focus on getting stronger.
• Ruri prepared to leave on a mission as Momokusa Harukawa stayed home to read.
• Walking along Main Street, Ruri thought about the unsettled political situation and the recent fighting near the Land of Fire's border.
• Uzuki Yugao found Ruri and told him that the Third Hokage had summoned them to the Hokage's office.
• Uzuki Yugao grabbed Ruri and used the Body Flicker Technique to hurry with him toward the Hokage Office Building.

The Third Hokage assigned Kakashi, Yamato, Uzuki Yugao, and other Anbu to reinforce Konoha’s front lines against Kumogakure, while ordering Ruri to compete in the Chunin Ninja Exams. Ruri accepted but asked to join the battle afterward; the Third Hokage refused, and a mysterious figure appeared in front of Ruri as the others prepared to leave.

• Ruri and Uzuki Yugao arrived at the Third Hokage’s office, where Kakashi, Yamato, and other Anbu had gathered.
• The Third Hokage reported that Kumogakure had launched a war and might deploy a jinchūriki against Konoha.
• The Third Hokage ordered Kakashi’s squad and Squad One to reinforce the front lines, but assigned Ruri to compete in the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Ruri asked to go to the front lines after the exams, but the Third Hokage said the schedules left no time.
• Uzuki Yugao encouraged Ruri to focus on the exams and win glory for Konoha, then a figure suddenly appeared in front of him.