Recaps

Shihui Aburame returned to the Aburame Clan, showed Shibi Aburame his mutated Gu, and demonstrated the White Boar Gu's strength-enhancing effect. After Shihui won an arm-wrestling match with his father, he unlocked a new Gu.

• Shihui Aburame returned home and showed Shibi Aburame that he had learned the Chakra Scalpel from Lady Tsunade.
• Shihui Aburame revealed the Moon Raiment Gu, explained its potential to grow stronger, and excited Shibi Aburame.
• Shihui Aburame showed Shibi Aburame the White Boar Gu and explained that it permanently increased physical strength up to a limit.
• Shihui Aburame challenged Shibi Aburame to arm-wrestle and won without using chakra.
• Shihui Aburame unlocked the Father-Son Match achievement and received the Brute Force Longhorn Beetle Gu.

Shihui Aburame secretly gave Shino Aburame the White Boar Gu and discussed plans to monitor Aoi Rokushō with his father. As the Chunin Exams approached, Shihui and Shibi Aburame prepared to take advantage of a planned theft, while Uchiha Itachi saw new determination in Sasuke Uchiha.

• Shihui Aburame told Shibi Aburame about the White Boar Gu and Aoi Rokushō, and Shibi agreed to keep the Gu secret and watch Aoi.
• Shihui Aburame implanted the White Boar Gu in Shino Aburame, who immediately felt his strength increase and promised to keep it secret.
• Umino Iruka announced that the students would have the day off for the Chunin Exams, and Shihui Aburame declined Ino Yamanaka's invitation to watch.
• Shihui Aburame told Shibi Aburame that someone planned to steal the Scroll of Seals and the Sword of the Thunder God, hoping their success would give the clan leverage and earn Ibiki Morino's favor.
• Uchiha Itachi found Sasuke Uchiha training and recognized his determination, while privately worrying about the Uchiha Clan's future.

Shihui Aburame made nectar wine for Tsunade, received chakra gloves from her, and practiced with them before the Chunin Ninja Exams. The next morning, Shizune left for the exams and Shihui went to wake Tsunade so he could make her breakfast.

• Shihui Aburame collected nectar wine from the Wine Sack Flower Gu and tended his plants before returning home.
• Tsunade took the wine, gave Shihui a pair of chakra gloves, and asked whether he would attend the Chunin Ninja Exams, but he said he was going home.
• Shihui tested the gloves while practicing Superhuman Strength and made a crater about a fifth larger than his previous one.
• Shizune left early for the Chunin Ninja Exams and left Shihui a note asking him to make Tsunade breakfast.
• Shihui woke Tsunade, who shut the door after realizing her kimono collar was open.

Idate Morino accepted Aoi Rokushō’s offer of power and stole the Sword of the Thunder God from the Hokage Building, but Ibiki Morino and the Aburame watched his meeting with Aoi. The chapter ended with Idate discovering his brother standing before him as Aoi fled with the sword.

• Hinata Hyuga tried to speak with Neji Hyuga about unity between the Main Family and Branch Family, but he rejected her and walked away.
• Idate Morino recalled Aoi Rokushō offering him forbidden jutsu and the Sword of the Thunder God in exchange for fleeing Konoha, and decided to act.
• Idate Morino disguised himself as Ibiki Morino, entered the Hokage Building, and stole the Sword of the Thunder God, but a trap in the Hokage’s office made him flee without the Scroll of Seals.
• Shibi Aburame told Ibiki Morino that Idate had stolen the sword, and Ibiki waited with him in the Forest of Death.
• Idate Morino met Aoi Rokushō and admitted he had taken only the sword; Aoi grabbed it and fled, while Ibiki appeared before Idate.

Ibiki Morino arrested his younger brother, Idate Morino, while Shibi Aburame and Shihui Aburame pursued the defector Aoi Rokushō. Shihui defeated Aoi and claimed the Sword of the Thunder God, leaving the Aburame elders impressed with his abilities.

• Ibiki Morino knocked out Idate Morino and agreed to stay behind while Shibi Aburame and Shihui Aburame went after Aoi Rokushō.
• Shihui Aburame caught Aoi Rokushō's lightning blade with his gauntleted hand and forced him back with his strength.
• Shihui Aburame used Moon Raiment Gu to cut through Aoi Rokushō's kunai and seriously wound him with two Moon Blades.
• Shihui Aburame severed Aoi Rokushō's right hand when he reached for the Sword of the Thunder God, and Shibi Aburame's Kikaichū swarm killed him.
• Shihui Aburame picked up the Sword of the Thunder God and praised its condition.

Shiki Aburame disposed of Aoi Rokushō and received the Sword of the Thunder God, then joined Hinata Hyuga and Ino Yamanaka at the Chunin Ninja Exams. Meanwhile, Sasuke Uchiha practiced his fire technique and showed Naruto Uzumaki some exercises, ending with Might Guy spinning from a horizontal bar.

• Shiki Aburame agreed that Shibi Aburame and Ibiki could report that Tsunade had given him the Sword of the Thunder God.
• Shiki Aburame went to the exam venue, where Hinata Hyuga fainted after bumping into him and later sat beside him with Ino Yamanaka.
• Shiki Aburame shared takoyaki with Hinata Hyuga and Ino Yamanaka while Sakura Haruno watched enviously.
• Sasuke Uchiha practiced jumping and produced a larger fireball than before, planning to defeat Neji Hyuga and Shiki Aburame.
• Naruto Uzumaki asked Sasuke Uchiha to demonstrate exercises, and Might Guy spun upside down from a horizontal bar.

Tsunade secured the Sword of the Thunder God and a mission reward for Shihui Aburame, then Shihui visited Hinata Hyuga at the Hyuga Clan compound. The visit ended with Hanabi Hyuga asking him for a lollipop, leaving Hyuga Hiashi puzzled.

• Tsunade questioned Shihui Aburame for hiding the Sword of the Thunder God from her, then promised to speak to Hiruzen Sarutobi about rewarding him.
• Tsunade pressured Hiruzen Sarutobi to recognize Shihui's role in stopping the Scroll of Seals and the Sword of the Thunder God from reaching outsiders.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to record the incident as an A-rank mission and pay five hundred thousand ryo, which Tsunade said she would keep safe for Shihui.
• Shihui Aburame visited the Hyuga Clan compound and greeted Hinata Hyuga while Hyuga Hiashi watched.
• Hanabi Hyuga ran up to Shihui Aburame and asked him for a lollipop, leaving Hyuga Hiashi confused.

Shihui Aburame gave Hinata Hyuga a secret Gu and urged her to challenge Neji Hyuga, then told Hyuga Hiashi that Hinata needed to eat more to build strength. The chapter left Shihui facing Hyuga Hiashi’s question about who would become the next Hokage.

• Shihui Aburame visited the Hyuga household and asked Hinata Hyuga whether Neji Hyuga had upset her.
• After Hinata explained that the Caged Bird Seal and Neji’s greater talent made her feel powerless, Shihui told her to fight him and gave her the White Boar Gu.
• Hinata’s achievement awarded Shihui the Fish Scale Gu, which he refined with the Hidden Stone Gu into the Rank Two Hidden Scale Gu.
• Shihui told Hyuga Hiashi that Hinata could eat at least nine bowls of rice per meal and explained that eating more could increase her physical energy.
• Hyuga Hiashi asked Shihui who he thought would become the next Hokage.

Shihui Aburame visited Hyuga Hiashi after giving Hinata Hyuga the White Boar Gu, then returned to Tsunade and learned that his mission against Aoi Rokushō had earned an A-rank record. After Hinata ate her fill and trained with her father, Hyuga Hiashi discovered that her strength had increased dramatically and realized Shihui had influenced her for weeks.

• Shihui Aburame asked Hyuga Hiashi whether he wanted Tsunade to become Hokage, and Hiashi asked him to pass along any new plans from her.
• Hyuga Hiashi ordered a large meal for Hinata Hyuga, who ate her fill and later told him that Shihui Aburame was amazing.
• Shihui Aburame returned to the old Senju residence, where Tsunade told him she had obtained the Sword of the Thunder God and classified his intervention against Aoi Rokushō as an A-rank mission.
• Hyuga Hiashi invited Hinata Hyuga to practice Gentle Fist after she finished eating, and she happily accepted.
• Hinata Hyuga struck with several times her previous strength, and Hyuga Hiashi learned she had been eating her fill since she first met Shihui Aburame three weeks earlier.

Shihui Aburame confirmed that mutated Kikaichū produced mutated offspring and received Second Child Gu, then spent the next morning with Hinata Hyuga after her father brought gifts to thank him. The chapter left Hinata blushing after Shihui told her to treat his home as her own.

• Shihui Aburame fed primeval essence to two mutated Kikaichū, which produced a mutated offspring with primeval essence of its own.
• Shihui Aburame unlocked Second Child Gu and planned to test the Kikaichū with Shino Aburame.
• Shihui Aburame limited Tsunade to one flask of wine a day, then brought her two bottles of nectar wine.
• Shihui Aburame found Might Guy, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sasuke Uchiha training together before returning home to cultivate.
• Hinata Hyuga arrived with gifts from Hyuga Hiashi, who had come to thank Shihui Aburame for looking after her.
• Shihui Aburame invited Hinata Hyuga to treat his home as her own, and she blushed intensely.

Mizuki arranged for his student Shinnosuke to injure students during Friday’s practical lesson, hoping to cause trouble for Umino Iruka. Hinata Hyuga decided to challenge Neji Hyuga, and Shihui Aburame invited her and Shino Aburame to train after school.

• Mizuki learned that Shihui Aburame, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno had scored full marks, then offered Umino Iruka another chance to teach a lesson.
• Umino Iruka announced that his class would have a practical combat lesson with Class 2-A on Friday, and Sasuke Uchiha looked forward to showing off his Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique.
• Mizuki told Shinnosuke to target the younger students during the lesson and promised to cover for him as long as nobody died.
• Hinata Hyuga asked Shihui Aburame if she could challenge Neji Hyuga during the practical lesson, and Shihui told her to make her own decision.
• Shihui Aburame invited Hinata Hyuga and Shino Aburame to train with him after school.

After school, Shihui Aburame trained with Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Shino Aburame, and Hinata Hyuga at his courtyard. He tested his powerful Kikaichū, gave one to Shino, and began sparring with Hinata to help her prepare to challenge Neji.

• Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha left school together, leaving Sakura Haruno stunned and Ino Yamanaka disappointed that Hinata Hyuga had gotten ahead of her again.
• Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha practiced physical training at Shihui Aburame’s courtyard while Shino Aburame and Hinata Hyuga arrived with Shihui.
• Shihui Aburame tested Shino Aburame’s three strongest Kikaichū against his own, whose attack quickly split a tree in two.
• Shihui Aburame gave Shino Aburame one of his Kikaichū to raise, then sent him away.
• Shihui Aburame told Hinata Hyuga that challenging Neji would be difficult and invited her to attack him for training.
• Hinata Hyuga activated her Byakugan and sparred with Shihui Aburame, who found himself under pressure from her Gentle Fist.

Shihui Aburame finished training Hinata Hyuga and walked her home before asking Tsunade to teach him basic taijutsu. Tsunade began their lesson with a stomp, and Shihui asked her to take off her shoes as they prepared to spar.

• Shihui Aburame ended Hinata Hyuga's sparring session, gave her water, and teased her while she rested in the cabin.
• Shihui Aburame walked Hinata Hyuga home after passing Naruto Uzumaki encouraging a tired Sasuke Uchiha on the road.
• Hinata Hyuga invited Shihui Aburame to dinner, but he declined and headed back to the old Senju residence.
• Shihui Aburame asked Tsunade to teach him basic taijutsu, and Tsunade agreed in exchange for another bottle of nectar wine each day.
• After dinner, Tsunade began training Shihui Aburame with a stomp, and he asked her to take off her shoes.

Shihui Aburame impressed Tsunade during an exhausting spar and recovered at her wooden house. The next day, Ino Yamanaka and Hinata Hyuga separately asked Shino Aburame what Shihui liked, and Shino recalled a strange project from two years earlier.

• Tsunade sparred with Shihui Aburame for an hour, then carried the exhausted boy back to the wooden house.
• Shizune offered to bathe Shihui Aburame, but he insisted on washing himself and went to bed early.
• Shino Aburame remembered that the new kikaichū Shihui had given him consumed all his chakra when he tried to feed it.
• Ino Yamanaka asked Shino what Shihui liked, and Shino said he enjoyed growing flowers and offered to take her to the Aburame Clan grounds.
• Hinata Hyuga asked Shino what Shihui liked so she could prepare him a gift, and Shino remembered a strange creation Shihui had called a man's romance.
• Shino told Hinata she would need to find a few more people to help make it.

Ino Yamanaka and Shino Aburame went to Shihui Aburame’s cabin, where Ino admired the Moon Orchids, while Shihui trained with Tsunade and used a Bronze Relic Gu to advance his cultivation. Later, Hinata Hyuga gathered friends at the cabin and asked them to help make something from her drawing.

• Ino Yamanaka stayed behind after school while Shino Aburame delayed their trip to the cabin so Shihui Aburame would not notice them.
• Ino Yamanaka and Shino Aburame reached the cabin, where Ino admired the Moon Orchids and saw Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki exercising nearby.
• Tsunade knocked Shihui Aburame down repeatedly during their sparring, and Shihui received a Bronze Relic Gu achievement reward for Sasuke Uchiha’s high jumps.
• Shihui Aburame used the Bronze Relic Gu to rise from rank one middle stage to rank one upper stage, then went to sleep.
• Hinata Hyuga returned to the cabin, gathered Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, Ino Yamanaka, and Shino Aburame, and asked them to help make the item shown in her drawing.

Sasuke Uchiha showed off his Great Fireball Technique to his parents and gained Uchiha Fugaku’s praise, while Shihui Aburame encouraged Hinata Hyuga before the practical combat class. The students gathered at the training ground, where Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Naruto Uzumaki’s progress, but the class’s battles had not yet begun.

• Naruto Uzumaki told Sasuke Uchiha he could not spar because he had extra training with Might Guy, and Sakura Haruno misunderstood his wording before Sasuke stormed off.
• Sasuke Uchiha demonstrated the Great Fireball Technique to Uchiha Mikoto and received praise from Uchiha Fugaku, boosting his confidence ahead of the coming fight.
• Shihui Aburame encouraged Hinata Hyuga to do her best against Neji Hyuga, and Hinata resolved not to disappoint him.
• At practical combat class, Naruto Uzumaki challenged Sasuke Uchiha over second place, and both boys said they intended to fight Neji Hyuga.
• Umino Iruka greeted the students at the training ground as Mizuki and Hiruzen Sarutobi secretly watched; Hiruzen monitored Naruto’s training progress.

Umino Iruka taught the students two Konoha-Style Taijutsu moves before allowing friendly sparring. Sasuke Uchiha decisively defeated Shinnosuke with a Shuriken Manipulation Technique, then challenged Neji Hyuga.

• Umino Iruka demonstrated the Powerful Elbow Strike and a powerful roundhouse kick, then gave the students time to practice.
• Shinnosuke asked Umino Iruka for permission to hold friendly sparring matches and invited the younger students to face him.
• Sasuke Uchiha stepped forward, and Shinnosuke charged at him using the Body Flicker Technique.
• Sasuke Uchiha deflected Shinnosuke's kunai and used threads to control them, striking Shinnosuke's limbs and trapping him by the neck.
• Sasuke Uchiha challenged Neji Hyuga, while Hiruzen Sarutobi praised Sasuke's Shuriken Manipulation Technique.

Naruto Uzumaki challenged Sasuke Uchiha and surprised the class by knocking him down with a powerful kick. Sasuke used Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique, but Naruto’s final attack knocked them both unconscious, leaving the match unresolved.

• Naruto Uzumaki interrupted Sasuke Uchiha’s challenge to Neji Hyuga and insisted on fighting him.
• Naruto Uzumaki gained the upper hand in their first exchange and sent Sasuke Uchiha flying with Konoha Whirlwind.
• Sasuke Uchiha stood back up and used Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique, which Naruto narrowly dodged, though it set his sleeve alight.
• Sasuke Uchiha charged Naruto with a kunai, but Naruto dodged and launched Konoha Rock-Shattering Rise.
• Sasuke Uchiha’s kunai struck Naruto, and Naruto’s falling body knocked Sasuke unconscious.

Naruto Uzumaki defeated Sasuke Uchiha, and Shihui Aburame healed him before the students continued their training. Hinata Hyuga challenged Neji Hyuga and surprised him with her strength, leaving their fight unresolved.

• Shihui Aburame used Medical Ninjutsu to confirm Sasuke Uchiha was fine, and Sasuke woke up after Naruto Uzumaki had defeated him.
• Umino Iruka called the class back to training, and Shihui Aburame encouraged Hinata Hyuga to step forward.
• Hinata Hyuga chose to challenge Neji Hyuga, drawing cheers from the students.
• Neji Hyuga activated his Byakugan and attacked Hinata Hyuga without holding back.
• Hinata Hyuga met Neji Hyuga's palm with her own, forcing him to retreat three steps and wonder how she had become so strong.

Hinata Hyuga fought Neji Hyuga with strength from the White Boar Gu, but Neji defeated her with the Gentle Fist's Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms. Shihui Aburame healed Hinata, challenged Neji's claims about fate, and left the onlookers stunned when one punch broke Neji's bone and sent him flying.

• Hinata Hyuga briefly matched Neji Hyuga in strength, but Shihui Aburame and Shikamaru Nara predicted Neji would adapt and win.
• Hinata Hyuga unlocked the Water Arrow Gu achievement, and Neji Hyuga used four strikes of Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms to defeat her.
• Shihui Aburame caught and healed Hinata Hyuga as Neji Hyuga declared her defeat inevitable and walked away.
• Shihui Aburame called Neji Hyuga weak, and Neji challenged the students to take him on before attacking Shihui.
• Shihui Aburame blocked Neji Hyuga's Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms with one punch, broke his bone, and blasted him away along with Umino Iruka.

Shihui Aburame defeated Neji Hyuga with Superhuman Strength, prompting Hiruzen Sarutobi to order Mizuki’s arrest. After class, Shihui invited everyone to Ichiraku Ramen, where Hinata Hyuga and Choji Akimichi ate enough to leave Ino Yamanaka worried about the bill.

• Shihui Aburame defeated Neji Hyuga and left with Hinata Hyuga as the students watched in shock.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered the Anbu to arrest Mizuki and investigate suspicious details surrounding a mission and a teammate’s death.
• Umino Iruka ended the practical combat class and took Neji Hyuga to the hospital.
• Shihui Aburame invited the students to Ichiraku Ramen, where Sakura Haruno declared she would learn Medical Ninjutsu.
• Hinata Hyuga and Choji Akimichi ate stacks of ramen bowls, leaving Ino Yamanaka worried she had not brought enough money.

After Hinata Hyuga showed her strength and appetite, Shihui Aburame reassured her and learned she wanted him to visit the wooden cabin. At home, Sasuke Uchiha sought comfort from his mother, while Neji Hyuga questioned whether fate could be changed and resolved to confront Shihui.

• Hinata Hyuga finished ten bowls of ramen, and Ino Yamanaka borrowed Shihui Aburame’s wallet to pay the bill.
• Shihui Aburame walked Hinata Hyuga home and agreed to visit the wooden cabin at noon the next day.
• Hyuga Hiashi praised Hinata Hyuga’s progress and said he would teach her the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.
• Uchiha Mikoto comforted Sasuke Uchiha after he told her about his defeat in sparring class.
• Neji Hyuga woke in the hospital, reflected on the Caged Bird Seal and Shihui Aburame’s strength, and planned to seek him out after leaving.

Shino Aburame raised the mutated kikaichū his brother gave him and discovered it could absorb an unfamiliar energy. Shihui Aburame identified the energy as natural energy, and Shino left eager to train the insects with it.

• Shino Aburame fed chakra to his mutated kikaichū and told Shibi Aburame that Shihui Aburame had beaten Neji Hyuga with Superhuman Strength.
• Shino Aburame noticed the kikaichū absorbing energy that was not chakra and decided to ask his brother about it.
• Shizune offered to examine Shihui Aburame, then learned he had injured Neji Hyuga during combat class.
• Shino Aburame showed Shihui Aburame that the mutated kikaichū absorbed natural energy when it grew hungry.
• Shihui Aburame explained natural energy to Shino Aburame, who went home excited to train his kikaichū with it.

Shihui Aburame encouraged Sasuke Uchiha to test his chakra nature and accepted a handmade Rider belt from Hinata Hyuga, who shared a meal with him. When Neji Hyuga came to discuss the Caged Bird Seal, Shihui challenged his belief that the Main Family alone was to blame and said the world’s systems were at fault.

• Shihui Aburame told Sasuke Uchiha to get Chakra Paper and test his chakra nature, arguing that he should learn whichever release made him stronger.
• Hinata Hyuga gave Shihui Aburame a handmade Decade Rider belt, then joined him for a spicy meal and explained that money was not a sincere enough gift.
• Shihui Aburame pinched Hinata Hyuga’s cheek, and Neji Hyuga arrived to speak with him about the Caged Bird Seal.
• Neji Hyuga blamed the Main Family and the seal for his father’s death, but Shihui Aburame said the world’s systems, including the Will of Fire and the Caged Bird Seal, were wrong.

Shihui Aburame persuaded Neji Hyuga that the Caged Bird Seal was a jutsu that could eventually be undone and recruited him into a group seeking to correct the Will of Fire. The chapter ended with Neji accepting the codename Azure Lord and Shihui receiving a healing Gu worm as a reward.

• Shihui Aburame challenged Neji Hyuga to consider whether the Caged Bird Seal and Konoha's practices truly upheld the Will of Fire.
• Shihui argued that the Caged Bird Seal was Sealing Jutsu that could be broken by assembling gifted specialists, and Neji began to see hope of escaping his fate.
• Neji agreed to join Shihui's plan and committed himself to getting stronger.
• Shihui gave Neji a manifesto for the group Heavenly Drive and named him Azure Lord.
• Shihui received the Nine Leaf Vitality Grass, a Rank Two Gu worm with healing effects, after completing the "A single spark" achievement.