Episode Summaries

Konohamaru, Udon and Moegi interview Neji about a story related to Naruto for the Academy newspaper, and Neji acquiesces. During the final rounds of the Chūnin Exams, Sunagakure and Otogakure teamed up in an effort to destroy Konohagakure. Neji was told by his grandfather that two Kumo Spectators decided to take advantage of the chaos by using the opportunity to kidnap Hinata, all in a bid to acquire the Byakugan. Tenten and Kiba joined Neji as well, Kiba not trusting Neji to actually save Hinata since Neji was known for looking down on her.

After triggering a trap that produced mud wolves, Tenten stayed back to deal with them while Neji and Kiba went ahead. After locating Hinata and the Kumo shinobi, Kiba and Akamaru used their Passing Fang to interfere; Kiba picked up Hinata and dropped a Smoke Bomb before disappearing. As the Kumo shinobi chased Kiba and Hinata, Kiba turned around and used Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms on one of them, knocking him out. Kiba was actually Neji, who had used the Transformation Technique. Sekiei, the remaining Kumo-nin, used his Earth Release: Earth Flow Wave to avoid being struck by Neji's Gentle Fist and attempted to finish him off with his Violent Heavenly Earth Needle technique; however, his attack was blocked by Hiashi's Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven.

Hiashi told Neji that he had left the village despite what was going on because both Hinata and Neji were precious to him. Team Ebisu is surprised to hear the story, unaware that such a crisis had happened during the Konoha Crush. Neji divulges that sometime after, the two Kumo-nin were apprehended and the situation was dealt internally with Kumogakure to avoid a conflict. The three genin pester Neji to explain what Naruto had to do with the story, and Neji tells them that if Naruto hadn't changed his perspective on life and destiny during their fight, then he may not have agreed to go save Hinata. However, they are unsatisfied with the story and Neji tells them to go ask somebody else for a story about Naruto.