Recaps

Hiruzen confronted Danzo over the massacre of Uchiha and the brutal training of children, but accepted that the operation had already happened. Danzo concealed Shunren’s performance and dismissed him as insignificant, while Hiruzen left the matter alone.

• Hiruzen berated Danzo for going too far, but Danzo defended his methods as necessary for Konoha’s future wars.
• Danzo reported that his forces had killed all thirty-five Uchiha on the list except Uchiha Hezi, whom they left alive after she saw Sand Ninja.
• Danzo described the children selected for training and named ten, including Asuma Sarutobi, Might Guy, Rin Nohara, and Obito Uchiha.
• Hiruzen stopped Danzo from tampering with Obito and asked about Shunren, whom Danzo falsely claimed was an unremarkable child.
• Danzo hid his interest in Shunren and his strong performance in the survival exercise, and Hiruzen chose not to pursue the matter.

One year after the attack that turned the Uchiha and Sand Ninja against each other, Shunren continued training his Yin Release projection and sword skills. He improved his control and practiced cutting falling leaves, still teaching himself swordsmanship without a formal instructor.

• Konoha’s authorities used Root Anbu evidence to blame the Sand Ninja for the attack, deepening hostility between the Sand Ninja and the Uchiha.
• Shunren, Kurenai, and Shizune kept silent about what they knew after Anbu warned them, while Shunren focused on surviving the approaching war.
• After a year of training, Shunren projected Kanshou and Bakuya and could maintain them for at least five minutes.
• Shunren considered Zangetsu a last-resort weapon because projecting it and using Getsuga Tenshō consumed most or all of his Chakra.
• Shunren practiced cutting falling leaves with his twin swords, honing basic strikes on his own.

Shunren took Konoha's early graduation exam and passed by using Genjutsu to imitate the required techniques. After receiving his Genin certificate and Forehead Protector, he spotted an Anbu watching him, suggesting that Danzo's attention had reached him.

• Kurenai and Shizune passed their exams and worried that Shunren might fail because he could not use Ninjutsu.
• The proctor told Shunren the school had arranged for him to pass by using Ninjutsu or Genjutsu to create clones.
• Shunren used the Mirage Technique to imitate the Clone, Transformation, and Substitution Techniques.
• The proctor passed Shunren and gave him his Genin certificate and Forehead Protector.
• Shunren spotted an Anbu watching him, but the figure disappeared when he turned around.

Kurenai Yuhi, Shizune Kato, and Shunren became Team 9 under Jonin instructor Inoichi Yamanaka. After introductions, Inoichi prepared to test their abilities, leaving the team poised to begin training.

• Kurenai Yuhi, Shizune Kato, and Shunren were assigned to Team 9 and met their Jonin instructor, Inoichi Yamanaka.
• Inoichi introduced himself and warned Shunren to behave like a gentleman around his two female teammates.
• Kurenai, Shizune, and Shunren each introduced themselves, and Inoichi recognized Kurenai as Shinku's descendant.
• Inoichi formally welcomed the three students to Team 9, then set an alarm clock in a tree and asked them to show what they could do.

Inoichi began Team 9’s practical combat assessment, and Shunren, Kurenai, and Shizune coordinated their concealed positions and roles. Shunren’s sword attack pushed Inoichi onto the defensive and broke his Kunai, just as Inoichi began forming Hand Seals.

• Inoichi allowed the students to use weapons and started Team 9’s combat assessment.
• Shunren, Kurenai, and Shizune hid separately, preparing a coordinated attack with Shunren in close combat and the others providing support.
• Shunren attacked Inoichi with Shuriken and then rushed him with punches and kicks, but Inoichi easily dodged and blocked his strikes.
• Shunren projected Kanshou and Bakuya and forced Inoichi to defend himself with Kunai as their blades clashed.
• Shunren broke Inoichi’s Kunai with a crossed sword strike, and Inoichi began forming Hand Seals.

Inoichi tested Shunren, Kurenai, and Shizune in combat, demonstrating the harsh choices ninja faced on the battlefield. When Inoichi forced Shunren to choose between retreating and protecting his teammate, Shunren unleashed Yin Release: Projection and materialized a black greatsword.

• Inoichi immobilized Shunren with the Body Paralysis Technique, but Kurenai and a hidden ally attacked with Genjutsu and a barrage of shuriken, freeing Shunren to fight again.
• Inoichi reflected Kurenai's Genjutsu back at her, and Shunren retreated after realizing his swords could not overcome Inoichi alone.
• Inoichi threatened to attack Kurenai to test Shunren's judgment, and Shunren chose to charge in rather than abandon her.
• Shizune rushed in to support Shunren, but Inoichi used the Body Flicker Technique to knock her down and warned them about battlefield realities.
• Shunren released immense mental energy and used Yin Release: Projection to materialize a black greatsword.

Team 9 passed Inoichi’s combat test, though Shunren’s powerful Getsuga Tenshō missed after Inoichi used his Mind Body Disturbance Technique. The next day, the newly formed team set out on its first C-rank mission to eliminate thieves in the northern mountains, with Shunren planning to lead the fighting.

• Shunren unleashed a powerful Getsuga Tenshō, but Inoichi diverted his blade with the Mind Body Disturbance Technique, leaving Shunren exhausted and defeated.
• Inoichi judged Shunren, Kurenai, and Shizune to have passed the test and was especially impressed by Shunren’s power and potential.
• The next morning, Team 9 gathered at Konoha Gate, where Inoichi checked on Shunren and learned that Shizune’s medicine had helped him recover overnight.
• Inoichi explained that the team’s first mission was to wipe out a band of thieves in the northern mountains for the Land of Fire Chamber of Commerce.
• Shunren warned Kurenai not to act impulsively and said he would take the vanguard while Kurenai and Shizune provided support.

Kurenai and Shizune fought a bandit gang to train their skills, but the bandits blindsided them with irritating powder. Shunren rushed in to help as Inoichi questioned whether he could kill.

• Kurenai and Shizune confronted the bandits while Shunren and Inoichi watched from the side.
• Kurenai used Genjutsu: Mirage Shadow and Taijutsu to overwhelm the bandits, ignoring Shizune's warnings.
• The bandit leader threw gray-black powder into Kurenai's face, and Shizune downed him with a Senbon before other bandits blinded her with the same powder.
• Inoichi criticized the girls for lacking experience and asked Shunren whether he could bring himself to kill.
• Shunren charged in and used Yin Release: Projection.

Shunren rescued Kurenai and Shizune by slaughtering the bandits who had attacked them. After the last young bandit tried to kill him, Shunren used the Hell Viewing Technique to trap him in a vision of despair.

• Kurenai lost her sight to the bandits’ blinding powder, and a bandit knocked away Shizune’s medicine.
• Shunren appeared and cut off the bandit leader’s arm, then killed him with Kanshou and Bakuya.
• Shunren used his speed and Mirage Technique to kill the bandits as they fled and fought back.
• Shunren spared the last young bandit, who seized a sword and cut off Shunren’s outstretched hand.
• Shunren’s severed hand returned to his wrist, and he cast the Hell Viewing Technique on the young bandit.

After Team 9 completed its bandit-subjugation mission, Shunren recovered from his first experience of killing. Inoichi then offered to teach him the Yamanaka Clan’s Mind’s Eye and Mind Transmission techniques.

• Shunren used Genjutsu: Hell Viewing Technique to make a young bandit kill himself, completing the mission.
• Kurenai and Shizune vomited at the sight of the battlefield, while Inoichi told them to overcome their reactions and ordered them to handle the bodies.
• Inoichi took Shunren to a quiet hilltop, where Shunren composed himself before reporting that he was all right.
• Inoichi explained that Shunren was not ready for the Mind Body Disturbance Technique, then described the Mind’s Eye as a way to detect and track spiritual energy.
• Inoichi introduced the Mind Transmission Technique, which let two people exchange information directly through their spiritual energy.

Shunren trained in sensing techniques with Inoichi, learning to locate targets but struggling to transmit information to multiple teammates. After resting and recovering, he was left with a new problem when Inoichi received a coded message from Konoha announcing an A-rank emergency mission.

• Shunren used Mind's Eye to locate and hit Inoichi's Shadow Clone from 367 meters away.
• Inoichi tested Shunren's ability to distinguish allies from enemies, then Shunren tried using Mind Transmission Technique to share information with multiple teammates.
• Shunren's mental energy ran out during the transmission, forcing him to sever the network and stop training.
• Shunren regulated his Chakra for several hours and noticed that his mental energy had become slightly easier to control.
• Inoichi caught Konoha's emergency messenger hawk, deciphered its blank scroll, and discovered an A-rank emergency mission.

Shunren, Kurenai, and Shizune accepted an urgent A-Rank mission to reinforce Team 8, which had encountered a large Stone ninja force near the Land of Fire’s northwestern border. At the front, Minato left Kakashi in command while he went alone to scout enemy territory, worried about the weaknesses of Kakashi, Obito, and Rin.

• Shunren returned to Kurenai and Shizune after they had cleaned up the battlefield, and Inoichi contacted them with an urgent A-Rank reinforcement mission.
• Kurenai, Shizune, and Shunren each chose to join Inoichi despite the danger, and Team 9 set out for the northwestern border.
• Inoichi sent the mission details: Minato’s Team 8 had discovered numerous Stone ninja during a border patrol and requested reinforcements.
• Minato announced that he would scout the Land of Earth’s border alone and ordered Kakashi to lead Team 8 while he was away.
• Obito protested Kakashi’s appointment, while Rin worried about Minato’s safety; Minato left Kakashi with authority to make independent decisions and hoped the reinforcements would arrive soon.

A scarlet-eyed force compelled Stone ninja captain Gari to attack a civilian village in the Land of Fire, where Obito, Kakashi, and Rin encountered the squad. The Stone ninja began their assault, and Gari and three others activated a village-wide explosive formation.

• An aged voice ordered someone in a dark cavern to start a war, and Gari later led four Stone ninja toward a border village under orders to attack it.
• Obito attacked the Stone squad with an Explosive Tag despite Kakashi and Rin urging caution, then fought the ninja who emerged from beneath him and broke his arm.
• Kakashi used the Body Flicker Technique to intercept Shuriken aimed at Obito, while Gari sent three teammates onward to carry out the mission.
• The four Stone ninja led by Gari entered the village as civilians fled, then formed a large barrier formula across it.
• Gari and the others activated Explosion Release: Landmine Destruction Formation, creating a huge explosive seal over the village.

Inoichi sensed the Stone ninja’s destruction of a civilian village and rushed there, while Gari ordered his depleted squad to stay and face him. Nearby, Kakashi, Rin, and Obito fought another Stone ninja, who unleashed Explosion Release: Landmine Fist against Kakashi’s layered defenses.

• Inoichi used Mind’s Eye to sense that the Stone ninja had destroyed a village and killed all its civilians.
• Gari ordered his four Stone ninja to wait for Inoichi despite their depleted Chakra and the risk of battle.
• Inoichi identified the attackers as members of the Stone Ninja Explosion Corps and hurried toward the village.
• Obito and Rin condemned the Stone ninja’s attack on civilians while Kakashi continued fighting one of them.
• Kakashi blocked the Stone ninja’s attacks with Earth-Style Wall and Water Formation Wall, but the enemy struck the defenses with Explosion Release: Landmine Fist.

Inoichi used his Yamanaka techniques to turn the Stone Ninja against one another, but Gari exploited the techniques’ backlash to kill his own teammates and badly injure Inoichi. As Gari challenged the weakened Inoichi, Shunren, Kurenai, and Shizune arrived.

• Inoichi used a Shadow Clone and the Mind Body Switch Technique to take control of the sword-wielding Stone Ninja, then used the Mind Body Disturbance Technique to redirect an Earth Dragon Bullet at another enemy.
• Gari used Explosion Release: Landmine Fist to kill the Stone Ninja under Inoichi’s control, causing mental backlash that injured Inoichi.
• Gari struck down a second teammate while Inoichi struggled to withdraw his mental energy, leaving Inoichi gravely weakened.
• Gari killed the last Stone Ninja with a Kunai and dismissed him as a worthless piece on the board.
• Inoichi told Gari he still had teammates, and Shunren, Kurenai, and Shizune arrived.

Shunren used projected weapons and Inoichi’s mental guidance to fight Gari, a Stone Jonin with Explosion Release. After slowing Gari with an ice arrow, Shunren unleashed Zangetsu’s Getsuga Tenshō, while Gari’s strange words hinted at a connection to Shunren’s Yin Release.

• Shunren learned Gari’s abilities from Inoichi and told Kurenai and Shizune to escort Inoichi to safety.
• Shunren projected Ezreal’s wrist bow and attacked Gari with Mystic Shots, then escaped a counterattack with Arcane Shift as the amulet broke.
• Shunren projected Ashe’s ice bow and, guided by Inoichi’s warnings, struck Gari’s thigh with a frost arrow during a barrage.
• Shunren projected Zangetsu as Gari’s limbs slowed from the frost arrow’s effect.
• Gari murmured that Shunren had inherited his power of Yin Release, and Shunren struck with Getsuga Tenshō.

Shunren defeated the Stone ninja Gari with Getsuga Tenshō and left him alive for Inoichi to interrogate. Shunren and Kurenai rushed to aid Team 8, where Kakashi was near collapse after turning the battle against a Stone ninja.

• Shunren struck Gari with Getsuga Tenshō, leaving him gravely injured and unconscious.
• Shunren severed Gari’s remaining hand and foot, and Inoichi ordered Shizune to keep him alive for questioning.
• Inoichi sent Shunren and Kurenai to support Kakashi, Obito, and Rin against another Stone ninja.
• The Stone ninja’s worry over Gari distracted him, allowing Kakashi to wound him and turn the fight into an even match.
• Obito and Rin collapsed from exhaustion, and Kakashi reached his limit before an unfamiliar voice echoed in his mind.

Inoichi began extracting information from the dying Gari and found a sealed barrier protecting his mind. Meanwhile, Kakashi and Shunren carried out a coordinated trap that ended with Shunren beheading the Stone Ninja.

• Shizune warned Inoichi that Gari was near death, so Inoichi used the Mind Reading Technique despite his injuries.
• Inoichi discovered a sealing barrier in Gari's mental world and forced his spiritual energy against it.
• Kakashi exhausted himself fighting the Stone Ninja, while Obito and Rin were unable to help.
• Shunren and Kakashi used a planned feint and Genjutsu to trick the Stone Ninja into exposing himself.
• Kurenai immobilized the Stone Ninja with the Tree Binding Technique, allowing Shunren to decapitate him with Kakashi's White Fang blade.

After Konoha defeated the Stone shinobi who attacked a civilian village, Inoichi tried to uncover the reason for their suspicious behavior by invading Gari’s mind. A hidden mental trap crushed Inoichi’s consciousness, and Shunren recognized the attack as a terrifying genjutsu.

• In the Senra cavern, Madara learned that the plan to provoke conflict between Konoha and the Stone shinobi was succeeding, and asked about a battle record and a potential proxy.
• Shunren and the Konoha shinobi returned to the village after defeating the Stone attackers, while Inoichi began interrogating the captured Gari.
• Inoichi broke through thirteen mental barriers and found Gari’s brain pierced by mysterious black rods, which suggested a powerful Yin Release technique.
• As Gari neared death, Inoichi reached into his manifested brain to seize the hidden intelligence, but a giant blue hand grabbed and crushed his consciousness.
• Inoichi collapsed, bleeding from all seven orifices, and Shunren suspected that a vicious genjutsu trap had attacked him.

Minato divided his team after learning that Inoichi had been trapped by Genjutsu, sending some back to Konoha while keeping others at the border. In Iwagakure, the Tsuchikage suspected someone was provoking a conflict with Konoha, then learned that Kurogane had led five armored units into the Land of Fire using false orders.

• Minato recalled how Stone Ninja captives repeatedly detonated Explosive Tags to avoid interrogation and learned that the Explosion Corps had infiltrated the area.
• After hearing that Inoichi had fallen into a Genjutsu trap, Minato ordered Obito, Rin, and Kurenai to escort him to Konoha and report to Lord Hokage.
• Minato kept Kakashi, Shunren, and Shizune at the border, and Shunren realized that Minato had made a pragmatic decision about which team members to send and retain.
• The Tsuchikage learned that Gari's squad had attacked a civilian village without authorization and suspected someone was trying to provoke a war with Konoha.
• The Tsuchikage ordered the border forces not to act rashly, but a messenger reported that Kurogane had led five armored units into the Land of Fire under false orders.

Minato deployed a sensory barrier and sent Kakashi, Shunren, and Shizune to defend a river against the approaching Stone Ninja. The Stone Ninja penetrated the barrier, but Minato used the Flying Thunder God Technique to appear above them and catch them by surprise.

• Minato explained that his barrier could detect Chakra signatures within ten kilometers and assigned Kakashi, Shunren, and Shizune to guard the eastern approach.
• Kakashi divided the team's duties, sending Shunren to watch from a hill, Shizune to set traps along the riverbank, and himself to confront enemies at the river.
• Captain Kurogane led a twenty-five-person Stone Ninja force across the border on a secret mission, and three sensory ninja detected Konoha's barrier ahead.
• The Stone Ninja sensory team shielded their Chakra signatures long enough to penetrate six kilometers into the barrier before Minato detected them.
• The Stone Ninja repeatedly misjudged Minato's location as he used space-time movement, then looked up and found him directly above them.

Minato attacked a Stone ninja force with the Flying Thunder God Technique, killing many before discovering that several enemies had Steel Release and had trapped him with space-time-sealing pillars. Surrounded by the Steel Torrent, he formed a Rasengan and hoped Kakashi and the others could manage without him.

• Minato ambushed the Stone ninja with a Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique, killing seven Chunin, then used the Flying Thunder God Technique to kill another ninja.
• Minato fought off the Stone ninja's Taijutsu and Earth Release attacks, countering them with Water Release, Explosive Tags, and the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Minato realized three Stone ninja had escaped while walls blocked his view, and the remaining enemies trapped him inside an Earth Flow Labyrinth.
• Minato sent five Shadow Clones after the marked Stone ninja, but they revealed Steel Release armor and survived point-blank Explosive Tags.
• Four Stone ninja summoned iron pillars that sealed off space-time, while four others used Steel Release to form weapons; Minato gathered Chakra and prepared a Rasengan.

Shunren detected three Stone Ninja Jonin approaching and tried to withdraw with Shizune, but Kakashi insisted on fighting them. Kakashi’s plan forced Shunren to launch a surprise attack, and his Getsuga Tenshō threatened a Stone Ninja who defended himself with Steel Release.

• Kurogane ordered two Stone Ninja Jonin to split off, while one of them questioned the suspicious mission and Kurogane secretly gripped a kunai.
• Shunren sensed three Stone Ninja Jonin across the river and alerted Kakashi and Shizune through Mind Transmission Technique.
• Kakashi ordered battle plan C and prepared to face the three Jonin alone, but Shunren cut off their connection and urged Shizune to flee.
• Kakashi blocked Shizune and confronted Shunren as the Stone Ninja arrived, leaving them no chance to escape.
• Kakashi told Shunren to use his strongest attack, and Shunren used Arcane Shift to appear beside a Stone Ninja and strike with Getsuga Tenshō.
• The Stone Ninja raised his arms and used Steel Release: Iron Man Technique to defend against Shunren’s attack.

Shunren’s Getsuga Tenshō badly wounded a Stone Ninja Jonin but failed to kill him, forcing Shunren, Shizune, and Kakashi to retreat. Kurogane pursued them, cleared the forest with Earth Release, and attacked; Shunren saved Shizune from a steel-enhanced Kunai at the last moment.

• Shunren’s Getsuga Tenshō shattered the Stone Ninja Jonin’s Steel Release armor and left him gravely wounded, but Shunren realized he lacked the Chakra to finish the fight.
• Shunren sent a warning to Shizune and Kakashi, and the three fled; Kakashi defended trading their lives for an enemy Jonin, while Shunren criticized his plan.
• A Stone Ninja medical-nin treated the wounded Jonin as Kurogane pursued the fleeing team, and Shunren detected the pursuers closing in.
• Shunren ordered Shizune to throw smoke bombs, but Kurogane used Earth Release: Mobile Core to flatten the surrounding forest.
• Kakashi raised an Earth-Style Wall, but Kurogane’s Steel Release-enhanced Kunai pierced it and overwhelmed Shizune’s defense.
• Shunren used Yin Release: Projection to appear before Shizune and knock away the Kunai aimed at her face.

Shunren recognized that Kurogane knew about his powers and suspected the man was controlling a Jonin through a Dōjutsu, but Kurogane rejected his offer to stop fighting. Shizune retreated to prepare traps while Shunren and Kakashi faced Kurogane, who knocked away both of Shunren’s swords and sent Kakashi flying with a powerful kick.

• Shunren deduced that Kurogane was using a Dōjutsu to control a Jonin and offered to keep his identity secret if they stopped fighting, but Kurogane refused.
• Kurogane revealed that Shunren was already part of his plan and hinted at a gift involving Shunren’s eyes and a curse seal near his heart.
• Shunren used the Mind Transmission Technique to tell Shizune to retreat and prepare traps along their route, and she agreed.
• Kurogane appeared before Kakashi and attacked him with a transformed steel spike while Shunren slashed at him.
• Kurogane knocked both swords from Shunren’s hands, and Kakashi counterattacked with the White Fang Blade.
• Shunren warned Kakashi of Kurogane’s spinning kick, but Kurogane struck Kakashi’s blade and sent him flying.