Recaps

Shūichi joined Tetsuya on a visit to Izuna’s Theatre Troupe to find out why Tetsuya was so happy, but Izuna had Setsuna take Shūichi away to learn Kyudo. Izuna and Tetsuya discussed the Hyuga Clan’s cooperation, and Izuna left Tetsuya protesting his unwanted hug.

• Shūichi asked Tetsuya why he was happy, and Tetsuya invited him to visit Izuna the next morning.
• Shūichi arrived at the Theatre Troupe and watched Izuna with the determination to find his weakness.
• Izuna told Setsuna to beat Shūichi up and teach him Kyudo, so Setsuna carried the surprised boy away.
• Tetsuya said the Hyuga Clan accepted Izuna’s arrangements, and Izuna apologized for being too strong.
• Izuna declared that he acknowledged Tetsuya as Akari’s fiancé and asked him for a hug, which Tetsuya refused.

Shūichi was forced into Kyudo training under Uchiha Setsuna after being beaten for directing killing intent at Izuna. Meanwhile, envoys from the four countries met with the Land of Fire to question Konoha’s Special Administrative Region status, and Fujiwara defended the arrangement by pointing out that Hashirama and Madara could not be restrained by denying them autonomy.

• Uchiha Setsuna beat Shūichi for directing killing intent at Izuna, then ordered him to become his Kyudo student.
• Setsuna made Shūichi introduce himself as a member of the Theatre Troupe and began teaching him how to observe people unnoticed.
• The envoys from the Land of Wind, Land of Lightning, and Land of Water arrived in the Land of Fire, joining the Land of Earth's Ishimi.
• Fujiwara met the four envoys and heard their concerns about the Land of Fire granting Konoha special autonomy.
• Ishimi, the Land of Lightning's commander, and the Land of Wind's envoy questioned whether Konoha's power and autonomy threatened the Land of Fire.
• Fujiwara argued that Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha could seize power regardless of the autonomy granted, prompting the Land of Wind's envoy to ask whether the Land of Fire had surrendered its own autonomy.

At a diplomatic meeting, Fujiwara rejected the other countries’ challenge over whether Konoha’s Ninja would fight, arguing that the Land of Fire had no reason to wage war unless attacked. After trade negotiations began, Ōnoki met young Ninja from the other villages in the capital, where they discussed their countries’ treatment of Ninja.

• Ishimi questioned whether Konoha’s Ninja would fight for the Land of Fire, and Fujiwara argued that the Land of Fire did not need war and would not start one.
• Ishimi and the other envoys left the meeting, then softened their approach over the following days and began negotiating trade with Fujiwara.
• The envoys required Ninja to stay out of the meeting room, and Ninja from all four countries complied.
• Ōnoki explored the Land of Fire’s capital and met A of Kumogakure at an ironware shop.
• Ōnoki and A joined a quiet Ninja from Sunagakure and a silent Ninja from Kirigakure for tea.
• A asked what the Land of Fire intended by granting Ninja autonomy, and Ōnoki said such matters were not for them to decide.

Ōnoki refused to reveal information about the Land of Earth during a tense meeting with Yotsuki Ai, Mizuno Kazuhiko, and Satada Jirō, then wandered east through the city. He overheard townspeople describing Konoha’s rapid construction and lively streets, and questioned their claim that Ninja were ordinary people.

• Yotsuki Ai tried to draw information from Ōnoki, while Mizuno Kazuhiko and Satada Jirō also probed him about the other villages.
• Ai challenged Mizuno and Satada to reveal their names, and they identified themselves before leaving the teahouse.
• Ōnoki told Ai he would remember him, then left and decided to explore the east side of the city rather than return to the guesthouse.
• Ōnoki passed through the quiet pleasure district and wandered among shops on the city’s eastern streets.
• Ōnoki overheard two men say Konoha was being built quickly and had become lively, with Ninja greeting one another as ordinary villagers.

Ōnoki found a finely crafted crow Netsuke in the street and took it with him, intending to return it if its owner appeared. A Hong and Aotsugu recognized that the Netsuke had left Izumoya of its own accord and accepted that it had gone to where it belonged.

• Ōnoki felt insulted when he overheard two ordinary men laughing and calling people like him ordinary.
• Ōnoki found a black peach wood crow Netsuke with a red gemstone eye and a pentagram carved underneath, then put it away.
• A Hong searched around the teahouse for the missing high-grade Netsuke while Aotsugu followed her out.
• Aotsugu told A Hong that the Netsuke had probably found what it was looking for, and she recalled that it had mysteriously appeared in Izumoya's storeroom.
• A Hong and Aotsugu returned to Izumoya, hoping the Netsuke would find a good home.

Ōnoki explored the eastern part of the city, left a found netsuke with the innkeeper, and spent his free time returning to a ramen stall. Seven days later, Ishimi announced that the Land of Fire’s Daimyo and his family would travel with the delegation to Konoha, the destination Ōnoki had been waiting to reach.

• Ōnoki toured the eastern part of the city, admired a blacksmith’s sword, and ate deluxe ramen at a stall.
• Ōnoki brought a bird netsuke he had found to the innkeeper, who told him to keep it because of their fated connection.
• Ōnoki hid the netsuke in his luggage and served as a guard while Ishimi negotiated with Land of Fire officials.
• Ōnoki repeatedly visited the ramen stall and listened as its owner described his dream of making unforgettable ramen.
• Seven days later, Ishimi announced that the Land of Fire’s Daimyo and his family would accompany the delegation to Konoha.

Ōnoki ate one last bowl of ramen before leaving for Konoha and learned that the stall owner planned to follow the Daimyo’s procession there to open a shop. The owner’s acceptance of Ninja unsettled Ōnoki, who then agreed to listen to a Biwa Hōshi performance to learn why the journey had become common knowledge.

• Ōnoki told the ramen stall owner that he was leaving for Konoha the next morning and might never eat there again.
• The owner asked whether Ninja earned much money, then said he wanted to follow the Daimyo’s procession to Konoha and open a shop.
• Ōnoki warned the owner that Ninja were frightening, but the owner said they were people too and had no choice but to live by fighting and killing.
• Ōnoki remembered how Ninja were feared and shunned in his homeland, and he was struck by the owner’s words.
• The owner decided to open a shop in Konoha and told Ōnoki that a performance had spread the news; he urged him to listen to a Biwa Hōshi after finishing his ramen.

Ōnoki went to hear a Biwa Hōshi perform and was stunned when the musician sang about Ninja as tools who went to their deaths. The crowd mourned the Ninja in the song, leaving Ōnoki moved and conflicted by their sympathy.

• Ōnoki climbed onto a roof to watch a Biwa Hōshi perform the Eight-Boat Leap from The Tale of the Heike.
• The Biwa Hōshi unexpectedly sang about Higa Shintarō and the Higa clansmen sacrificing themselves as Ninja.
• Ōnoki expected the crowd to reject the song, but a woman wept and others sighed with sorrow and regret.
• Ōnoki realized the lyrics described the Ninja’s lives as he knew them and felt both pain and happiness that the crowd pitied them.

Wakako traveled with Daimyo Yuan Yusheng toward Konoha, excited to see Uchiha Izuna and Hinata Rei. On the road, she questioned Uchiha Takashi about the village and Rei while Yuan Yusheng reflected on how her newfound enthusiasm had changed her, and the procession continued toward its destination.

• The Fire Daimyo's procession departed the city with Yuan Yusheng and Wakako traveling in a palanquin, while Ōnoki watched from the rear among the guards.
• Wakako excitedly told Yuan Yusheng she wanted to see Shinrei and little Rei again, then asked Takashi how quickly a ninja could reach their destination; Yuan Yusheng refused to let her travel by ninja.
• Yuan Yusheng recalled how Wakako had become more outspoken after seeing Uchiha Izuna's production of The Tale of the Heike and had repeatedly sent Takashi on errands for Hinata Rei.
• Wakako asked Takashi about Konoha and Rei's home, but he did not know where she lived, prompting Yuan Yusheng to defend him.
• Yuan Yusheng told Wakako to stop asking questions and remove her heavy twelve-layer robe, and she obediently began taking it off as the journey continued.

As Konoha prepared for the Daimyo’s delayed visit, Izuna found one more improvement to work on and rushed off. Madara, disturbed by Tobirama’s unusual attentiveness toward Izuna, took Tobirama aside for a private conversation.

• Izuna complained about paperwork and ate Madara’s Three-Colored Dango while Tobirama warned him about cavities.
• Hashirama announced that the Daimyo’s party had set out after seven days of talks and would arrive in three or four days.
• Izuna realized there was another improvement to make, grabbed a document, and hurried off to handle it.
• Tobirama gathered the documents Izuna had left scattered across his desk, prompting Madara to ask him for a private conversation.
• Madara and Tobirama left together as Hashirama warned Tobirama to run if Madara threatened him.

Madara confronted Tobirama about his changed attitude toward Izuna, and Hashirama explained that Tobirama was conflicted after meeting his other self. Madara then arranged for Tobirama to lead Konoha’s defense force, and Tobirama accepted the assignment.

• Madara accused Tobirama of being responsible for Izuna’s death and demanded that he stay away from Izuna, but Tobirama said he was only acting as the Tobirama Izuna remembered.
• Madara told Hashirama that Tobirama had been treating Izuna kindly, and Hashirama said Tobirama was conflicted because of his other self’s request and had been drawn to Izuna.
• Madara proposed a rotating defense force staffed by every clan and nominated Tobirama as its captain, arguing that he was the best person to manage Konoha’s defenses before foreign delegations arrived.
• Tobirama returned to the office, read the deployment plan, realized he was expected to captain the force, and agreed to prepare the staffing plan by the next day.
• Hashirama silently challenged Madara to fight after work, and Madara eagerly accepted.

Madara and Izuna reunited after Izuna spent the day wandering around the village and discussing an unfinished idea with Uchiha clan members. They shopped for dinner together, and Madara revealed he knew the story of an elderly vendor from handling village registration.

• Hashirama, Tobirama, and Rokuhiko learned that Izuna and Hikaku had spent the day visiting several places around the village, and Madara went to find Izuna.
• Madara found Izuna at the clan training ground after he had arranged to rehearse an idea with Uchiha Ryo and four other clan members.
• Madara and Izuna headed to the market, joking about inari sushi, sweets, and Izuna's dislike of plum sauce on grilled fish.
• Madara bargained for horse mackerel and baby bok choy, then told Izuna that the elderly bok choy seller lived alone because her son would not care for her.
• Izuna praised Madara for knowing about the residents from his past registration work, and Madara suggested they buy inari sushi.

Izuna and Madara passed Setsuna’s home and heard him practicing Kyudo while Shūichi trained under him. After Shūichi completed an exhausting day of archery and strength training, Setsuna told Ryo that the boy had talent but lacked passion and needed to discover what he wanted.

• Izuna and Madara walked home with sushi and bok choy, heard a bowstring from Setsuna’s residence, and wondered how Shūichi was progressing.
• Shūichi shot two hundred arrows at Setsuna’s direction, struggling to hit the bullseye, while Setsuna demonstrated his exceptional accuracy.
• Setsuna and Shūichi paid respects at the memorial tablets, ate dinner in silence, and went to the training ground for Shūichi’s evening exercises.
• Ryo visited Setsuna and watched Shūichi struggle through strength training as Setsuna explained that the boy copied his movements instead of developing his own Bow Style.
• Setsuna told Ryo that Shūichi had talent despite lacking passion for Kyudo, and threatened to skin him alive if he failed to become a Kyudo master.

Shūichi returned from training with Uchiha Setsuna and learned that the Hyuga Clan expected him to study Kyudo as part of a plan to change its traditions. He began recording his practice at home, determined to understand the one arrow he could not reproduce.

• Shūichi left the Uchiha Clan Compound after training and met Hyuga Akari waiting at the Hyuga gate.
• Shūichi recalled how the Hyuga elders questioned him about Setsuna and explained that the clan wanted him to learn another clan’s techniques and bring them back.
• Shūichi remembered watching Setsuna demonstrate Kyudo and choosing to become his disciple after being captivated by the archer’s form and bowstring’s sound.
• Shūichi returned home, spoke with his mother, and reviewed his notes and drawings of his Kyudo practice.
• Shūichi recorded that his first arrow had nearly hit the bullseye, but he could not remember how he had shot it or reproduce the result with the next 199 arrows.

Shūichi and the others prepared a staged welcome for the Daimyo’s procession, using a cleared forest road to reveal Konoha and a staged Ninja team encounter. The procession resumed toward the village after the display, where the adult Ninja and three children greeted the Daimyo and his guests.

• Shūichi joined Young Clan Head Tetsuya and the others at the Theatre Troupe’s rehearsal grounds before they set out along the road toward Konoha.
• Yuan Yusheng’s procession reached a cleared stretch of forest, where the view opened to reveal Konoha on the horizon and impressed the Daimyo and foreign guests.
• Tetsuya reported that the procession had sped up after seeing Konoha, and Izuna ordered the next act to begin.
• A staged conversation between a returning Ninja and three children emerged from the forest, presenting them as a team returning from a mission.
• The adult Ninja bowed to the Daimyo and honored guests, and the three children hurriedly followed his lead.

Wakako and the Daimyo’s party entered Konoha, where Izuna arranged a tour using trained summoning beasts instead of palanquins. The guests’ doubts gave way to curiosity, and Wakako chose Cheshire, leaving the Daimyo ready to ride with her.

• Yuan Yusheng invited Asuma Sarutobi and his team of Ino Yamanaka, Choji Akimichi, and Shikamaru Nara to travel with the party, and Wakako questioned the children about their clans and training.
• Asuma and the children returned to Konoha, while Ino, Choji, and Shikamaru said goodbye to Wakako and went into the village.
• Uchiha Takashi told the guests they would need to leave their palanquins, and Izuna arrived on a giant eagle to offer them summoning beasts as mounts.
• Wakako chose the talking cat Cheshire, and Izuna explained that the beasts understood people and could protect the guests.
• Yuan Yusheng asked whether he could ride with Wakako, and Cheshire’s Ninja rider dismounted and handed her the reins.

Izuna welcomed the visiting envoys to Konoha, gave them guides, and warned them against spying before leading them on giant Summoning Beasts to an open-air restaurant. The envoys admired the restaurant and the view of Konoha, leaving them with a favorable first impression of the village.

• The envoys mounted giant Summoning Beasts while Ōnoki stayed behind with the Samurai and other Ninjas to handle the luggage.
• Izuna gave the visitors guides to Konoha, then warned them that the village would punish anyone who tried to steal secrets or kidnap talented children.
• Izuna led the envoys on the Summoning Beasts to an open-air restaurant instead of taking them straight to their inn.
• Wakako and the other envoys gathered at the railing and admired the view of Konoha, while Izuna watched their reaction.

Izuna hosted the Daimyo, Lady Wakako, and foreign envoys, using Konoha’s renovated scenery and a carefully arranged lunch to impress them while announcing the Amusement Park’s opening. Afterward, the guests returned to their inn and discovered the care Konoha had put into its streets, shops, and private courtyards.

• Izuna showed the guests Konoha’s orange-red rooftops and greenery, then welcomed them to lunch with a toast and explained their accommodations and schedule.
• Izuna invited the guests to the Amusement Park’s opening ceremony and offered Wakako a place in the ribbon-cutting and a lifetime free pass.
• The envoys ate in silence after Izuna left, while the Daimyo focused on Wakako and the rival nations avoided conversation.
• The guests rode their summoning beasts back through Konoha, noticing its tidy stone road, busy Commercial Street, and new shops.
• Ishimi arrived at his private courtyard, inspected its carefully prepared rooms and garden, and remarked that Konoha knew how to please people.

Izuna left Tobirama to handle security while he hurried off after spotting something in Commercial Street. Ōnoki explored Konoha, saw Ninja from different clans living alongside one another, and encouraged the Capital City ramen stall owner to try building a life there; the owner began serving customers at Ichiraku Ramen.

• Izuna told Tobirama that the delegation would rest, then left him to manage the visiting Ninja while he went to find Hinata and Takuma.
• Ōnoki slipped out of the inn and explored Commercial Street, where he saw people from different clans and ordinary families sharing the village.
• Ōnoki found the Capital City ramen stall owner and heard that he was unsure whether to settle in Konoha.
• Ōnoki encouraged the owner to stay and try his luck, reminding him that Ninja had to eat too.
• The owner served his first customers at Ichiraku Ramen as more people gathered around the stall.

Ōnoki was swept into a terrifying weekly escape test as Uchiha Izuna chased children through the streets while rolling an iron hoop. After escaping with Hinata, Ōnoki revealed he was from the Land of Earth and returned to his guard duty, despite Hinata inviting him to play again.

• Ōnoki turned back toward his guard duty when a boy ran past, warning that a teacher was chasing children with an iron hoop.
• Hinata pulled Ōnoki into the fleeing crowd as Uchiha Izuna pursued them, and Ōnoki sped up when he saw Izuna snatch a child who tried to escape over the rooftops.
• Hinata led Ōnoki into a narrow gap between houses, where they hid until the hoop’s clatter faded away.
• Hinata explained that the chase was a weekly test in which children had to outrun Izuna or evade him, and Ōnoki asked why Izuna used an iron hoop.
• Hinata introduced himself as Uchiha Hinata, and Ōnoki told him he was from the Land of Earth and gave his name as Ōnoki of Both Scales.
• Ōnoki declined Hinata’s invitation to see the special training and left to report for duty, while Hinata suggested they play together another time.

Izuna explained that he wanted Hinata and the others to befriend Ōnoki, not manipulate Iwagakure, and argued that trade and cooperation could prevent wars. After Ōnoki discovered his netsuke was missing, it fell from the sky onto Izuna, who canceled Takuma’s special training.

• Hinata mistook Izuna’s interest in Ōnoki for a plan to control Iwagakure, but Izuna said he only wanted them to become friends and avoid future conflict.
• Izuna told Hinata that trade, cooperation, and development could help countries obtain resources without war, leaving Hinata quietly wishing he was right.
• Izuna praised Hinata for helping the plan succeed, then grabbed Takuma and announced special training for the caught kids.
• Ōnoki searched his luggage, realized his netsuke was gone, and went out to train.
• A Black Peach Wood Crow netsuke struck Izuna, who recognized it as Ōnoki’s and canceled Takuma’s special training.

Takuma warned Madara that a crow netsuke had made Izuna’s expression go blank, and Madara hurried to find him. Izuna tried to hand the charm over despite his intense attachment to it, but tears fell when Madara finally took it, leaving them uncertain how the object was affecting him.

• Takuma saw Izuna briefly become blank while looking at a crow netsuke and urged him to throw it away, but Izuna kept it and left.
• Takuma rushed to the Hokage Building and told Madara that the charm had seemed to affect Izuna’s mind.
• Madara left the mission desk and went to find Izuna, who was checking the Amusement Park’s opening preparations.
• Izuna recognized that the netsuke was causing his strange lapse and inexplicable attachment, then tried to give it to Madara.
• Madara slowly took the netsuke from Izuna, and Izuna unexpectedly began to cry.

Izuna became distraught when Madara tried to take away a crow Netsuke he had found, so Madara brought him to Mito and Tobirama to check it for danger. They found that it only stored Chakra, and Izuna kept it despite suspecting its mysterious origin.

• Izuna cried uncontrollably when Madara tried to take the Netsuke, so Madara carried him to Mito for an examination.
• Mito examined the Netsuke with Tobirama and found that its Pentagram only absorbed and stored Chakra.
• Mito suggested the Netsuke might be protective, and Madara returned it to Izuna, who was overjoyed to keep it.
• Izuna told Mito and Madara that he could not explain his strong attachment to the Netsuke, while Madara reassured him that he would handle any danger.
• Izuna wondered how the Netsuke had appeared above him and angrily suspected someone had thrown it away.

Izuna prepared Konoha’s Amusement Park opening, added new standards for guard duties, and helped stage a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Daimyo and other guests. After the guests entered a dark tunnel, a mysterious voice welcomed them and began introducing the park.

• Izuna reassured the troupe members after Madara carried him away and marked the first stage of his schedule complete.
• Izuna noticed visiting guards relaxing in taverns and wrote down proposed standards for guard duties.
• Izuna asked Tobirama to review the Commercial Street deployment schedule before the Opening Ceremony.
• Hashirama welcomed the guests, and Yuan Yusheng and Wakako cut the ribbon at the Amusement Park entrance.
• Izuna led the guests into the tunnel, where a mysterious voice welcomed them and described the park’s attractions.

Yuan Yusheng and Wakako visited Konoha’s new Amusement Park, where the elaborate Clock Tower tunnel showcased its attractions, performances, and safety measures. The presentation ended by introducing Kurama as the park’s mascot.

• Yuan Yusheng praised Uchiha Izuna’s accomplishments, while Wakako recalled riding a Summoning Beast and looked forward to the Amusement Park.
• Wakako and Yuan Yusheng attended the Clock Tower’s ribbon-cutting ceremony with Hashirama, then rode Summoning Beasts into the tunnel.
• Tokuko’s recorded narration introduced the park as lights transformed the tunnel walls into a vast, colorful display of attractions and Ninja imagery.
• The envoys reacted to the Carousel, Ferris Wheel, shopping center, Ninja demonstrations, dangerous rides, and safety precautions shown in the presentation.
• Wakako admired scenes from The Tale of the Heike, including Ren, before the narrator introduced Kurama as the Amusement Park’s mascot.