Recaps

Sasuke agreed to help Tenbu Shinzo forge a weapon for the competition and supplied Chakra Metal, Fire Style chakra, and money for the best materials. After shopping for supplies, Sasuke noticed weak ninjas tailing him in the Land of Iron and suspected they might be targeting Tenbu Shinzo.

• Sasuke gave Tenbu Shinzo Chakra Metal and agreed to help refine it with his Fire Style chakra for the competition.
• Tenbu Shinzo explained that he needed Soft Iron, high-quality charcoal, and a new furnace, and Sasuke agreed to buy whatever was necessary.
• Tenbu Shinzo told Miko that he expected to win the competition and marry her soon.
• Sasuke finished his morning training, then accompanied Tenbu Shinzo to buy wood, Soft Iron, and a new smelting furnace.
• After Tenbu Shinzo returned to make charcoal, Sasuke noticed weak ninjas following him and wondered whether they were hired by noble families to target Tenbu Shinzo.

Sasuke guarded Tenbu Shinzo’s forge and stopped samurai hired by a noble family from breaking in. The next morning, Tenbu Shinzo suspected the noble families were trying to prevent him from becoming the new Forging Master.

• Sasuke spent the day exploring town, then set out near midnight to guard Tenbu Shinzo’s forge.
• Sasuke overheard samurai planning to break into the forge after their employer diverted the local patrols.
• Sasuke knocked the samurai unconscious and hid while the returning patrol took them away for questioning.
• Sasuke returned to the inn and decided to keep a Shadow Clone guarding Tenbu Shinzo until the competition.
• The next morning, Sasuke warned Tenbu Shinzo about the attempted break-in, and Tenbu Shinzo said the noble families feared he might become the new Forging Master.

Sasuke learned that Tenbu Shinzo faced threats from rival forging families and pledged to protect him through the competition. Tenbu Shinzo offered rare Millennial Lightning-Struck Ironwood for Sasuke’s weapons, and the two discussed the contest’s stages, including a combat test on the fourth day.

• Sasuke asked Tenbu Shinzo about the rival families, and Tenbu Shinzo explained that his father had been killed before the competition and that he expected similar danger.
• Sasuke promised to protect Tenbu Shinzo and said Konoha would respond if anyone attacked him.
• Tenbu Shinzo brought out his family’s Millennial Lightning-Struck Ironwood and offered half of it for Sasuke’s sword hilt and scabbard.
• Sasuke revealed that he was Second Pillar, the last member of Konoha’s Uchiha Clan, and promised money to help Tenbu Shinzo establish his family.
• Tenbu Shinzo explained that the competition lasted three days, followed by a fourth-day blade contest in which samurai or ninja fought with the forged weapons under Lord Mifune’s supervision.

Sasuke accepted Tenbu Shinzo’s invitation to compete in a swordsmanship contest, hoping to learn techniques by observing the samurai and ninja with his Sharingan. After Tenbu Shinzo finished preparing the sword materials, the pair arrived at the plaza and inspected their assigned furnace station as the competition drew near.

• Sasuke accepted Tenbu Shinzo’s invitation after learning the contest allowed no ninjutsu, and planned to copy sword techniques with his Sharingan.
• Sasuke protected Tenbu Shinzo while he tempered the metals and processed the Millennial Lightning-Struck Ironwood for the sword.
• Tenbu Shinzo rested after completing the preparations for the sword.
• Sasuke and Tenbu Shinzo brought their tools and materials to the administrative district plaza on the day of the competition.
• Sasuke helped Tenbu Shinzo inspect their assigned furnace station for sabotage before they arranged their equipment as contestants and spectators gathered.

The Forging Master qualification competition began, and Tenbu Shinzo set out to forge a blade with Sasuke’s help. Mifune warned the contestants against cheating, while Sasuke used Shadow Clones to raise and maintain the furnace heat as Tenbu Shinzo prepared the Soft Iron.

• Sasuke noticed prominent families watching him and Tenbu Shinzo, and Tenbu Shinzo explained that they were assessing their strength.
• Tenbu Shinzo told Sasuke that Forging Masters were valuable to the Land of Iron and explained his determination to fulfill his father’s dream.
• Mifune arrived to preside over the competition, warned that violations would be punished, and officially started the event.
• Tenbu Shinzo put charcoal and Soft Iron into the furnace, while Sasuke created two Shadow Clones to ignite the charcoal and work the bellows.
• Tenbu Shinzo asked Sasuke to keep the furnace at its highest temperature so he could repeatedly fold and hammer the Soft Iron into a tough Blade Core, and Sasuke sat down to recover his Chakra.

Tenbu Shinzo and Sasuke forged the Blade Core from Soft Iron, then began combining it with Chakra Metal to make the blade. By nightfall the blade was nearly complete, and Tenbu Shinzo began fitting the handle and sheath.

• Tenbu Shinzo finished tempering the Soft Iron and poured it into a mold to form the Blade Core.
• Tenbu Shinzo hammered and repeatedly folded the Soft Iron, completing the Blade Core by nightfall.
• Sasuke inspected and bought food, then had his Shadow Clones keep watch while Tenbu Shinzo rested.
• The next morning, Sasuke and Tenbu Shinzo began forging Chakra Metal around the Blade Core.
• Tenbu Shinzo brought the blade nearly to completion and began fitting its grooved handle and sheath with Chakra Metal.

Tenbu Shinzo completed and presented Sasuke with the sword, which Sasuke named War Soul. As the final Sword Tester competition began, Sasuke entered the arena ready to fight without ninjutsu and learn his opponents’ techniques.

• Tenbu Shinzo finished connecting the sword and scabbard, then spent the third day polishing and sharpening the blade.
• Tenbu Shinzo presented the finished sword to Sasuke, who named it War Soul and planned to use the competition to copy sword techniques.
• Sasuke removed his weights and prepared for the match while Tenbu Shinzo packed up their equipment.
• Mifune announced that ninjutsu was forbidden in the final Sword Tester event and that anyone who used it would be disqualified.
• Sasuke received a number plate matching Tenbu Shinzo’s, and Tenbu Shinzo left the plaza as the Forging Masters were ordered out.

Sasuke avoided the opening melee of the sword test and watched the other Sword Testers’ techniques, using an attacker’s reckless swing to get him eliminated. As the fighters dwindled, a Kumogakure ninja launched a sudden attack on Sasuke, who stepped forward to evade the thrust before the attacker swept for his legs.

• Mifune announced the start of the sword test, and Sword Testers across the plaza began fighting in a chaotic melee.
• Sasuke retreated to the edge of the plaza and observed the fighters, studying their movements with his Sharingan while avoiding battle.
• After many Sword Testers were eliminated, one attacker charged Sasuke but could not stop his swing and was beaten by the armored samurai behind him.
• Sasuke watched the remaining contestants use a range of sword techniques as the number of fighters and the condition of their blades declined.
• A Kumogakure ninja approached Sasuke along the edge, lunged at his waist, then turned and swept his blade toward Sasuke’s legs after Sasuke stepped forward.

Sasuke stopped two Kumogakure ninja from attacking him and forced one to reveal that Nakamura Takeshi had ordered his assassination. After warning them to leave the competition, Sasuke watched them withdraw and turned back to the shrinking contest.

• Sasuke caught a Kumogakure ninja at swordpoint and demanded to know who had ordered the attack.
• A second Kumogakure ninja tried to pressure Sasuke into releasing the captive, but Sasuke threatened both men.
• The captive revealed that Nakamura Takeshi had hired the two Sword Testers to eliminate his opponents and had specifically ordered them to kill Sasuke.
• Sasuke sheathed War Soul, warned the two ninja to withdraw, and watched them pass the samurai guards.
• Sasuke returned his attention to the plaza, where just over thirty competitors remained and many were fighting or teaming up.

Sasuke was forced to fight when the fifteen remaining competitors surrounded him, and he used his speed and strength to break through their formation. After eliminating two samurai and disarming another, he faced the twelve pursuers in the arena.

• Sasuke watched the sword fighters and studied their techniques, relying on his Sharingan to copy their movements.
• The fifteen remaining competitors surrounded Sasuke, and he drew War Soul while planning to fight with his familiar reverse grip.
• Sasuke charged three samurai, killing one with his blade and knocking the other two away with his sheath.
• Sasuke caught the two displaced samurai, killed one, and broke the other's sword, forcing him to leave the match.
• Sasuke stood free of the encirclement as the remaining twelve pursued him.

Sasuke fought the remaining contestants in the blade competition to gain combat experience and copy their techniques. He defeated most of them, leaving five opponents, including the samurai waiting to use the Drawing Sword Technique.

• Sasuke held back while the twelve opponents hesitated, then circled them at speed after the Kirigakure ninja urged them to attack together.
• Sasuke struck the Kirigakure ninja with a two-handed sword-and-scabbard attack, breaking the man's wooden scabbard and injuring his shoulder.
• The remaining fighters attacked Sasuke, who avoided being surrounded while copying their blade techniques and counterattacking.
• As the samurai tired, Sasuke killed or badly wounded them until only one Kirigakure ninja, three Kumogakure ninjas, and the samurai who had proposed the group attack remained.
• Sasuke watched the samurai's sheathed sword carefully, wary of the man's Drawing Sword Technique and intent on leaving him for last.

Sasuke exploited the Kumogakure ninja’s plan, killing two of them before the last one was disqualified for using ninjutsu. He then faced the final samurai’s Drawing Sword Technique, blocking the samurai’s sudden slash as the fight continued.

• The six remaining fighters paused to recover and assess one another while Mifune lamented how few samurai remained.
• Sasuke used his Sharingan to uncover the Kumogakure ninja’s plan and pretended to attack the injured Kirigakure ninja as bait.
• Sasuke killed two Kumogakure ninja, but the last one used Lightning Release, so Mifune disqualified him.
• The Kirigakure ninja pressed Sasuke down while the last samurai closed in with the Drawing Sword Technique.
• Sasuke crossed his blade and sheath to block the samurai’s horizontal slash.

Sasuke fought the samurai and a Kirigakure ninja while trying to protect his sword and survive their attacks. After turning the fight against the injured ninja, Sasuke drove him to forfeit, leaving the samurai to recover.

• Sasuke used the samurai’s force to retreat from their clash and drove his sword into the ground to steady himself.
• The Kirigakure ninja attacked while Sasuke was off balance, but Sasuke blocked his kick and turned the exchange against him.
• Sasuke pulled War Soul free and pursued the injured ninja, preventing him from reaching the samurai.
• Sasuke pressured the ninja with a stream of basic sword techniques while the samurai recovered.
• The Kirigakure ninja forfeited after recognizing that continuing the fight could get him killed.

Sasuke defeated the samurai with a single, silent slash, proving War Soul could cut through both the man and his sword. Nakamura Takeshi accused Sasuke of using ninjutsu and rushed forward, drawing Sasuke's dangerous attention.

• The Kirigakure ninja withdrew from the match, and Sasuke cautiously let him leave before inspecting War Soul.
• Sasuke and the samurai faced off for a final duel, each preparing to decide the contest with one strike.
• Sasuke charged and clashed blades with the samurai, but neither the crowd nor the fighters heard a sound.
• Sasuke found War Soul undamaged and discovered the samurai and his sword had both been cut cleanly in two.
• Nakamura Takeshi accused Sasuke of using ninjutsu and claimed victory, then rushed toward him as Sasuke turned with killing intent.

Mifune declared Tenbu Shinzo the winner after Sasuke’s blade effortlessly cut through Nakamura Takeshi’s sword, and Tenbu Shinzo received the rewards of becoming a Forging Master. After returning to the inn, Sasuke recovered from the battle and discovered his Sharingan had advanced to Five-Tomoe, then began testing its ability.

• Mifune arrested Nakamura Takeshi, ruled that Tenbu Shinzo had won fairly, and named him a Forging Master.
• Sasuke let Mifune know he expected the Nakamura Clan to be dealt with and left the celebration after Tenbu Shinzo thanked him.
• Tenbu Shinzo received four samurai guards, a shop, and money from the Land of Iron.
• Sasuke returned to the inn, bathed, and wondered whether 'War Soul' had spoken to him during the duel.
• The next morning, Sasuke saw that his Sharingan had reached Five-Tomoe and cautiously began testing its ability by feeding Chakra into his eyes.

Sasuke developed the traits of the Five-Tomoe Sharingan and suspected its ability was Kamui before visiting Tenbu Shinzo. He gave Tenbu Shinzo money for his future with Miko and asked him to find a ship to the Land of Whirlpools.

• Sasuke saw a black vortex emerge as he poured Chakra into his Sharingan and suspected his Five-Tomoe ability was Kamui.
• Sasuke left the inn and found Tenbu Shinzo's shop crowded with people seeking his favor, so Tenbu Shinzo brought him inside to escape them.
• Tenbu Shinzo told Sasuke that Miko's father approved of their marriage and that he worried his circumstances did not match Miko's family standing.
• Sasuke gave Tenbu Shinzo money to buy a larger shop and hire servants, and reminded him to keep improving his craft.
• Tenbu Shinzo advised Sasuke to temper War Soul with his Chakra, and Sasuke asked him to find out when a ship would sail to the Land of Whirlpools.

Sasuke trained his Five-Tomoe Sharingan abilities while preparing to travel to the Land of Whirlpools. After several days at sea, he arrived and discovered that the country still had civilians and prosperous docks despite the destruction of its ninja village.

• Sasuke practiced his Sharingan's Kamui abilities at the inn and named them Kamui: Break and Kamui: Conceal.
• Tenbu Shinzo sent word that ships would soon travel to the Land of Whirlpools, and Sasuke prepared supplies for the journey.
• Sasuke boarded a ship and trained during the several-day voyage to the Land of Whirlpools.
• Sasuke arrived at the island and was surprised by its busy docks, realizing that the destruction had mainly been that of Uzushio Village.

Sasuke explored the Land of Whirlpools and learned that Konoha maintained its peace through a permanent mission while its civilians rebuilt the region’s fishing and farming industries. He left to visit the former site of Uzushio Village, hoping to learn more about its Sealing Techniques.

• Sasuke arrived at the Docks and wondered how the prosperous Land of Whirlpools kept thieves and rogue ninja away.
• Sasuke approached a Konoha team and introduced himself as Second Pillar before asking about the country’s security and recovery.
• Musashi Ichiro explained that civilians had hired Konoha to maintain order because the Land of Fire could not govern the allied country without alarming other nations.
• Musashi Ichiro told Sasuke that the Land of Whirlpools exported fish and grain and that Konoha was considering stationing another team there.
• Sasuke left the Konoha team and headed for the former site of Uzushio Village to investigate its Sealing Techniques.

Sasuke searched the ruins of Uzushio Village for a hidden site, found no clues, and set out to explore the rest of the Land of Whirlpools. Meanwhile, two Konoha ninja tracked him down as Musashi Ichiro reported his concerns to the Fifth Hokage, bringing a clash between Konoha ninja closer.

• Sasuke trained with two Shadow Clones while traveling, then reached the heavily excavated ruins of Uzushio Village after five days.
• Sasuke found nothing unusual in the ruins and bought a map so he could search other parts of the Land of Whirlpools.
• Two Konoha ninja, one from the Aburame Clan and one from the Hyuga Clan, asked about Sasuke at the docks and went to the ruins.
• Musashi Ichiro questioned why Sasuke had traveled alone and why the pair were following him, then sent his concerns to the Fifth Hokage by hawk.
• The two Konoha ninja learned Sasuke's direction from a map seller and hurried after him while Sasuke continued his slow journey.

Tsunade learned that Danzo had sent two Konoha ninja to pursue Sasuke in the Land of Whirlpools, so she dispatched Might Guy’s team to protect him. The trackers reached Sasuke first, and he went on guard as they confronted him.

• Shizune brought Tsunade a report that two Hyuga and Aburame ninja were pursuing Sasuke without village authorization.
• Tsunade suspected Danzo and ordered Might Guy’s team to travel to the Land of Whirlpools and protect Sasuke.
• Might Guy led Rock Lee, Tenten, and Neji by ship toward the Land of Whirlpools, then hurried after learning the pursuers were Konoha ninja.
• The two trackers reached Sasuke early the next morning and addressed him as “Second Pillar” without showing friendliness.

Sasuke confronted two Konoha ninja sent by Danzo to capture him and learned Danzo had helped him leave the village so he could be targeted. After Sasuke and the pursuers began fighting, Hyuga Chobo rushed toward him while Sasuke retreated from Aburame Ichiyu’s insect technique.

• Sasuke challenged the pursuers’ authority to take him back and learned they were Hyuga Chobo and Aburame Ichiyu, two Special Jonin.
• Sasuke revealed his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and drew War Soul as he prepared to fight the two ninja.
• Hyuga Chobo and Aburame Ichiyu admitted Danzo had helped Sasuke leave the village because it was difficult to attack him there.
• Aburame Ichiyu unleashed Insect Sphere, and Sasuke countered with the Great Fireball Technique before retreating.
• Hyuga Chobo suddenly rushed toward Sasuke as he tried to create distance from the insect swarm.

Sasuke fought Aburame Ichiyu and Hyuga Chobo, using Water Release to flood the battlefield and hinder Ichiyu’s insects. He left both opponents under pressure after a series of clones, water attacks, and an exploding tag.

• Sasuke used the nearby river to unleash the Great Waterfall Technique, sweeping both opponents into the flooded battlefield and destroying the trees that had concealed Ichiyu’s insects.
• Sasuke fired High Pressure Water Arrow Technique at Hyuga Chobo, who used the Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm to break through the barrage and reach him.
• Hyuga Chobo struck Sasuke with Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, but Sasuke vanished as a Shadow Clone and reappeared behind Aburame Ichiyu.
• Ichiyu revealed an Insect Clone and trapped Sasuke in an Insect Sphere, but that Sasuke also disappeared, leaving a lit Exploding Tag that blasted Ichiyu’s insects and water into the air.
• Sasuke relied on water to soak and restrict Ichiyu’s insects, exploiting their vulnerability to wet wings.

Sasuke used the flooded battlefield to weaken Aburame Ichiyu’s insects and injure Hyuga Chobo, then overwhelmed the two Root members with Lightning and Water Release techniques. Might Guy and his students arrived, and the battle ended with Aburame Ichiyu unconscious and the opponents set to be captured.

• Sasuke used Exploding Tags to soak Aburame Ichiyu’s insects and a hidden Shadow Clone to wound Hyuga Chobo’s leg.
• Sasuke electrified the water with Chidori, then struck Hyuga Chobo with a Water Dragon Bullet Technique as he tried to defend himself with Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven.
• Sasuke used Earth Current to knock Hyuga Chobo out of the air and drove Aburame Ichiyu back with High Pressure Water Arrow Technique.
• Might Guy arrived with Hyuga Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee, then knocked Aburame Ichiyu unconscious with Leaf Whirlwind.
• Might Guy ordered Hyuga Neji and Rock Lee to capture the Hyuga Clan and Aburame Clan members.

Sasuke learned that Might Guy had come after Musashi Ichiro reported suspicious activity to the Hokage. Guy decided to take the two captured Special Jonin back to the Fifth Hokage, and Sasuke resumed his solitary training with less worry about Danzo’s next move.

• Might Guy told Sasuke that Musashi Ichiro had reported the two Special Jonin, prompting the Hokage to send Guy’s team as support.
• Sasuke explained that he had used his knowledge of the opponents and the nearby water to create a battlefield that favored him.
• Sasuke said he wanted the two men killed to keep Danzo from learning about his abilities, but Might Guy argued they should be judged by the Fifth Hokage.
• Sasuke agreed to leave the captives to Might Guy, who hurried to take them back to Konoha.
• After Guy’s team left, Sasuke planned to erase his traces and continue training until he was strong enough to face future pursuers.

Sasuke continued toward the Land of Whirlpools while refining his Sharingan abilities, and Might Guy’s team returned to Konoha with two captured men. After reaching a secluded seaside cliff and setting up camp to train, Sasuke sensed a faint Chakra fluctuation beneath the rocks.

• Sasuke resumed his journey and considered how his Tsukuyomi and Kamui abilities might improve as his Sharingan evolved.
• Might Guy brought two men to Tsunade and reported Sasuke’s role, while the team publicly claimed to have captured them themselves.
• Tsunade accepted the cover story to keep other villages from learning how powerful Sasuke had become.
• Sasuke reached a remote seaside cliff, decided to train there, and set up a campsite.
• Sasuke climbed down to the rocks to test training against the waves and sensed a faint Chakra fluctuation beneath them.