Recaps

Gaara persuaded Baki to seek guidance from Sunagakure’s elders about the Fourth Kazekage, while promising to protect Temari and Kankuro in Konoha. Meanwhile, Naruto and Sasuke mastered Sage Mode, and Hagoromo visited the imprisoned Orochimaru, who asked what kind of wind would blow through the Shinobi World.

• Gaara told Baki to consult Chiyo and Ebizo about the Fourth Kazekage’s behavior, and Baki agreed to travel to Sunagakure.
• Gaara assured Baki that he would protect Temari and Kankuro and keep the Sunagakure group at the guesthouse until Baki returned.
• Naruto and Sasuke mastered Sage Mode, earning Hagoromo substantial training rewards and advancing his abilities.
• Hagoromo visited the imprisoned Orochimaru, who had revealed nothing during nearly a month of questioning.
• Orochimaru asked what kind of wind would blow through the Shinobi World, and Hagoromo replied that Konoha’s wind would keep blowing.

At the Chunin Ninja Exams’ third round, Sasuke Uchiha faced Omoi in the opening match and quickly gained the upper hand with his Sharingan. After Omoi’s Lightning Release trap failed, Sasuke turned the attack back on him with Amatsukaku and launched a powerful Lightning Snake.

• Hagoromo announced that two Otogakure contestants had withdrawn and introduced Sasuke Uchiha versus Omoi as the first match.
• Sasuke revealed his three-tomoe Sharingan, then dodged Omoi’s Cloud Style: Slash and countered with a Great Fireball Technique.
• Omoi used Lightning Release: Lightning Ball to clash with Sasuke’s fireball, then sent tangible clones through the smoke.
• Sasuke attacked one of Omoi’s clones, which transformed into a Lightning Snake aimed at his abdomen.
• Sasuke absorbed the Lightning Snake with Amatsukaku and sent a stronger Lightning Snake toward Omoi.

Sasuke defeated Omoi with Chidori, and Suigetsu won the second match by exhausting his Iwagakure opponent. After a third match ended with Yugakure winning, Naruto prepared for his own match and learned that he would face Gaara.

• Sasuke pursued Omoi with Chidori, overcame his defenses, and held Amatsukaku to his neck to win.
• Omoi accepted his defeat, while Killer B, A, and Mei Terumi commented on the match.
• Suigetsu defeated the Iwagakure Genin after the opponent attacked before Hagoromo started the match and then ran out of chakra.
• A contestant from Yugakure won the third match against Takigakure.
• Naruto got ready for his match, and Hinata told him his opponent was Gaara from Sunagakure.

Naruto fought Gaara in the arena, overcoming his sand defenses with Earth Release, Yang Release Armament, and Flying Thunder God. The match left the Kage watching Naruto warily as Gaara was sent flying by his punch.

• Sasuke reminded Naruto that Neji had identified Gaara as the opponent whose Chakra fluctuations they had sensed.
• Naruto opened the match by sending Shadow Clones at Gaara, then used Earth Flow Spears and Inch Force to break through Gaara's Absolute Defense and wound him.
• Gaara retaliated with Sand Shower and Sand Binding Coffin, cutting Naruto before Naruto escaped and countered with clones and Rasengan.
• Naruto used Flying Thunder God to appear in front of Gaara and struck him repeatedly with Sun-Character Straight Punches.
• Naruto's Inch Force: Straight Punch sent Gaara flying, while Fourth Raikage A and Killer B recognized Flying Thunder God and the Kage focused on Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Naruto and Gaara recognized that they were both Jinchūriki and agreed to talk after their match, but Naruto unleashed the Nine-Tails’ Chakra and fought to win. Naruto’s Rasengan shattered Gaara’s Sand Armor and sent him crashing into a wall, leaving Gaara wondering if he had truly lost.

• Gaara drew on Shukaku’s Chakra through Hagoromo’s seal while remaining in control, then challenged Naruto to continue fighting.
• Naruto realized Gaara was a Jinchūriki and asked about the monster inside him; Gaara confirmed it and agreed to talk after their match.
• Naruto called on Kurama, who eagerly lent him Chakra so he could defeat Shukaku’s Jinchūriki.
• Naruto transformed with the Nine-Tails’ malice-filled Chakra, alarming the spectators until Hiruzen Sarutobi raised a barrier around the arena.
• Naruto charged Gaara and struck him with a Rasengan, shattering his Sand Armor and hurling him into a wall.

After Gaara’s defeat, Hiruzen exposed the supposed Fourth Kazekage as Akatsuki member Sasori and organized the evacuation as attacks began across Konoha. Pain and Deidara launched an assault on the venue, but Hagoromo destroyed Deidara’s clay attack and confronted Pain.

• The Fourth Raikage challenged Rasa over exposing Gaara as a Jinchūriki, while Rasa waited for the invasion to begin.
• Shisui stabbed Rasa, and Hiruzen revealed that he was Sasori impersonating the dead Fourth Kazekage.
• Hiruzen ordered the spectators evacuated and defended Konoha’s decision not to inform the other Kage.
• Pain and the Akatsuki appeared above the venue, and Deidara sent a clay bird and Clay Spiders toward the crowd.
• Hagoromo used Lightning Release to neutralize the Clay Spiders and destroy the clay bird, then ordered the Anbu to divide the battlefield and challenged Pain.

Pain attacked the Five Kage at the arena and declared that the Akatsuki would capture the Jinchūriki. The Kage formed a united defense, but Pain summoned reinforcements as the battle began.

• Pain repelled Raikage A with Shinra Tensei, and Hagoromo sent Naruto and Gaara away from the fight.
• The Kage agreed to deal with Pain together, while Hiruzen confirmed Tsunade was guarding Iwagakure's missing Jinchūriki.
• Gaara chose to stay and fight for Sunagakure, and Chiyo joined him with her ten puppets after Hiruzen affirmed the village's place in the alliance.
• Deidara and Sasori charged toward the Kage, and Kitsuchi, Chiyo, and Hiruzen moved to stop them.
• Pain ordered the capture of the Jinchūriki, and another Akatsuki member summoned more figures as the Kage advanced.

Sawada Hagoromo battled Pain, isolating the Deva Path from the other bodies and overpowering its repulsive force. After severing its connection to Nagato and activating Hazy Moon Sage Mode, Hagoromo pressed the attack with a five-dragon barrage.

• Hagoromo attacked the Six Paths of Pain while Anbu trapped the other Paths inside a Four Violet Flames Formation.
• Hagoromo confronted the Deva Path alone, but Shinra Tensei initially blasted him off the wall.
• Hagoromo closed in, knocked aside the Deva Path’s technique, and smashed it into the ground with an Armament-coated punch.
• Hagoromo endured a stronger Shinra Tensei and struck the Deva Path so hard that it flew into the trees and lost its connection to Nagato.
• Hagoromo activated Hazy Moon Sage Mode, resisted Banshō Ten'in, and attacked the Deva Path with Sage Art: Five Dragon Barrage.

Hagoromo defeated Deva Path Pain’s Chibaku Tensei with Amenonuhoko, then located Nagato and sealed the Deva Path. Jiraiya emerged and recognized the corpse as Yahiko, while Hagoromo urged him to find the real Nagato.

• Deva Path Pain used Chibaku Tensei to draw Hagoromo’s Senjutsu dragons and the surrounding terrain into the air.
• Hagoromo threw Amenonuhoko into the gravitational core, breaking it and causing the captured rocks and trees to fall.
• Deva Path Pain tried to summon help through the Animal Path, but Hagoromo intercepted a Chakra Receiver and sensed Nagato’s location.
• Hagoromo appeared behind Deva Path Pain and sealed him with Black Threads.
• Jiraiya emerged from behind a boulder and recognized Deva Path Pain as Yahiko, and Hagoromo told him they needed to find the real Nagato.

Hagoromo brought Jiraiya to Nagato’s hidden body, where Nagato explained that Yahiko’s death had driven him to impose pain on the world. After Nagato rejected Jiraiya’s pleas and Hagoromo refused to join the Akatsuki, the two prepared to fight him, with Hagoromo giving Jiraiya twenty minutes to handle the battle.

• Hagoromo revealed that Deva Path Pain was a corpse and led Jiraiya to Nagato’s concealed real body.
• Jiraiya confronted Nagato, who said Yahiko’s death had taught him to make the world feel pain to end fighting.
• Jiraiya blamed himself for failing Nagato, but Nagato dismissed his words and invited Hagoromo to join the Akatsuki.
• Hagoromo refused, and Nagato declared that he would make Hagoromo and Jiraiya part of his pain.
• Nagato summoned beasts and fled into the air on a strange bird as Jiraiya fought them with Gamaken’s help.
• Jiraiya asked Hagoromo to leave Nagato to him, and Hagoromo agreed but gave him only twenty minutes.

Jiraiya fought Nagato and tried to make him reconsider his path, while Hagoromo arrived after Nagato’s body began to fail. The chapter ended with Hagoromo telling Jiraiya that Nagato’s life force was gone and his body was close to collapse.

• Jiraiya and Gamaken knocked Nagato’s monstrous bird into a forest, and Jiraiya pursued Nagato while Hagoromo stayed behind to watch for Black Zetsu.
• Nagato used Banshō Ten'in and Shinra Tensei to overpower Jiraiya, hurling him and a summoned rhinoceros into a mountainside.
• Jiraiya urged Nagato to remember his former hopes for peace and compared his actions to Hanzō’s, enraging Nagato.
• Nagato began to use Chibaku Tensei but suddenly spat blood and lost strength, as Jiraiya saw blood flowing from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
• Nagato sensed Hagoromo approaching and realized Hagoromo had left a Shadow Clone in Konoha; as Nagato became delirious and saw Yahiko, Hagoromo told Jiraiya that Nagato’s life force was gone and his body was near collapse.

Hagoromo defeated Nagato and took his Rinnegan, while Nagato asked whether lasting peace was possible and begged him to spare Konan. Jiraiya apologized for failing to protect and guide Nagato, leaving the dying man with his regret as rain began to fall.

• Hagoromo explained that Nagato’s body was failing after the battle and said true, lasting peace could never exist in the Shinobi World.
• Hagoromo described a path toward cooperation through absolute power, mutual understanding, institutions, and confronting the hatred of the past.
• Nagato asked Hagoromo to spare Konan, and Hagoromo removed Nagato’s Rinnegan and stored the eyes in a glass jar.
• Jiraiya asked to speak with Nagato, who questioned why his sensei had not believed in him and Yahiko when they pursued hope.
• Jiraiya admitted he had failed to protect and guide Nagato, and rain began to fall as he apologized.

After Nagato died, Hagoromo and Jiraiya concealed his body and returned to Konoha, where Hagoromo told the Kage that another Akatsuki mastermind remained. The Kage learned that Akatsuki members had captured the Three-Tails, confirming that the organization was still active.

• Jiraiya mourned Nagato as Nagato died, and Hagoromo asked Jiraiya to help seal Nagato's body away.
• Hagoromo identified Nagato as an Uzumaki and carried Yahiko's body back toward Konoha with Jiraiya.
• At Konoha's gate, Kakashi reported that the battle was over, and Tsunade took Jiraiya away while Hagoromo went to meet the Kage.
• Hagoromo showed the Kage Deva Path Pain's body and warned them that the Akatsuki's mastermind was still at large.
• Ao reported that two Akatsuki members had captured the Three-Tails at Thousand Islands Lake, and Hagoromo suspected Obito was involved.

After learning that a masked Akatsuki member had claimed to be Madara Uchiha and urged Hiruko and Shinnō to target Konoha’s Tailed Beasts, the gathered Kage argued over the revelation. Hagoromo and others calmed the Raikage, and the meeting moved on to forming an intelligence team to verify the claim.

• Ibiki reported that intelligence from Hiruko and Shinnō revealed a hidden Akatsuki mastermind who had identified himself as Madara Uchiha.
• Raikage A blamed Hiruzen Sarutobi and accused Konoha, but Hiruzen told him he was free to leave Konoha.
• Hagoromo urged the leaders not to trust unverified intelligence from two recent Akatsuki recruits and asked whether the alleged identity would change their response.
• Killer B and Hiruzen Sarutobi backed Hagoromo’s call to confirm the information, and Raikage A agreed to discuss the intelligence team.
• Chiyo considered Sunagakure’s standing and resolved to seek Hagoromo’s help controlling Tailed Beasts so Gaara would not be the only possible Kazekage.

The Joint Chunin Ninja Exams ended after the Five Kage agreed to promote all eleven remaining candidates, including eight from Konoha. Naruto celebrated with Hinata, drawing angry looks from Hiashi and Neji, while Suigetsu eagerly welcomed the prize money.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other Kage agreed to end the exam with eleven candidates still standing, including eight from Konoha.
• Hiruzen declared all eleven candidates promoted to Chunin, and the Konoha audience applauded.
• Might Guy celebrated Rock Lee's promotion, while Naruto hugged Hinata and then let go after sensing hostile glares from Hiashi and Neji.
• Hiruzen announced that each promoted ninja would receive three million ryo, and Suigetsu jumped up in excitement.
• Mei Terumi resolved to put Suigetsu through the Kage's trial when they returned to Kirigakure.

Hagoromo celebrated his students’ success and discussed the threat posed by the man claiming to be Madara Uchiha. Chiyo brought Gaara to Konoha to arrange the seal adjustment, then offered to teach him how to become Kazekage as they prepared to return to Sunagakure.

• Kakashi asked Hagoromo whether the man calling himself Madara Uchiha was genuine, and Hagoromo said the man had more reason to worry because the Rinnegan was in his hands.
• Naruto and the others gathered around Hagoromo, who praised them and invited them to a barbecue with Kakashi and their friends.
• Ao brought Suigetsu to Mei Terumi, who praised him before punishing his boastfulness with Boil Release.
• Chiyo told Hagoromo that Sunagakure had agreed to let Konoha lead the operation to adjust Gaara’s seal, then left him with Gaara.
• Hagoromo told Gaara that the seal could restrain Shukaku and advised him to keep a clear view of people and remember his duty as a Kage.
• Chiyo was pleased that Gaara remained clear-minded and promised to teach him how to lead Sunagakure, urging him to protect the village.

Gaara asked Naruto how a leader should understand the idea that people treated others according to their usefulness. Naruto connected Hagoromo's words to the responsibilities of a Kage, leaving Gaara with a clearer perspective but uncertain whether Naruto understood the lesson himself.

• Gaara sat alone on a roof, weighing whether to become Kazekage and reflecting on Hagoromo and Chiyo's advice.
• Naruto and Hinata noticed Gaara's sand hand pointing toward him, and Naruto went to meet Gaara while Hinata headed home.
• Gaara told Naruto that Hagoromo had expected them to get along, and Naruto immediately declared them friends.
• Gaara asked what Hagoromo meant by saying that people treated others according to their usefulness, and Naruto insisted Hagoromo was right.
• Naruto explained that a Kage had to balance understanding with principles and make firm decisions, prompting Gaara to question whether Naruto truly understood the lesson.

Naruto helped Gaara reflect on what it meant to protect Sunagakure and seek support from his family. After calling Naruto his friend, Gaara asked Temari and Kankuro to help him reform the village.

• Gaara asked Naruto about Granny Chiyo’s advice to treat Sunagakure as his own, and Naruto explained that a leader had to protect the village from threats within and outside it.
• Naruto told Gaara that being a Jinchūriki did not define him and urged him to talk to Temari and Kankuro, who had been watching from a window.
• Naruto jumped from the roof, and Gaara asked whether they were friends; Naruto happily said they were.
• Gaara went to Temari and Kankuro and asked them to talk with him immediately because he wanted to reform Sunagakure and needed their help.

After Nagato lost the Rinnegan and died, Obito faced the collapse of the Eye of the Moon Plan until Black Zetsu proposed using White Zetsu and fear to shatter the Five Great Nations Shinobi Alliance. Obito agreed to exploit the resulting chaos to pursue the Tailed Beasts and recover the Rinnegan from Konoha.

• Obito condemned Nagato for losing the Rinnegan, which left them unable to summon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path or deploy the hundred thousand White Zetsu.
• Black Zetsu reminded Obito that they still had the Three-Tails and argued that the alliance could be made to collapse from within.
• Black Zetsu led Obito to an underground chamber containing three thousand White Zetsu and revealed that nearly five thousand existed across the Shinobi World.
• Black Zetsu proposed using the Three-Tails' Chakra to strengthen the White Zetsu, then deploying them as spies while Obito created fear and distrust.
• Obito concluded that the resulting chaos would let them target the Tailed Beasts and the Rinnegan held by Konoha, and Black Zetsu agreed.

Obito agreed to postpone the Eye of the Moon Plan while Black Zetsu considered Sasuke a possible backup vessel. In Konoha, Hagoromo congratulated Naruto and the others on becoming Chunin and assigned Kakashi to lead Naruto’s team while he prepared to draw out the hidden enemy.

• Black Zetsu told Obito that Sasuke could serve as a backup vessel and that they should nurture darkness in him if they could not reclaim the Rinnegan.
• Obito agreed to put the Eye of the Moon Plan on hold and warned that a demon more fearsome than the Akatsuki would face the Five Great Nations.
• Naruto learned from Shikamaru that Gaara might become the Fifth Kazekage, then cheered when Hagoromo said Gaara would first train under Sunagakure’s elders.
• Hagoromo congratulated the successful candidates on becoming Chunin and explained that their missions and instructors would change.
• Hagoromo assigned Asuma to continue teaching Shikamaru’s team and Kakashi to lead Naruto’s team while Hagoromo stayed hidden to draw out the enemy.

Hagoromo explained to Hiruzen Sarutobi why he believed Madara Uchiha might still be alive and linked the Rinnegan to the evolution of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. Hiruzen was left considering Hagoromo’s evidence about Nagato, Amegakure, and the mysterious figures near Kannabi Bridge.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi declared Naruto and the others Chunin, and Naruto said he would become Hokage.
• Kakashi took Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata under his supervision.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Hagoromo to explain his suspicions about Madara Uchiha and Nagato’s Rinnegan.
• Hagoromo said the Rinnegan evolved from the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and described investigating Amegakure before the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Hagoromo showed Hiruzen Sarutobi a scroll containing spores he had found near Kannabi Bridge, where he had dealt with hidden figures.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi said the timing fit Hagoromo’s account but fell silent before finishing his thought.

Hagoromo and Hiruzen Sarutobi discussed preparing for the threat of Akatsuki and keeping the Rinnegan safe. Hagoromo then visited Orochimaru in custody and taunted him by asking what he would do if the Rinnegan were researched right in front of him.

• Hagoromo told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Itachi had left to search for Uchiha ancestral sites and warned that Akatsuki might exploit tensions between the Five Great Nations.
• Hagoromo showed Hiruzen Sarutobi Nagato's Rinnegan and said it would be dangerous for anyone without the right physical traits to use it.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Hagoromo to speak with Fugaku and then let him leave to handle his affairs.
• Inoichi told Hagoromo that Orochimaru wanted to see him, so Hagoromo went to the underground holding area beneath Anbu headquarters.
• Orochimaru asked whether Hagoromo had defeated Pain, then stared greedily at the Rinnegan when Hagoromo showed him the bottle.
• Hagoromo put the Rinnegan away and asked Orochimaru what he would do if he researched it in front of him, leaving Orochimaru visibly frustrated.

Hagoromo learned that Orochimaru had uncovered the Rinnegan’s origins and left the Akatsuki after failing to take the eyes from Nagato. Orochimaru proposed helping the village study the Rinnegan in exchange for limited research access, and Hagoromo left him under guard while considering the offer.

• Orochimaru told Hagoromo that Nagato’s Rinnegan belonged to the person controlling him, who was from the Uzumaki Clan.
• Orochimaru revealed that he had tried to take the Rinnegan, faked his death after it nearly killed him, and later found an inscription describing its evolution from the Sharingan.
• Orochimaru explained that he had targeted Itachi before turning his attention to Sasuke, whose talent made him a promising subject.
• Orochimaru offered to help the village analyze the Rinnegan and develop countermeasures in exchange for limited research access and shared data.
• Hagoromo ordered Orochimaru to remain in custody and had Inoichi bring in a carefully vetted group of Anbu Ninja.

Hagoromo proposed using the Rinnegan taken from Nagato as bait for the person who had secretly implanted it, with Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade helping prepare a trap. Hiruzen approved the plan, and Hagoromo brought Shisui along to add Kotoamatsukami as another safeguard.

• Hagoromo left Orochimaru under seal and went to Hiruzen Sarutobi to discuss his plan for the Rinnegan.
• Hiruzen summoned Jiraiya and Tsunade, and Hagoromo explained that he wanted their help placing a sealing jutsu or trap on the eye.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade agreed to the plan, and Hagoromo promised to supervise Orochimaru throughout the work.
• Hagoromo suggested using Shisui's Kotoamatsukami, and Hiruzen authorized Shisui to go with him.
• Hagoromo returned to Orochimaru, warned him to cooperate, and began preparations with the assembled Sannin and Shisui.

Kumogakure agreed to a Five Kage Summit in the Land of Iron as the nations investigated evidence of a plot to provoke them into conflict. Konoha went on high alert, while Hagoromo questioned Orochimaru about his research on the Rinnegan.

• Raikage A ordered Kumogakure to accept the Five Kage Summit in the Land of Iron and told Samui to keep B in the Valley of Clouds and Lightning.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata returned from a mission, and Kakashi left after receiving an emergency meeting summons.
• Shikaku told Konoha's Jonin that attacks and accusations across the nations appeared designed to stir up discord.
• Hiruzen and Shikaku ordered Konoha's Jonin to report daily and help patrol the village and border outposts until the summit ended.
• Hagoromo asked Orochimaru about his research, and Orochimaru said he had learned what he needed to know.