Recaps

Hiruzen Sarutobi confronted Shimura Danzō over Root’s unauthorized attack on a Ninja Academy teacher and ordered him to stop directing Root. After Danzō left, Hiruzen tasked Kakashi Hatake with investigating Root’s operations and its unofficial personnel.

• Shimura Danzō learned his men had failed to capture Hagoromo and went to meet Hiruzen Sarutobi at the Hokage Building.
• Hiruzen demanded that Danzō address him as Lord Third Hokage and questioned him about Root attacking a Ninja Academy teacher without authorization.
• Danzō claimed he suspected the teacher was a spy and insisted Root should take him for interrogation.
• Hiruzen ordered Danzō to stay home and leave Root’s affairs alone, and Danzō left after warning that Hiruzen would regret it.
• Hiruzen asked Kakashi Hatake to investigate Root’s recent operations and look for unofficial personnel.

Hagoromo received powerful rewards after earning an S rating for his lesson on the five chakra natures, then met with Hiruzen Sarutobi, who offered him a path toward Jonin promotion through missions. Hagoromo declined, saying he preferred teaching and lacked combat experience.

• Hagoromo sensed Root's members moving supplies through the night before Hiruzen Sarutobi's people arrived and tensions eased.
• Naruto greeted Sasuke and took notes during Hagoromo's lesson on the five chakra natures.
• Hagoromo earned an S rating and received the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique at Mastery, Shadow Clone at Proficient, and Water Release at Entry.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Hagoromo and offered to recommend him for Jonin after he qualified through missions.
• Hagoromo thanked Hiruzen Sarutobi but said he wanted to keep teaching and was not confident in his combat abilities.

Hagoromo accepted Hiruzen Sarutobi’s plan to teach during the week and take missions on weekends, then received two Ninjutsu to study. After practicing the Shadow Clone Technique, he passed the principal’s office and noticed a masked, silver-haired Anbu watching him.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi arranged weekend missions for Hagoromo while keeping him at the Ninja Academy on weekdays, and offered him two Ninjutsu as a reward.
• Hagoromo agreed as long as the missions did not interfere with his teaching, and Hiruzen gave him a scroll.
• Hagoromo opened the scroll on the rooftop and found the Shadow Clone Technique and Hiruzen’s Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet.
• Hagoromo used the Shadow Clone Technique and created five Shadow Clones while Kakashi reported his performance to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Hagoromo headed downstairs to eat with Naruto and noticed a masked, silver-haired Anbu standing guard outside the principal’s office.

Hagoromo shared lunch with Naruto, Choji, and Shikamaru, and Choji asked to become his disciple after tasting the bento. Hagoromo sent Choji to seek his father’s approval and used Naruto’s training lesson to draw Shikamaru’s interest.

• Choji followed Naruto to the rooftop, where he and Naruto were eating lunch with Hagoromo, and Shikamaru joined them.
• Hagoromo corrected Naruto’s Chakra training and explained that excitement had disrupted his Sensory Ninjutsu practice.
• After learning Naruto was Hagoromo’s disciple, Choji asked to become one too, while Naruto objected to sharing his teacher.
• Hagoromo told Choji to ask his father before deciding, and Shikamaru backed him up with a signal to Choji.
• Hagoromo discussed Naruto’s training, including the Mind’s Eye of the Kagura and Chakra control, and Shikamaru stayed to listen.

Hagoromo pushed his students through a running warm-up and arranged extra training for Naruto, while urging him to keep up with his schoolwork. Naruto left determined not to lose to Sasuke, who remained his rival.

• Hagoromo threatened to make the last three students run extra laps, spurring Shikamaru and Choji to speed up.
• Naruto kept pace with Sasuke at the front, impressing Hagoromo and surprising Shikamaru, who noticed Naruto's weighted legs.
• Hagoromo told Naruto to train after school from Wednesday through Friday because he expected to be busy with weekend missions.
• Naruto admitted that studying was difficult, and Hagoromo reminded him that a future Hokage needed knowledge as well as combat skills.
• Hagoromo compared Naruto to top student Sasuke, prompting Naruto to vow that he would not lose to him.

Hagoromo trained Naruto in Water Walking and taught him Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique at the training ground. After Naruto mastered the technique, Hagoromo revealed that Shikamaru and Choji had been watching from the bushes.

• Hagoromo tested Naruto's Water Walking by disturbing the stream, causing Naruto to fall in, and warned him about unstable water.
• Hagoromo demonstrated Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique and explained its hand seals, chakra compression, and shape transformation.
• Naruto practiced the technique, first producing weak wind and then successfully forming wind blades that struck the trees.
• After Hagoromo demonstrated the technique several more times, Naruto unleashed powerful wind blades and celebrated his success.
• Hagoromo revealed that Shikamaru and Choji had been watching, and Naruto asked why they were there.

Hagoromo accepted Shikamaru and Choji as disciples after Naruto received extra sensory exercises for failing to notice them. Choji’s trust earned Hagoromo a powerful Summoning Contract containing Senjutsu and Sage Mode, which Hagoromo set aside until he became strong enough to use it.

• Hagoromo punished Naruto with five hundred copies of his sensory exercises after Shikamaru and Choji revealed they had been hiding nearby.
• Shikamaru and Choji asked to become Hagoromo’s disciples and said their parents had agreed.
• Hagoromo accepted them after warning them not to slack off, and Choji asked him to bring lunch each day.
• The panel granted Shikamaru latent Yin Release Chakra and gave Hagoromo a Summoning Contract through Choji’s intermediate trust level.
• Hagoromo learned the contract offered Senjutsu and Sage Mode but required elite Jonin strength, then chose to focus on training.
• Hagoromo used Shadow Clone Technique to assign Shikamaru and Choji to Chakra control practice while he trained Naruto.

After saying goodbye to Hagoromo, Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji planned to do their homework together at Naruto’s house. Tenzo brought Hagoromo to the Anbu base, where Kakashi registered him under the codename Mirror Flower and told him to meet at Konoha’s main gate for an assessment mission the next evening.

• Naruto warned Choji and Shikamaru against skipping Hagoromo’s homework, and the three decided to work on it together at Naruto’s house.
• Tenzo introduced himself as a member of the Hokage’s Direct Anbu Sixth Squad and escorted Hagoromo to the hidden Anbu base.
• Kakashi told Hagoromo that an assessment mission the next day would determine whether he could join the Anbu.
• Hagoromo registered the codename Mirror Flower, and Kakashi sealed his Anbu information.
• Kakashi gave Hagoromo a fox mask and told him to meet at Konoha’s main gate at about six the next evening.

Hagoromo joined Kakashi on an Anbu mission to eliminate the bandits in a mountain stronghold and leave their leader alive. While the bandits celebrated, their leader threatened an old adviser who had warned him to stop attracting attention, then decided to have him killed.

• Hagoromo met Kakashi at Konoha's gate, and they left the village together.
• Kakashi explained that the stronghold was suspected of raiding villages, abducting children, and trafficking, and assigned Hagoromo to kill every bandit except the leader.
• Hagoromo and Kakashi raced toward the stronghold while Kakashi silently watched Hagoromo's pace.
• At the stronghold, an old adviser warned the leader that their raids had drawn too much attention, but the leader threatened him and dismissed him.
• After the old man fled, the leader urged the bandits to resume celebrating and decided to kill the adviser.

Hagoromo infiltrated the bandit stronghold, killed its men, and brought its crippled boss to Kakashi’s Squad Six. A search confirmed that the stronghold held supplies of the kind used by ninja villages, including goods from Konoha, leaving Kakashi to investigate who had supplied them.

• Hagoromo slipped into the stronghold and killed the lookout, the strategist, and Yuji as he made his way inside.
• Kakashi regrouped Squad Six after Uzuki reported that Hagoromo had emerged from the stronghold with its boss, whose arms and legs were broken.
• Uchiha Itachi used Genjutsu on the bandit boss, then reported that he had obtained information from him.
• Hagoromo told Kakashi that a kidnapped woman had killed herself and that the cellar contained organized supplies, including items from Konoha.
• Kakashi sent Tenzo to verify the supplies, and Tenzo confirmed that some were the kind used by ninja villages.

After completing his assessment mission, Hagoromo returned to Konoha with Kakashi and learned the bandits’ supplies implicated both the village and the Land of Rice Fields. Hiruzen declared Hagoromo an Anbu member and ordered an investigation into a suspected insider, leaving Hagoromo to continue teaching that afternoon.

• Kakashi sent Tenzo and Team Six onward with intelligence from the bandit chief, then returned to Konoha with Hagoromo.
• Kakashi reported to Hiruzen and handed over intelligence and supplies showing that some stolen goods belonged to Konoha and others pointed to the Land of Rice Fields.
• Hiruzen suspected a traitor connected to the Administration Department and summoned the Council of Elders and Shikaku through Kakashi.
• Hiruzen told Hagoromo he had passed the assessment and joined the Anbu, then ordered him to keep the mission top secret.
• Hagoromo declined Hiruzen’s offer to rest, agreed to teach his classes, and accepted a promised raise.

Hagoromo taught his class about the Three Basic Techniques and received a Physique Training Method, then took Naruto and Choji to train after school. He demonstrated a powerful Wind Cutter Technique, impressing Ino, who had arrived with Shikamaru.

• Hagoromo returned to the Ninja Academy and taught his students the theory behind the Three Basic Techniques.
• Hagoromo earned an A+ lesson evaluation and received a Physique Training Method with techniques and medicinal bath recipes.
• Hagoromo took Naruto and Choji to their training ground, where Naruto asked why his Wind Cutter Technique was weak.
• Naruto demonstrated his technique, which only scratched a wooden post, and Hagoromo explained that Naruto was comparing himself to Sasuke.
• Hagoromo unleashed a dozen powerful wind blades that shattered the wooden post, while Naruto and Choji watched in amazement.
• Shikamaru arrived with Ino, who admired Hagoromo's demonstration.

Ino joined Hagoromo’s disciples, and he gained proficient Yin Release Chakra from her trust. Hagoromo explained Naruto’s weaknesses and assigned his disciples training, then earned advanced trust from Shikamaru and Choji after giving them a physique training method, unlocking proficient Yin-Yang Release Chakra Nature Transformation.

• Ino asked to become Hagoromo’s disciple, and her intermediate trust gave him proficient Yin Release Chakra.
• Hagoromo explained that Naruto’s wind blade lacked power because his Nature Transformation and ninjutsu proficiency were insufficient, though his Chakra control was good.
• Hagoromo gave Shikamaru a medicinal bath formula as a thank-you gift and asked him to provide Naruto’s share of the ingredients.
• Hagoromo sent Shadow Clones to teach Naruto Nature Transformation and Ino Chakra control, while he prepared training for Shikamaru and Choji.
• Hagoromo gave Shikamaru and Choji a physique training method, raising their trust to advanced and granting him proficient Yin-Yang Release Chakra Nature Transformation.

Hagoromo demonstrated how Naruto’s weighted training and Chakra conditioning had increased his strength, while explaining the limits of the method to Shikamaru and Choji. He left the Shadow Clone to supervise their training and turned to Naruto’s confusing questions about Wind Release.

• Shikamaru doubted the effectiveness of Hagoromo’s demanding training notes, so Hagoromo had Naruto remove his leg weights and punch Shikamaru to demonstrate his speed and strength.
• Naruto’s blow sent Shikamaru flying, and Choji bandaged his injured arms while Hagoromo used Yang Release Chakra to help them recover.
• Shikamaru realized Naruto’s training involved Chakra conditioning, and Hagoromo explained that Naruto could use the method more often than others while Choji might manage it only twice a month.
• Hagoromo’s Shadow Clone took Shikamaru and Choji aside to train them, while the original asked Naruto what he had said to make the clone fear a mental overload.
• Naruto explained that he had questioned how Wind Release could uproot trees without cutting them and whether it could chop vegetables, so Hagoromo threatened to make him copy homework.

Hagoromo demonstrated how wind-natured Chakra could cut through rock and explained why physical training and Taijutsu mattered. Naruto, Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino continued training, spurred on by Hagoromo’s promise of unlimited barbecue.

• Naruto asked to learn Nature Transformation, but Hagoromo first demonstrated how wind-natured Chakra could compress into a cutting blade and unleash a powerful gust.
• Hagoromo told Naruto he would test his Chakra nature with Chakra Paper the next day, then sent him to train with Shikamaru and Choji.
• Hagoromo explained to Ino how skilled Taijutsu users could overcome Ninjutsu and Genjutsu, and named Might Guy and his father as examples.
• Hagoromo pushed Ino to join the training and watched Naruto take the lead while Shikamaru and Choji chased after him.
• Hagoromo promised barbecue to whoever completed the training, and Choji charged after Naruto while chanting for meat, with Shikamaru following.

Hagoromo investigated Hashirama Senju’s abilities and concluded that he should pursue Yang Release Nintaijutsu rather than trying to recreate Wood Release Sage Mode. Three months later, Naruto beat Choji in a training match over one of Hagoromo’s homemade lunches, while Shikamaru correctly predicted Choji’s defeat.

• Hagoromo searched the library for information about Hashirama Senju and found that many records had vanished or been damaged.
• Hagoromo tested his healing and reasoned that Hashirama’s regeneration and Wood Release might have stemmed from an extraordinary Yang Release constitution.
• Hagoromo set aside the idea of mastering Sage Art: Wood Release and decided to focus on Yang Release Nintaijutsu.
• Three months later, Choji hurled boulders at Naruto during a training match as Ino cheered and Shikamaru warned that Choji was celebrating too soon.
• Naruto’s apparent defeat turned out to be a Shadow Clone; he burst from the rubble and knocked Choji out with a punch.
• Hagoromo healed Choji, and Naruto and Choji explained that they had fought over Hagoromo’s homemade boxed lunch, prompting his Shadow Clone to despair.

Hagoromo praised his students’ progress, corrected Choji’s weakness, and gave the group a few days off. Meanwhile, Shisui Uchiha told Hiruzen Sarutobi he planned to use Kotoamatsukami to stop the Uchiha clan head from pursuing a coup, leaving Hiruzen to consider the plan amid the clan’s frequent gatherings.

• Hagoromo warned Choji to act decisively in combat, then shared a meal with his students.
• Hagoromo agreed to give Naruto, Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji a few days of rest, and Ino invited Naruto to her family’s flower shop.
• Shisui Uchiha met with Hiruzen Sarutobi and said he wanted to rebuild trust between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha.
• Shisui revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan and explained that Kotoamatsukami could alter a person’s will without their awareness.
• Shisui said he would use Kotoamatsukami on the clan head if he continued plotting a coup, while Hiruzen recalled the Uchiha Clan’s repeated gatherings.

Shisui Uchiha asked Hiruzen Sarutobi to let him use Kotoamatsukami to change the Uchiha leader’s mind, while Shimura Danzō secretly coveted the technique. Hagoromo was assigned to watch the Uchiha gathering and discovered Danzō’s agents nearby, leaving Torune and Fū unsure whether they had been spotted.

• Shisui Uchiha asked Hiruzen Sarutobi to authorize his plan to use Kotoamatsukami to prevent the Uchiha coup, and Hiruzen agreed to cover his departure as a confidential mission.
• Shimura Danzō overheard Shisui’s plan and left the Hokage’s office determined to obtain Kotoamatsukami.
• Kakashi assigned Hagoromo to monitor Uchiha gatherings and report anything unusual during the coming days.
• Hagoromo sensed more than a hundred Chakra signatures beneath Naka Shrine and spotted Aburame Torune and Yamanaka Fū among Danzō’s agents.
• Hagoromo concealed himself with Earth Release: Camouflage Shadow Technique, while Torune sensed that his bugs had briefly panicked and Fū considered notifying Danzō and withdrawing.

Hagoromo watched as Root detained Shisui Uchiha and discovered that an unconscious Anbu ninja carried Danzo’s Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal. At Naka River basin, Danzo moved to take Shisui’s Sharingan, but Shisui cast a Genjutsu on him.

• Aburame Torune and Yamanaka Fū confronted Shisui Uchiha and persuaded him to accompany them after showing him that the Anbu ninja was alive.
• After Root left, Hagoromo inspected the Anbu ninja and found Danzo’s Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.
• Aburame Torune and Yamanaka Fū brought Shisui to Shimura Danzō near Naka Shrine.
• Danzo questioned whether Shisui would use Kotoamatsukami on him if the village’s leaders resisted change.
• Danzo lunged for Shisui’s eye and declared that he would take his Sharingan, so Shisui cast a Genjutsu on him.

Shisui Uchiha confronted Shimura Danzō, who stole Shisui’s right eye and revealed that he had arranged the deaths of Uchiha mission teams. Hagoromo intervened under cover of darkness, maimed Danzō, and fled when Kakashi Hatake approached, leaving Root to retreat with its injured leader.

• Shisui Uchiha used Genjutsu on Shimura Danzō, but Danzō countered with Izanagi, struck him, and took his right eye.
• Shisui Uchiha accused Danzō of killing Uchiha youths, and Danzō admitted that he had killed those who refused to join him.
• Shisui Uchiha fought the Root ninja with Fire Style, while they blocked his attack with Water Release.
• Hagoromo cast Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, cut Danzō’s right shoulder, then severed the hand holding Shisui’s Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Hagoromo sensed Kakashi Hatake approaching and escaped as the darkness faded, while Danzō ordered Root to retreat.

Shisui Uchiha escaped Root and, overwhelmed by the looming coup, followed Hagoromo to meet Hiruzen. At the Hokage's office, Hagoromo accused Shimura Danzō of grave crimes and an attempt to seize the Hokage position.

• Shisui Uchiha escaped through the Naka River and despaired over the Uchiha coup and the danger of civil war.
• Hagoromo found Shisui and admitted using the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique to stop the killing at Naka Shrine.
• Hagoromo urged Shisui to meet Hiruzen, arguing that Hiruzen might choose to strengthen Konoha by changing the clan's course, and Shisui followed him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Kakashi Hatake for advice after hearing his report about the Council of Elders.
• Shisui and Hagoromo entered the Hokage's office, where Hiruzen called for medical help for Shisui's bleeding eye.
• Hagoromo accused Shimura Danzō of killing fellow village ninja, conducting secret human experiments, inciting unrest, and trying to seize the Hokage position.

Shisui Uchiha told Hiruzen Sarutobi how Shimura Danzō ambushed him, and Hiruzen vowed to protect him while investigating the evidence Hagoromo recovered. Hiruzen exposed Root spies within the Anbu, imposed a village lockdown, and summoned the Uchiha Clan Head as senior Jonin arrived.

• Shisui Uchiha recounted how Shimura Danzō ambushed him, and Hiruzen Sarutobi praised his restraint and told him to rest while the Hokage handled the matter.
• Hagoromo warned that Root spies had infiltrated the Anbu, revealed Shisui Uchiha's recovered eye, and showed Hiruzen a pale arm bearing Sharingan and a face he recognized as Lord First.
• Hiruzen ordered Kakashi to have Team Six protect Shisui Uchiha, then questioned Hagoromo as the Sealing Squad sealed the Hokage Building.
• Hiruzen ordered Kakashi to inspect the Anbu for sealing marks, and Kakashi used Chidori to stop Root spies who tried to flee.
• Hiruzen declared a level-one lockdown, ordered Kakashi to summon the Uchiha Clan Head, and Shikaku Nara arrived with Akimichi Chōza and Inoichi Yamanaka.

Hiruzen Sarutobi gathered Konoha’s clan heads and Jonin to hear Tenzo’s report on the Council of Elders’ actions and apologized for failing to stop them. Uchiha Fugaku agreed that the Uchiha Clan would cooperate with the village, leaving Hiruzen and Fugaku poised to repair their relationship.

• Kakashi Hatake escorted Uchiha Fugaku to the Hokage’s office and reassured him about the summons.
• Tenzo reported intelligence about the Council of Elders’ actions, including Danzo’s killings of Uchiha Clan members.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi apologized to the gathered Jonin and clan heads for not noticing the Council of Elders’ actions sooner.
• Ebisu condemned the Council of Elders’ actions as a betrayal of Konoha’s Will of Fire.
• Uchiha Fugaku pledged the Uchiha Clan’s cooperation, and Hiruzen asked him to give the village and clan a chance to make things right.

Shimura Danzō ordered Root to flee Konoha after learning Hiruzen had placed the village on alert, but Uchiha Itachi and Konoha forces surrounded them. Seeing Itachi’s Mangekyō Sharingan, Danzō ordered Root to take his eyes at all costs.

• Aburame Torune reported that Root’s spies had gone silent and Konoha was on level-one alert by Hiruzen’s order.
• Shimura Danzō ordered the remaining Root ninja to abandon their base and leave Konoha, claiming they would return as its saviors.
• Uchiha Itachi and Konoha’s jōnin, Anbu, and Military Police surrounded Danzō’s group as they tried to escape.
• Danzō accused Aburame Torune of betrayal, and Itachi released him from Mangekyō Genjutsu, triggering the Cursed Tongue Eradication seal.
• Shikaku Nara called on Danzō to surrender, but Danzō saw Itachi’s Mangekyō Sharingan and ordered Root to take his eyes at all costs.

Shikaku Nara and Uchiha Itachi fought through Shimura Danzō’s Root guards and captured Danzō. Shikaku then demanded that the remaining Root ninja surrender.

• Shikaku Nara ordered the Jonin Commander, Anbu, and Konoha Military Police Force to advance against Root, while Uchiha Itachi asked Shikaku for help.
• Inoichi Yamanaka confronted Yamanaka Fū as Fū tried to protect Shimura Danzō, and Danzō summoned Baku to attack Shikaku and Itachi.
• Uchiha Itachi burned Baku with Dragon Flame Song, then dodged Danzō’s Wind Release attacks and countered with fireballs and shuriken.
• Shikaku Nara bound Danzō with Shadow Sewing, and Inoichi Yamanaka used Mind Body Switch to make Danzō stop resisting.
• An Anbu restrained Danzō with a sealing scroll, and Shikaku announced his capture and ordered the Root ninja to surrender.