Recaps

Kagetsu stopped Mukade’s plan to conquer the nations with the Dragon Vein, then brought Sunagakure into closer cooperation with Konoha. Back in Konoha, Orochimaru pursued new experiments as Jiraiya, Guy, and Shisui each faced tests of their strength.

• Kagetsu and his allies confronted Mukade in Rōran, where Mukade revealed he had made Queen Sara a Human Puppet and used the Dragon Vein to power Puppet One-Tail.
• Kagetsu severed Puppet One-Tail’s link to the Dragon Vein, and he and his allies sealed the Hollowfied Mukade and Queen Sara underground before the Dragon Vein’s barrier vanished.
• Kagetsu proposed trade and environmental restoration to Sunagakure, and Orochimaru agreed to focus on the future and seek Kushina’s help with the Dragon Vein.
• Itachi told Kagetsu and Fugaku about the other world’s Uchiha massacre, while Tsunade assigned Kabuto to Kagetsu’s team and Orochimaru won clan support for his plans despite opposition from Hiruzen and Danzō.
• Kagetsu negotiated closer cooperation with Rasa and Queen Sara, and Minato extracted a Dragon Vein Energy Core for Sunagakure to study.
• Jiraiya tested his Sage Mode against Orochimaru, who revealed his Hogyoku Mode and explained his plans to evolve through replication and the integration of Kekkei Genkai.
• Tsunade asked Might Guy to undergo Orochimaru’s experiment to strengthen his body, and Guy agreed so he could protect the people he cared about.
• Shisui defeated Hiruko and tried to capture him alive, but Orochimaru entered Hiruko’s soul and devoured part of it while offering to perfect his Chimera Technique.

Kagetsu advanced Konoha’s research and alliances while Tsunade explored the world of Hollows and prepared a new Spiritual Weapon. White Zetsu’s attack during Kushina’s delivery exposed Uchiha Setsuna’s escape, and Konoha turned to stronger defenses and new work with Amegakure.

• Orochimaru revealed that Sage Art: Soul Bestowal would eventually return Hiruko’s abilities and knowledge to him, while Kagetsu recruited Kushina to develop sealing tools for the Technology Development Department.
• Kagetsu led Itachi, Asuma, Kabuto, and Hizashi to the River Country, where they found a Gelel Stone vein and an underground ruin, prompting Konoha to secure the mine and study the stone’s power.
• Tsunade sought a new fighting style after her body evolved, then chose to pursue Over-Treatment and conceptual surgery as paths toward a Spiritual Weapon and the resurrection of her loved ones.
• Kagetsu took Tsunade’s soul into the Forest of Hollows, where they fought Faceless Ones and discussed Orochimaru’s soul research, the Third Raikage, and the possibility of rebirth in Hollow Circle.
• Kagetsu and Tsunade returned to Konoha, where Tsunade gave him the First Hokage’s Necklace as inspiration for her weapon, and Baki arranged exchanges and cooperation between Konoha and Sunagakure.
• Kagetsu tested a Spirit Suppressing Stone bracelet on Kushina and found it weakened and filtered the Nine-Tails’ chakra, before White Zetsu attacked during Kushina’s delivery and Uchiha Setsuna escaped prison to seek Madara.
• Konoha declared Setsuna a rogue ninja and planned stronger combined defenses, while Kushina recovered and began teaching sealing at the Ninja Academy to Sunagakure students.
• Nagato brought Black Rods to Konoha seeking trade, and Kagetsu offered Amegakure’s ninja mercenary work guarding a Chakra Mine in the River Country despite the risk of conflict and casualties.

Konoha and its allies strengthened their ties while investigating resurrection, the Rinnegan, and the Ten-Tails, as the Cloud weighed war. The stretch ended with Tsunade, Chiyo, and Baki confronting Sasori, who wielded the missing Third Kazekage as a Human Puppet.

• Kagetsu supplied Kakuzu with a modified Wood Release heart, and Kakuzu implanted it to increase his strength and chakra reserves.
• Nagato and Konoha negotiated a treaty over mineral deposits, while Orochimaru advanced Konoha’s expansion and Kagetsu demonstrated the Black Rod’s powers.
• Obito, Kakashi, Rin, Kabuto, and Itachi reunited and discussed their work, Konoha’s new medical tools, and the growing trade in ninja technology.
• Nagato stopped Raikage A from taking the Gureiru Stone Mine, and Konoha, Sunagakure, and Amegakure prepared for a possible conflict as Cloud, Mist, and Iwa weighed their positions.
• Tsunade and Orochimaru tried to resurrect a dead prisoner in a clone, but the soul vanished, and their second experiment also failed.
• Orochimaru brought Ōnoki into a plan for Iwa to help carve a route between the Rain and Wind Countries in exchange for paid work and Gelel Stone.
• Nagato examined the Uchiha Stone Tablet with his Rinnegan and revealed its plan to revive the Ten-Tails and cast Infinite Tsukuyomi, while Orochimaru proposed making a weaker Ten-Tails from portions of the beasts’ chakra and souls.
• Chiyo, Tsunade, and Baki confronted Sasori, who refused to return and summoned the missing Third Kazekage as a Human Puppet.

Tsunade and Orochimaru resurrect Tobirama Senju, who awakens Hollow Power and takes an interest in developing its techniques. Konoha strengthens its alliance with Kumogakure, then turns its attention to Hollows threatening Wind Country, where Kagetsu arrives to help Rasa.

• Tsunade defeated Sasori, who accepted his return to Sunagakure after Chiyo and Baki sealed his hands and Chakra.
• Tsunade resurrected Tobirama Senju, who learned about Konoha’s recent history and agreed to investigate Madara and study Hollow Power.
• Tobirama Senju awakened Hogyoku Mode and received Orochimaru’s information on the Soul Shadow Clone, though he rejected Orochimaru’s Cursed Seal.
• Kagetsu and Namikaze Minato negotiated a cooperation agreement with Kumogakure, and Kagetsu restrained Yugito when her Two-Tails reacted to Hollow power.
• Kumogakure agreed to closer cooperation with Konoha after Kagetsu offered help with Hollowfication and Spirit Suppressing Stones, while Raikage A continued Yugito’s training.
• Orochimaru warned that the Third Mizukage’s forces were attacking Amegakure and told Kagetsu to alert Tobirama Senju that Uchiha Setsuna might be working with Madara.
• After Sunagakure reported Hollows near Wind Country’s oases, Rasa trapped a Great Hollow in a pyramid and Kagetsu arrived with Kushina to explain Konoha’s Hollow research.