Recaps

Mu Yue drew and mastered Five Dragons Extinction, then considered how its use of natural energy might inspire new Ninjutsu. He later invited Obito to an exchange meeting in the Land of Water, and Obito agreed and asked if Rin and the others could join.

• Mu Yue used the completed S+ Random Skill Draw Scroll and obtained Five Dragons Extinction, a destructive Kidō adapted as Ninjutsu.
• Mu Yue studied Five Dragons Extinction’s ability to draw on natural energy and recorded ideas for developing and improving Ninjutsu.
• Mu Yue reviewed his Sage Arts insights and decided to focus on mastering Sage Mode before developing Breathing Style Sage Art.
• Obito visited Mu Yue to ask for help with spatial transfer while learning the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Mu Yue invited Obito to an exchange meeting with the Hidden Mist Village in the Land of Water, and Obito accepted and asked whether Rin and the others could come.

Obito gathered Kakashi, Might Guy, and other Konoha ninjas for an exchange event in the Land of Water, while Shisui declined because of his new duties. After a long voyage, the team arrived in Kirigakure and met Karatachi Yagura, whom Obito recognized as far beyond the ordinary opponents Anko had imagined.

• Obito invited Nohara Rin to join the exchange trip, and she agreed to go with him to recruit Kakashi, Might Guy, and Shisui.
• Kakashi and Might Guy accepted the invitation, while Shisui declined because his promotion to unit captain had made him busy.
• Yuhi Shin Kurenai led Obito, Kakashi, Anko, Kotetsu Hagane, Izumo Kamizuki, and the others from the eastern port by ship toward the Land of Water.
• During the tedious voyage, Obito bragged about protecting a princess and continued studying the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• The team arrived in the Land of Water, where Kirigakure's reception party, including Karatachi Yagura, greeted them.
• Anko wondered whether Karatachi Yagura would be one of her opponents, and Obito told her that normally he would not be.

After arriving in Kirigakure, Obito entertained his teammates with stories about dangerous missions and proposed challenging stronger Hidden Mist Village ninjas. Yuhi Shin Kurenai referred the request to Kirigakure, leaving the decision with the Third Mizukage and his advisers.

• Hidden Mist Village ninjas escorted Konoha's exchange team to their lodging, where Yuhi Shin Kurenai warned them not to wander around Kirigakure.
• Obito recounted a mission where Mu Yue held off the A-B Combo and Kakashi's attempt to cover the retreat ended in embarrassment.
• Obito discussed Kirigakure's talented ninjas and said he wanted to challenge powerful opponents rather than young Jonin like Mei Terumi.
• Obito, Might Guy, and Kakashi asked Yuhi Shin Kurenai to arrange stronger matches, and he said he would consult Kirigakure first.
• The Third Mizukage summoned Genji and Karatachi Yagura to hear their opinions on the proposed challenges.

The Third Mizukage accepted Genji’s proposal to hold exchanges with Konoha, and the meeting showed Konoha’s advantage among both chunin and jonin. Kakashi defeated Juzo Biwa by severing the Kubikiribōchō with a lightning-fast slash, leaving Hozuki Mangetsu to reconsider challenging him.

• Karatachi Yagura urged the Third Mizukage to refuse Konoha’s request, but Genji argued that the exchanges could help Hidden Mist ninja improve, and the Third Mizukage agreed.
• Anko and Hayate Gekko’s squads performed well during the chunin exchanges, while Konoha’s young ninja overall outperformed Hidden Mist’s.
• Hozuki Mangetsu challenged Hatake Kakashi, but Kakashi said he would face Juzo Biwa first.
• Kakashi fought Juzo Biwa with White Fang and used Thunderclap and Flash: Godspeed to cut the Kubikiribōchō in two.
• The referee declared Kakashi the winner, while Hozuki Mangetsu realized he might still be unable to defeat him.

Obito defeated Kushimaru by combining Kamui with the Flying Thunder God Technique, and Might Guy swiftly overwhelmed Tanikawa Bao at the exchange event. After the Konoha delegation toured the Land of Water, news of the event spread and Iwagakure and Sunagakure arranged their own exchange event in Six Paths City.

• Obito used Kamui and the Flying Thunder God Technique to defeat Kushimaru, impressing the Konoha and Hidden Mist Village spectators.
• Might Guy opened the fifth gate and entered Stone Breathing Chakra Mode, then knocked out Tanikawa Bao with Morning Hawk.
• Mei Terumi defeated a Konoha jonin using her two Kekkei Genkai, giving the Hidden Mist Village a victory.
• After the three-day jonin exchange event, Obito and the others toured the Hidden Mist Village and visited sights in the Land of Water.
• News of the exchange event reached the other major villages, and Iwagakure and Sunagakure held a new event in Six Paths City with Kitsuchi and Chiyo leading their delegations.

Chiyo tried to persuade Sasori to leave Ninshu and return to Sunagakure, but he refused because he believed in Ninshu’s work toward peace. Meanwhile, Iwagakure revealed to Sunagakure and Kumogakure that Sōsuke’s strength rivaled the God of Shinobi, leaving the alliance representatives shaken.

• People in Six Paths City speculated that Iwagakure and Sunagakure were supporting Ninshu, while the two villages secretly sent ninja to meet with Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning.
• Chiyo met Sasori in Ninshu’s reception room and asked him to return to Sunagakure, but Sasori explained that he supported Ninshu’s efforts to bring peace to the Land of Rain and the Land of Birds.
• Chiyo left without persuading Sasori, and Nagato told him that his sentence would end once he successfully taught a Ninshu ninja Puppet Prosthesis technology.
• At a secret meeting in a western port town, Yashamaru and Dodai discussed the growing threat they believed Konoha and Ninshu posed.
• Retsuishi revealed that Sōsuke possessed strength far beyond a Kage and was another God of Shinobi, shocking Dodai and leaving Yashamaru relieved that Sunagakure had not challenged Ninshu.

Iwagakure proposed forming a multi-village unit to study and assassinate Sōsuke, while Kumogakure and Sunagakure postponed decisions pending approval from their leaders. Mu Yue later cleared up Konoha’s suspicions about Ninshu and pursued cooperation over its Puppet Prostheses, then reviewed Uchiha reforms with Shisui as the chapter ended with Shisui’s Life Mission at 68.6%.

• Retsuishi shared Iwagakure’s intelligence on Sōsuke’s powerful ninjutsu, defense, and taijutsu, and proposed a multi-village assassination unit.
• Dodai and Yashamaru said they needed approval from the Raikage and Kazekage before committing to the proposal.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi discussed the Sunagakure-Iwagakure exchange meeting with Mu Yue and Minato Namikaze, suspecting Ninshu might side with the other villages against Konoha.
• Mu Yue presented intelligence showing Ninshu had only rented out Six Paths City, then proposed that Konoha cooperate with Ninshu to obtain its Puppet Prostheses.
• Hiruzen agreed to pursue cooperation and planned to attend a meeting on Ninja Academy reforms, while reflecting on his past mistakes and possible retirement.
• Shisui gave Mu Yue Uchiha opinions about leaving the Police Force and a list for the third transfer batch; Mu Yue selected candidates and urged him to reform Uchiha upbringing.

Obito’s teammates discovered his feelings for Nohara Rin and offered to help him pursue her. The chapter ended with Kotetsu and Izumo presenting Obito with a detailed first-date plan for the weekend.

• Obito taught an Uchiha ninja about leading a team and then headed to training with his teammates.
• Anko, Izumo, and Kotetsu confronted Obito about liking Nohara Rin, and Obito reluctantly admitted he had feelings for her.
• Izumo and Kotetsu offered to help Obito pursue Rin, and Obito shared what he knew about her likes and dislikes.
• Izumo described romance as a difficult war, and the group discussed helping Obito arrange a date before confessing.
• After Friday training, Kotetsu and Izumo gave Obito a scroll containing a detailed plan for inviting Rin on a date.

Obito arranged a date with Nohara Rin and relied on Izumo Kamizuki, Kotetsu Hagane, and Anko to coach him from the shadows. Their staged attempt to help the date went awry when Kakashi exposed them, leaving Obito worried that Kakashi would once again interrupt his time with Rin.

• Obito invited Nohara Rin to visit the Yamanaka Flower Shop, and she agreed to meet him at nine the next morning.
• Obito dressed carefully and arrived early, while Nohara Rin praised his casual clothes and called him handsome.
• Izumo Kamizuki, Kotetsu Hagane, and Anko tried to stage a squad dispute so Obito could mediate and impress Nohara Rin.
• Kakashi recognized the disguised team members and interrupted the staged argument.
• Kotetsu Hagane claimed they had been role-playing, and Nohara Rin greeted Kakashi while Obito feared he would spoil the date.

Obito’s planned date with Nohara Rin was disrupted when Izumo Kamizuki’s disguised tempura-stall scheme made Rin suspect a spy, but the misunderstanding was resolved and they spent the day together normally. Rin told Obito she had enjoyed the day, leaving him standing dazed as she went home.

• Kakashi left Obito and Nohara Rin to walk together, and Obito took Rin toward the flower shop.
• Obito bought tempura from a disguised Izumo Kamizuki, who offered them a supposed prize of a two-person escape room.
• Rin grew suspicious of the vendor, sent a Shadow Clone back to Obito, and went to find Uchiha Police Force members.
• Rin’s real self returned and identified the vendor as a spy, prompting the Uchiha Police Force to attack Izumo until Obito intervened.
• Izumo revealed his identity and apologized, while Obito reassured the Uchiha and canceled the rest of the group’s plan.
• Obito and Rin visited the flower shop, ate lunch, and spent the day together before Rin told him she had been happy and went home.

Sunagakure and Kumogakure learned that Sōsuke was a threat on the level of the God of Shinobi and joined Iwagakure in forming the Sōsuke Assassination Unit. Chiyo failed to persuade Sasori to leave Ninshu, even after revealing her resurrection ninjutsu research, and Sasori warned Nagato that a great Ninja Village might attack.

• Sunagakure's leaders agreed to cooperate with Iwagakure and Kumogakure after Yashamaru's intelligence revealed Sōsuke's strength and Iwagakure's earlier knowledge.
• The Third Raikage accepted Dodai's proposal to join the alliance, and the three villages formally established the Sōsuke Assassination Unit with bases near the Land of Rain and in the Land of Rivers.
• Chiyo repeatedly asked Sasori to leave Ninshu, but he refused and remained with the organization despite her warnings about the alliance.
• Chiyo told Sasori she was developing a ninjutsu to resurrect the dead, hoping the possibility of restoring Xing Si and others would persuade him to leave.
• Sasori doubted Chiyo's claim and declined to leave, then warned Nagato that a great Ninja Village might act against Ninshu; Nagato promised to protect everyone, and Sasori objected that he was not a Ninshu ninja.

Shikaku Nara negotiated a deal for Konoha to obtain Puppet Prostheses and some of Ninshu’s technology, while Obito escorted the delegation through Six Paths City. Back in Konoha, Mu Yue asked Obito whether he wanted to keep leading a team, leaving him to consider what to do next.

• Obito escorted Shikaku Nara and the Konoha delegation safely to Six Paths City, where Ninshu ninja helped them reach Kakuzu’s office.
• Kakuzu offered Puppet Prostheses and some related technology in exchange for money and technologies Ninshu needed, and Shikaku Nara negotiated the terms over two days.
• Shikaku Nara and the delegation toured Six Paths City, and Obito learned from Shikaku Nara that Hanzo was dead.
• After returning to Konoha, Shikaku Nara reported on the negotiations, and Obito reported on his escort mission to Mu Yue.
• Mu Yue reminded Obito that his captain position had been temporary and asked whether he wanted to continue leading a team, leaving Obito undecided.

Obito put Anko, Kotetsu Hagane, and Izumo Kamizuki through exhausting question-based special training before his temporary captaincy ended. He left them with hundreds of questions, a warning to act cautiously, and an offer to help them in the future.

• Obito made his team try to hit his dodging Shadow Clone, and when they failed within ten minutes, he assigned each of them fifty questions.
• The three chose strenuous extra training to reduce their questions, and Obito trained them through the morning before treating them to lunch.
• Obito set Kotetsu and Izumo against each other in sparring while Anko navigated a trap course, leaving all three with hundreds of questions by the end of the afternoon.
• Obito told them their recovered captain, Ishizaka Yoshio, would resume leading them the next day, and he advised them to be cautious in real missions.
• Anko, Kotetsu, and Izumo thanked Obito and said goodbye as their temporary captain.

Obito ended his captaincy and chose to focus on improving himself before taking on another teaching role. Mu Yue used Shisui’s mission reward to perfect Breath of Sun, advanced his Sage Mode to the proficient level, and began working on a senjutsu Breathing Technique.

• Obito trained in the Southern Forest with Kakashi and reflected on how much Anko’s squad had improved under his guidance.
• Obito told Kakashi he had stepped down as captain because he needed to become more capable before teaching others.
• Shisui’s Life Mission reached seventy percent, giving Mu Yue a perfect-level skill scroll and other rewards.
• Mu Yue used the scroll to raise Breath of Sun to the perfect level and improved his Yang Release Chakra Nature Transformation.
• Mu Yue advanced Sage Mode to the proficient level while studying with Sage Fukasaku on Mount Myōboku.
• Mu Yue returned to Konoha and began developing a senjutsu Breathing Technique, but realized his foundation was still insufficient.

Mu Yue and Minato Namikaze marked the start of Konoha’s reformed Ninja Academy, while the other villages struggled to copy Ninshu’s prosthetic technology and contain Sōsuke. The chapter ended with the allied villages learning that Ninshu had made a major breakthrough in Ninjutsu scrolls, a development that could strengthen an entire force.

• Mu Yue addressed the Ninja Academy’s opening ceremony, and Yamato told Hyuga Oriko he expected to graduate early within weeks.
• Minato Namikaze expressed confidence in the Academy reforms, which he and Mu Yue had implemented despite objections from Konoha’s elders.
• The three allied villages established a research institute to reverse-engineer Ninshu’s Puppet Prostheses, and it developed a working prosthesis but then hit a technical bottleneck.
• The alliance’s efforts to infiltrate Ninshu and gather intelligence on Sōsuke made little progress, while Ōnoki welcomed the birth of his granddaughter Kurotsuchi.
• Ninshu’s breakthrough in Ninjutsu scroll technology alarmed the allied villages, whose leaders recognized that it could raise their forces’ overall strength.

Mu Yue’s improved ninjutsu scrolls helped Ninshu expand and prompted the major villages to invest in research. In Konoha, Uchiha Itachi began training under Shisui after Sasuke’s birth, determined to protect his younger brother.

• Nagato successfully tested Mu Yue’s improved ninjutsu scrolls, and Mu Yue decided Ninshu could sell them while keeping the technology secret.
• Mu Yue announced that he led Amegakure, strengthening Ninshu and helping Six Paths City grow as rival villages increased their research and cooperation.
• Minato Namikaze apologized to Mu Yue for having less time to work while caring for pregnant Kushina, and Mu Yue reassured him.
• Uchiha Itachi asked Shisui to train him so he could protect his newborn brother, Sasuke Uchiha.
• Shisui assessed Itachi’s skills, taught him the Great Fireball Technique, and continued guiding his ninja training.

At Sasuke’s full-month celebration, Mu Yue praised the Uchiha children and advised Itachi to enjoy his childhood rather than feel responsible for protecting Konoha. Later, Mu Yue and Obito helped guard Kushina’s delivery, which ended safely with Naruto’s birth and no sign of the expected disaster.

• At Sasuke’s celebration, Mu Yue assessed Sasuke and Itachi as exceptionally talented and told Itachi that Konoha did not need a five-year-old to protect it.
• On October 10, Minato left his duties to check on Kushina before her planned delivery outside Konoha.
• Kushina traveled with Sarutobi Biwako while Minato secretly followed with her protection team, and she met Mikoto and spoke about Naruto’s name.
• At the barrier, Mu Yue promised Kushina light, nourishing food, while Kakashi, Obito, and the other guards watched over the delivery team.
• Several hours later, Kushina gave birth to Naruto without an attack or Nine-Tails rampage, surprising Obito.

Minato Namikaze and Kushina welcomed their newborn son, Naruto, while Mu Yue and his disciples guarded the delivery and discussed the Nine-Tails’ chakra inside the baby. Later, Kakashi reconsidered whether Naruto and Yamato came from their future, while Mu Yue completed Sage Fukasaku’s instruction and prepared to seek further Sage Art training from the Great Toad Sage.

• Minato Namikaze brought Naruto to Kushina, who held and touched her newborn son after Minato released the restraints on her arms.
• Mu Yue examined Naruto and saw Nine-Tails’ chakra in him; Minato explained that the Nine-Tails had nearly escaped during the delivery, and Mu Yue said Naruto could learn to use the chakra.
• After the delivery, Kakashi suggested that adult Yamato and Naruto might come from a parallel world rather than their future, and his companions accepted that their world could be similar but different.
• Sage Fukasaku told Mu Yue that he had learned all the Sage Art knowledge Fukasaku could teach, and offered to ask the Great Toad Sage to teach him.
• Mu Yue checked his disciples’ Life Mission progress, noting that Might Guy was nearing sixty percent and Shisui was nearing eighty percent.

Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan attended Ninshu’s annual assembly, where Sōsuke approved plans to expand into the Land of Rivers and announced a new Martial Arts Tournament. He assigned the three of them to lead the new branch, leaving them ready to work together again.

• Yahiko arrived in Six Paths City with Amegakure ninjas and met Nagato, Konan, and Sasori before the annual assembly began.
• Ninshu’s ministers reported on the past year, and Sōsuke emphasized advancing both civilian and military Chakra technology.
• The assembly debated expansion into the Land of Rivers, but Sōsuke’s confidence persuaded the members to approve the plan.
• Sōsuke announced an unrestricted Martial Arts Tournament in Six Paths City and offered to face the champion afterward.
• Sōsuke assigned Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan to form the core team for the Land of Rivers branch, and the three welcomed the chance to work together.

The Third Raikage, Ōnoki, and Rasa discussed how to curb Ninshu’s expansion and agreed to approach Konoha. Mu Yue began learning Sage Techniques from the Great Toad Sage, then returned to Konoha and convened a meeting after learning Iwagakure had sent intelligence and a request.

• The Third Raikage, Ōnoki, and Rasa weighed ways to hinder Ninshu’s growth, and Ōnoki persuaded the others to contact Konoha first.
• Sage Fukasaku brought Mu Yue to Mount Myōboku, where the Great Toad Sage praised his talent and began teaching him Sage Mode.
• The Great Toad Sage told Mu Yue about Hagoromo, the Sage of Six Paths, and said Hagoromo had mastered Sage Techniques immediately after hearing the explanation.
• After returning to Konoha, Mu Yue dismissed his political-affairs Shadow Clone and summoned Minato Namikaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the two advisors to a meeting.
• Mu Yue told Konoha’s senior officials about the intelligence and request sent by Iwagakure.

Konoha and the other Great Ninja Villages considered joining forces to assassinate Sōsuke and stop Ninshu’s expansion. After Ninshu announced a tournament that could bring elite shinobi close to Sōsuke, the villages agreed to meet in secret to finalize a plan.

• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu urged Konoha to join Iwagakure and the Hidden Mist Village against Ninshu, while Minato Namikaze cautioned that the cost and likely war were too great.
• Mu Yue agreed to discuss the proposal first, and the Hidden Mist Village chose to follow Konoha’s lead before Konoha told Iwagakure it was willing to hold talks.
• The villages shared intelligence revealing that Sōsuke could withstand Ōnoki’s full-power Dust Release and erase Ninjutsu, leaving their assassination discussions at an impasse.
• After Ninshu announced a tournament whose winner could challenge Sōsuke, Ōnoki proposed using it to bring elite shinobi to Six Paths City and create an opportunity to attack him.
• Konoha and the Hidden Mist Village joined the alliance but insisted on a meeting of the Kage, who gathered secretly near the Land of Fields with Mu Yue, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Minato Namikaze.

The Five Kage finalized a plan to use the Ninshu Martial Arts Tournament to exhaust and assassinate Sōsuke, while arranging for the Third Raikage to challenge him after defeating the other Kage. As the tournament approached, its valuable prizes drew powerful competitors, and Konoha assembled a large team to travel to Six Paths City.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi argued that Mu Yue should not challenge Sōsuke because the other villages might take advantage of their weakened state and because Sōsuke might escape without a powerful challenger.
• Ōnoki, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the Third Mizukage admitted they could not effectively drain Sōsuke, while Rasa declined and the Third Raikage objected to being assigned the dangerous task.
• Ōnoki proposed that the other Kage deliberately lose to the Third Raikage in the tournament before he faced Sōsuke, and the Kage agreed to the plan.
• Ninshu announced valuable tournament rewards, prompting widespread interest and drawing Obito, Might Guy, Kakashi, and other Konoha ninja to enter.
• Konoha assembled a large delegation led by Minato Namikaze, with Hiruzen Sarutobi among those traveling to the tournament, and Obito remained confident he could win first place.

The second Ninshu Martial Arts Tournament drew an unprecedented crowd, including all Five Kage and many renowned ninja, leaving contestants like Obito worried about their chances. The preliminaries began with several opponents surrendering rather than face Kage, and Asuma advanced without a fight before his eventual match against Hiruzen Sarutobi.

• Obito and Kakashi arrived in Six Paths City with the Konoha ninja and spotted Karatachi Yagura and the Third Mizukage at registration.
• Asuma discovered that Hiruzen Sarutobi had entered the tournament, and Obito realized the Third Raikage and other Kage might be competing too.
• Ninshu's registration list revealed that all Five Kage and many prominent ninja from the Five Great Ninja Villages had entered, prompting Kakuzu to suspect a conspiracy.
• The preliminaries began on February 4, and Obito and Asuma found that Hiruzen Sarutobi was in their division.
• Ishida Kenji surrendered to Hiruzen Sarutobi, while opponents of the Third Raikage, Third Mizukage, Ōnoki, and Rasa also forfeited.
• Asuma advanced without fighting after the contestants numbered 1 through 8 withdrew, but he resolved to face Hiruzen Sarutobi when their match came.

Obito and his friends discovered that the tournament had drawn the Kage and powerful shinobi from across the major villages. Asuma faced his father, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and lost after showing off his Wind Release, but Hiruzen praised his skill before Asuma left the arena with Obito's help.

• Nohara Rin defeated an Iwagakure jonin with taijutsu, and Obito told her and Kakashi that Asuma had drawn Hiruzen Sarutobi in Division A1.
• Kakashi, Obito, and Nohara Rin investigated other divisions and spotted the Third Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, Ōnoki, Rasa, and other powerful shinobi.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Asuma faced each other in the tournament, and Asuma entered Wind Breathing Chakra Mode as soon as the match began.
• Asuma used Wind Release to attack from the air, but Hiruzen Sarutobi countered with clones, an Earth-Style Wall, and a storm that left Asuma open to a decisive punch.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi won and praised Asuma's Wind Release, while Asuma credited Mu Yue and then quietly asked Obito to help him walk off the arena.

Fourth Raikage A defeated Makui in the tournament, while Might Guy also advanced and reunited with his Konoha companions. Later, Mu Yue showed Hiruzen Sarutobi records exposing Shimura Danzō’s crimes, and Hiruzen agreed to make them public.

• Fourth Raikage A overwhelmed Makui with Lightning Release Chakra Mode and won their match.
• Might Guy defeated a Hidden Mist jonin using Stone Breathing and secured his place in the elimination rounds.
• Might Guy joined Kakashi, Nohara Rin, Obito, Shisui, and the others, who discussed their results before returning to the hotel.
• Mu Yue summoned Hiruzen Sarutobi and gave him documents discovered by the Training Squad at Root’s base.
• Hiruzen read records of Danzō’s brutal Root training system and illegal Hashirama Cells experiments.
• Hiruzen learned that Danzō and Uchiha Madara had targeted Sōsuke’s disciple’s Rinnegan, then agreed with Mu Yue to make Danzō’s crimes public.