Recaps

Uchiha Asuka diverted the noble he was escorting to Ryūchi Cave, then crossed the Land of Lightning while Kumogakure tried to track Konoha’s movements. Asuka continued toward the Land of Honey, while Kumogakure’s elders plotted to provoke trouble inside Konoha and Tsunade reflected on her past.

• Uchiha Asuka took the Land of Honey’s daimyō’s younger brother to Ryūchi Cave, where Ichikishimahime and Tagorihime set him trials to learn Sage Arts.
• Asuka traveled toward the Land of Honey while disguising his Sharingan as a sign of Jashin, persuading cult followers to change their lives and dismantling a Jashin Cult headquarters.
• Kumogakure’s forces pursued the Konoha Anbu, who fled through the Land of Lightning while Asuka traveled separately and left them to return to the village if they were in danger.
• The White Snake Sage, Rukin Hime, and Ichikishimahime watched the nobleman repair Ryūchi Cave’s temple and wondered when Asuka would arrive.
• Kumogakure’s elders debated retaliation against Konoha and schemes involving Danzo, Uchiha Fugaku, and a Hyuga marriage, while Mabui worried about their plans.
• Asuka disguised himself and Fei Fei and headed toward western Land of Lightning, while Tsunade left Shizune to handle paperwork and remembered Nawaki’s and Dan’s dream of becoming Hokage.

Asuka traveled through the Land of Lightning, where his search for Mabui’s stolen rooster entangled him with Samui’s revenge and Kumogakure’s political maneuvering. He left Samui undergoing Ryūchi Cave’s trial and helped Ono Jun decide to seek power in the Land of Honey by allying with the Land of Lightning.

• Tsunade received the Raikage’s warning about Konoha ninjas near the border and privately decided Konoha would deny responsibility for Asuka’s mission unless he caused trouble.
• Asuka learned that Mabui had raised a rooster from the magical egg he had lost, but he continued his mission rather than approach her about it.
• Mabui and Samui searched for Asuka, who knocked Samui unconscious and confronted Mabui about the chicken she had taken from Konoha.
• Asuka let Mabui and Samui go after Mabui promised to arrange the rooster’s return, then proposed an alliance between their clans and told her about Kabuto’s fried-chicken story.
• Asuka sent Samui to Ryūchi Cave to pursue power, while Mabui accompanied him toward the Land of Honey and explained that Kumogakure’s squads were hunting him without knowing his mission.
• Mabui worried about being forced to fight her friends in a future war, and Asuka told her she could stay at his house until the war ended.
• Asuka summoned Ono Jun, who had failed Ryūchi Cave’s painting trial but decided to pursue becoming daimyo of the Land of Honey by joining the Land of Lightning’s camp.
• Ono Jun proposed disbanding the Land of Honey’s armed forces and inviting the Land of Lightning and Kumogakure to station troops there, intending to use the savings to raise living standards.

Asuka returned from the Land of Honey as Akatsuki and the Uchiha weighed plans involving the coming war and Uchiha Madara. The stretch ended with Ryoichi learning that Asuka was getting married, though no one had told him.

• Ono Jun told Asuka how Ryūchi Cave had changed his dream from escaping war to making the Land of Honey prosperous, and Asuka urged him to use the Land of Lightning’s support.
• Kakuzu, Zetsu, and Konan struggled to fund Akatsuki’s plans, while Konan pursued a strategy of uniting and strengthening the Rain Country.
• Konan and Pakura discussed using Kumogakure’s factories to build Rain Country’s economy, as the Fourth Raikage’s elders secretly maneuvered to prevent another border conflict.
• Samui failed Rukin Hime’s sensory trial and reunited with Mabui, then decided to join Kumogakure’s envoys to Konoha and seek Asuka for future revenge.
• Asuka returned from the Land of Lightning with a higher mission payment, then told Ryoichi that he intended to revive Kushina so Naruto could have a mother’s love.
• Asuka explained Hizashi Hyuga’s plan to marry Hinata to a future Hokage and adopt Hizashi’s son, while clan elders discussed preserving Uchiha unity and the Uchiha held a boisterous meeting at Naka Shrine.
• Asuka told Ryoichi and Saburo that they planned to start the Fourth Shinobi World War, and Ryoichi argued that reviving Madara could help change Konoha’s view of him.
• Mei Terumi reviewed intelligence about Asuka as Ringo Yurui sought permission to travel to Konoha, while Asuka later argued with Shukaku about Mikoto and his mother before learning that his house was being renovated for his wedding.

Asuka revived Kushina and she returned with memories and suspicions about the Nine-Tailed Night, forcing him to reveal more of his plans and Mangekyo ability. After Asuka swapped Kushina’s consciousness into Fei Fei, Kushina demanded he take her around the world.

• Uchiha Ryoichi confronted Uchiha Saburo over his matchmaking schemes, and Saburo admitted he had planned to arrange a match for Asuka.
• Asuka visited Kushina’s ward and later used Soul Re-Sealing Release and Okuninushi to bring her soul back, replacing his eye with a Sharingan from the Great Elder.
• Kushina met Hatake Sakumo in the darkness, heard his messages for Kakashi, and was pulled back as her eyelids began to move.
• Asuka revived Kushina, who recognized those around her and told them that Uchiha Madara had taken her from the barrier.
• Hashirama Senju doubted Madara had staged the Nine-Tails attack, while Danzō ordered an investigation and schemed to send Asuka to the future through the Loulan Incident.
• Kushina confronted Asuka over the Uchiha secrets he had revealed and refused his requests to influence Mikoto or involve Naruto, while Asuka showed her his Mangekyo Sharingan.
• Asuka used Okuninushi to swap Kushina and Fei Fei’s consciousnesses, leaving Kushina trapped in the Orange Cat’s body.
• Kushina demanded that Asuka take her to see the sea, desert, rocks, and rain, and warned she could dissolve their Summoning Contract herself.