Recaps

Orochimaru built influence beyond Konoha, shaped Anko and Guren through training and Curse Marks, and witnessed major turning points in the village and Akatsuki. As Kushina’s delivery approached, he brought Anko to Hokage Rock and waited for the Nine-Tails Attack to unfold.

• Orochimaru helped Kazahana Koyuki take the throne, then confronted the Land of Hot Water’s Daimyo and recruited Hozuki Mangetsu for his plans in the Land of Gold.
• Orochimaru intervened in the tragedy surrounding Rin Nohara, killed Isobu, and left Kakashi and Obito to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Orochimaru watched Akatsuki’s conflict with Hanzō culminate in Yahiko’s death and Nagato’s use of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, then secretly took a piece of Ten-Tails flesh.
• Tsunade left Konoha after sharing a tender farewell with Orochimaru, while he built a laboratory and continued developing technology and his intelligence network.
• Minato became Konoha’s chosen Hokage, and Orochimaru advised Itachi to seek his own answers about his purpose.
• Orochimaru gave Anko an Earth Curse Mark and trained her to control its power, then gave Guren a mark and brought her to Rice Field Ninja Village as their base.
• As Kushina’s delivery approached, Minato put Konoha on alert, and Orochimaru told Anko to watch the coming events from Hokage Rock.
• The Nine-Tails appeared in Konoha and attacked the village, but Orochimaru told Anko to wait rather than join the fight.

Orochimaru helped stop the Nine-Tails, then left Konoha with Anko and began building a new ninja village in the Northern Lands. He gathered allies and recruited students, leaving the village nearly complete as he planned their training and research.

• Orochimaru fought the Nine-Tails and restrained it long enough for Minato to seal one half into Naruto, then left Konoha with Anko.
• Orochimaru escaped Konoha after burning Danzo's underground laboratory and rescued Pakura from an ambush arranged during peace talks.
• Orochimaru brought Anko to the Northern Hidden Village, where she joined Guren as a teacher and the two competed in training and service.
• Orochimaru recruited Hozuki Mangetsu and Ringo Ameyuri, returned their recovered swords, and promised to treat Ameyuri's illness.
• Orochimaru rescued Haku and Zabuza, then recruited Kimimaro after the Kaguya Clan's rebellion destroyed his home.
• Orochimaru brought the new recruits to the Northern Lands, strengthened himself by absorbing stored Nine-Tails' tails, and made Kimimaro and Haku his disciples.
• Orochimaru welcomed Ajisai as a student and learned that the Northern Lands' shinobi village was nearly complete.

Orochimaru expanded the Northern Lands by recruiting powerful shinobi, taking control of neighboring territories, and drawing migrants into his growing city. After joining Akatsuki and securing the Box of Paradise, he led a campaign against the Land of Iron while Kisame’s team headed for the Land of Grass.

• Orochimaru built the Northern Lands’ institutions and intelligence network, recruited Kakuzu, and began pursuing new research while Jiraiya searched for him.
• Orochimaru attacked Toneri and his father, took biological samples, and later assigned his followers to relocate villages and expand the Northern Lands.
• Orochimaru fought Jiraiya and left him defeated, then rescued Kisame from Konoha’s ambush and recruited him and Wuli Suyuan.
• Orochimaru seized the Box of Paradise and subdued Kusagakure, then recruited Karin and challenged Sasori and Pain to gain entry into Akatsuki.
• Orochimaru joined Akatsuki after explaining his need for protection and a stable place to conduct research.
• Anko, Guren, Kakuzu, and their allies led Yugakure’s people to Northern Land City, while Hozuki Mangetsu and Ringo Ameyuri brought thousands more migrants from the Land of Snow.
• Orochimaru ordered Kisame to confront Kumogakure’s investigators and accelerated plans to annex nearby nations.
• Orochimaru led an invasion of the Land of Iron as Kisame’s team headed for the Land of Grass, and Hozuki Mangetsu clashed with Mifune.

Orochimaru consolidated the Northern Lands, expanded its economy through trade and technology, and opened Casino City. Kumogakure’s attack led to a hostage exchange at Beidai Bridge, where fighting broke out between A’s forces and Orochimaru’s group.

• Orochimaru defeated Takigakure, took Fū into his care, and brought the village’s people and resources under Northern Lands control.
• Orochimaru welcomed new trainees, organized the Northern Lands’ departments, and began plans to move the Dragon Vein and develop the region.
• Orochimaru opened trade with other nations, and Northern Lands products sold successfully as the great villages began investigating the country.
• Orochimaru opened Casino City while Kumogakure’s Yugito and allied infiltrators attacked the Northern Lands, causing casualties and widespread damage.
• A agreed to pay fifty million ryo for Yugito and traveled with Killer B to Beidai Bridge, where Orochimaru demanded compensation for Kumogakure’s attack.
• After the exchange, Orochimaru’s forces and Kumogakure’s troops began fighting, and Orochimaru battled A as Kakuzu, Hozuki Mangetsu, and Kisame faced other opponents.