Recaps

Uchiha Cheng learned of Jiraiya’s death and trained at Mount Myōboku to strengthen his Sage Mode while Konoha investigated Pain. Pain attacked the village, Kakashi and Choza were killed, and Uchiha Cheng received permission to return as he realized something Jiraiya had given him was missing.

• Uchiha Cheng escorted Hotaru through the Tsuchigumo Clan’s conflict, helped defeat Shirō, and returned to Konoha as Hotaru stayed behind to rebuild her clan.
• Kakashi told Uchiha Cheng that Jiraiya had died pursuing Pain, and Cheng grieved before resolving to train and follow the village’s rules.
• Shikamaru deciphered Jiraiya’s message as “without a true body,” and Kakashi sent Uchiha Cheng to Mount Myōboku to train in Sage Chakra.
• Uchiha Cheng struggled with Toad Oil’s training, then mastered a higher level of Sage Mode as Konoha studied Pain and the captured body later revived and escaped.
• Pain attacked Konoha, where Tsunade, Kakashi, Sakura, and others organized defenses while Shikamaru investigated the enemy’s bodies.
• Pain killed Kakashi and Choza, Danzo blocked Uchiha Cheng’s messenger frog, and Inoichi extracted information from a captured Pain.
• The Toad Sage allowed Uchiha Cheng to return to Konoha, and Cheng realized that something Jiraiya had given him was missing.