Recaps

Orochimaru tested Manda’s modifications, then dealt with Tsunade and Kushina eating his meals as he prepared to rest. The chapter left him exhausted, fed, and wondering what else his bad luck might bring.

• Orochimaru tested Manda’s new abilities and discovered that Manda’s responses were delayed, though she could follow commands and use her modified powers.
• Manda revealed that Garaga was mating with Mother Snake, prompting Tagorihime to react angrily while the White Snake Sage watched.
• Orochimaru returned to Konoha, where Tsunade and Shizune arrived; Tsunade ate his meal, and Orochimaru threatened to cook Tonton before Tsunade came to bid him farewell.
• Minato and Kushina accompanied Tsunade when she left, then Kushina and Minato joined Orochimaru at a restaurant, where Kushina ate an enormous amount of food.
• Orochimaru paid for the meal, concluded that he had been unlucky all day, and decided to go home and sleep.

Minato Namikaze and Shikun Mitarashi sparred with the Flying Thunder God before Hatake Sakumo arrived and challenged Orochimaru. Their fierce duel escalated into a clash of clones, blades, and combined elemental techniques, while Minato and Shikun defended Kakashi from the fallout.

• Minato Namikaze and Shikun Mitarashi fought to a standstill as they used the Flying Thunder God to outmaneuver each other.
• Hatake Sakumo arrived with Kakashi, and Minato stepped in front of Kakashi when the pressure of the duel made him uncomfortable.
• Orochimaru accepted Hatake Sakumo’s challenge, and the two began their spar as Minato, Shikun, and Kakashi watched.
• Orochimaru and Hatake Sakumo traded attacks with snakes, explosive kunai, elemental ninjutsu, and shadow clones.
• Orochimaru unleashed a combined Earth and Wind Release attack, while Minato and Shikun used defensive ninjutsu to shield Kakashi from the aftershocks.

Orochimaru and Hatake Sakumo’s spar ended when the Third Hokage stopped them, and both later reflected on the fight and how to counter the other’s strengths. Back home, Orochimaru resumed developing ninjutsu and created the Wind Release: Sonar Technique, which he planned to expand into an offensive technique.

• Hatake Sakumo and Orochimaru’s destructive spar was stopped by the arriving Third Hokage after the training ground was wrecked.
• Kushina took everyone to Q's Barbecue, where the feast exhausted the chefs and emptied Sakumo’s wallet.
• Orochimaru reviewed Sakumo’s speed and tactics, while Sakumo reflected that a sharper sword and firmer resolve might give him a chance against Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru tried adding Wind Release to the Rasengan but stopped the unstable technique before it exploded.
• Orochimaru developed Wind Release: Sonar Technique, with Infrasound and Ultrasound branches, and considered adapting it for offense.

Orochimaru developed living Snake Shuriken in Ryūchi Cave while pursuing his plans to learn Sage Art. In Sunagakure, the Third Kazekage and Sasori were missing, and the village’s leaders decided to blame Konoha and prepare for war.

• Garaga fought Manda after hearing that Manda had spread intimate details about him, then sought a mechanical eye from Orochimaru and agreed to serve him if his brain remained untouched.
• Orochimaru created Snake Shuriken by reinforcing small snakes with hardened scales and steel so they could coil into blades and attack if they missed their targets.
• Shamon found the Kazekage’s office empty and left without realizing that the Third Kazekage had disappeared and Sunagakure was leaderless.
• Ebizo reported that the Third Kazekage and Sasori had both vanished, prompting Chiyo to accuse Konoha of their presumed assassination.
• Chiyo, Pakura, and the other Sunagakure leaders decided to launch a war against Konoha to seize land with more water and avenge Chiyo’s family.

After Sunagakure blamed Konoha for the Third Kazekage’s death, Rasa became the Fourth Kazekage and declared war. Orochimaru took command of Konoha’s western forces, where he learned the enemy had converged at Kikyo Castle under Chiyo, Rasa, and Pakura.

• Chiyo and the elders backed war against Konoha, and Rasa became Fourth Kazekage with Chiyo’s support.
• Sunagakure announced that Konoha’s White Fang and Three Ninja had assassinated the Third Kazekage, then launched the Third Ninja War.
• Orochimaru returned to Konoha and was appointed commander of the western front after the jonin meeting.
• Orochimaru led three thousand ninja toward the border and sent Shikun Mitarashi and Minato Namikaze to scout.
• Minato and Shikun rescued a Konoha squad; Orochimaru saved its poisoned captain by amputating his leg and took a poison sample to develop an antidote.
• The captain reported that Chiyo, Rasa, and Pakura had united their forces at Kikyo Castle, leaving Orochimaru facing three Kage-level opponents.

Orochimaru led Konohagakure’s forces into their first direct battle with Sunagakure near the River Country. The fighting began with Orochimaru facing Rasa and Chiyo, while Shikun Mitarashi and Minato moved to disrupt Sunagakure’s other fighters.

• Orochimaru worried that a prolonged war with Sunagakure would leave Konohagakure vulnerable to attacks from the other great nations and to Danzo’s schemes.
• Orochimaru led Konohagakure’s shinobi to the borderlands, where their forces met Sunagakure’s army near the River Country.
• Chiyo accused Konohagakure of making Sasori disappear, and Orochimaru suggested that Sasori might have assassinated the Third Kazekage and fled.
• Rasa ordered a joint attack, and Pakura launched Scorch Release fireballs at Orochimaru, who countered them before blocking Rasa’s Gold Dust with Triple Rashomon.
• Orochimaru summoned Manda to fight Chiyo’s Puppets, while Shikun Mitarashi transferred Pakura away to fight her.
• Minato transferred away two of the Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu.

Orochimaru and Minato Namikaze fought Rasa and Chiyo while Shikun Mitarashi kept Pakura occupied. Minato left to reinforce Konoha’s main battlefield, where his attacks turned the fight against Sunagakure, as Orochimaru continued holding off the two Kage-level opponents.

• Orochimaru and Minato Namikaze pressured Rasa and Chiyo, while Shikun Mitarashi used Flying Thunder God to evade Pakura’s Scorch Release and search for an opening.
• Chiyo used poisonous smoke and her Puppets to force Orochimaru to evade, giving Rasa time to attack with Magnet Release: Golden Sand Wave.
• Orochimaru suppressed Rasa and Chiyo with combined Fire Release and Wind Release, then told Minato Namikaze to help the other Konoha Ninja.
• Rasa tried to use Gold Dust to interfere with another battlefield, but Orochimaru’s attacks forced him to withdraw it and defend himself.
• Minato Namikaze raced across the main battlefield, killing Sunagakure shinobi and boosting Konoha’s morale while Orochimaru kept Rasa and Chiyo occupied.

Orochimaru held Sunagakure to a stalemate after a day of fighting, while Konohagakure prepared for a prolonged war and Jiraiya returned home. The chapter left Sakumo’s future in danger as Hiruzen’s advisers and Danzo sought to limit his rise.

• Orochimaru, Minato Namikaze, Rasa, and Chiyo fought until both sides were exhausted, then withdrew without a decisive victory.
• Orochimaru returned to camp and concluded that he had achieved his goal of halting Sunagakure’s advance, leaving the front in a stalemate.
• Konohagakure gathered shinobi for possible reinforcements while keeping forces in reserve against Kumogakure and Iwagakure; Kirigakure remained occupied by internal conflict.
• Jiraiya finished training Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato, received a recall order, and returned to Konohagakure.
• Hiruzen’s advisers opposed Sakumo becoming a commander, while Danzo hoped to send White Fang on missions so secret or dangerous that his prestige would not grow.

Hatake Sakumo watched Kakashi begin at the Ninja Academy, where Kakashi met Might Guy, while the war against Sunagakure worsened and Hiruzen Sarutobi approved a mission to assassinate the Kazekage. Sakumo was chosen for the mission and left Kakashi that night to head for the front lines.

• Kushina woke Anko for the Ninja Academy entrance exam and made her eat the mung bean porridge she had prepared.
• Kakashi, Anko, Kurenai Yūhi, Asuma, Rin Nohara, Obito Uchiha, and other children entered the academy, while Might Guy failed the evaluation after running five hundred laps.
• Hatake Shōsō recognized Might Guy’s determination and told Kakashi to ask his name, setting Guy up as Kakashi’s future rival and friend.
• As the war with Sunagakure stalled at Kikyo Castle and threats from Kumogakure and Iwagakure grew, Shimura Danzō urged Hiruzen Sarutobi to act against the Kazekage.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi formed an elite Anbu squad for the Kazekage Assassination Plan, including Hatake Sakumo and his eldest son.
• Hatake Sakumo said goodbye to Kakashi and left that night for the front lines.

Rasa enlisted Bunpuku to use Shukaku against Kikyo Castle while he and Chiyo handled Orochimaru. As Hatake Sakumo set out on an assassination mission after Orochimaru warned him of a trap, the One-Tail went berserk in the Sunagakure camp, and Rasa flew to confront it despite his injury.

• Rasa, Chiyo, and Pakura persuaded Bunpuku to unleash Shukaku against Konoha’s defenses at Kikyo Castle.
• Hatake Sakumo arrived at Kikyo Castle with Shin'nosuke, Shin'nosuke’s wife, and the Root operative Leopard, then prepared to lead an assassination mission.
• Orochimaru privately warned Sakumo that the mission was a trap and arranged for Minato and Shikun Mitarashi to provide backup.
• Sakumo departed with his team, anxious about the danger but unwilling to abandon the mission or his comrades.
• The One-Tail suddenly rampaged in the Sunagakure camp while Rasa was being treated for a wound inflicted by Sakumo’s White Fang.
• Rasa ordered Leopard taken away and flew toward the berserk One-Tail using gold dust.

Hatake Sakumo rescued Leopard after the assassination mission failed, while Asuma Sarutobi and his wife were left crippled. Orochimaru seized the chaos caused by Shukaku to launch a decisive assault on Sunagakure, leaving Rasa and Pakura convinced he had planned the entire turn of events.

• Hatake Sakumo chose to rescue Leopard instead of abandoning him to complete the failed mission, while Asuma Sarutobi and his wife stayed behind with their injuries.
• Orochimaru sent Minato Namikaze to retrieve Shin'nosuke and led the survivors back toward Konoha's forces.
• Orochimaru judged the rampaging One-Tail and Rasa's injuries to be the best opening for a decisive attack, then rallied Konoha's remaining forces against the Sunagakure camp.
• Chiyo charged at Hatake Sakumo, Shukaku fled from Orochimaru, and Konoha's ninja swept through the disordered Suna camp.
• Rasa and Pakura praised Orochimaru's supposed contingency plan, while Orochimaru privately realized he had not anticipated the events that created the opportunity.

Orochimaru and the Konoha forces overwhelmed Sunagakure, forcing Rasa, Pakura, and Chiyo to retreat while Bunpuku and Shukaku stayed behind to cover their escape. Bunpuku became a perfect Jinchuriki and fought Orochimaru’s group, but Shukaku was ultimately killed, leaving Sunagakure unable to readily wage war for three years.

• Rasa and Pakura attacked Orochimaru together, but he countered their jutsu with powerful Water Release attacks and forced them onto the defensive.
• Hatake Sakumo fought Chiyo while Minato Namikaze and Shikun Mitarashi cut through the Sunagakure forces, inflicting heavy casualties.
• Rasa’s wounds reopened, and he and Pakura rescued Chiyo and fled as Bunpuku and Shukaku agreed to stay behind as the rearguard.
• Bunpuku became a perfect One-Tail Jinchuriki and joined Shukaku in battling Orochimaru, Hatake Sakumo, Minato Namikaze, and Shikun Mitarashi.
• Orochimaru used himself as bait, and Gamabunta, Garaga, and Manda restrained Shukaku before Hatake Sakumo decapitated it.
• Sunagakure lost Shukaku and would not readily start another war until the Tailed Beast revived and a new Jinchuriki was prepared.

After Sunagakure's defeat, Rasa sent Pakura to seek Kirigakure's help, secretly hoping to remove a rival for his Kazekage position. Pakura was ambushed and crippled by a Kirigakure shinobi, who attacked her as vengeance for past losses.

• Orochimaru joined Konoha's negotiations with Sunagakure, whose defeat had weakened Rasa's hold on power and sparked conflict among its leaders.
• Rasa told Pakura to travel to Kirigakure and persuade it to pressure Konoha during negotiations.
• Believing the mission would help Sunagakure, Pakura left her students and set out for the Land of Water.
• A Kirigakure shinobi met Pakura in a misty gorge and stabbed her in the back, paralyzing her.
• The shinobi attacked the helpless Pakura with kunai and shuriken, declaring it vengeance and a price for Kirigakure's support.

Hatake Sakumo faced a wave of rumors blaming him for Konoha’s losses, while Hiruzen and Danzo worked to undermine his standing. Meanwhile, Orochimaru used his intimidating presence to help negotiate Sunagakure’s mission-quota transfers and war reparations, and the chapter left him set to negotiate directly with Ebizo.

• Villagers spread rumors that Hatake Sakumo’s abandoned mission had caused Konoha’s losses, and Kakashi asked his father whether the accusations were lies.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi hoped the scandal would restrain Sakumo, while Danzo ordered Root to intensify the rumors and drive Sakumo from Konoha.
• Sakumo explained to Kakashi that he had failed to carry out the Hokage’s original mission, despite Orochimaru’s forces helping win the battle.
• Orochimaru’s intimidating presence helped Konoha and Sunagakure settle on transferring thirty thousand mission quotas over five years.
• The negotiators argued over war reparations until Ebizo demanded that Orochimaru negotiate directly with him.

Orochimaru returned to Konohagakure after the negotiations with Sunagakure ended and challenged Hiruzen over the pressure on White Fang. Sakumo brought Kakashi to Orochimaru and offered him the Konoha Style Sword Technique in exchange for protecting his son, but Orochimaru said the price was not enough.

• Orochimaru and Ebizo failed to agree at first, but after more than two months they settled on compensation that met Sunagakure's bottom line, and Orochimaru was recalled to Konohagakure.
• Sakumo taught Kakashi the Konoha Style Sword Technique and asked what he would do if his father died, then decided he needed someone else to protect Kakashi.
• Orochimaru returned to Konohagakure and asked Hiruzen whether he intended to kill White Fang, but Hiruzen insisted Danzo was only applying pressure and ordered Orochimaru not to interfere.
• Sakumo arrived at Orochimaru's home with Kakashi and offered the Konoha Style Sword Technique in exchange for Orochimaru protecting Kakashi until he came of age.
• Orochimaru refused to accept the offer as sufficient and indicated that he wanted something more from Sakumo.

Orochimaru persuaded Hatake Sakumo to fake his death and become his hidden ally, while taking Kakashi in as his godson and future student. After Sakumo’s staged suicide, he began a new life as Snake Shadow, secretly serving Orochimaru.

• Orochimaru told Sakumo he wanted to become Hokage and reshape the Shinobi World through economic and cultural influence, and Sakumo agreed to become his shadow if Kakashi stayed safe.
• Sakumo introduced Kakashi to Orochimaru as his godfather, and Orochimaru gave Kakashi a scroll containing a reconstructed version of the Chidori.
• Three days later, Sakumo’s staged suicide was discovered by Kakashi, and Orochimaru took Kakashi to live with him while the Third Hokage stopped Danzo from targeting the boy.
• The Jōnin suspected that Sakumo had been suppressed, and suspicion shifted toward the Third Hokage as Orochimaru withdrew from public life and refused to become Root’s deputy leader.
• On the night of the staged suicide, Sakumo confirmed that he had covered his tracks and chose the codename Snake Shadow; Orochimaru gave him a technique to disguise his face.

Orochimaru studied Garp’s diary, which contained information on the Navy’s Six Powers and Haki, and considered how to adapt them to the Naruto world. He planned to contact Might Duy and Might Guy to learn more about the Eight Gates and investigate whether he could heal Duy’s injuries.

• Orochimaru learned that subduing Hatake Sakumo as Snake Shadow had caused a major surge in spacetime energy and produced Garp’s diary.
• Orochimaru extracted training methods for the Six Powers and Haki from Garp’s diary and began considering how to adapt them to the Naruto world.
• Orochimaru reasoned that the Eight Gates might be necessary to use the Six Powers effectively, since ordinary ninja bodies could not withstand the training.
• Orochimaru concluded that he could likely learn Shave but would need other methods, such as Wind Release, to imitate techniques like Storm Leg and Finger Gun.
• Orochimaru decided to contact Might Duy and Might Guy, hoping to study their training and see whether Duy’s hidden injuries could be healed.

Orochimaru approached Might Duy to learn more about the Eight Gates Technique, which Duy had perfected after receiving it from the Second Hokage. Duy hesitated to teach others because the technique was dangerous, but Orochimaru offered to screen trainees, leaving Duy to consider sharing it so he could support Guy.

• Might Guy finished his Academy training and joined Might Duy for intense exercises, then challenged Kakashi to a duel.
• Orochimaru revealed that he had opened the First Gate and asked Might Duy for guidance on the Eight Gates Technique.
• Might Duy explained that the Second Hokage had given him the technique decades earlier and that he had eventually perfected it, though he had never found a suitable reason to use it.
• Orochimaru suggested teaching the technique to more people so Duy could join higher-level missions, but Duy worried that it might fall into the wrong hands.
• Orochimaru promised to screen trainees and reminded Duy that greater income could help provide Guy with training resources.

Orochimaru rewarded Might Duy for sharing his taijutsu knowledge by operating on him to repair hidden injuries from Eight Gates training. Duy left with Orochimaru’s Six Powers materials and a prescription, while Guy promised to help develop new taijutsu and Duy vowed to keep away from Orochimaru.

• Might Duy agreed to help Orochimaru sell Green Spandex outfits, and Orochimaru got Minato, Shikun Mitarashi, and other subordinates to buy them.
• Orochimaru operated on Might Duy to repair hidden injuries and damage caused by his Eight Gates training, while Guy and Kakashi watched in alarm.
• After the surgery, Duy celebrated his renewed strength, but Orochimaru insisted the treatment was incomplete and operated on him again.
• Orochimaru gave Duy his Six Powers of the Navy materials and prescribed medicine to help restore his strength.
• Guy carried the unsteady Duy home, promising to help develop new taijutsu, while Duy refused Orochimaru’s invitation to bring Guy over often.

Hiruzen Sarutobi appointed Orochimaru as a Team Leader Jōnin and assigned him Asuma, while Minato Namikaze received his own team assignment. Orochimaru left after secretly recording Hiruzen and Biwako’s quarrel, and Minato mistakenly imagined a rivalry between Orochimaru and Hiruzen over their teams.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Orochimaru to become a Team Leader Jōnin and train Asuma Sarutobi, and Orochimaru accepted.
• Orochimaru left Hiruzen’s office as Biwako Sarutobi emerged and accused Hiruzen of visiting women, then beat him.
• Orochimaru eavesdropped on Hiruzen and Biwako, recorded their quarrel, and slipped away when someone approached.
• Orochimaru met Minato Namikaze, who suggested competing to see whose team members became Chunin first.
• Minato received information about his subordinate and realized Kakashi was on his team, then wrongly guessed that Orochimaru had fought Hiruzen over Kakashi.

Taro Funano announced that Obito Uchiha, Might Guy, and their classmates would take the Ninja Academy Graduation Exam the next day. Worried that Guy would fail the written portion, Might Duy sought advice from Lord Orochimaru, who told Guy to choose A for every multiple-choice question.

• Taro Funano scolded his class, took roll, and reprimanded Obito Uchiha for arriving late.
• Taro Funano announced the class would take the Graduation Exam at nine the next morning and shared their mock exam rankings.
• Might Duy brought Might Guy to Lord Orochimaru and Kakashi because Guy feared he would fail the written exam.
• Lord Orochimaru saw that Guy had scored one point on his mock exam, while Obito had scored even lower.
• Lord Orochimaru advised Guy to choose A for every multiple-choice question, and Guy eagerly accepted the strategy.

Orochimaru met his newly assigned genin team of Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yūhi, and Mitaraishi Anko, listened to their thoughts with his new Observation Haki, and had them introduce themselves. The introductions descended into a fight that Orochimaru and Anko repeatedly interrupted with punches.

• Taro Funano announced Team One for Rin Nohara, Obito Uchiha, and Kakashi Hatake, and Team Two for Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yūhi, and Mitaraishi Anko.
• Orochimaru met his three genin on Hokage Rock and used his newly developed Observation Haki to hear their thoughts.
• Orochimaru introduced himself and shared his dream of becoming Hokage and ending war, then Anko and Kurenai introduced themselves and their ambitions.
• Asuma gave a leering introduction, so Anko punched him and the two began fighting while Kurenai tried to stop them.
• Orochimaru told the team they would never kill anyone fighting like that, then hit all three and later punched Asuma again when he objected.

Orochimaru put Anko Mitarashi, Kurenai Yūhi, and Asuma Sarutobi through a harsh surprise test and criticized their mistakes. He ended by revealing that the bell he held would be part of their real survival exercise.

• Anko Mitarashi arrived early but was caught off guard by Orochimaru's snake attack and tied up.
• Kurenai Yūhi failed to notice the clues Orochimaru had left and was caught in a genjutsu beside Anko.
• Asuma Sarutobi arrived late, was tricked and beaten by Orochimaru, then joined the others tied to posts.
• Orochimaru scolded Anko and Kurenai for missing warning signs and reprimanded Asuma for being late, interrupting, and eating too much.
• Kurenai Yūhi asked whether the ambushes were the survival exercise, and Orochimaru showed them a bell as he revealed the exercise was something else.

Orochimaru checked on Kakashi’s progress, then tested Anko, Kurenai, and Asuma as they attempted to steal his bell. After their coordinated assault, he pretended to be briefly caught by their genjutsu, giving Anko an opening while still planning to make them work for it.

• Orochimaru observed Kakashi’s strong teamwork and tactical growth during his test with Minato.
• Orochimaru saw through Anko, Kurenai, and Asuma’s traps and easily countered their initial attacks.
• Orochimaru toyed with the three students, redirecting Kurenai’s punch into Asuma and narrowly avoiding Anko’s sword strike.
• Asuma told the others to focus on stealing Orochimaru’s bell rather than defeating him, and they surrounded him with a coordinated plan.
• Orochimaru used Water Fang Bullet to stop Asuma’s fireball, then pretended to be paralyzed by Kurenai’s genjutsu as Anko spotted her opening.

Orochimaru tested Anko, Asuma, and Kurenai, then accepted them as his squad after they worked together to take the bell. The next day, he reviewed their battle and began training them to become part of his plans for changing the world.

• Kurenai, Asuma, and Anko coordinated their attacks and took Orochimaru's bell, passing his test.
• Orochimaru officially formed his squad and treated the new team to dinner, where they joined Minato's squad and Kushina's enormous appetite strained Minato's budget.
• The next day, Orochimaru reviewed the fight with his students and gave each of them advice on improving their techniques and teamwork.
• Orochimaru hoped to pass his ideas to his disciples and eventually make them central to his plans for transforming the world.