Recaps

Orochimaru subdued and sealed the Four-Tails, while Minato Namikaze rescued a failing Konoha unit and wiped out fifty Iwagakure ninja. On the main battlefield, Jiraiya fought Ōnoki but was caught by Dust Release and disintegrated.

• Orochimaru trapped the Four-Tails beneath five Earth Mountains and used the Five Elements Seal on him.
• Minato Namikaze rescued Mimura Hamaki and defeated fifty Iwagakure ninja with his Flying Thunder God technique.
• Jiraiya entered Sage Mode and probed Ōnoki's Dust Release with a fire attack.
• Ōnoki forced Jiraiya out of hiding underground and disintegrated him with Dust Release: Severing Superflat Technique.

Jiraiya and Orochimaru helped Konoha defeat Iwagakure’s forces, forcing Ōnoki to retreat after Orochimaru captured Roshi. After the battle, Orochimaru revealed two hidden White Zetsu, whose presence pointed to a widespread enemy threat.

• Jiraiya fought Ōnoki, destroying his Stone Golem with Sage Art: Goemon.
• Orochimaru arrived atop Manda with the unconscious Four-Tails Jinchuriki, Roshi, and Konoha’s morale rose.
• Kitsuchi urged Ōnoki to retreat, and Ōnoki ordered the Iwa Shinobi to withdraw.
• Ōnoki used Dust Release to stop Konoha from pursuing, while Jiraiya followed Orochimaru’s signal to halt the chase.
• Orochimaru told Jiraiya that an unknown enemy had injured him and used Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation to capture two White Zetsu emerging from underground.
• Orochimaru and Jiraiya discussed the White Zetsu’s ability to hide and their presence across the Shinobi World.

Orochimaru warned Hiruzen Sarutobi that Madara Uchiha was alive and likely grooming Obito Uchiha as his successor. Later, Orochimaru discovered his experiment funds had vanished and attended a banquet Tsunade had prepared for him.

• Orochimaru told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Madara Uchiha had survived and was using a special clone because he was too old to act in person.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru suspected that Madara had chosen Obito Uchiha as a successor, and Orochimaru warned Hiruzen not to tell Danzo or the advisors.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi decided that the village should end the war soon and rely on Orochimaru to face Madara.
• Orochimaru searched his home for his missing experiment funds and suspected Danzo might have taken them.
• Shizune invited Orochimaru to Tsunade's carefully prepared banquet, and Orochimaru nervously ate a piece of Lychee Oil Cake.

Tsunade’s poison left Orochimaru hospitalized, and Hiruzen sent Kakashi Squad to the Kirigakure Battlefield, where Kakashi witnessed Rin’s death and questioned the purpose of becoming a ninja. Orochimaru urged Kakashi to live and grow stronger to help change the Shinobi World, then rushed to aid Might Duy against the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

• Tsunade’s poison worsened Orochimaru’s injuries, and he collapsed again after realizing she thought he had meant her property when he mentioned Kakashi inheriting it.
• Hiruzen transferred Kakashi Squad to the Kirigakure Battlefield, and a month later Obito watched Kakashi kill Rin, awakening his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Orochimaru found Kakashi grieving and told him that he wanted to change the Shinobi World, urging Kakashi to live, grow stronger, and become an inheritor of his will.
• After Might Duy reported encountering the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Orochimaru left Kakashi and hurried to the battlefield.
• Might Duy opened the Eight Gates through the Seventh Gate and attacked the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, sending Jinin Akebino flying and driving Juzo Biwa and Munashi Jinpachi back.

Might Duy and Fugaku Uchiha turned the battle against the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist after Guy's Team escaped. Duy exhausted himself using the Daytime Tiger, while Fugaku killed Jinin Akebino and the surviving enemies fled.

• Raiga Kurosuki nearly struck Ebisu, but Fugaku Uchiha arrived and revealed that Raiga had been caught in a genjutsu.
• Fugaku and Might Duy fought the Seven Ninja Swordsmen together, allowing Genma Shiranui to carry Might Kay away with Ebisu.
• After Guy's Team escaped, Duy unleashed the Ultimate Reverse Lotus and killed Kushimaru Kuriarare, while Fugaku trapped Munashi Jinpachi in a genjutsu and Duy smashed him.
• Duy used the Daytime Tiger against the fleeing swordsmen, killing one and breaking the Kubikiribōchō as Juzo Biwa and Suikazan Fuguki escaped in separate directions.
• Duy dropped out of the Seventh Gate, and Fugaku used his Sharingan to control Jinin Akebino before killing him with a kunai.

Fugaku Uchiha awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan while fighting the Third Mizukage and used Susanoo to protect Might Duy. As the Third Mizukage unleashed a sealing technique, Might Duy received a call from Orochimaru on his watch.

• The Third Mizukage froze the battlefield and attacked Fugaku Uchiha and Might Duy with Ice Release.
• Might Duy shielded Fugaku from the ice crystals, and Fugaku awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Fugaku used his Sharingan to anticipate the Third Mizukage's attacks and summoned Susanoo to protect himself and Might Duy.
• The Third Mizukage attacked Susanoo with powerful Ice Release techniques, while Fugaku strained to hold the defense.
• Might Duy reassured Fugaku that there was no need to worry, and Orochimaru's portrait appeared on his watch.

Orochimaru arrived after the Third Mizukage sealed himself in ice, then warned Fugaku Uchiha that his Mangekyo Sharingan could make Konoha’s upper ranks wary of the Uchiha Clan. Fugaku agreed to pledge the clan’s loyalty to Orochimaru only if Orochimaru proved himself worthy, and challenged him.

• The Third Mizukage froze himself inside a massive ice cube covered in sealing inscriptions, and Fugaku Uchiha and Might Duy acknowledged his final stand.
• Orochimaru arrived beside Fugaku Uchiha and Might Duy, then remarked that Fugaku’s Sharingan had surprised him.
• Orochimaru warned Fugaku Uchiha that Danzo and other Konoha leaders might grow wary of the Uchiha Clan now that Fugaku’s eyes had been exposed.
• Fugaku Uchiha considered Orochimaru’s offer to draw the clan closer to him but hesitated over the Uchiha Clan’s pride.
• Fugaku Uchiha said the Uchiha Clan would pledge loyalty if Orochimaru proved his strength, then challenged him.

Orochimaru and Fugaku Uchiha met in a secluded forest to test their strength after Konohagakure crushed Kirigakure’s forces. Fugaku unleashed his Mangekyō Sharingan and Susanoo, but Orochimaru remained in place and overwhelmed him with ninjutsu and a powerful technique that tore Susanoo apart.

• Under Orochimaru’s leadership, Konohagakure defeated Kirigakure and began clearing remaining troops and rebuilding coastal defenses.
• Orochimaru and Fugaku Uchiha left camp for a secluded forest, where Shisui Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha secretly watched them.
• Fugaku attacked with shuriken and Fire Release, while Orochimaru countered with a modified snake and water techniques.
• Fugaku activated Susanoo and fought Orochimaru’s giant snakes, then strengthened Susanoo to withstand a barrage of powerful ninjutsu.
• Fugaku’s Mangekyō Sharingan foresaw him reaching Susanoo’s third stage, but Orochimaru used a strange technique that made the earth split and tore Susanoo apart without moving.

Fugaku accepted defeat by Orochimaru and pledged the Uchiha Clan’s allegiance, while Shisui and Itachi witnessed the encounter. In the Land of Rain, Hanzō forced Nagato into killing Yahiko, triggering Nagato’s awakening of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and a devastating attack on their enemies.

• Fugaku conceded defeat to Orochimaru, accepted his strength, and swore that the Uchiha Clan would serve him.
• Shisui revealed that he and Itachi had witnessed the fight, and he praised Orochimaru’s service to Konohagakure and peace.
• Hanzō held Konan hostage and forced Nagato to choose between killing Yahiko and watching her die.
• Yahiko threw himself onto the kunai in Nagato’s hand, dying after urging Nagato to protect Konan and carry on their hopes.
• Nagato summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, which drained his chakra and unleashed a chakra dragon that killed the surrounding forces while Hanzō escaped.

Nagato drove Hanzō away with the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, while Obito prepared to advance his plan. After the Third Ninja War ended, Orochimaru and his friends shared drinks and memories before he showed Tsunade the captured Four-Tails Jinchuriki, Roshi, and proposed using sealing techniques to return only half of him to Iwagakure.

• Nagato's Chakra and life force were drained by the Demonic Statue, leaving him unable to pursue Hanzō as Obito watched from a distant mountaintop and resolved to begin his plan.
• After Kirigakure's defeat ended the Third Ninja War, Jiraiya confronted Orochimaru about his relationship with Tsunade, then joined them, Hiruzen, and their friends for an evening of drinking and reminiscing.
• Orochimaru took Tsunade to see Roshi, Iwagakure's captured Four-Tails Jinchuriki, and told her the village would pay a hundred million ryō to reclaim him.
• Orochimaru proposed returning only half of Roshi by using sealing techniques, explaining that Mito Uzumaki had combined two Four Symbols Sealings to create the Eight Trigrams Sealing.

Orochimaru and Tsunade used the Two Forms Seal to split the Four-Tails and seal half of it inside a rogue ninja. A month later, Orochimaru Squad traveled to the Land of Wind for an S-rank mission in Roran, where Orochimaru became interested in the Dragon Vein’s Chakra.

• Tsunade studied Orochimaru’s notes and agreed to help him layer a second Eight Trigrams Sealing technique onto Roshi.
• Orochimaru and Tsunade separated the Four-Tails from Roshi and sealed half of it inside a captured rogue ninja as a temporary vessel.
• Jiraiya said farewell to Orochimaru, Tsunade, Minato, and Kushina at Konohagakure’s Main Gate and resumed his research journey.
• Tsunade became director of Konoha’s Medical Department, while Orochimaru planned to earn startup money for a research trade association through high-level missions.
• Orochimaru Squad traveled to the Land of Wind to protect Roran’s Queen Sarah, oppose Minister Anrokuzan, and free the enslaved citizens.
• Orochimaru grew eager to investigate the Dragon Vein as a potential source of space-time Chakra.

Kakashi’s squad investigated the eerily empty city of Rōran and discovered that its cheering citizens were Puppets. After Naruto Uzumaki appeared and revealed he had come from Rōran’s future, Kakashi asked him to explain how he had traveled through time.

• Kakashi, Asuma, Kurenai Yūhi, and Anko found Rōran’s citizens gathered at a plaza, though their Chakra signatures and the city’s silence seemed unnatural.
• Someone pushed Queen Sarah from a tower, but Naruto caught her before she hit the ground.
• Sarah accused the unfamiliar ninjas of being suspicious, and Kakashi showed her that the cheering citizens were Puppets.
• Naruto said he had just been in Rōran’s ruins and noticed that Kakashi, Kurenai Yūhi, and Asuma were younger than he remembered.
• Kakashi realized Naruto had likely traveled from the future and asked him to explain what had happened.

Kakashi explained that Mukade’s use of the Dragon Vein had sent him and Naruto into the past, and Sarah learned that Anrokuzan had used a puppet version of her to enslave Rōran’s people. Sarah led the Konoha Ninja to free the captured workers, while Orochimaru secretly recorded her control of the Dragon Vein’s seals and Kurenai sensed an enemy nearby.

• Kakashi concluded that restoring the Dragon Vein’s seal inside Mukade could return time to normal and let Naruto go home.
• Kurenai read the mission details, and Sarah defended Anrokuzan before residents revealed that their families had been taken under orders issued in Sarah’s name.
• Kakashi spotted a puppet dressed as Sarah, and Sarah promised the residents she would rescue their families with the Konoha Ninja’s help.
• Orochimaru watched from hiding as Sarah used her power to deactivate a sealing pattern and stop the machinery enslaving the captured men.
• Kurenai sensed an enemy on a high platform as the freed workers stopped and looked toward Sarah.

Sara and the Konoha team fought Anrokuzan, who revealed his true form as the giant centipede puppet Mukade, while Orochimaru used the Space Gem to channel the Dragon Vein's power. Mukade regenerated after the team's attack, and the battle continued.

• Sara ordered Anrokuzan to free Roran's laborers and stop using the Dragon Vein, but he attacked her with Puppet Soldiers.
• Kakashi led Naruto, Asuma, Anko, Kurenai Yūhi, and Sara through the puppet swarm as Naruto used the Rasengan and Kakashi and Asuma destroyed a giant puppet.
• Sara freed the captured Roran citizens while Kurenai Yūhi trapped Anrokuzan in a genjutsu, prompting him to reveal his centipede puppet form, Mukade.
• Orochimaru embedded the Space Gem in Kusanagi Sword: Sky's Great Sword and used it to draw in the Dragon Vein's chakra, unaware that its blue light was turning purple.
• Kurenai Yūhi's genjutsu clone distracted Mukade as Kakashi and Anko struck; a hidden Flying Swallow Chakra blade tore open Mukade's chest, but purple-glowing fragments repaired it.

Orochimaru pulled the Sky Sword from the Dragon Vein, but its rampaging energy sent him into a parallel future. After learning that the world was in Konoha Year 61, he realized he had to return before the Dragon Vein energy in his body ran out.

• Mukade combined the Puppet Soldiers into a giant puppet, while Naruto and Aoda attacked it and Mukade claimed the Dragon Vein gave him endless power.
• Orochimaru recognized that the Space Gem was destabilizing the Dragon Vein and pulled the Sky Sword free, but the ensuing surge transported him through space-time.
• Orochimaru arrived in the ruins of future Roran and thrust the Sky Sword back into the Dragon Vein to suppress it while its energy stabilized.
• Orochimaru followed a caravan to gather information, and Sunagakure sensory ninja identified him to Yura as the rogue ninja Orochimaru.
• Yura secretly informed his true master through the Black Market Exchange, while Orochimaru learned the year was Konoha Year 61 and that he needed to return before his remaining Dragon Vein energy was exhausted.

Orochimaru fought Sasori and Deidara, who were ordered to capture him, and revealed power that surprised them. Sasori and Deidara joined forces, with Sasori summoning a hundred puppets to continue the attack.

• Sasori, piloting Hiruko, attacked Orochimaru with poison needles and a scorpion tail while Deidara watched from the sky.
• Orochimaru used snakes, a Shadow Clone, Earth Release, Flying Thunder God, and a powerful Water Release technique to counter Sasori and destroy Hiruko.
• Sasori revealed his puppet body and the Third Kazekage puppet, then joined Deidara in attacking Orochimaru with Sand Iron and clay explosives.
• Orochimaru neutralized Deidara’s clay spiders with lightning and cut down his clay birds with Purple Electricity, forcing Deidara to be rescued by Sand Iron hands.
• Sasori summoned a hundred puppets and attacked Orochimaru with them, flames, and a high-pressure jet of water.

Orochimaru overwhelmed Deidara and Sasori with Sage Art, destroying their defenses and scattering the Sand Iron. As Deidara began preparing his final attack, Sasori took control of him as a puppet and guided him across the moving stone pillars.

• Deidara unleashed giant explosive puppets and C4 Garuda, but Orochimaru survived by combining Sage Art Water and Lightning Release into a protective film.
• Orochimaru used Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation to send stone pillars after Deidara and Sasori, overwhelming their Sand Iron defenses.
• Orochimaru's White Agitation Technique shattered the Sand Iron cube, and Sasori lost the Third Kazekage Puppet as it was swept away.
• Deidara used his remaining clay to make a bird carry himself and Sasori, then began charging his final explosive technique.
• Sasori recovered from his despair and used his chakra threads to control Deidara as a puppet, guiding him across the stone pillars.

Deidara and Sasori died in their confrontation with Orochimaru, but Sasori left behind a chakra imprint and a scroll asking Orochimaru to preserve his art. Nagato learned of their deaths, and Obito ordered the Akatsuki to gather intelligence on Orochimaru and planned to have Pain test his strength.

• Deidara detonated himself in his ultimate explosion, and Orochimaru escaped the blast with Flying Thunder God.
• Orochimaru used the Third Kazekage Puppet’s summoning mark to enter Sasori’s chakra imprint, where Sasori asked him to take and preserve a scroll of his art.
• Nagato sensed that Azure Dragon and Jade Maiden had vanished and summoned the Akatsuki members to a meeting.
• Zetsu reported that Sasori and Deidara had died while investigating Orochimaru, and Obito ordered the group not to confront him without further intelligence.
• Obito and Black Zetsu considered whether Orochimaru had perfected a technique and decided to send Pain to test his strength.

Orochimaru studied Sasori’s human puppet techniques and considered building a Gundam to challenge Madara Uchiha’s Perfect Susanoo. Pain and the Six Paths confronted him and attacked after he refused to return to the Akatsuki Organization.

• Orochimaru read Sasori’s scroll and examined how human puppets preserved their former abilities.
• Orochimaru weighed his limits in ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu, then decided he could build a Gundam himself.
• A scout snake was reverse-summoned, and the Six Paths of Pain descended to surround Orochimaru.
• Pain demanded that Orochimaru return to the Akatsuki Organization, but Orochimaru refused and mocked Pain’s claim to godhood.
• Pain launched missiles, and Orochimaru raised earthen walls that were smashed through by the Dividing Dog, the Hell Crab, and the War Bull.

Orochimaru fought Pain and the Six Paths using his summoned serpents and Sage Art, destroying Hell Path but failing to defeat the remaining bodies. Nagato’s body gave out, and Pain withdrew with Animal Path while Orochimaru remained among the battered Puppets.

• Orochimaru summoned Manda, Garaga, and Aoda, then used Shadow Clones and water dragons to attack Pain’s forces.
• Orochimaru tricked Human Path with a Shadow Clone, trapped him with Explosive Tags, and targeted Hell Path with a Super Great Ball Rasengan.
• Orochimaru’s snakes tore apart Hell Path, preventing Pain from using him to revive the other bodies.
• Pain rose into the sky and used Universal Pull, while Orochimaru countered with Sage Art: Super Inorganic Reincarnation and sent stone pillars toward him.
• Nagato collapsed and spat blood as Konan supported him, and he insisted they retrieve Yahiko before leaving.
• Pain withdrew with Animal Path under the cover of the other Pains, leaving Orochimaru to survey the battered Puppet corpses.

Snake Aunt killed the Fourth Kazekage and worried over Kimimaro, while the original Orochimaru returned from another world to the Rōran Ruins. There, the team defeated Mukade and freed Rōran before Orochimaru explained Naruto’s disappearance and congratulated the group on their mission.

• Snake Aunt found the Fourth Kazekage dead, checked on Kimimaro, and headed toward Konohagakure after the battle.
• Orochimaru returned to his world through the Dragon Vein, causing Naruto to begin fading as its power was drained.
• Asuma and Aoda disabled Mukade’s giant Puppet while Kakashi pierced its chest and Kurenai Yūhi’s Genjutsu stopped Mukade from detonating the Dragon Vein power.
• Anko killed Mukade with a sword strike, and the Puppet crashed down.
• Orochimaru explained that Naruto came from a different timeline, then praised the team and announced Anko, Asuma, and Kurenai Yūhi had become Special Jōnin.

As the Fourth Hokage election approached, Fugaku Uchiha rejected his clan’s hopes that he would run and urged the Uchiha to support Orochimaru after losing to him in a duel. Danzō feared Orochimaru’s succession would cost him his influence and began considering drastic measures.

• Fugaku Uchiha told the Uchiha clan that he had challenged Orochimaru and lost without making him move, then called on the clan to support Orochimaru for Hokage.
• Setsuna Uchiha objected, but Fugaku Uchiha said Orochimaru was worthy of the Uchiha’s honor and should be treated as the clan had treated the First Hokage.
• Yashiro Uchiha asked what the clan would gain, and Fugaku Uchiha said Orochimaru had agreed to take Shisui Uchiha into the Hokage Guard and train him as a disciple.
• Danzō argued with Hiruzen Sarutobi over Orochimaru’s succession and returned to Root’s base, fearing the new Hokage would strip him of power.
• Danzō decided Konohagakure could not be handed over to Orochimaru and resolved that he alone should lead the village.

Tsunade tried to cook a celebratory meal for Orochimaru, but her disastrous cooking caused an explosion and brought ANBU and Military Police to his home. As Orochimaru prepared for his inauguration as Fourth Hokage, Danzo ordered Root operatives to spread accusations against him, while an insect secretly carried evidence toward the Aburame Clan compound.

• Tsunade revealed her glowing dishes to Orochimaru and insisted he try her cooking.
• Orochimaru persuaded Tsunade to taste the food first, and she choked before spitting it out.
• Orochimaru discovered Tsunade had followed a prank cookbook, and her forgotten gas caused an explosion in the kitchen.
• ANBU and Military Police investigated the blast, then left after concluding Orochimaru and Tsunade were safe.
• Danzo ordered Bug and Leopard to spread rumors that Orochimaru had conducted cruel experiments and murdered Konoha's White Fang.
• An insect flew from Bug toward the Aburame Clan compound as Bug and Leopard left Root.

Shibi Aburame passed Root intelligence to Kakashi, who learned that Danzō and Root had been involved in his father's death. Acting without Orochimaru's knowledge, Kakashi infiltrated Root and uncovered human experiments before Danzō sensed the intrusion.

• An Aburame insect carried intelligence about Danzō and Root to Shibi Aburame, who decided the information could help align his clan with Orochimaru.
• Kakashi received the secret scroll instead of Orochimaru and concluded that Root and Shimura Danzō had caused his father's death.
• Kakashi resolved to infiltrate Root and expose Danzō's secrets without putting Orochimaru's Hokage bid at risk.
• Shibi Aburame guided Kakashi to Root's entrance with an insect swarm, and Kakashi disguised himself as a Root ninja to slip inside.
• Kakashi found babies in experimental containers and collected evidence, then encountered Kinoe, whose Wood Release revealed that Danzō's experiments had succeeded.
• Kakashi trapped Kinoe in Sharingan Genjutsu to question him, while Danzō opened his eyes deeper within Root.

Kakashi and Kinoe fought their way through Root after Danzō ordered them captured, until Might Guy and Tsunade arrived to help. Tsunade confronted Danzō over his experiments, and the Third Hokage appeared as Kinoe’s Wood Release exposed the purpose of Danzō’s actions.

• Danzō ordered Root to search the base and bring Kinoe and the intruder before him.
• Kakashi protected Kinoe from Root attackers, and Kinoe returned the favor as the two struggled against the outnumbering forces.
• Might Guy arrived and helped Kakashi and Kinoe fight the Root ninjas.
• Danzō confronted the group, but Tsunade broke into the base and claimed Kinoe as a Senju descendant who could use Wood Release.
• Tsunade revealed that Orochimaru’s Communication Watch had alerted her to Kakashi’s danger and said her illness had been cured.
• The Third Hokage arrived to stop Tsunade and Danzō, then saw Kinoe’s wooden arm as Tsunade accused Danzō of desecrating her grandfather’s corpse and experimenting on villagers and infants.