Recaps

Aozora and Jiraiya uncovered and crushed the Sarutobi Clan’s rebellion, though Orochimaru escaped after reanimating the Second and Third Hokage. After helping Fugaku consolidate Konoha’s power, Aozora took charge of Root’s spies and confronted Orochimaru again, who fled as Iwagakure forces approached.

• Fugaku sent Jiraiya to investigate the Sarutobi Clan’s gathering, while Aozora warned that he would raise the Barrier if armed Sarutobi ninja left the compound.
• Toda rallied the Sarutobi Clan to rebel, but Orochimaru revealed himself, and the clan’s fighters launched attacks across Konoha as Aozora raised the Barrier.
• Ichiki killed Toda and led the Sarutobi Clan against Asuma and Danzo, while Jiraiya fought Orochimaru and the Uchiha forces defended Konoha and its Barrier.
• Aozora and Jiraiya battled Orochimaru and Danzo with their summons, and Orochimaru reanimated Tobirama Senju and Sarutobi Hiruzen before escaping with Tobirama’s Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Fugaku subdued the remaining rebels and accepted Aozora’s edited account of the uprising, then tasked him with advising on Konoha’s political and intelligence affairs.
• Tsunade confirmed Danzo’s identity and agreed to stay in Konoha to help Aozora complete the Art of Restoration, while Aozora accepted responsibility for retrieving Root spies.
• Aozora rescued Nonō and Kabuto from Iwagakure shinobi, then confronted Orochimaru, who summoned Manda and escaped Aozora’s attacks by shedding his body.
• Orochimaru used the Eight Branches Technique against Aozora, whose Golden Fire Dragon badly burned the serpent, before Aozora withdrew as Iwagakure forces approached.

Aozora dismantled Root, strengthened Konoha’s ties, and pursued a plan to destabilize the Land of Fire’s power structure while serving the Akatsuki Organization. His operation at the Temple of Fire and Tengoku Gorge left Sora captured, Kazuma dead, and Shūichi gravely wounded after his duel with Tsukahara Musashi.

• Ōnoki withdrew Iwagakure’s forces after Aozora defeated Orochimaru, while Aozora warned Nonō and Kabuto that Orochimaru had manipulated them and arranged for Root’s former spies to be screened.
• Aozora shared ninjutsu advice at a gathering for senior ninjas, encouraged Kakashi to seal Obito’s Sharingan, and offered to trade his Blaze Release method for rare techniques.
• Pain assigned Aozora to work with Kisame, and Aozora challenged Kisame’s support for the Akatsuki Organization’s Moon Eye Plan while they carried out missions.
• Aozora coordinated with Long Xian, Natsuki, Fugaku, and the Sleeping Dragon Team as the conflict between Kazuma’s faction and Chiriku’s group escalated at Tengoku Gorge.
• Aozora released the Five Elements Seal on Sora, triggering his transformation and rampage at the Temple of Fire, where Jōjin fought to contain him.
• Aozora killed Jōjin, defeated Sora, sealed the Nine-Tails Chakra back inside him, and ordered Shingo to transport Sora to Konoha.
• At Tengoku Gorge, Itachi, Gen'an, and Natsuki defeated Kazuma’s faction, and Gen'an killed Kazuma before Itachi volunteered to impersonate him.
• Aozora fought Hiroki’s Corpse Ninjas and sealed Corpse Mountain, while Shūichi lost his sword and suffered a severe wound from Tsukahara Musashi before Aozora intervened.

Aozora seized control of the Land of Fire’s Daimyo, then turned against Obito in the Land of Water and captured the Three-Tails. He founded the Heavenly Court with Kisame, and returned to Konoha to transplant Obito’s Mangekyō Sharingan.

• Aozora and his allies defeated the Daimyo’s forces, used Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami to make the Daimyo serve the Uchiha, and began taking over his armed forces.
• Aozora studied Sora’s Nine-Tails Chakra and left for the Land of Water with Kisame, where they assassinated the Daimyo’s third son and faced Kagura and Kirigakure’s forces.
• Kisame betrayed Obito and joined Aozora, who fought Obito and the Three-Tails until he incapacitated the beast and trapped Obito in a sea of fire.
• Aozora defeated White Zetsu, took Obito’s Mangekyō Sharingan, and sealed the Three-Tails, while Mei Terumī and Ao saw a chance to end Kirigakure’s Blood Mist.
• Aozora founded the Heavenly Court with Kisame, who agreed to help locate the flying fortress once used by Sky Ninja Village, while Fugaku approved Aozora’s break with the Akatsuki Organization.
• Aozora returned to Konoha, examined the Heavenly Book’s divine seat forming from the Three-Tails’ chakra, and transplanted Obito’s Sharingan, whose Yin Release Chakra began fusing with the chakra in his other eye.

Aozora and Itachi traveled to Sunagakure for the Chunin Exams, where they fought Orochimaru and forged an alliance against the Akatsuki. The Dragon Vein sent them to another time-space, where they intervened in the Uchiha massacre and Itachi broke his counterpart’s resolve.

• Aozora awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan, explored Kamui’s dimension, and recovered the Flame Fan and Uchiha technique scrolls.
• Aozora accompanied Itachi and Izumi to Sunagakure for the Chunin Exams, where Kimimaro’s team attacked Itachi and Orochimaru fought him with the Eight Branches Technique.
• Itachi used Susanoo to face Orochimaru’s serpent, while Aozora infiltrated Sunagakure’s Secret Archives and stole scrolls before rescuing the poisoned Itachi.
• Rasa and Fugaku agreed to share intelligence and assist each other against the Akatsuki, and Rasa promoted Itachi’s withdrawn squad to Chunin.
• Aozora and Itachi found the Dragon Vein beneath Rōran and were transported to another time-space, where they learned that the Uchiha Compound was under threat.
• Obito and the other Itachi began slaughtering the Uchiha, so Aozora rescued Izumi and sealed Obito in the Kamui Dimension while Itachi confronted his counterpart.
• Itachi trapped Uchiha Itachi in Tsukuyomi and challenged his decision to massacre the clan, leaving him defeated and unable to defend his convictions.