Recaps

Menma helped Shibuki defeat Suiken’s coup, gained Takigakure’s support, and witnessed Mizuno Satoru’s death. He then began experiments to withstand Kurama’s power and confronted Minato while trying to break the Eight Trigrams Seal.

• Suiken deceived Fū into helping his coup, allied with Aoi Rokushō and the Rain Ninja, and arranged to draw Shibuki’s loyal shinobi away from Takigakure.
• Menma warned Shibuki and Mizuno Satoru of Suiken’s plan, pledged to help Shibuki, and revealed his identity to Mizuno Satoru before joining the defense of the village.
• Shibuki defeated Suiken with the Hero’s Water while Menma and Lizard Shitsu subdued the rebels, and Fū learned that Suiken had deceived her.
• Mizuno Satoru urged Shibuki and Fū to protect Takigakure with Menma’s help, then died after Menma revealed himself and proposed an alliance with the village.
• Menma killed Aoi Rokushō, took the Sword of the Thunder God, and returned to Takigakure, where Shibuki welcomed him and Karin as village members.
• Menma established a laboratory in Takigakure, gave Orochimaru Nine-Tails Chakra and intelligence, and began testing a cell-activation fluid to strengthen himself.
• Menma entered his inner world to begin unsealing Kurama, but Minato’s Chakra imprint stopped him and spoke with him about Konoha, Naruto, and the Akatsuki.
• Menma asked Minato to teach him jutsu principles and help undo the seal, and Minato agreed while warning him to resolve the Reaper Death Seal’s side effects first.

Menma freed Kurama, strengthened Takigakure’s defenses, and recruited Fū and Utakata while pursuing his plans against Konoha. He confronted Jiraiya and Sasuke over Konoha’s past, then attacked Jiraiya as the battlefield split into separate clashes.

• Menma freed Kurama from the Eight Trigrams Seal and warned him that Madara planned to revive himself and gather the Tailed Beasts.
• Menma established a village-wide Perception Barrier in Takigakure, earning Shibuki’s trust and drawing concern from the village’s Jonin.
• Menma gathered Chakra from Chōmei through Fū and then left Takigakure to find Utakata in the Land of Spring.
• Menma defeated Darui’s Cloud Ninja, killed Darui, and persuaded Utakata to join him as a companion.
• Sasuke fought Danzō’s Root forces, summoned Manda, and was interrupted when Jiraiya and Naruto arrived to protect Ryoma.
• Menma arrived atop Manda and challenged Jiraiya, then accused Konoha of causing past tragedies and cast doubt on Itachi acting alone in the Uchiha massacre.
• Jiraiya’s silence deepened Sasuke’s suspicions, and Menma attacked Jiraiya with Kurama’s chakra while Sasuke sent Manda against Naruto and Gama Bunta.

Menma revealed his identity to Takigakure, arranged alliances, and set out to bring Kusagakure under his control. After freeing Muku from Satori and gaining Mui’s support, Menma sprung a trap on Shigeta Tadasashi’s force.

• Menma and Jiraiya’s battle ended with Menma binding Gamaken and Jiraiya retreating with Naruto, while Sasuke asked Menma about the Uchiha Clan’s destruction.
• Kumogakure blamed Konoha for Darui’s missing squad and the Six-Tails’ disappearance, escalating tensions as Tsunade prepared Konoha for possible war.
• Menma told Sasuke that Itachi had served as Konoha’s executioner, gave him guidance on awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, and returned to Takigakure with Utakata.
• Menma revealed to Shibuki and Ajun that he was Uzumaki Menma, then proposed seizing Kusagakure and directed Takigakure to prepare for the operation.
• Menma traveled to Hozuki Castle, opened the Box of Paradise, and helped Muku regain control of his body from Satori.
• Menma bound the Kusagakure Elders, while Mui sealed their Chakra and agreed to help Menma bring change to Kusagakure.
• Mui purged the Elders’ loyalists from Hozuki Castle as Menma’s supporters prepared to take over Kusagakure and Shigeta Tadasashi led nearly three hundred Grass Ninja north.
• Menma revealed that Shigeta’s force had walked into a trap and attacked with Lizard Shitsu, while Suigetsu wounded Sanshi as he protected Shigeta.

Menma consolidated control of Kusagakure and Takigakure, then led a preemptive strike that devastated Kumogakure’s army. As other villages reconsidered their advance, Naruto demanded a chance to confront Menma, but Tsunade refused.

• Menma killed Shigeta Tadasashi, and the remaining Grass Ninja surrendered as Mui returned to Kusagakure and took control with Menma’s support.
• Menma left Mui in charge of Kusagakure, assigned Suigetsu and Karin to help secure the village, and returned to Takigakure as news of his growing influence reached Iwagakure and Konoha.
• Tsunade’s leadership agreed to pursue Menma and reclaim the Nine-Tails, while Konoha sought Kumogakure’s help and Kirigakure also joined the planned operation.
• After the Fourth Raikage’s army moved toward Takigakure, Menma persuaded Shibuki to strike before it could unite with Konoha’s forces and led Takigakure’s elite against the Cloud Ninja.
• Menma fought the Fourth Raikage with the Flying Thunder God Technique and the Nine-Tails’ power as the Waterfall Ninja overwhelmed the Cloud forces.
• The Fourth Raikage ordered a retreat, but Menma’s forces defeated Yugito, captured her, and killed or captured most of the Cloud army while the Raikage escaped gravely wounded.
• Menma halted pursuit, ordered Takigakure and Kusagakure to build a joint defensive line, and publicized the victory as the surviving villages reassessed their plans.
• Jiraiya’s advance force discussed delaying its approach, Baki and Genji halted their forces, and Tsunade refused Naruto’s demand to go confront Menma.