Recaps

Yichen exposed White Zetsu infiltrators, disrupted the Cloud and Orochimaru plots against the Hyuga, and strengthened Iwagakure through new alliances and public displays of progress. Neji chose to leave Konoha for Iwagakure, while Ōnoki departed to investigate the village’s history and Yichen stayed to train his disciples.

• Yichen helped Iwagakure identify and capture White Zetsu clones, then traded the clones to other villages for powerful techniques while steering suspicion toward Konoha.
• Yichen infiltrated Konoha, where the Cloud envoy abducted Hinata and Orochimaru and Sasori attacked the Hyuga, but Yichen helped Tsunade defend the clan and stole the base of the Heavenly Transfer Technique.
• Yichen returned to Iwagakure with Sasori’s puppets and promoted the village’s achievements, inspiring its people and agreeing to support the Cloud against Konoha in exchange for the chance to test Han at the True Waterfall.
• Han overcame his dark self at the True Waterfall and became a quasi-Kage, while Iwagakure and the Cloud pressured Konoha over the Hyuga crisis.
• Neji accepted Iwagakure’s offer to leave Konoha after Tsunade and Hiashi agreed not to activate his Caged Bird, and Yichen explained the seal’s injustice as Neji traveled to Iwagakure.
• Neji asked to join Iwagakure and hoped to change the Hyuga Clan, while Riori welcomed him and Yichen urged him to grow stronger and develop new Byakugan techniques.
• A learned the Byakugan taken from Hizashi was unusable, Hiruzen brought Konoha’s army back from the front, and Danzo planned to exploit the crisis for political support.
• Ōnoki left Iwagakure with an escort to investigate ancient ruins and the village’s sealed Ninjutsu, while Yichen stayed to train Kiyoshi and Riori.

Yichen expanded Iwagakure’s influence through the Land of Snow and Sunagakure while pursuing research, diplomacy, and covert operations. After destroying the Monkey Clan and hosting the Joint Chunin Exams, he advised Kakashi on the Uchiha crisis as Rasa returned to Sunagakure with the weakened Pakura.

• Obito infiltrated Iwagakure and attacked Yichen, but Atsumi Akino’s modified barrier disrupted Kamui and helped Yichen injure him before he escaped.
• Yichen helped Kazahana Koyuki reclaim the Land of Snow, killed Kazahana Dōtō, and established an alliance that gave Iwagakure a branch in the country.
• Yichen and Matsutani Shinya tested their theory about Natural Energy, and Ōnoki used Lightning Release while in Sage Mode.
• Yichen captured Pakura after she entered the Land of Snow, then negotiated Sunagakure’s participation in the Joint Chunin Exams in exchange for cooperation and aid.
• During the exams, Yichen used Atsumi Akino’s analysis of Summoning Jutsu signals to locate and exterminate the Monkey Clan, while Monkey King Enma escaped to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Yichen hosted sparring between Iwagakure and Konoha, and Kakashi fought Ikura before resolving to seek answers about the Uchiha crisis beyond Konoha’s perspective.
• Yichen introduced Kakashi to Sokai Uchiha and proposed ways to address the Uchiha crisis, including removing Hiruzen Sarutobi or creating a shared enemy.
• Rasa returned toward Sunagakure with Pakura and warned her to stay alert, while Pakura said her Chakra had recovered only enough for her to fight at Jonin strength.

Yichen reshaped Kirigakure, strengthened Iwagakure’s alliances, and gained the help of fragments of the Six-Tails and Seven-Tails. The arc left him preparing to master Wind Release as Ōnoki learned that the tailed-beast fragments were with him.

• Rasa’s party repelled Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō’s ambush, while Yichen learned of Orochimaru’s plans and sent Kawakita to join the Third Lord.
• Kakashi became Tsunade’s Shadow Guard captain, and Yichen discovered Ishinose Kiyoshi could transform his hand into water using a technique from Sasori’s scroll.
• Yichen entered Kirigakure as Captain Qing, took control of its Anbu headquarters, and used factional conflict to establish a foothold in the village.
• Yichen’s actions led to Utakata’s teacher being killed and Utakata dying after Yichen extracted his Six-Tails Chakra, while Yichen recruited Kisame and helped him become the Fifth Mizukage.
• Kirigakure allied with Iwagakure, while Kakashi followed Yichen’s advice to approach Shisui and Tsunade arranged for Shisui to join the Anbu.
• Yichen awakened Saiken inside the Outer Path Statue Fragment, helped Han become a Perfect Jinchuriki with Kokuō, and gained the ability to use Little Rhino Dog’s Chakra.
• Yichen helped expose Konoha’s framing of Iwagakure over the Seven-Tails, securing Takigakure’s alliance, then sealed Seven-Tails Chakra in the fragment and formed Little Chōmei.
• Yichen used Little Rhino Dog and Little Chōmei’s power to test his Wind Release, and Ōnoki confronted him after learning he had the Seven-Tails’ Chakra.

Yichen helped Iwagakure weather Konoha’s attack, strengthen its position, and secure an alliance with the Land of Demons by defeating and sealing Moryo. The arc ended with Iwagakure establishing a branch in the Land of Demons as Yichen advanced his Yin Release and let Sunagakure’s occupation of neighboring towns erode its reputation.

• Yichen freed Son Goku from his restraints, and Son Goku agreed to emerge while Roshi lived and to lend his power to Iwagakure.
• Yichen chose Sokai Uchiha, Chiga, and Sasagawa Ayumi as disciples, then took them on a mission to escort Atsumi Akino and supplies to the Land of Snow Branch.
• Yichen and Matsutani Shinya drew out the energy beneath the Land of Snow and used it to advance Yichen’s Sage Mode and strengthen his understanding of senjutsu.
• When Konoha invaded the Land of Rain, Yichen joined Nagato’s forces and devastated the Konoha Army with Sage-enhanced attacks, forcing its survivors to retreat.
• The nations reached a settlement that made Konoha pay reconstruction and mediation costs, while Yichen and Iwagakure inventoried the captured supplies and compensation.
• Yichen traveled to the Land of Demons, where Miroku agreed to an Iwagakure branch if he resolved Moryo, and he weakened Moryo before sealing him inside Little Shion.
• Miroku ended the Miko role and became the Land of Demons’ daimyo, while Yichen helped establish an Iwagakure branch and advanced to the third stage of Yin Release.
• Iwagakure’s limited rogue-ninja campaign drew responses from Konoha, Sunagakure, and Kumogakure, and Yichen let Sunagakure’s conduct damage its reputation.