Recaps

Shuji helped Tsunade restore ties with the Uchiha and secure Sunagakure’s participation in the joint Chunin Exams, while uncovering Kusagakure’s plans for the Box of Ultimate Bliss. He brought Karin and her mother to Konoha, and Sunagakure agreed to a three-year commitment in exchange for emergency supplies as the Box drew attention from Konoha and Obito.

• Shuji helped Tsunade overcome her fear of blood, and she returned to Konoha to work at the hospital and gradually take on village affairs.
• Shuji delivered the Daimyo’s message, helped defend the palace from Kazuma’s coup, and searched for Sora after Kazuma took him.
• Shuji and Tsunade negotiated with Fugaku, bringing Uchiha candidates into the Anbu while Shuji urged Itachi to resist Danzo’s pressure.
• Shuji secured Sunagakure’s participation in the Chunin Exams, then discovered Shukaku’s instability and learned that Kumogakure wanted to host the next exams.
• In Kusagakure, Shuji found Karin and her mother being exploited for healing, left Karin a Flying Thunder God marker, and later brought them safely to Konoha.
• Shuji learned that Kusagakure planned to use sacrifices to open the Box of Ultimate Bliss, while Tsugawa killed Kazuma and sought to exploit Sora’s power.
• Chiyo demanded aid for Sunagakure, and Shuji negotiated emergency supplies in return for a three-year commitment to Konoha’s joint Chunin Exams.
• Obito investigated the Box, Root agents tried to escape Hozuki Castle, and Tsunade pulled Shuji into Chunin Exam preparations.

Shuji helped stop Satori and returned to Konoha as the village faced Orochimaru’s schemes and renewed tensions with the Uchiha. After confronting Kakuzu and receiving Orochimaru’s research, Shuji helped advance reforms that brought Uchiha into village roles and Hyuga into the Police Force, as Tsunade prepared to become Hokage.

• Mui wished for Kusagakure to gain the power to protect itself, but Sora emerged from the Box of Ultimate Bliss as Satori and attacked Hozuki Castle.
• Sora carried the Box of Ultimate Bliss toward Konoha, where Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shuji helped subdue Satori and seal the box, and Mui was allowed to return to Kusagakure with Muku and Ryuzetsu.
• Shuji refused Hiruzen’s invitation to join the Anbu, raised concerns about Naruto’s mistreatment, and learned that Orochimaru’s Otogakure application had reached Konoha.
• Orochimaru infiltrated Konoha and later confronted Shuji at the Senju Old Residence, offering to help him awaken the First Hokage’s power before leaving without a fight.
• Shuji traveled to Shisui’s squad after Tsunade warned of a possible attack, then helped defend the Uchiha Anbu against Kirigakure and fought Kakuzu until Obito used Kamui to take Kakuzu away.
• Orochimaru ambushed Shuji on his return journey, then ended their fight by giving him research data on Hashirama’s cells and a technique for finding a temporary contact location.
• Tsunade gave Shuji access to Tobirama’s research scrolls, while Yagura withdrew Kirigakure’s frontline forces and arranged for rogue shinobi to continue the harassment missions.
• Shuji and Fugaku arranged Uchiha teaching and Anbu positions alongside four Hyuga recruits for the Police Force, and Tsunade told Shuji that Hiruzen was preparing to step down so she could become Hokage.

Shuji helped secure peace between Konoha and Kirigakure, then led Konoha’s delegation to Kumogakure’s Chunin Exams while investigating Wood Release and overseeing tensions within the Uchiha clan. The arc ended with Darui’s team defeating Konoha in the team final and Shuji’s Wood Clone discovering a hidden barrier formula in the mountains.

• Tsunade became the Fifth Hokage as conflict with Kirigakure escalated, and Shuji led Konoha’s response to the invasion by hired shinobi.
• Genji, Mei, Zabuza, and Ao freed Yagura from Obito’s genjutsu, while Obito escaped and Kirigakure ended its conflict with Konoha.
• Shuji investigated the stolen Sharingan from fallen Uchiha, questioned Enjin, and then led Konoha’s peace talks with Mei Terumi, which resulted in a finalized agreement.
• Tsunade put Kakashi in charge of reorganizing Root under village supervision, while Shuji conducted Wood Release experiments and prepared for the Chunin Exams in Kumogakure.
• Shuji led Konoha’s delegation to Kumogakure and negotiated over the exam format and match schedule with the Fourth Raikage.
• Itachi grew suspicious of Enjin’s absences and asked Tsunade to help determine what Enjin planned to do after leaving the village.
• Shuji sent a Wood Clone into the mountains, where it detected a hidden barrier formula beneath a moss-covered rock.
• Darui, Shi, and Jie defeated Hayate Gekko, Uzuki Yugao, and Iruka in the team final, and Darui told Shuji he wished he had not become a jonin so long ago.

Shuji helped Konoha negotiate a series of joint Chunin Exams with other villages while tensions over Uchiha Enjin, Root, and Akatsuki continued. As Konoha prepared for the September exams, Ōnoki pressed ahead with Iwagakure’s event and secretly sought Akatsuki’s help against Konoha.

• Shuji defeated Darui in a demonstration spar, then discovered and searched a concealed Orochimaru laboratory near Kumogakure.
• Uchiha Enjin met a masked man claiming to be Madara, but Itachi later captured him after Enjin returned to Konoha and reported a suspicious lead about the Sharingan theft.
• Tsunade tasked Shuji with reforming Konoha’s Chunin Exams, while Danzo agreed to retire and hand over Root’s intelligence records.
• Ōnoki announced Iwagakure’s own September exams, while Tsunade and Shuji pursued closer exam cooperation with Kumogakure and received delegations from Sunagakure and Kirigakure.
• Shuji negotiated with Baki over Sunagakure’s participation and worked with Samui as Konoha and Kumogakure neared an agreement on practical combat exchanges.
• Kakashi found that Danzo had retained Root’s core archives and network, and Tsunade began moving Root’s youth into the Ninja Academy while arranging formal exams for Tenzo.
• Jiraiya informed Konoha’s leaders that Zetsu and Kakuzu belonged to Akatsuki and that Madara was behind Zetsu, while Obito sought allies willing to oppose Konoha.
• Orochimaru joined Akatsuki, and Konan told Pain that Ōnoki had secretly asked Akatsuki to sabotage Konoha during the exams.