Recaps

Akatsuki’s attacks pushed the villages to coordinate their defenses, while Shuji prepared to reject Akatsuki’s demand for a martial exhibition. Naruto learned more about his parents and the jinchuriki, as Sasuke began choosing his own path.

• Shuji and Jiraiya led a rapid response force to Kirigakure, where Shuji fought Pain’s Paths while Akatsuki’s other attacks killed Yagura.
• Mei became the Fifth Mizukage, and Shuji, A, and Jiraiya met to discuss village defenses and cooperation around the jinchuriki.
• Shuji established a Permanent Mobile Squad under the Joint Affairs Bureau, while Killer B recruited Naruto, Gaara, Han, Utakata, and Kaede for a band performance.
• Kakashi challenged Sasuke to decide who he wanted to become, then began teaching him Chidori as Sasuke investigated the Uchiha clan’s troubles.
• Shuji suspected White Zetsu had killed Uchiha Enjin in prison, and Sasuke chose to keep training while finding his own way forward.
• Jiraiya told Naruto that Minato Namikaze was his father, and Naruto later learned that Shuji had killed Gaara’s father and that Akatsuki had targeted the jinchuriki.
• Neji apologized to Shuji for damaging Naruto’s lunchbox, and Shuji accepted the box and offered Neji a Sakura Mochi.
• After Akatsuki threatened attacks beyond military forces, Shuji and Tsunade planned to reinforce the Land of Fire, while Shuji’s Wood Clone rejected Pain’s martial exhibition proposal and demanded that Akatsuki control its rogue ninja.

As Akatsuki challenged the villages and rumors destabilized relations with the Feudal Lords, Shuji used the Martial Exhibition and a proposal for shared schools to pursue cooperation. The contest exposed Orochimaru’s experiments and led Senju Tobirama back to Konoha, where he began investigating the dangerous research underway.

• The Kage and Shuji prepared for Akatsuki’s threats as Naruto and the other jinchūriki rehearsed, then performed to a cheering crowd at the tournament opening.
• After nobles who had met the performers died, Shikaku and Shuji recognized that rumors and fear were being used to unsettle relations between shinobi and the Feudal Lords.
• Nagato established ninja administration in the Land of the Moon, while Orochimaru summoned Senju Tobirama to consider the consequences of Akatsuki’s new order.
• Shuji proposed shared schools to the Kage and Feudal Lords, who provisionally agreed to develop a plan as negotiations over security continued.
• Sasuke began observing Joint Affairs Bureau work and joined Naruto, Gaara, and the others for a snowy gathering at Shuji’s home.
• At the Land of Snow tournament, Orochimaru revealed himself and sent the reincarnated Mu to defeat Sumashi with Dust Release.
• Pain offered to take only Tailed Beast chakra, and Shuji gave him a Nine-Tails chakra scroll before Shuji, Shisui, and Tobirama stopped Orochimaru’s attempt to force a fight.
• Tobirama returned to Konoha, learned about the current villages and Akatsuki, and examined White Zetsu tissue in Shuji’s laboratory as Kabuto investigated Neji and Shisui.

Shuji and Konoha’s leaders pursued dangerous experiments and navigated a growing dispute over the Uchiha mission system, while Naruto adjusted to Minato’s return and Neji began seeking a way to change the Hyuga Clan. The arc ended with Shuji accepting responsibility for countering Aoi Rokushō’s influence at the Ninja Academy.

• Neji asked Shuji how he viewed the Hyuga Branch House, then chose to pursue change within the clan and agreed to Kabuto’s White Zetsu cell experiment.
• Shisui sought treatment for his damaged Mangekyō Sharingan, while Shuji began preparing to free the Fourth Hokage from the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.
• Minato returned to Naruto’s life as his father and adoptive guardian, and Naruto brought Ino and her friends to visit Inoichi.
• Tobirama challenged Sasuke to reconsider his actions toward Ino and Sakura, then assigned him reports and a separate investigation into Aoi Rokushō.
• Itachi investigated allegations that Uchiha teams had used Genjutsu to falsify mission results, and Fugaku assigned Sasuke to tell Karin about her temporary Bureau reassignment.
• Kakashi and Aoi introduced students to the Joint Affairs Bureau internship program, while Karin sensed suspicious discord among staff in the Ninja Village Office.
• Itachi arranged a week-long Academy assignment for Aoi to protect him from those exploiting the Uchiha dispute, and Aoi continued escorting the interns.
• Tobirama ordered Shuji to counterbalance Aoi’s influence at the Academy, and Shuji accepted responsibility for the consequences.

Shuji and Minato’s proposed ninja badge system sparked a dispute among students and teachers as Sasuke investigated Aoi Rokushō and the Bureau of Affairs expanded its role. The arc ended with Shuji addressing the Land of Tea crisis while Sasuke learned of Shuji’s Senju ties and the Bureau’s broader plans.

• Shuji and Minato proposed a badge system tied to promotions and an international professional skills exam, prompting Naruto and Kaede to campaign for their preferred badge names while Sasuke argued against them.
• Tenten asked Shuji for advice about becoming an outstanding ninja, and Sasuke persuaded Aoi Rokushō to submit his concerns about the Bureau of Affairs for investigation.
• Shuji investigated the Kaguya Clan’s visit to the Hyuga, then told Hiashi to preserve their friendship and watch their movements.
• Jirocho reported that Gato was monopolizing trade near Naqi Island and Great Whirlpool Island, and Shuji warned that the proposed response could be part of someone’s plan.
• Naruto and Aoi entered an emergency Bureau meeting, where Kakashi defended its commission rules and the Feudal Lord Liaison Office proposed adding Kusagakure and Yugakure forces.
• Shuji ordered Itachi to warn the Feudal Lord Liaison Office about the Land of Tea dispute, while Orochimaru agreed to consider partnering with Black Zetsu.
• Naruto and Sasuke joined Jiraiya in a plan to find Shuji’s weakness, but Minato intercepted them and took Shuji to Tobirama, who proposed awakening ocular powers through White Zetsu cells and Hyuga methods.
• Fugaku told Sasuke that Shuji and Tsunade were Senju and that Shuji had reunited the Senju branch families, while Shuji told Jirocho the Bureau had begun addressing the Land of Tea matter.