Recaps

Konoha defeated Kumogakure and captured the Raikage, while Shin expanded his influence, pursued experiments, and became entangled with Rin and Ayano despite his engagement to Ayari. Pakura became Kazekage, Akatsuki turned toward military deterrence, and Shin’s wedding day arrived.

• The Nine-Tails and Eight-Tails devastated Kikyō Pass, Konoha defeated the Cloud forces, and Minato, Fugaku, and Zhen sealed the Nine-Tails back into Kushina.
• Konoha returned in triumph with the Raikage and thousands of prisoners, while Shin began planning for the village’s future and learned Ayari was pregnant.
• Shin promised to marry Ayari and name their child Neji, but Ayano’s advances strained the household as Shin also began pursuing village plans and experiments with Orochimaru.
• Shin used Yugito’s knowledge to help Rin train with the Three-Tails, while Yugito, Mabui, and Samui plotted to rescue the Raikage and Samui agreed to get close to Shin.
• Shin kissed Rin despite his engagement, and Rin rejected Obito as a romantic partner while encouraging him to keep striving to become Naruto.
• Shin negotiated with Sunagakure and Kumogakure, took in the infant Jugo, and began investigating how to control Natural Energy and stabilize souls in White Zetsu bodies.
• Pakura became the Fifth Kazekage after Rasa and Sasori died, while Shin learned that Yahiko’s Akatsuki had shifted toward military force.
• Shin and Ayari argued over his interest in Ayano as their clan prepared the wedding, and Shin spent the night with Ayari before their wedding day arrived.

As Shin’s power and influence grew, he helped Kamado develop Sage Engraving and became entangled in Kushina and Minato’s marriage and Orochimaru’s political crisis. The arc ended with Kushina missing, prisoners escaping, and Minato choosing to rescue her while Shikaku organized Konoha’s defense.

• Rin attended Hyuga Shin and Ayari’s wedding, where Asuma revealed Ayari was already pregnant, and later demanded that Kakashi clearly reject her.
• Shin mastered Sage Mode, began teaching Guy, and gave Kamado a Sage Engraving that removed his Caged Bird Seal but required a Chakra safeguard.
• Minato and Kushina sought Shin’s help with their marriage, and Orochimaru agreed to approve it once Shin’s child was born and became the new Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Shikaku learned that Orochimaru’s plan to remove the Nine-Tails from Kushina could kill her, then drew Kakashi into efforts to challenge Orochimaru’s leadership.
• Orochimaru imprisoned Kushina and sealed her Chakra, while Tsunade returned to Konoha and condemned the escalating power struggle.
• Samui, Mabui, and Yugito confronted the imprisoned Fourth Raikage, after which Shin gave Samui a key and scroll that could release his seal.
• Minato learned that Kushina had disappeared and his mark connecting him to her had been sealed, while Shikaku learned that prisoners had escaped.
• Shikaku stopped Minato from leaving to protect the village, but Minato chose to save Kushina as Shikaku took responsibility for evacuating the villagers.

Orochimaru’s crimes and the prison riot plunged Konoha into turmoil, while Minato was branded a traitor and Hashirama investigated the village. Shin shaped the Hokage election to secure power, won overwhelmingly, and faced an unsettling omen as he prepared to address Konoha.

• Shin found Kushina in Orochimaru’s laboratory, while the Fourth Raikage rampaged through Konoha and Orochimaru killed Shikaku.
• Orochimaru summoned Hashirama and Tobirama, and an inquiry exposed his crimes, Shikaku’s death, and Minato’s failure to reject a plan against Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru escaped the inquiry, fought Minato and Hiruzen, and left Minato poisoned and Hiruzen dead before Minato reunited with Kushina.
• Hashirama investigated Konoha’s leaders and agreed to Shin’s proposal for a village-wide Hokage election, while Minato was imprisoned as a traitor.
• Ayari gave birth to Neji, and Shin told Kushina Minato would remain imprisoned until Konoha recovered, leaving her desperate to secure his release.
• Shin admitted to Hashirama that his election proposal was designed to secure his position, while Hashirama and Tobirama disagreed over whether to leave Konoha.
• Shin finalized the election procedures, and Konoha’s three-day vote gave him more than ninety-five percent of the votes and made him Fifth Hokage.
• As Shin prepared to address the villagers, a dried snakeskin shed fell before him and an eagle flew away.

Shin dealt with village affairs as Fugaku’s attempt to awaken Obito’s Mangekyō led to a confrontation that endangered his family and exposed his betrayal. The arc ended with Fugaku declaring loyalty to Mana while Amegakure’s leaders arrived to discuss their village’s responsibilities.

• Kakashi fought off a Stone Ninja ambush with Sage Mode, and Homura confirmed what he had used before they returned to Konoha.
• Fugaku discovered hidden words on the Naka Shrine tablet with his Mangekyō Sharingan, then urged Obito to reclaim his other eye from Kakashi.
• Shin agreed to replace Kakashi’s Sharingan and sent Obito to Tobirama to learn about Wood Release, while Konan proposed that Amegakure co-host the Chunin Exams.
• Naruto arranged for Kabuto to leave the orphanage and live independently, while Yahiko reorganized Akatsuki and welcomed Byakuryu into Amegakure.
• Mikoto and Kushina encountered the White Snake Sage, but Kamado rescued them from the shrine and Shin sent Anbu to investigate.
• Fugaku arranged an attack on Rin to awaken Obito’s Mangekyō, but Anko defeated the attackers and Shin confronted Fugaku after exposing the plot.
• Shin threatened Fugaku with the Caged Bird Seal, and Fugaku confessed to Mikoto that he had ordered the attack and asked her to seek leniency.
• Itachi joined Team Nine with Kabuto and Shinko, while Mana summoned Fugaku to meet Konan and Nagato and later heard Fugaku declare his loyalty.