Recaps

Hiko helped Orochimaru pursue Danzo’s research while handling the Third Hokage and everyday village matters. When Hatake Sakumo’s failed mission sparked a wave of slander, Hiko arrested those involved, punished Sakumo and the offenders, and secured approval for a fine system that left villagers protesting.

• Hiko met Orochimaru, learned Danzo was preparing a cell transplant, and agreed to help Orochimaru access the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu while handling the Third Hokage himself.
• Hiko secured the Third Hokage’s permission for Orochimaru to study the jutsu, then approved six-year-old Hatake Kakashi’s Chunin Exam application and arranged rides with Mikoto Uchiha and Kushina.
• Hiko lectured Kushina about respecting her teammates, then encountered Kakashi and realized Hatake Sakumo’s reputation-destroying mission might be imminent.
• After Sakumo’s squad failed its mission and rumors condemned him for abandoning it to save his teammates, Hiko ordered the Police Force to arrest active slanderers and the Anbu to detain Medical Department staff.
• Hiko released uninvolved staff, kept Sakumo and the identified suspects in custody, and promised Tsunade to protect his allies while ordering interrogations and confronting Sakumo about losing heart under public abuse.
• Hiko sentenced Sakumo to five years, Dan Katō to ten years, and Sakumo’s two teammates to seven years, while punishing responsible Medical Department staff and revoking the men’s contributions.
• Hiko proposed a system allowing ninjas to pay fines instead of losing valuable Contribution Points, and the Third Hokage, Elder Council, and other leaders approved it.
• Konoha enforced the fines and punishments, most ninjas accepted the new system, and ordinary villagers crowded the Hokage Office Building to protest being subject to fines.

Hiko secured Hatake Sakumo’s release, helped set Hatake Kakashi on his path under Minato Namikaze, and discussed the Rinnegan’s danger with his allies. The arc ended with Konoha investigating Sunagakure’s border search as Grandma Chiyo suspected Uchiha Hiko had killed the missing Third Kazekage.

• Hiko took Hatake Kakashi to Konoha Prison to visit Hatake Sakumo, then promised to seek Sakumo’s release and arranged for Minato Namikaze to teach Kakashi.
• Hiko persuaded the Third Hokage and the elders to release Hatake Sakumo, then welcomed him back with Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru.
• Hiko explained his theories about the Uchiha, Senju, and Uzumaki, and warned Jiraiya that Nagato’s Rinnegan could threaten the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
• Hatake Sakumo returned to the Anbu, while Hatake Kakashi formed a team with Uchiha Obito and Nohara Rin under Minato Namikaze.
• Hiko attended Uchiha Itachi’s celebration, then rushed to the Hokage Office Building after learning Sunagakure ninja were near Konoha’s border.
• Hiko sent Konoha forces to monitor the border and assigned Hatake Sakumo to investigate Sunagakure’s intentions as Grandma Chiyo searched for the missing Third Kazekage.
• Hatake Sakumo’s team captured a Sunagakure ninja and learned the Third Kazekage had disappeared, while Baki reported that a Sunagakure search squad had gone missing.
• Grandma Chiyo suspected the Third Kazekage had been assassinated, ordered the search to continue, and privately considered Uchiha Hiko the prime suspect.

After Sunagakure’s Third Kazekage disappeared, Grandma Chiyo turned the village’s anger toward Konoha, and Rasa became Fourth Kazekage before declaring war. Hiko took command of Konoha’s forces and faced Sunagakure’s first advance while worrying about the other villages.

• Hiko revealed to Konoha’s leaders that the Third Kazekage was missing and warned that Sunagakure might blame Konoha.
• Grandma Chiyo spread accusations against Hiko, while the Daimyo of the Land of Wind pressured Sunagakure to win a war against Konoha.
• Rasa became Fourth Kazekage and, with Grandma Chiyo, declared war on Konoha less than three days later.
• The Third Hokage appointed Hiko frontline commander, and Hiko organized three thousand shinobi with support from Tsunade, Hatake Sakumo, and Shikaku Nara.
• Hiko led Konoha’s forces to the border and established a disciplined camp while Sunagakure and Konoha paused their clashes to rest and regroup.
• Grandma Chiyo agreed that Sunagakure could delay no longer, and Rasa sent a large force toward Konoha’s camp.
• Hiko put Jiraiya in charge of responding to Sunagakure’s probing attack, and Jiraiya led three hundred shinobi out to halt it.
• Hiko told the remaining leaders that he was training them to take responsibility and said he was more concerned about whether other villages might join the fighting.

As Konoha pressed Sunagakure, Hiko’s eyes evolved into the Rinnegan and Black Zetsu accelerated his plans. The arc left Yahiko dead after Hanzo forced him to sacrifice himself, with Nagato facing the same danger.

• Jiraiya and Hatake Sakumo led Konoha’s forces against Sunagakure, while Rasa and Grandma Chiyo sought allies among the other villages.
• Black Zetsu joined Akatsuki as Zetsu, gained Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan’s trust, and secretly arranged for Hanzo to capture Konan.
• Hiko’s Eternal Mangekyo evolved into the Rinnegan, and the surge of Chakra destroyed the Command Center before he recovered and ordered stronger attacks on Sunagakure.
• Hiko warned Hatake Sakumo that other villages might join the war and told him to increase pressure on Sunagakure while limiting Konoha’s losses.
• Hanzo captured Konan and used her to lure Yahiko and Nagato’s Akatsuki members into a valley, where Amegakure ninja surrounded them.
• Hanzo demanded that Yahiko kill himself to save Konan, and Yahiko slit his throat as Nagato watched helplessly.
• Hanzo declared that Nagato could die too, while Black Zetsu stood back from the confrontation.