Recaps

Kawafune forced Sarutobi Hiruzen to relinquish the Hokage position, and Tsunade became the Fourth Hokage as the village reshaped its leadership and Academy. After Kawafune and Tsunade married, Konoha sent Minato, Nawaki, and their squad to rescue the Yuki Clan from Kirigakure, and the team joined the battle just as the clan was cornered.

• Kawafune confronted Sarutobi Hiruzen, who admitted his failures, repaid the embezzled funds, and publicly resigned as Hokage.
• The clan heads backed Tsunade as Hokage, and she took office with Kawafune’s support and appointed leaders to Konoha’s major departments.
• Orochimaru removed Pakura’s seal, and Minato and Nawaki became Anbu squad captains while Nawaki established Fire Squad.
• Kawafune introduced four advanced courses for Genin and organized the Academy’s new classes, funding, and instructors.
• Kawafune and Tsunade married, then Tsunade revealed that Kirigakure was hunting the Yuki Clan and asked Sakumo to lead a rescue mission.
• Minato, Nawaki, Yahiko, Nagato, and their team traveled in disguise toward the Yuki Clan while Kirigakure’s Anbu closed in on the clan’s location.
• Minato’s team arrived as Kirigakure Anbu surrounded the Yuki Clan, and the rescuers attacked to protect the survivors.

Nawaki, Minato, and their allies defeated the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, but the Third Mizukage captured Nagato. Kawafune stormed Kirigakure, exposed the Mizukage as Uchiha Madara’s puppet, and secured Genji’s agreement to release Nagato.

• Nawaki and Minato led the Yuki Clan toward a port, where the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist ambushed them, but the group killed all seven and collected their swords.
• Tsunade and Orochimaru transplanted Hashirama’s Native Cells into Kawafune, who survived, awakened Wood Style, and demonstrated Hashirama’s Sage Art: Wood Style: True Several Thousand Hands.
• The Third Mizukage attacked Minato’s group at sea and overwhelmed their allies, but Nagato unleashed Shinra Tensei to protect Nawaki and Minato.
• Nagato threatened to kill himself unless the Third Mizukage spared his friends, then surrendered and was taken to Kirigakure.
• Kawafune left Konoha alone, broke through Kirigakure’s defenses, and defeated the village’s defenders with Wood Style and Lightning Release.
• Kawafune revealed that the Third Mizukage was Uchiha Madara controlling him with a Mangekyō Sharingan, and Genji agreed to hand over Nagato.

Kawafune returned Nagato to Konoha after defeating Isobu and exposing Madara’s control of the Mizukage. As Jiraiya formed a new intelligence department, Nagato joined its first mission and grew close to Nonō, who shared his hopes for the future.

• Kawafune stopped Madara from destroying Kirigakure, defeated Isobu, and negotiated payment and the Ninja Blade Summoning Scroll from Genji.
• Kawafune brought Nagato home to Konoha, told Tsunade about Madara’s involvement, and reunited Nagato with his family.
• After Jiraiya’s wedding, Tsunade authorized him to form the Covert Operations Department in response to the losses among Konoha’s spies.
• Jiraiya screened Anbu candidates with Sakumo and Kawafune, then selected six members after their combat trials.
• Kawafune arranged for Onoda Ei to screen students for the new department, while Jiraiya organized its staff, funding, and base.
• Nawaki’s team sent Nagato and Nonō to gather intelligence, and the pair helped the team ambush bandits after discovering they planned to leave the Land of Fire.
• Nagato saved Nonō from the bandits, treated her injuries, and accepted her invitation to dinner after their mission.
• Nagato and Nonō shared dango and ramen, discussed her eyesight and ambitions, and watched the moon from Hokage Rock as Nagato spoke of ending war.

Nagato restores Nonō’s eyesight before she leaves Konoha for spy training, while Tsunade discovers she is pregnant and Kawafune takes over her duties. When Kakuzu targets Kawafune for a bounty, Kawafune defeats and captures him, then begins negotiating for his fortune.

• Nagato researches a corneal operation, restores Nonō’s eyesight, and promises to wait for her after she leaves Konoha for spy training.
• Tsunade reveals she is pregnant, and Kawafune celebrates with their family before repeatedly taking over her Hokage duties while she rests.
• Kakuzu arrives in Konoha to claim the 350 million ryo bounty on Kawafune and sets fire to the Hokage Building to draw him out.
• Kawafune confronts Kakuzu, destroys two of his hearts, traps him in a Wood Style prison, and brings him back to Konoha as a captive.
• Tsunade learns that Kakuzu once tried to assassinate Hashirama and tasks Kawafune with collecting Kakuzu’s fortune.
• Kawafune offers Kakuzu his freedom in exchange for his money, and Kakuzu proposes paying half before release and the remainder after leaving Konoha.