Recaps

Danzo fled Sunagakure after mistaking its banner and the news that Kusagakure would attend for a trap. Advisor Chiyo concluded Konoha could not help Sunagakure, but then learned the Grass Ninja Leader and Pakura had arrived and went to welcome them herself.

• Danzo saw Sunagakure’s banner and learned Kusagakure had been invited, then ran away while accusing Sunagakure of plotting to cheat him.
• A Sand ninja reported Danzo’s departure to Advisor Chiyo, who assumed he had fled because Kusagakure was coming.
• Chiyo realized Danzo’s flight made her plan to unite Konoha, Kusagakure, and Amegakure impractical and decided to seek another solution.
• A Sand ninja announced that the Grass Ninja Leader and Pakura had arrived, so Chiyo stood up to welcome them personally.

Pakura returned to Sunagakure, where Chiyo hoped she might help the struggling village, but Pakura declined to get involved. Chiyo then sought Kusagakure’s help with the Land of Wind’s feudal lord, only for Kusana and Hanzo to reveal their unusual affection for Danzō after learning he had left.

• Pakura returned to Sunagakure, reunited with her former student Katsuyu, and told Chiyo she had come only to visit and would leave any requests to her leader.
• Chiyo apologized to Pakura for the past, while Hanzo mocked Sunagakure’s troubles and Kusana tried to recruit its ninja.
• Chiyo explained that the Land of Wind’s feudal lord had ordered Sunagakure to disband and asked Kusana to cooperate in negotiations, but Kusana initially refused.
• Chiyo said Danzō had visited that morning and left when he heard Kusana was coming, prompting Kusana to call him his beloved friend.
• Hanzo called Danzō his brother in arms, leaving Chiyo bewildered by the two leaders’ attachment to Konoha’s assistant.

Hiruzen Sarutobi worried about Konoha’s strained finances and Danzo’s unexplained absence, then heard Danzo’s account of the crisis surrounding Sunagakure. Danzo urged Konoha to take action and proposed convening a Kage Summit.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi considered Konoha’s political troubles and lamented that the Sarutobi Clan’s fortune had been emptied.
• An Anbu ninja told Hiruzen that Danzo had left the village, prompting Hiruzen to order a search for him in Sunagakure.
• Danzo returned, and Hiruzen welcomed him with relief before learning that Danzo had encountered Kusagakure ninja and escaped.
• Danzo warned Hiruzen that Kumogakure and Iwagakure were making moves around Sunagakure, while Konoha needed money and influence.
• Danzo proposed that Konoha convene a Kage Summit.

Kusana tried to recruit Sunagakure’s struggling ninjas for Kusagakure, stirring the young Sand Ninja into signing up before Baki intervened. As Kusana went to meet Lady Chiyo, he spotted young Gaara and invited him to Kusagakure.

• Kusana and Pakura handed out recruitment flyers in Sunagakure, prompting Pakura to suggest that she return to become Kazekage instead.
• Kusana rallied the Sand Ninja by describing their hardships and promising jobs, benefits, training, and a chance to help Sunagakure rise again.
• The young Sand Ninja shouted their support and lined up to register with Kusagakure.
• Baki and the other Sand Ninja stopped the recruitment drive and told Kusana that Lady Chiyo wanted to see him.
• Kusana noticed young Gaara lingering with his sand toys and asked if he wanted to come to Kusagakure.

Kusana tried to recruit Gaara to Kusagakure’s academy while Danzo used a secret summit to persuade the other great villages to pressure Sunagakure. Danzo’s pitch was interrupted by a BBC Daily reporter asking to interview him.

• Kusana invited Gaara to attend Kusagakure’s Hope Academy, and Pakura recognized him as Rasa’s son and Sunagakure’s Jinchuriki.
• Baki tried to protect Gaara from Kusana and Pakura, then left the matter for Chiyo and Ebizo to handle.
• Danzo presented an analysis at a secret summit attended by the Kage of the four great villages, excluding Sunagakure.
• Danzo urged the villages to unite against Sunagakure and seize the opportunity created by the Fourth Kazekage’s alleged assassination of the feudal lord.
• A BBC Daily gold medal reporter appeared before Danzo and asked to interview him.

As Sunagakure sought Kusagakure and Amegakure’s help against the Four Great Ninja Villages, Kusana refused to interfere and tried to recruit Chiyo and Ebizo instead. The alliance’s plans were upended when Baki revealed that the coalition had declared war on Sunagakure under the slogan of punishing and slaying the Grass traitors, and was angrier at Kusagakure than at Sunagakure.

• Hanzo tried to recruit Chiyo, and she traded insults with him while Ebizo worried about Sunagakure’s political crisis.
• Chiyo asked Kusana to help Sunagakure resist the Four Great Ninja Villages, but Kusana refused, citing his oath not to interfere in other villages’ politics.
• Baki reported that the Four Great Ninja Villages had begun deploying troops along the Land of Wind’s border, prompting Kusana and Hanzo to prepare to leave.
• Baki warned Kusana that the crisis might involve Kusagakure, then explained that the coalition had declared war on Sunagakure under the slogan of punishing the immoral and slaying the Grass traitors.

Danzo rallied the four-village alliance to attack Sunagakure while pretending the campaign was aimed at Kusagakure. Pakura proposed that Sunagakure disband and rebuild in the Land of Grass, then urged Chiyo and Ebizo to study the Spirit of Grass in reverse.

• The four-village alliance agreed to declare war on Sunagakure after a BBC Gold Medal Reporter infiltrated their secret meeting and interviewed them.
• Danzo led the alliance in chanting against Kusagakure, while Hiruzen warned him that starting a war would put Konoha at risk.
• Kusana and Hanzō discussed the reporter’s audacity and Kusana’s plan to recruit Sunagakure’s puppet masters and seize its secret techniques.
• Pakura confronted Advisor Chiyo about Sunagakure’s failures and learned Chiyo planned to take Gaara away as the village declined.
• Pakura suggested Sunagakure disband and rebuild in the Land of Grass, then told Chiyo and Ebizo they might find a solution by learning the Spirit of Grass in reverse.

The Four Great Ninja Villages formed an alliance and marched into the Land of Wind, claiming to punish Kusagakure while secretly targeting Sunagakure for its resources. Danzo reassured Hiruzen that Sunagakure would not disband, while Kusana and Hanzō woke to discover it was about to do just that.

• The Four Great Ninja Villages assembled at the Land of Wind’s border beneath a banner denouncing Kusagakure, though their real target was Sunagakure.
• Danzo inspected the allied forces and anticipated using the operation to secure funds for Konoha.
• Ōnoki asked how Danzo would ensure fairness and protect Iwagakure’s ninjas, and Danzo promised the other leaders would be able to watch him.
• Hiruzen questioned Danzo’s confidence, but Danzo insisted the alliance would pursue its interests and that Sunagakure would not disband.
• Kusana and Hanzō stared at Advisor Chiyo after waking to learn that Sunagakure was about to disband.

Chiyo disbanded Sunagakure and handed its leadership and assets to Kusana, leaving him responsible for the village. Danzo's allied forces learned Sunagakure had dissolved before their planned attack could begin.

• Chiyo announced that Sunagakure was disbanded and its Sand ninja could seek refuge in the Land of Wind or enlist in its military.
• Pakura said Sunagakure could no longer survive and planned to take Gaara to Kusagakure for school.
• Kusana dismissed concerns about the allied forces and said he wanted to acquire Sunagakure's secret techniques cheaply.
• Chiyo and Ebizo gave Kusana Sunagakure's symbol-bearing scroll and declared that the village was now his.
• Danzo ordered the allied forces to attack the Sand ninja and expected Sunagakure to surrender and accept their demands.
• A returning ninja told Danzo that Sunagakure had disbanded, leaving him and the meeting room stunned.

Sunagakure disbanded under Advisor Chiyo’s decision, leaving Danzo stunned and the allied forces unsure how to proceed. Chiyo planned to lead part of the Sand Ninja toward the Land of Grass, but Danzo ordered the alliance to attack and declared that Sunagakure could not disband without his permission.

• A Sand Ninja reported that Advisor Chiyo had announced Sunagakure’s dissolution and that its people were preparing to split between the Land of Wind and Chiyo’s group.
• Danzo’s expected negotiations and gains collapsed, while Ōnoki questioned what the alliance should do and Yagura praised the Grass Ninja Leader’s influence.
• Danzo insisted the alliance continue its attack, claiming Sunagakure must rebuild if it had truly disbanded.
• Chiyo explained that Sunagakure could no longer survive without financial support from the Land of Wind and planned to take the villagers loyal to her to the Land of Grass.
• Baki reported that the allied forces had attacked and that Danzo had declared Sunagakure could not disband without his permission.

Kusana pushed Sunagakure to negotiate with the Ninja Alliance, and Chiyo asked its enemies for a donation instead of demanding terms. As Kusana prepared to leave with Sunagakure’s people, Obito questioned Swirl Face about where he had gone after Teacher Madara died.

• Chiyo rejected the Ninja Alliance’s offer to negotiate and told Baki to send them to the Feudal Lord's Mansion of the Land of Wind.
• Kusana asked Baki to confirm whether Danzo truly wanted negotiations, and Danzo told Sunagakure to state its demands freely.
• Chiyo sent a letter asking the Ninja Alliance to donate one hundred million so Sunagakure could avoid dissolution, leaving Danzo and the other leaders stunned.
• Kusana said Danzo was no longer easy to fool, then told Pakura to summon the special vehicle for Sunagakure.
• Obito asked Swirl Face where he had gone after Teacher Madara died.

After becoming Uchiha Clan Head in Kusagakure, Obito helped his clan members settle into new jobs and met Spiral White Zetsu, who called himself Tobi. Obito realized Tobi ran an environmental recycling company, then was summoned by the leader for a ride and understood the Grass ninja was teasing him.

• Obito reflected on his new duties as Clan Head and how Kusagakure's counseling and employment programs helped the Uchiha clan members settle into work.
• Izumi Uchiha trained to open a dango shop, Tekka Uchiha trained with the Guard Department, and other Uchiha members found jobs around Kusagakure.
• Obito met Spiral White Zetsu by the roadside and offered to support him or help him find factory work, but Tobi said he preferred scavenging.
• Tobi told Obito he had chosen the name Tobi and hurried off to work; Obito later saw him enter Tobi Environmental Recycling Co., Ltd. and realized what his scavenging involved.
• A Grass ninja told Obito the leader had called for a ride, and Obito darkened at the ninja's teasing implication.

Kusana and Hanzo planned to absorb Sunagakure after Chiyo led many of its people away, while the Ninja Alliance agreed to fund the village. Kusana asked for another hundred million, and Danzo responded by demanding five hundred million from the Land of Wind’s Feudal Lord’s Mansion or threatening to withdraw the alliance’s troops.

• Kusana told Hanzo that Kusagakure would not give up Sunagakure once it had taken it in, while they postponed deciding whether to merge or rebuild the village separately.
• Baki reported that the Ninja Alliance had agreed to provide Sunagakure with one hundred million to keep it running.
• Hanzo scolded Baki for hesitating to accept the money, and Kusana asked him to send the alliance another request for one hundred million.
• Danzo called Sunagakure petty and ordered a message sent to the Land of Wind’s Feudal Lord’s Mansion demanding five hundred million or the alliance would withdraw its troops.

Sunagakure’s leaders watched the Ninja Alliance agree to a series of escalating financial demands, while Kusana and Hanzō wondered how Danzo had funded them. Obito arrived expecting to transport another clan, only to learn Kusana might want him to move the entire village, and agreed once Kusana offered more pay.

• The Ninja Alliance sent Sunagakure funds in response to demands for repairs, equipment, and other needs, astonishing Chiyo, Ebizo, and the village’s ninja.
• Kusana and Hanzō marveled that Danzo had agreed to support Sunagakure despite Konoha’s financial troubles, and Hanzō proposed arranging another luxury tour for him.
• Chiyo asked Kusana whether they should continue their plan, but a space distortion interrupted the meeting.
• Obito appeared and complained that Kusana had summoned him away from a friend’s feast, then asked which clan he was supposed to transport.
• Kusana hinted that he might need Obito to take many people, possibly Sunagakure’s entire population.
• Obito objected to the Chakra required, but immediately agreed to go when Kusana promised to pay more.

Sunagakure’s leaders learned that the Land of Wind’s Feudal Lord had lost a large sum of money and wanted to stop the village’s disbandment, while the Ninja Alliance refused to end its profitable campaign. When the Alliance summoned Shimura Danzō, he claimed to be ill and told Kakashi to prepare to leave.

• Kusana told the Ninja Alliance that Sunagakure was still short ten billion after settling Obito’s transportation fee.
• Baki reported that the Land of Wind’s Feudal Lord’s Mansion wanted Sunagakure to stay intact because it had lost a large sum of money.
• Ōnoki and the other Alliance leaders rejected the Feudal Lord’s attempt to revoke the mission, and A called for Shimura Danzō’s advice.
• An Alliance ninja summoned Danzō, who claimed he had caught a cold after making hurried noises in his quarters.
• Danzō told Kakashi to prepare to leave, and Kakashi silently watched him pack.

The allied Kage discovered that Shimura Danzō and Konoha’s forces had fled, leaving them to abandon their plans against Sunagakure and pursue Konoha instead. At Sunagakure, Kusana and Hanzō realized the missing advisor was their friend Danzo.

• The Fourth Raikage dismissed a report that Danzō was unwell, while the Kage waited for him to join their meeting about Sunagakure.
• As Danzō failed to appear, Ōnoki, Karatachi Yagura, and Ai speculated that he was ill and decided to visit him.
• A ninja reported that Danzō had vanished with his belongings and that Konoha’s ninjas had quietly withdrawn from the area.
• The allied Kage learned that Konoha’s forces had fled and angrily decided to chase them instead of continuing the fight against Sunagakure.
• Baki told Kusana that the allied forces had turned against Konoha because their advisor had absconded with a large sum of money.
• Kusana and Hanzō recognized the missing advisor as their friend Danzo.

Danzo tried to flee the Land of Wind with the money he had secured, but he ran into Kusana and Hanzō’s group while they were escorting Sunagakure’s people away. After taking Danzo’s hundred million and sending him back into the desert, Kusana’s group pointed the approaching Ninja Alliance toward him, leaving Danzo to run for his life.

• Danzo took a route near the Land of Rain to avoid Kusana’s group, but space twisted in front of him and he stopped with his Root Ninja escorts.
• Kusana and Hanzō escorted Sunagakure’s people from their former village, while Pakura lamented leaving it and criticized the two leaders for kidnapping Danzo before.
• Obito spotted Danzo, and Kusana invited him aboard their vehicle; Danzo offered one hundred million to join their tour group.
• Obito warned that the Ninja Alliance was approaching, and Kusana realized Danzo had led them to the group.
• Kusana took Danzo’s money, sent him and the Root Ninja back into the desert, and shouted that the Alliance should charge Danzo for three billion.
• Danzo ordered his Root Ninja to run as the sandstorm and the approaching Alliance closed in.

The Three Great Ninja Villages threatened Konoha after Shimura Danzō absconded with their alliance funds, but Hiruzen Sarutobi offered them one billion and both sides withdrew rather than start a war. After the crisis passed, Hiruzen wondered how much Danzo had changed, and Danzo hinted that his years in the Land of Grass had been difficult.

• Sunagakure disbanded, and the Three Great Ninja Villages broke their alliance with Konoha and demanded that Konoha return the three billion Shimura Danzō had taken.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi claimed Danzo had acted alone, offered the Three Great Ninja Villages one billion, and said the rest of the money had been lost in the desert.
• The Three Great Ninja Villages rejected the offer, but Konoha deployed shinobi to the Land of Wind border and refused to pay more.
• The rival forces confronted each other for a day and a night, then withdrew and split Konoha's one billion evenly.
• Hiruzen asked Danzo whether he had changed, and Danzo said his experiences had left him with too many memories.

Kusana and the leaders of Amegakure and Sunagakure discussed how to preserve Sunagakure after its collapse, then Kusana arranged for the Sand ninjas to accept a commission from the Land of Wind in exchange for land. Sunagakure was rebuilt inside the Land of Wind, shocking the shinobi world.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked the impoverished Danzo what had happened to the remaining 1.7 billion.
• Kusana read a report confirming Danzo had escaped and joined Hanzō, Chiyo, and Ebizo to discuss Sunagakure's future.
• Hanzō and Chiyo bickered over where Sunagakure could be rebuilt, while Ebizo urged them to focus on the problem.
• An envoy reported that the Land of Wind wanted to hire Amegakure ninjas, but Kusana proposed that the Sand ninjas take the commission in exchange for borrowing land.
• Several days later, Sunagakure was rebuilt inside the Land of Wind, causing an uproar across the shinobi world.

After Sunagakure joined the Land of Grass, Kusana returned to Kusagakure and faced plans to strengthen and develop its three ninja villages as the Grass and Rain Countries rose to the status of a new Great Nation. The chapter ended with Mikoto telling him that Sasuke and Naruto had lost a group fight and Naruto was plotting revenge.

• The Land of Wind agreed to give Sunagakure the border desert it had borrowed, while the ninja world reacted to Sunagakure becoming part of the Land of Grass.
• Kusana returned to Kusagakure with Pakura and Gaara and planned to send the Infrastructure Team to help rebuild Sunagakure.
• Mikoto brought Kusana accumulated documents and told him that people wanted to celebrate the Land of Grass's rise among the Five Great Nations.
• Kusana agreed to hold a meeting about the celebration and asked Mikoto how the Uchiha Clan was doing.
• Mikoto said the Uchiha Clan had begun rebuilding their lives, then reported that Sasuke and Naruto had lost a group fight and Naruto was secretly planning to get even.

Naruto and Sasuke argued over whether to take revenge on Black Zetsu, but Jugō persuaded them to focus on their studies and avoid disappointing Leader Mang. Their class then welcomed a new student, Gaara, who introduced himself without showing emotion.

• Naruto urged Jugō and Sasuke to get revenge on Black Zetsu, but Jugō argued that they should let the feud go and study instead.
• Naruto and Sasuke quarreled until Jugō reminded them that Leader Mang would be disappointed if they fought at school.
• Naruto decided to forgive Black Zetsu for now and said he would aim to become the academy's Top Student like Brother Nagato.
• Jugō hinted that Naruto would soon receive a gift from Brother Nagato, but the bell rang before he explained what it was.
• Teacher Jiang Yi brought a red-haired new student into class, and the boy introduced himself as Gaara.

Gaara adjusted to his new life after Sunagakure’s destruction and arrived at school, where Black Zetsu tried to intimidate him. Naruto and Sasuke intervened, and the chapter ended with Black Zetsu and the two boys agreeing to meet in the woods after school.

• Gaara recalled how Sunagakure had disappeared, how a kind red-haired old man quieted the voice inside him, and how he had been adopted and brought to school.
• Black Zetsu approached Gaara, recognized him as the One-Tail Jinchuriki, and threatened him after Gaara told him to get lost.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and an orange-haired boy stepped in, and Naruto introduced himself while Gaara’s sand blocked his attempts to touch him.
• Naruto and Sasuke argued with Black Zetsu, who claimed he had only greeted Gaara and mocked the boys as losers.
• After the bell rang, Black Zetsu and Naruto agreed to meet in the woods after school for a duel.

Kusana sent Daibutsu and Infrastructure Team Three to rebuild Sunagakure, while Chiyo and Ebizo welcomed them and reviewed their ambitious plans. The Sand ninja accepted Kusagakure’s support and looked ahead to a greatly expanded new village.

• Kusana rested at his office after arranging Sunagakure’s reconstruction and wondered whether Daibutsu had arrived.
• Daibutsu led Infrastructure Team Three into Sunagakure, where Chiyo, Ebizo, and Baki welcomed them.
• Daibutsu presented the detailed plans for a new Sunagakure, including residential and commercial districts, an academy, a railway tunnel, and a water supply channel.
• Chiyo worried about the project’s cost, but Daibutsu explained that Kusana had allocated sufficient funds.
• Chiyo thanked Kusana, and the Sand ninja studied the plans with anticipation as Kusana’s office received a call that it was time to go home.

Kusana and Mikoto walked through a thriving Kusagakure, where Kusana discovered that Tobi and Gato had built a successful recycling company. Back home, he found Naruto and Sasuke bruised after another failed fight with Black Zetsu and promised the children gifts.

• Kusana and Mikoto admired Kusagakure's busy streets and saw the popular Teshō Sesame Cake Shop.
• Kusana discovered Tobi Environmental Recycling Co., Ltd., and learned from Mikoto that Tobi and vice president Gato had grown the company across the shinobi world.
• Kusana and Mikoto returned home and found Naruto and Sasuke battered after challenging Black Zetsu to a fight.
• Naruto blamed Gaara's intervention for their defeat, while Kushina scolded him and Sasuke vowed to win next time.
• Kusana calmed Kushina, sent the children inside to eat, and told them he had brought gifts.

After the children received gifts and started school, Kusana reflected on the ninja world's uneasy peace and Sunagakure's new independence. He then discovered that Danzo had started a newspaper called Root Daily, leaving Kusana to wonder why Danzo had abandoned his proper duties.

• Naruto and Sasuke excitedly received Uncle Amang's gifts, and Kushina laughed as Naruto thanked her and Uncle Amang.
• Naruto decided he wanted to save Gaara after learning about Gaara's painful past, while Kusana wondered why Black Zetsu was not befriending his classmates.
• Kirigakure returned home and closed its borders again, while the completed New Sand Village began accepting missions as an independent village under the Land of Grass.
• Rogue Ninja and other villages' ninja began causing unrest in the Land of Wind, prompting other Feudal Lord's Mansions to ease tensions with their ninja villages.
• Kusana found a Konoha newspaper called Root Daily and wondered why Danzo had turned to publishing instead of pursuing his ambitions.