Recaps

Danzo was captured again after Obito stopped his attempt to retake Naruto, and Kusana’s effort to recruit him ended in a misunderstanding. Meanwhile, Naruto met Kushina and began to wonder if she was his mother as she took him home to Kusagakure.

• Danzo recalled pursuing Kusana’s group to reclaim Naruto and attack Obito, but Obito defeated him and he was captured again.
• Danzo accused Obito of ruining his plan, while Kusana and Kakuzu insisted that Danzo was an honored guest they had invited.
• Danzo rejected Kusana’s presumed recruitment offer and left with Kakuzu, while Kusana wondered what plan Danzo thought had failed.
• Naruto saw Kushina and a young girl in Kusagakure, then learned from Kusana that Kushina was his mother.
• Kushina carried Naruto away to eat and rest, and Naruto wondered whether she really was his mother.

Naruto began settling in with Kushina and the Uzumaki family, enjoying his first breakfast surrounded by people who cared for him while wondering where his father was. Kusana and Kana discussed Naruto’s past before an excited visitor arrived looking for Leader Mang.

• Naruto woke in the Uzumaki home and remembered secretly following Yōsei out of Konoha because he wanted to meet his clansmen.
• Kushina welcomed Naruto and took him to breakfast with Fusang and Little Xiang, who asked whether he kept a fire-breathing cat.
• Naruto happily ate with his family but wondered whether his father was nearby.
• Kana worried that Little Xiang might disturb Kushina and Naruto, while Kusana reassured her and suggested they would soon be busy again.
• An excited visitor rang the doorbell and called for Leader Mang, saying he had taken the Green Train to meet an esteemed guest.

Hanzo of the Salamander visited Kusagakure, while Danzo mistook his imprisonment and Kusana’s plans for a recruitment attempt. Danzo refused to betray Konoha but offered to consider joining if Kusagakure returned the Jinchuriki, leaving Kusana stunned by his misunderstanding.

• Hanzo of the Salamander arrived at Kusana’s home, asked about Danzo, and learned Kakuzu was guarding him.
• Danzo complained about being given only a Military Ration Pill, ate it, and declared he would never betray Konoha.
• Kusana, Hanzo of the Salamander, and Kakuzu visited Danzo, who accused Kusagakure of targeting Konoha’s Jinchuriki.
• Kusana tried to reassure Danzo that he would eventually be sent back safely, but Danzo assumed Kusana wanted to recruit him.
• Danzo said he might consider joining Kusagakure if Kusana returned the Jinchuriki, leaving Kusana speechless.

Kusana and Hanzo discussed Kusagakure’s plans after kidnapping Konoha’s Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and Hokage’s Assistant, while Konoha debated how to respond. Kusagakure rejected Konoha’s demand to return the captives, leaving the two villages at odds.

• Kusana told Hanzo that Kusagakure could not accommodate Danzō and planned to leave him for Konoha.
• Hanzo said Kusagakure and Amegakure could resist the Five Great Ninja Villages, and Kusana revealed he planned to use Danzō as a hostage at the border.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Konoha’s leaders how to respond to the kidnapping, and Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu recommended demanding the captives’ return before declaring war.
• Hiruzen ordered Utatane Koharu to draft a condemnation, but Kusagakure’s advisor Mujie replied that Konoha was not qualified to make demands and refused to return the captives.

Hiruzen Sarutobi responded to Kusagakure’s declaration of war over Naruto and Danzo by ordering Konoha’s forces forward, only to learn that Danzo had been tied to a cross and threatened with stabbing if Konoha advanced. Danzo realized Kusagakure was using him as a living warning at the border, while Konoha faced the prospect of war.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi read Kusagakure’s letter accusing Konoha of mistreating Naruto and declaring war over the missing Jinchuriki and Hokage’s Assistant.
• Hiruzen ordered Konoha’s border forces to advance and demanded that Kusagakure return Naruto and Danzo.
• An Anbu ninja reported that Kusagakure had hung Danzo at the border and threatened to stab him whenever Konoha’s ninja took another step.
• Danzo expected Kusagakure to use him to extort money from Konoha as he stood near the Land of Fire border.
• Grass ninja tied Danzo to a cross and stabbed his thigh with a kunai, warning Konoha’s forces not to advance.

Kusagakure kept Shimura Danzō captive while Konoha’s forces hesitated to attack, and the other Great Ninja Villages waited on the sidelines. After Konoha ordered its troops to attack even if it meant killing Danzō, the ninja prepared to fight as Danzō resigned himself to his captivity.

• Mujie reported that the other Four Great Ninja Villages had reinforced their borders but had not attacked, and warned that Konoha could not remain deadlocked for long.
• Kusana said the timing was right as Konoha’s forces continued to watch the captive Danzō and refrain from attacking without orders.
• A Konoha messenger announced that the Hokage had ordered an attack regardless of Danzō’s safety, even authorizing his death if necessary.
• Konoha’s ninja vowed to avenge Danzō’s sacrifice, pulled out their Explosive Tags, and prepared to attack the Grass ninja.
• Danzō looked at the sunset and remarked that the Land of Grass had pleasant scenery, having realized he probably would not die.

Kusagakure announced that it would release Shimura Danzō in exchange for a tourism fee, just as Konoha launched an attack that nearly killed him. Hiruzen Sarutobi, who believed Danzō had already sacrificed himself, learned that Kusagakure wanted money to let him go.

• Kyusuke told Danzo that Kusagakure had decided to release him and demanded a tourism fee from Konoha.
• Konoha ninja launched a barrage of kunai and Explosive Tags, while Danzo shouted for them to stop attacking.
• Kusagakure used speakers to announce Danzo's release, and Danzo assured the Konoha ninja that he was still alive.
• The Konoha ninja stopped their attack and sent word to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi mourned Danzo and ordered the Anbu to retrieve his body, but an Anbu ninja told him Kusagakure planned to release Danzo in exchange for money.

Hiruzen and Konoha’s clan heads learned that Kusagakure would release Danzo for money, prompting an urgent meeting. In Kusagakure, Kusana reassured Kushina that the village would protect her and Naruto, while Naruto savored his new family life.

• Hiruzen learned Kusagakure would release Danzo for money and summoned Konoha’s leaders and clan heads to an urgent meeting.
• Konoha’s clan heads received the news with tearful relief and hurried to the Hokage Building.
• Kusana told Kushina that Kusagakure would not abandon its ninja citizens and urged her to focus on recovering.
• Kusana joked that Kushina should watch Naruto and Obito because of the medical bills, then praised Naruto’s apparent study potential.
• Naruto enjoyed playing with the children and felt grateful for his welcoming life in Kusagakure.

After Danzo returned to Konoha, the temporary ceasefire ended and Konoha launched a renewed assault on Kusagakure. Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure also declared war on Kusagakure, leaving it to face four Great Ninja Villages while Kirigakure remained silent.

• Kushina stayed in Kusagakure to look after the children, while Konoha paid to bring Danzo home and both sides welcomed him with banners.
• Danzo crossed the border, dismissed the welcome display, and returned to Konoha after Kusana invited him to visit again.
• Kusana urged Nagato and the others to protect themselves, then left as the real war approached.
• Shikaku Nara warned Konoha's forces to rest, recognizing that Kusagakure supplied much of their equipment.
• The day after Danzo left, Konoha attacked Kusagakure, and Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure each declared war and demanded concessions.
• Kirigakure made no move, while Kusagakure once again faced four Great Ninja Villages.

Rasa prepared Sunagakure for war against Kusagakure, hoping to pressure Kusana into secretly executing Pakura. Kusana prepared to counter Sunagakure while the other villages’ attacks continued, and Danzo returned to Konoha to find Orochimaru’s experiment halted for lack of funds.

• Rasa learned that Ebizo and Chiyo opposed the timing of the war, but he planned to use Sunagakure’s invasion to force Kusagakure to execute Pakura.
• Kusana ordered Mujie to intensify efforts to recruit the Jōshūryū Clan, supply Scientific Ninja Tools, and pressure the Land of Wind’s Feudal Lord’s Mansion.
• Kusana told his allies to prepare for an attack on Sunagakure if necessary, while Kakuzu asked whether Kusagakure should halt its cooperation with the Five Great Ninja Villages.
• Danzo returned to Konoha and learned from Orochimaru that the experiment had stopped because its funding was spent on Danzo’s ransom.
• Orochimaru praised his Kusagakure-made thermos and warned Danzo that the war could cost him, but Danzo dismissed the thermos as useless.

Danzo investigated Kusagakure’s growing business presence, while Hiruzen Sarutobi and his advisers discussed Konoha’s wartime supply purchases from the village. They expected Kusagakure to focus its forces on Konoha, but an urgent report revealed that Kusagakure had attacked Sunagakure instead.

• Danzo grew wary of Kusagakure’s many businesses in the Land of Fire and ordered an investigation.
• Mitokado Homura told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Kusagakure was supplying Konoha with wartime necessities and Scientific Ninja Tools at low prices.
• Hiruzen and Utatane Koharu questioned Kusagakure’s motives but agreed to continue buying supplies while guarding against possible schemes.
• Hiruzen warned that Konoha should prepare for Kusagakure’s main forces to attack, believing Kusagakure could not hold out against the four great ninja villages.
• An Anbu ninja reported that Kusagakure’s main forces had attacked Sunagakure, surprising Hiruzen, Homura, and Koharu.

Rasa planned to pressure Kusagakure into meeting Sunagakure’s demands, but Kusagakure and Amegakure launched a surprise attack on Sunagakure instead. As Sunagakure’s forces retreated, Kusana anticipated that Rasa would face a major crisis.

• Rasa reviewed reports and waited for the war between Konoha and Kusagakure to reach a critical point before pressuring Kusagakure.
• Baki informed Rasa that Kusagakure had attacked Sunagakure, and Rasa ordered reinforcements to stop them.
• The other ninja villages watched in surprise as Kusagakure attacked Sunagakure instead of focusing only on Konoha.
• Kusagakure and Amegakure crossed the mountains into the Land of Wind and caught Sunagakure unprepared.
• Hanzo of the Salamander mocked Sunagakure’s retreat, while Kusana predicted that Rasa and Sunagakure would face serious trouble.

Rasa agreed to end Sunagakure’s war against Kusagakure after Chiyo and Ebizo warned that the village could not sustain the fighting and the Feudal Lord’s Mansion might challenge his position. As Chiyo led Sunagakure’s troops toward the Land of Fire border, she regretted that they had not let Rasa keep fighting, while the other villages were left confused by the rapidly shifting war.

• Rasa ordered reinforcements after learning that Kusagakure and the Rain Village had routed Sunagakure’s forces.
• Chiyo and Ebizo urged Rasa to accept a ceasefire, citing Sunagakure’s weakened forces and Kusagakure’s growing strength.
• Chiyo warned that the Feudal Lord’s Mansion might question Rasa’s qualifications as Kazekage, and Rasa agreed to end the war.
• Chiyo left with Ebizo to negotiate a ceasefire with Kusagakure.
• The other Three Great Ninja Villages attacked Kusagakure after its forces shifted to Sunagakure, but Sunagakure’s war with Kusagakure halted within two days.
• Chiyo led Sunagakure’s troops toward the Land of Fire border and wondered whether they should have let Rasa continue fighting.

Chiyo tried to negotiate a ceasefire between Sunagakure and Kusagakure, but the Grass Ninja Leader and Hanzo pressured her into accepting their terms. Sunagakure agreed to surround Konoha without attacking, leaving the Third Hokage furious when he learned of the change.

• Chiyo went to the front lines to seek a ceasefire with the Grass Ninja Leader and Hanzo of the Salamander.
• The Grass Ninja Leader rejected Chiyo’s terms and threatened to reveal that Pakura was alive, while Hanzo threatened the sand ninja nearby.
• Chiyo agreed to a ceasefire on the condition that Sunagakure troops would surround Konoha without attacking.
• Chiyo warned the sand ninja not to act rashly, then watched Konoha’s forces gather and anticipated the Third Hokage’s frustration.
• The Third Hokage received the report that Sunagakure had turned against Konoha and wanted to curse.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Konoha’s advisers debated how to contain the spreading war as Sunagakure joined the fighting and Kusagakure resisted Konoha’s forces. Kusagakure invited Konoha to settle matters in a tournament, while Kusana planned to pressure the villages into accepting.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi reviewed intelligence about Kusagakure’s formidable fighters, including Nagato Uzumaki, and worried that the war might draw Iwagakure and Kumogakure back in.
• Utatane Koharu urged a ceasefire and later renewed war, while Mitokado Homura suggested negotiating with Kusagakure to recover the Nine-Tails; Hiruzen said earlier negotiations had failed.
• An Anbu ninja delivered Kusagakure’s letter, which invited Konoha to the First Ninja Way Tournament of the Ninja World, with a 100 million registration fee and a best-two-out-of-three format.
• Hanzo of the Salamander questioned whether Konoha would accept Kusana’s invitation, and Kusana said Konoha had no choice.
• Kusana said that if necessary, Kusagakure would take Sunagakure to attack Iwagakure, and would keep fighting Sunagakure if it refused.

Ōnoki and Shikaku Nara learned that Konoha and Kusagakure had agreed to a ceasefire after Kusagakure proposed the First Ninja Way Tournament. Shikaku traveled to the Land of Grass to ask about the tournament, where Mujie mistook his visit for a job application.

• Ōnoki heard that Kusagakure had been courting the Jōshūryū Clan and worried about the village's war and recruitment plans.
• An Iwa ninja told Ōnoki that Konoha and Kusagakure had agreed to a ceasefire, and Ōnoki ordered the Iwa ninja at the front to withdraw.
• Shikaku Nara received orders from the Third Hokage to visit the Land of Grass border and inquire about the First Ninja Way Tournament.
• Shikaku reached the consultation desks and introduced himself to Mujie, who welcomed him as a prospective Kusagakure recruit.

Shikaku Nara negotiated with Mujie and Kakuzu about Konoha joining Kusagakure’s Ninja Way Tournament, but Kusagakure brushed aside most of Konoha’s conditions and demanded more money. Shikaku left to report the terms, realizing Kusagakure had anticipated Konoha’s position.

• Shikaku Nara argued with Mujie over the tournament’s fairness and one hundred million registration fee, while Mujie repeatedly threatened to summon the Grass Ninja.
• Shikaku proposed banning village leaders and Kage from competing, then listed further conditions, including excluding the Uzumaki Clan and holding the tournament in Konoha.
• Mujie joked that Konoha had refused, prompting Shikaku to deny it and leave to report Kusagakure’s demands.
• Shikaku noticed a second consultation desk and approached Kakuzu, Kusagakure’s Head of the Finance Department, to discuss the tournament.
• Kakuzu demanded fifty million when Shikaku raised the leaders’ participation, rejected excluding the Uzumaki Clan, and then told Shikaku to pay more.

Konoha and Kusagakure finalized the Ninja Way Tournament rules and signed a contract after Konoha paid additional fees. Kusana explained Kusagakure’s preparations to Hanzo, then Obito asked to compete so he could face Kakashi, but Kusana dismissed him for avoiding schoolwork.

• Konoha and Kusagakure barred their leaders, several clans, and designated ninja from the tournament, then signed the agreement after Konoha paid two hundred million in Tea Money.
• Hanzo questioned Kusana about Konoha’s likely competitors and why Might Guy had been specifically barred, and Kusana said Guy could be too dangerous if he powered up unexpectedly.
• Kusana reassured Hanzo that Kusagakure had backup options, including Nagato, Kakuzu, and Scorpion, if its planned competitors were not enough.
• Obito arrived and asked to compete, claiming he wanted to help Kusagakure and prove himself against Kakashi.
• Kusana praised Obito’s resolve, then accused him of wanting to skip class because he had too little homework.

Kusana and the other villages prepared the Ninja Way Tournament venue, and the long-awaited event began as ninja and civilians gathered. At the entrance, Shikaku’s Konoha delegation encountered Hanzo, Kusana, and the children before heading inside, while Kusana prepared to enter with Naruto and the others.

• Obito swore he would never give up and won permission to participate, provided Kakashi participated too.
• Kusagakure built the tournament venue near the Land of Fire border and finished it in time for the event.
• The major ninja villages and curious civilians arrived, while Hanzo and Kakuzu sold and checked tickets at the entrance.
• Shikaku led the Konoha delegation in and watched Hanzo cut their tickets with a massive blade.
• Kusana arrived with Naruto and Little Xiang, and Hanzo greeted the children before Shikaku hurried his wary delegation inside.
• Kusana checked the time and prepared to enter the venue with the children.

Shikaku Nara watched Kusagakure prepare a tournament spectacle while worrying that the event concealed a trap. Asuma Sarutobi made a plain entrance for Konoha, then Kusagakure’s dramatic introduction left him and the Konoha delegation stunned.

• Mujie offered Konoha music, glow sticks, and contestant introductions, but Shikaku Nara refused the extras and pocketed Mujie’s advertisement for professional fans.
• Mujie opened the First Ninja World Ninja Tournament, and Shikaku Nara sent Asuma Sarutobi to represent Konoha in the first match.
• Asuma entered the arena with little fanfare, while the Konoha spectators assumed Kusagakure’s short introduction was normal.
• Kusagakure turned off the lights, handed out glowing sticks, and had Mujie give its contestant an elaborate introduction over dramatic music.
• A young man in blazing armor entered while dragging a sparking sword, leaving Asuma stunned and Shikaku Nara cursing at the spectacle.

Yahiko made a flashy entrance against Asuma, backed by a long, embellished introduction that presented his sword and armor as divine treasures. The match began with Kusagakure’s biased commentary, and Shikaku decided the situation had to change.

• Kusana defended Yahiko’s showy entrance as Naruto and Obito praised the glowing sword, while the crowd overwhelmingly cheered for Kusagakure.
• Mujie introduced Yahiko with an embellished history, claiming the Uzumaki Clan had forged his sword, Fire’s Joy, and that it had formed his Flame Dragon Armor.
• Yahiko introduced himself and his equipment, then Asuma identified himself as a Konoha jōnin before the match began.
• Yahiko and Asuma attacked, while Mujie’s commentary favored Yahiko and described Asuma retreating from the sword’s flames.
• Shikaku judged that Kusagakure had undermined Asuma’s momentum and decided to intervene after spotting a familiar figure.

Yahiko overwhelmed Asuma with theatrical equipment, deceptive attacks, and a wildly biased commentator as their duel reached its climax. Meanwhile, Shikaku Nara entered the restroom and answered a mysterious voice.

• Yahiko’s grand entrance and the commentator’s favoritism left the Konoha audience furious and Kakashi reluctant to take the stage.
• Yahiko and Asuma fought while Yahiko’s armor and bizarre named techniques confused and exhausted Asuma.
• Yahiko announced an ultimate move, then used a Fire Dragon Bullet and hurled an explosive-tag-covered greatsword at Asuma.
• Shikaku Nara entered the restroom, where a calm voice greeted him, and he replied that he had come.

Yahiko defeated Asuma in the tournament’s first match, while the biased host turned the victory into an advertisement for Kusagakure’s Divine Artifacts. Kusana learned Kakashi would fight next, and Asuma urged him to prepare a grand introduction to counter the Grass Ninjas’ showmanship.

• Yahiko emerged from the settling dust as the victor over Asuma, and the crowd cheered for Kusagakure while Mujie promoted the Flame Dragon Ninja’s gear.
• Yahiko called for medical help for Asuma, then left the arena as reporters asked for his thoughts and he thanked Kusagakure’s Leader.
• Kusana led the group away to rest and prepare for a possible Konoha attack, while Kakuzu told him Kakashi would enter the next match.
• Kusana saw that Kakuzu had agreed to Konoha’s requests in exchange for a large payment and reacted with disbelief.
• Asuma woke and warned Kakashi about Kusagakure’s lack of ninja honor, then asked him to prepare an introduction that would show Konoha’s might.

After Kusagakure’s victory made Flame Dragon Armor wildly popular, Kusana encouraged Naruto and tried to make Obito prepare for his duel with Kakashi. Meanwhile, Scorpion learned that the factory had ordered emergency overtime to produce more merchandise.

• Kusana gave Naruto a toy Flame Dragon Armor and encouraged him to attend the academy and protect his new family in Kusagakure.
• Hanzō asked whether Obito was ready to face Kakashi, and Kusana defended Obito’s determination to win.
• Obito arrived with Rin after buying Flame Dragon Armor and Fire’s Joy, then used Kamui to escape when Kusana threatened him with more homework.
• Hanzō said Chiyo had congratulated Kusagakure and asked about her missing grandson, while Kusana predicted they would have to work overtime.
• At Factory Three, Scorpion tried to leave after finishing work, but a coworker told him an emergency order required overtime production of Flame Dragon Armor and Fire’s Joy.

Scorpion abandoned his escape plan after learning the factory was offering triple pay for overtime, while Kakashi prepared to represent Konoha in the second Ninja Way Tournament duel. Kakashi entered the arena to loud, embarrassing cheers and recognized Obito as his opponent.

• Scorpion planned to escape the factory during the tournament but stayed after learning about overtime pay, bonuses, and the Kusagakure ninja outside.
• Scorpion worried that the Grass Ninja Leader and Rain Ninja Leader were searching for him, then headed to the cafeteria and gave up on escaping that day.
• Shikaku Nara and Ebisu encouraged Kakashi before his duel, and Ebisu revealed Konoha had prepared speakers and a banner to cheer him on.
• Mujie introduced Kakashi as a Konoha hero, and Kakashi hurried into the arena after hearing his companions' amplified cheers.
• Kusagakure's contestant entered the arena, and Kakashi recognized him as Obito.