Recaps

Kusana rebuilt the Land of Grass, brought the Uzumaki and Chinoike clans under its protection, and drew Konoha’s censure with a film about the Uzumaki Clan’s destruction. The academy’s strange visitor continued to worry Kusana, who feared Yahiko’s investigation might uncover Madara.

• Kusana rejected joining the war, focused on rebuilding the Land of Grass, and recruited Mujie to negotiate with Konoha and the Land of Rain.
• Kusana secured grain through a book deal, then rescued Nagato, Konan, and Fusang from the violence in the Land of Rain and brought them to the Land of Grass.
• Kusana established the academy, welcomed the Uzumaki refugees, and worked with Yangzheng to make a film that could reach scattered clansmen.
• Kusana persuaded Oyakamon and the Chinoike Clan to leave Hell Valley and join the Land of Grass.
• Kusana defeated the masked assassins pursuing the Uzumaki Clan and welcomed both the Uzumaki and Chinoike clans to his country.
• Konoha condemned Kusagakure over the film, but Kusana dismissed the censure and assigned the clans roles in sealing and the new Guard Department.
• Yahiko told Kusana that the Akatsuki Organization was investigating a ghost student, and Kusana worried the children might discover Madara.

Kusana turned Kusagakure’s inventions and stories into sources of revenue while Jiraiya encountered its strict laws and growing community. As tensions rose, the Land of Grass prepared to stay neutral, and Mujie secured Iwagakure’s first purchase of its harvesters.

• Madara learned that the Grass Ninja Leader had taken in Uzumaki and Chinoike Clan members, while Jiraiya arrived in the Land of Grass searching for Teacher Ooki.
• Yahiko and Nagato followed Father Mujitsu and Jiraiya, and Oyakamon arrested Mujie after he was mistaken for a traitor.
• Jiraiya was imprisoned for interrupting spring plowing, then Kusana put him to work and persuaded him to appear in a film to help raise money for the Land of Grass.
• Kusana’s film and Kusa Kusa Blind Boxes became popular, though Tsunade smashed a theater after watching the movie and Mujie was arrested for pursuing a revealing figurine design.
• Jiraiya left the Land of Grass after asking Kusana to deliver a letter to Teacher Ooki, while Nagato’s essay inspired the people and Uzumaki Yangzheng completed a Chakra Capacitor and a powered harvester.
• After Hatake Sakumo’s suicide, Kusana ordered the Land of Grass to prepare for war while remaining neutral, and Kitsuchi brought an Iwagakure delegation to seek an alliance.
• Kusana secretly tasked Mujie with recruiting the Jōshūryū Clan, while Mujie rejected Iwagakure’s request for a wartime alliance and instead sold it harvesters.
• Uzumaki Yangzheng told Kusana that equipment could be mass-produced and the patented Sealing Jutsu was complete, and Kusana realized Mujie had made his first sale.

Kusana expanded Kusagakure through recruitment, industry, and education while Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan became entangled in the Land of Rain’s struggle. As the great villages went to war, Kusagakure prepared to defend itself but refused Konoha’s request for troops, and Iwagakure reached the Land of Fire border.

• Kusana approved factory construction and research, delayed Iwagakure’s harvester order, and had Mujie guide Kitsuchi’s delegation around Kannabi Bridge.
• After finding the new factory empty of workers, Kusana led a recruitment drive in the Land of Rain, where Kawaisuke accepted a job and brought his family to Kusagakure with thousands of other laborers.
• Kusana’s students escaped Rain ninja, but Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan stayed behind to oppose Hanzo before Mujie brought them and several others back to Kusagakure.
• Kusana launched a ninja Literacy Campaign, and Kawaisuke learned that Ryukako could attend school through his work record and an Excellent Employee recommendation.
• Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan returned to school under Kusana’s orders, while White Zetsu reported to Madara that Kusana had kept the children from fighting.
• Kusana celebrated the workers’ first wages and named Kawaisuke an Excellent Employee as his family settled into their new life.
• After Sunagakure’s Third Kazekage disappeared, Kusana declared war was coming, and Kusagakure mobilized its food, security, production, and medical preparations.
• When Konoha requested help against Sunagakure, Mujie refused, and Hiruzen Sarutobi learned that Iwagakure had already reached the Land of Fire border.

Kusana turned Kusagakure’s neutrality into a campaign of trade, factory work, and recruitment in the Land of Rain, even as the village clashed with Amegakure. The wider war shifted after Kannabi Bridge was destroyed, while Obito woke beneath the earth and found himself under Madara’s care.

• Iwagakure sought to enlist Mujie, but Kusana had him explain Kusagakure’s position to Konoha and later sent an apology blaming him for the earlier intelligence dispute.
• Spiral White Zetsu secretly filmed Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan’s graduation, while Kusana proclaimed the Spirit of Grass and invited Nagato to speak as the Outstanding Graduate.
• Kusana sold Kusagakure’s Ninja Vests to Sunagakure, then negotiated discounted purchases with other villages as Uzumaki Yangzheng urged him to choose alliances based on the village’s interests.
• Kusana took Kusagakure to war with the Land of Rain but rejected a direct assault, instead arranging aid and factory construction while recruiting Rain ninja for paid work.
• Hanzo fought Kusana, then discovered that many of his own ninja had taken jobs with Kusagakure, and he later agreed not to interfere with Kusagakure’s recruitment in the Land of Rain.
• After learning of the Third Raikage’s death and other major battles, Kusana ordered production and village defenses strengthened, while Konoha offered Kusagakure help against Amegakure in return for support against Iwagakure.
• Kusana postponed sending troops to aid Konoha, and Kakuzu arrived to inspect the factory as Kusagakure prepared to begin the Grass-Rain War with hundreds of Rain ninja.
• Mujie told Kusana that Kannabi Bridge had been destroyed by Minato Namikaze’s team, while Obito woke underground with half his body white and one arm missing and Madara told him to attend class.