Recaps

Kusagakure’s conflict with Konoha and the other great villages escalated into war, then Kusana arranged a tournament that brought the villages together under a costly truce. The tournament began with Yahiko defeating Asuma, and Kakashi faced Obito in the next match.

• Naruto learned Kushina was his mother and spent time with his new family in Kusagakure while Danzo remained captive.
• Kusagakure used Danzo as a border hostage, then released him for payment as Konoha prepared for war.
• Konoha attacked Kusagakure, and Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure also declared war, but Kusagakure and Amegakure struck Sunagakure and forced a ceasefire.
• Kusana invited Konoha to the First Ninja World Tournament, and Shikaku negotiated the rules and paid two hundred million in Tea Money.
• Kusagakure and Konoha barred selected leaders and ninja from competing, then Obito secured a place by agreeing that Kakashi would participate too.
• Kusagakure opened the tournament with Yahiko’s dramatic entrance, and Yahiko defeated Asuma as the crowd cheered.
• Scorpion stayed at the factory to earn overtime pay while Kusagakure produced more tournament gear.
• Mujie introduced Kakashi, whose companions cheered him on, and Kakashi recognized Obito as his opponent.

Obito defeated Kakashi, while Kusagakure expanded its influence through surveillance and the BBC Daily. After the Uchiha Clan rebelled and fled Konoha, Kusana brought them and Danzo to Kusagakure, leaving Hiruzen to face the fallout and a damaging newspaper headline.

• Obito defeated Kakashi in the tournament, and Kusagakure claimed victory as Konoha’s delegation returned home.
• Kusana expanded Kusagakure’s surveillance and newspaper operations, while Mujie reported that Konoha was targeting the Uchiha Clan’s wealth.
• Fugaku expelled Itachi after their dispute over the clan’s assets, then arrested Danzo as tensions between Konoha and the Uchiha escalated.
• Fugaku asked Kusana to take in the Uchiha Clan, and Obito accepted leadership and used Kamui to help arrange their escape.
• Konoha forces clashed with the Uchiha as Phoenix and Wolong appeared, while Fugaku fought Shisui and Kusagakure took Danzo and Konoha’s valuables.
• Kusana brought Danzo and the Uchiha Clan to Kusagakure, where Kushina reunited with Mikoto and Sasuke.
• Hiruzen ordered Konoha to condemn Kusagakure and recover Shisui’s Mangekyo, then collapsed after reading the BBC Daily’s headline about Konoha.

Kusagakure welcomed the Uchiha and Jiraiya as Konoha’s standing worsened, while Naruto and Sasuke began school and Mikoto joined Kusana’s staff. The Fourth Kazekage’s death and the Land of Wind’s accusation against Sunagakure drew Danzo into the crisis as Kusana urged Pakura to become Fifth Kazekage.

• Ōnoki and other villages reacted with alarm to the BBC Daily’s reports about Konoha’s vanished clans, while Chiyo and Ebizo decided Sunagakure should end its cooperation with Konoha.
• Kushina welcomed Mikoto and Sasuke to Kusagakure, where Sasuke asked Kusana to train him so he could settle the score with Itachi and destroy Konoha.
• Jiraiya arrived in Kusagakure, where Kusana kept him under guard and Kushina confronted him over Naruto’s mistreatment in Konoha.
• Obito declared that the Uchiha Clan had severed its ties with Konoha, and Hiruzen later said Konoha would break ties with Kusagakure after recovering.
• Jiraiya refused to return to Konoha, while Danzo returned home and saw Hiruzen reject his recovery plan before he vowed to restore the village himself.
• Kusana agreed to train Sasuke, offered Mikoto a job as his assistant, and saw Naruto, Sasuke, and Jugō begin at the academy.
• After the Fourth Kazekage died, Chiyo investigated the circumstances and Pakura refused her offer to become Fifth Kazekage, citing her debt and the Kazekage position’s supposed curse.
• The Land of Wind’s Feudal Lord accused Sunagakure of plotting his assassination and demanded its disbandment, while Danzo traveled there seeking resources and found Chiyo waiting beneath a banner welcoming Kusagakure’s friends.

Kusana helped Sunagakure survive its dissolution by bringing its people into the Land of Grass, while Danzo’s schemes left Konoha facing debts and political fallout. The rebuilt village began operating independently under the Land of Grass as Gaara joined the academy and tensions spread through the Land of Wind.

• Chiyo dissolved Sunagakure and entrusted its symbol-bearing scroll to Kusana, while Danzo’s alliance attacked and demanded that the village obey its orders.
• Kusana and Chiyo secured funds from the Ninja Alliance, but Danzo fled with its money and Kusana later sent him back into the desert as the allied forces closed in.
• The other great villages demanded repayment from Konoha, while Kusana helped the Sand ninja rebuild Sunagakure in the Land of Wind and secured land for them there.
• Kusana returned to Kusagakure with Pakura and Gaara, and Gaara joined Naruto and Sasuke’s academy class, where Black Zetsu provoked them into a fight.
• Daibutsu’s Infrastructure Team presented plans for the rebuilt Sunagakure, and Chiyo and the Sand ninja prepared for its reconstruction.
• Naruto and Sasuke lost their fight with Black Zetsu, then received gifts from Kusana and Naruto resolved to save Gaara after learning about his past.
• The New Sand Village began accepting missions as an independent village under the Land of Grass, while unrest spread through the Land of Wind and Kusana found Danzo publishing Root Daily.