Recaps

Kusana expanded the Land of Grass into the East Blue, taking control of Goa and Cocoyasi while Madara and the Grass ninja dismantled the Arlong Pirates. The arc left Smoker and Sengoku confronting a newspaper account that portrayed the Land of Grass and the Navy as allies.

• Kusana ordered the Land of Grass to take over Goa, develop its forces, and seize East Blue shipping routes before the Navy could respond.
• Madara stopped Luffy from setting sail by breaking his legs, while the Land of Grass took charge of Goa and provided food, jobs, and aid to its people.
• Kusana sent fleets into the East Blue, and Madara redirected his expedition to confront the Arlong Pirates after White Zetsu reported their abuses in Cocoyasi Village.
• Madara defeated Arlong and captured his pirates, then reunited with Kusana in Cocoyasi, where Kusana began planning village development around shipping and Bell-mère’s orange jam.
• Kakuzu reported that Navy Branch 16 had protected the Arlong Pirates, and the Land of Grass clashed with Smoker’s Marines when they came to investigate.
• The Land of Grass rescued Smoker’s group and described its operation against the Arlong Pirates as lawful, while Smoker condemned the Grass ninja’s treatment of the Marines.
• Sengoku read a BBC Daily report portraying the Navy and the Land of Grass as partners against the Arlong Pirates, while Smoker angrily stared at a photo of himself shaking hands with Kusana.

Kusana drew Smoker into an operation that exposed Crocodile’s plot and strengthened ties between the Land of Grass and Alabasta. As the group departed, Madara fought Mihawk, who agreed to stay with the Land of Grass, while White Zetsu spotted a treasure-bearing woman at sea.

• Smoker prepared to leave the Land of Grass, but Kusana persuaded him to investigate pirates who had robbed a merchant convoy.
• Luffy set out from Foosha Village in a barrel, was rescued by Madara’s crew, and returned battered after Madara broke his legs.
• Kusana brought Smoker to Alabasta, where Smoker reluctantly joined an effort to expose Crocodile’s conspiracy against the kingdom.
• Kusana trapped Crocodile with Sea Style: Prison of the Sea and helped persuade the Rebel Army to lay down its weapons, while Smoker received credit for saving Alabasta.
• Vivi learned that the Land of Grass had helped end the crisis, restored King Cobra’s health, and established diplomatic ties with Alabasta.
• Danzo urged Hiruzen to fight the Land of Grass and revealed a secret weapon whose identity was left unstated.
• After Kusana’s group departed Alabasta, Madara fought Mihawk, summoned a colossal Susanoo, and left the swordsman unwilling to continue.
• Kusana offered Mihawk a place in the Land of Grass’s Talent Introduction program, and Mihawk agreed to stay for a while, and White Zetsu then spotted an orange-haired woman offering treasure to board.

Nami returned to Cocoyasi Village and found it transformed, while Kusana and Robin uncovered the Four Great Ninja Villages’ preparations for war. As the invasion faltered against Kusagakure’s defenses, Danzo revived Minato and Rasa, setting Naruto and Gaara against their fathers and Itachi against the allied forces.

• Nami returned to Cocoyasi Village, learned that Nojiko had helped rebuild it, and recognized Kusana as the king who had offered her a fresh start.
• Kusana and Robin investigated the shinobi world as Danzo and Orochimaru revived Hashirama and Tobirama to secure support for a war against the Land of Grass.
• Danzo gathered the Four Great Ninja Villages into an anti-Grass alliance, promising an army of White Zetsu and resurrected ninja.
• Robin reported the invasion plans to Kusana, and Kusagakure prepared as the allied forces released White Zetsu and later deployed their Impure World Reincarnation army.
• Kusagakure sealed many of the resurrected ninja, while White Zetsu disrupted the retreat and Danzo turned to Orochimaru for further reinforcements.
• Naruto, Sasuke, Gaara, Yahiko, Konan, and Madara arrived in Kusana, where Naruto received Kabuto’s letter for Orochimaru and later reunited with Minato.
• Minato took Naruto away from Gaara and Rasa’s clash, asked about Kushina, and heard Naruto explain that he had a family and friends in Kusagakure and did not want to return to Konoha.
• Minato challenged Naruto to show his strength, and Naruto unleashed the Sage Curse Mark and Nine-Tails’ power as two Giants of Light wielding Susanoo appeared and Danzo realized Itachi had acted alone.

The Land of Grass defeated the Four Great Ninja Villages’ alliance and brought the villages under its control. As the World Government and Navy turned against Kusana’s land, Kusana prepared to face the threat himself while Nagato, Obito, and Sasuke went to Mary Geoise.

• Sasuke defeated Itachi, while Gaara and Naruto each overcame their fathers, and the three battles ended with Itachi’s death and the alliance’s plan faltering.
• The Four Great Ninja Villages launched their final assault, but Hashirama and Tobirama left with Madara, weakening the allied forces as Kusana’s side prepared its trap.
• Kusana’s forces encircled the allied army with White Zetsu and Grass ninjas, and the Past Kage revealed that they had been controlled.
• Kusana defeated the Past Kage and negotiated the villages’ surrender, then brought them under preliminary Land of Grass control and negotiated an end to the Hyuga Clan’s main and branch family system.
• Mihawk told Shanks that Luffy was working at a construction site in the Land of Grass, while Vivi warned Kusana that the Navy might attack after her father went to seek a settlement with the World Government.
• After a Grass ninja reported that the Navy had launched a Buster Call, Kusana refused Pakura’s offer to leave on a mission and sent Nagato, Obito, and Sasuke to Mary Geoise.
• Sengoku questioned why a ship flying the Land of Grass flag had approached the Navy fleet alone, while Roswald demanded an attack and a king requested talks.