Recaps

Yahiko sacrificed himself to hold Hanzo back, allowing Nagato, Konan, and Uchiha Mai to escape. Uchiha Mai promised to bring help and kill Hanzo within ten days, then led Nagato and Konan south for an unexplained reason.

• Yahiko, fatally poisoned by Hanzo’s scythe, held Hanzo back while Uchiha Mai carried Konan away and Nagato fled.
• Hanzo killed Yahiko, ordered his forces to pursue Nagato and Konan, and carried Yahiko’s body back to Amegakure.
• After reaching a secluded cave, Nagato asked Uchiha Mai how soon they could kill Hanzo, and Uchiha Mai promised to bring help within ten days.
• Nagato and Konan agreed to support Uchiha Mai, who took temporary command of the group.
• Uchiha Mai led Nagato and Konan south instead of toward Konoha, prompting Nagato to ask where they were going.

Uchiha Mai took Nagato and Konan to the Underground Exchange and placed a bounty on Sasori of the Red Sands, offering his help in killing two non-Konoha targets as a reward. He explained that Sasori could counter Hanzo’s greatest weapon, Ibuse, leaving the group confident in their plan to kill Hanzo.

• Uchiha Mai said they could not rely on Konoha for reinforcements and continued traveling with Nagato and Konan.
• The three reached a town in the Land of Rivers and entered the Underground Exchange through a casino.
• Uchiha Mai posted a ten-million-ryo bounty for Sasori of the Red Sands and promised to help the successful hunter kill two non-Konoha people.
• Nagato questioned why Uchiha Mai believed Sasori could help them defeat Hanzo.
• Uchiha Mai explained that Sasori’s puppet and poison skills could reproduce Chiyo’s past success in neutralizing Ibuse’s venom and weakness.

Sasori tracked down Uchiha Mai after Mai placed a bounty on him, and the two began fighting while Nagato and Konan watched. Mai easily dodged Hiruko’s attacks and knocked the puppet away, but Sasori countered with a barrage of poisoned needles.

• Sasori arrived at Uchiha Mai’s residence after following the clues Mai had left and threw down the heads of the bounty hunters who had pursued him.
• Mai introduced Sasori to Nagato and Konan, then traded taunts with Sasori over their past enmity and their respective strength.
• Sasori released Hiruko and sent it to attack Mai with a series of poisoned blade strikes.
• Mai dodged Hiruko’s attacks, caught its blade between two fingers, and elbowed the puppet away.
• Sasori regained control of Hiruko and unleashed Needle Eight Waves, prompting Mai to draw his blade and slash at the incoming poisoned needles.

Uchiha Mai defeated Sasori of the Red Sands in a test fight, then sought his help killing Amegakure's leader, Ibuse Hanzo. Sasori was tempted by the offer of Hanzo's corpse, which could give him a powerful Human Puppet and a chance to revive the glory of puppeteers.

• Uchiha Mai used the Hatake Sword Technique to exploit Sasori of the Red Sands' hatred of Hatake Sakumo, then severed Hiruko's steel scorpion tail.
• Sasori of the Red Sands acknowledged Uchiha Mai's strength and asked why he had arranged a bounty on him.
• Uchiha Mai asked Sasori of the Red Sands to help kill Ibuse Hanzo and offered him Hanzo's corpse.
• Sasori of the Red Sands rejected the offer as unfair, so Uchiha Mai explained that Sasori needed a powerful Human Puppet to take revenge on Hatake Sakumo.
• Sasori of the Red Sands recalled his parents' deaths and considered joining forces with Uchiha Mai to kill Hanzo.

Uchiha Mai introduced Nagato and Konan to Sasori, who joined their plan to kill Hanzo after seeing Nagato’s power. The four planned to infiltrate Amegakure, with Sasori preparing an antidote to Hanzo’s poison and Mai intending to grow stronger by killing the village’s ninja.

• Uchiha Mai introduced Nagato and Konan to Sasori and described Nagato’s Rinnegan and their training under Jiraiya.
• Sasori attacked Nagato, who repelled his Chakra Threads with Shinra Tensei and convinced Sasori of his strength.
• Sasori agreed to join the hunt for Hanzo, despite fearing Uchiha Mai might betray him afterward.
• Uchiha Mai gave Sasori poisoned blood to use in developing an antidote to Hanzo’s poison.
• Nagato raised the problem of Hanzo’s Amegakure subordinates, and Uchiha Mai and Sasori agreed to storm the village and kill them.
• Uchiha Mai revealed that killing many people quickly would strengthen him and fuel a powerful lightning strike against Hanzo.

Uchiha Mai and his companions launched a night attack on Amegakure after taking Sasori of the Red Sands' antidote. Mai activated Blood Prison Massacre and slaughtered the village's defenders, replenishing his strength as the battle spread.

• Sasori of the Red Sands gave Uchiha Mai, Nagato, and Konan antidotes that would protect them from Ibuse's poison for at least six hours.
• The four reached Amegakure at night, and Uchiha Mai activated Blood Prison Massacre, draining his own life force to form a Blood-Energy Blade.
• Uchiha Mai killed the guards at the village entrance, and his blade absorbed their life force to restore him.
• Rain ninja poured into the streets after the guards raised the alarm, and Uchiha Mai charged into the crowd, cutting down his opponents and using the absorbed life force to boost his chakra and strength.
• Nagato realized why Uchiha Mai was feared by enemy villages as Mai continued his rampage through Amegakure.

Sasori, Nagato, Konan, and Uchiha Mai slaughtered more than a hundred Amegakure shinobi before Hanzo arrived. Uchiha Mai confronted Hanzo with a declaration of revenge, and Hanzo vowed to kill him despite Konoha's support.

• Sasori released more than a hundred puppets and used the Performance of a Hundred Puppets to overwhelm Amegakure's forces.
• Nagato and Konan joined Uchiha Mai and Sasori, and the four killed more than a hundred Amegakure shinobi in under a minute.
• Hanzo rushed from his residence, ordered his remaining shinobi to retreat, and recognized Uchiha Mai as the one behind the attack.
• Sasori stopped Nagato from addressing Hanzo and said Uchiha Mai was the professional at making grand declarations.
• Uchiha Mai told Hanzo, "I returned from hell," and Hanzo vowed to kill him for the deaths of his shinobi.

Uchiha Mai, Nagato, Konan, and Sasori fought Hanzo in Amegakure after learning that Yahiko had been buried behind the mountain. Their rotating strategy gave them the upper hand, but both sides still believed they had an advantage and held back from taking desperate risks.

• Uchiha Mai accused Hanzo of breaking his word, and Nagato asked where Hanzo had put Yahiko's body.
• Hanzo said Yahiko had been buried behind the mountain, reassuring Nagato and Konan that his body had been laid to rest.
• Uchiha Mai launched the fight with a sword strike, while Sasori sent puppets, Konan attacked with paper spears, and Nagato fired machine guns at Hanzo.
• Hanzo blocked the attacks, and Uchiha Mai countered with Dragon Star Style: Gluttony before Nagato took his place in the rotation.
• The four fought Hanzo for over half an hour across Amegakure, with Uchiha Mai's side gaining the upper hand while both sides avoided reckless attacks.

Uchiha Mai and his allies fought Hanzo, whose Ibuse poison failed against Sasori’s antidote. Mai overwhelmed Hanzo with a nine-strike sword combination, then used Nagato’s life force to recover after exhausting his chakra.

• Hanzo summoned Ibuse and released poison, but Nagato, Konan, and their allies remained unaffected by Sasori’s antidote.
• Uchiha Mai attacked Hanzo with Dragon Star Style: Phantom Sword Dance, using Innate Time Control to unleash eight rapid strikes that wounded him badly.
• Mai launched Deathfire: Thousand Wings, but Hanzo’s Hard Vortex Water Blade overcame the attack and sent Mai flying after he blocked it.
• Sasori attacked Hanzo with his puppets while Nagato supported him from a distance.
• Mai drew life force from Nagato with Deathfire, healing his wounds and replenishing his chakra.

Sasori revealed that he had neutralized Hanzo’s poison, but Hanzo overwhelmed him in close combat before Sasori unleashed a powerful fire technique. Nagato rescued Sasori and took over the fight, confronting Hanzo over Yahiko’s death and his rule of the Land of Rain.

• Sasori told Hanzo that he had neutralized Ibuse’s poison and the poison on Hanzo’s sickle, then vowed to turn him into a puppet.
• Hanzo trapped Sasori’s weapon with his chain and battered him, breaking his blades and sending him crashing to the ground.
• Sasori rose again and used Blazing Prison Formation, but Hanzo’s Breaking Torrent overwhelmed the flames and hurled Sasori away.
• Nagato caught Sasori with Banshō Ten'in, set him down behind him, and summoned creatures to attack Danzo.
• Nagato confronted Hanzo over Yahiko’s death and the suffering of the Land of Rain, but Hanzo rejected his right to judge him.

Nagato and Konan fought Hanzo while Uchiha Mai and Sasori of the Red Sands supported them and waited for an opening. When Nagato restrained Hanzo, Uchiha Mai unleashed Ura 108 Shiki: Ya Sakazuki to bind him as well.

• Hanzo launched a massive Water Dragon Bullet at Nagato, who used Shinra Tensei to hold it back before pulling Hanzo and Ibuse toward him with Banshō Ten'in.
• Konan attacked Hanzo with explosive paper cranes, leaving him badly scorched and battered.
• Nagato and Konan continued fighting Hanzo while Uchiha Mai and Sasori of the Red Sands harried him and prepared their strongest attacks.
• Nagato caught Hanzo in another Banshō Ten'in, and Uchiha Mai used Ura 108 Shiki: Ya Sakazuki to send a wave of compressed purple flames surging toward Hanzo's feet.

Uchiha Mai trapped Hanzo and Ibuse in Blood Prison Massacre, but Ibuse swallowed Hanzo before dying. Hanzo emerged badly burned and weakened, and Uchiha Mai insisted on facing him alone.

• Uchiha Mai warned his allies away, then unleashed Blood Prison Massacre on Hanzo and Ibuse.
• Ibuse swallowed Hanzo to shield him from the flames, then died as the attack consumed its life force.
• Uchiha Mai and Nagato found Ibuse's corpse, and Uchiha Mai deduced Hanzo was inside it.
• Hanzo cut his way out of Ibuse's body and attacked Uchiha Mai, who parried his scythe and kicked him away.
• Uchiha Mai barred Nagato and the others from intervening, claiming he had recovered enough to fight Hanzo alone.

Uchiha Mai fought Hanzo alone and killed him with his forbidden Eight Maidens technique and Deathfire. Absorbing Hanzo’s spiritual energy evolved both of Mai’s Two-Tomoe Sharingan into unusually powerful Three-Tomoe eyes, which stopped just short of Mangekyo Sharingan.

• Uchiha Mai persuaded Sasori of the Red Sands, Nagato, and Konan to let him fight Hanzo alone.
• Hanzo attacked Uchiha Mai with his sickle and chain, but Mai blocked his strikes and continued fighting after Hanzo disarmed him.
• Uchiha Mai overwhelmed Hanzo with taijutsu and finished him with Forbidden 1210th Style: Eight Maidens.
• Uchiha Mai engulfed Hanzo in Deathfire, which absorbed his life force and resentment-filled spiritual energy.
• The absorbed energy evolved both of Uchiha Mai’s Sharingan to Three Tomoe, but they did not awaken Mangekyo Sharingan.

After defeating Hanzo, Uchiha Mai and Sasori fought over the corpses of Hanzo and Ibuse, and Nagato and Konan sided with Mai. Mai remained in Amegakure to absorb the rewards from the operation, while considering how Sarutobi Hiruzen might react to his decision to act without orders.

• Sasori attacked Uchiha Mai and tried to seize Ibuse's corpse, but Mai protected it and Sasori retreated with Hanzo's corpse.
• Sasori accused Mai of bad faith and demanded Ibuse's corpse, while Mai insisted their agreement covered only Hanzo.
• Sasori urged Nagato to help him attack Mai, but Nagato and Konan joined Mai instead.
• Sasori left with Hanzo's corpse after failing to obtain Ibuse's or Nagato's support.
• Uchiha Mai stayed in Amegakure with Nagato and Konan to process his gains and consider the risks of acting without Sarutobi Hiruzen's orders.

Uchiha Mai drew and fused the Mystic Eyes of Distortion with his Three-Tomoe Sharingan, gaining a powerful ability to twist matter within his field of vision. His eyes changed to an amethyst color, while he hoped the ability could strengthen his standing in Konoha and wondered whether it might later awaken Spirit Vision.

• Nagato struggled to secure Amegakure's loyalty, while Uchiha Mai chose to avoid getting involved and focus on becoming stronger.
• Uchiha Mai spent 5,000 style points on a two-star draw and received the Mystic Eyes of Distortion.
• Uchiha Mai learned that the eyes could directly distort matter, with their power determined by his field of vision and their use consuming eye power and chakra.
• Uchiha Mai considered how Spirit Vision might let him see through physical substances and offset the drawbacks of a future Mangekyo Sharingan.
• Uchiha Mai fused the Mystic Eyes of Distortion with his Sharingan, changing both eyes to shades of amethyst.

Uchiha Mai tested his newly awakened Mystic Eyes of Distortion and discovered that their Spirit Vision could see through objects at great distances. He used the eyes to destroy a distant mountain, alerting everyone in Amegakure.

• Uchiha Mai activated Spirit Vision and found that it could see through objects across hundreds of meters while consuming little energy.
• Uchiha Mai spotted Black Zetsu hiding underground, and Black Zetsu sensed that something had noticed him and withdrew to report to Lord Madara.
• Uchiha Mai focused his Mystic Eyes of Distortion on a small mountain and used “Distort!” to pulverize part of it and make it collapse.
• Uchiha Mai checked his remaining eye power and found that the attack had used less than thirty percent, while the explosion alarmed everyone in Amegakure.

Tsunade demanded that Sarutobi Hiruzen send her to the Iwagakure front so she could reach Amegakure and retaliate against Hanzo for ambushing Uchiha Mai. Hiruzen agreed to wait for clearer intelligence, then ordered a stronger response if Mai was seriously injured or confirmed dead.

• Tsunade smashed into Sarutobi Hiruzen's office and demanded deployment to the Iwagakure front.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen realized Tsunade wanted to attack Amegakure over Uchiha Mai's disappearance after Hanzo ambushed Akatsuki.
• Hiruzen explained that Hanzo had targeted Akatsuki's leaders and that Mai's fate was still unknown, while arguing against opening another front.
• Tsunade rebuked Hiruzen for risking Konoha's morale and reputation by failing to respond forcefully to Hanzo.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen decided to await definite intelligence and send an expert to Amegakure if Mai was not seriously harmed.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered Hatake Sakumo to lead an army against Amegakure and capture Hanzo if Mai was confirmed dead.

Tsunade and Sarutobi Hiruzen learned that Uchiha Mai had helped kill Hanzo in an assault on Amegakure, leaving Hiruzen impressed but wary of Mai’s growing independence. Kakashi read the report and was shocked by Mai’s achievement, while wondering whether he could ever catch up.

• Kakashi brought a battle report from the Iwagakure front, and Tsunade grabbed it to read about Mai.
• Tsunade learned that Mai was safe and celebrated Hanzo’s death before handing the report to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen read Orochimaru’s account of Mai, Nagato, Konan, and Sasori attacking Amegakure and killing Hanzo, then resolved to discipline Mai for acting independently.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen gave the report to Kakashi, who was shocked that Mai had helped plan and carry out Hanzo’s assassination.
• Kakashi felt powerless and wondered whether he could catch up to Mai.

News that Uchiha Mai had led a team to kill Hanzo spread through the Ninja World, delighting the Uchiha Clan and provoking jealousy from the Hyuuga Clan. The announcement reached Konoha's front lines, where the soldiers erupted in surprise.

• The Ninja World learned that eleven-year-old Uchiha Mai had led people into Amegakure and killed Hanzo, shocking ninja who remembered his strength.
• Uchiha Fugaku celebrated Mai's achievement and saw him as the best candidate to lead the Uchiha Clan in the future.
• The Uchiha Clan hailed Mai alongside Madara and Izuna as one of its Three Uchiha Heroes, while the Hyuuga Clan bitterly compared its lack of talent with the Uchiha's.
• After Sarutobi Hiruzen approved the news, it reached Konoha's front lines, where the soldiers erupted in disbelief that Hanzo had been killed.

The Third Raikage discussed Hanzo’s death with Killer B and explained how Uchiha Mai’s team had defeated him by exploiting their combined abilities. Killer B dismissed Mai as lucky and vowed to surpass him in strength and artistic talent.

• After Konoha’s morale rose, Prince A sent Killer B to Kumogakure to request reinforcements.
• The Third Raikage read reports that Uchiha Mai and three companions had killed Hanzo in Amegakure and cursed Hanzo for strengthening Konoha’s morale.
• Killer B bragged that he and Yugito Nii could have killed Hanzo, but the Third Raikage warned him not to underestimate Hanzo’s strength and poison.
• The Third Raikage explained that Mai’s team had defeated Hanzo by combining Sasori’s knowledge of poison with Jiraiya’s disciples’ abilities.
• Killer B declared that he would defeat Mai in strength and artistic accomplishment after hearing about Mai’s dance and song reputation.

Uchiha Mai returned to the Konoha war zone, but Orochimaru told him that Sarutobi Hiruzen had ordered him back to the village. As Mai left, Orochimaru attacked him to test his abilities, and Mai countered with an imitation of Orochimaru’s technique.

• Uchiha Mai returned from Amegakure to the Konoha war zone and went to Orochimaru to resume his duties.
• Orochimaru told Mai that Sarutobi Hiruzen had removed him as deputy commander and wanted him back in the village within a few days.
• Mai accepted the Hokage’s order, while Orochimaru suspected his strength had grown enough to rival a village Kage.
• As Mai left Orochimaru’s tent, Orochimaru attacked him with Hidden Shadow Snake Hand.
• Mai used Super Beast Imitating Drawing to counter with an imitation of Hidden Shadow Snake Hand, and the snakes destroyed one another.
• Orochimaru recognized how Mai had copied the technique, and Mai said a counterfeit did not have to be inferior to the genuine article.

Orochimaru confronted Uchiha Mai about his mutated purple Sharingan, which Mai called the Consciousness Only Sharingan. When Orochimaru attacked to test their power, Mai used No Ignorance on him, leaving the effect of the technique unresolved.

• Orochimaru recognized that Uchiha Mai's purple eyes had changed far beyond ordinary Sharingan and suspected they might be Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Uchiha Mai claimed that a reaction between his Deathfire and another secret technique had created the Consciousness Only Sharingan.
• Orochimaru inferred that Mai's calmness meant he had a powerful ability to rely on, then summoned two giant snakes and attacked with a Kusanagi Sword.
• Uchiha Mai cut down the snakes and met Orochimaru's charge outside the tent as the Konoha ninjas cleared the area.
• Uchiha Mai pointed at Orochimaru and activated Consciousness Only: No Ignorance.

Uchiha Mai used Consciousness-Only: Even No Ignorance Ends to disrupt Orochimaru’s heart and brain, giving him an opening to wound him. Orochimaru withdrew, wary of Mai’s unusual abilities and coveting his eyes, while Mai chose not to pursue a fight to the death.

• Uchiha Mai accelerated time around Orochimaru’s heart, and the resulting disruption and corrective force forced Orochimaru to halt his attack.
• Orochimaru endured the pain and exchanged several sword blows with Uchiha Mai, gaining a slight advantage.
• Uchiha Mai slowed time around Orochimaru’s brain, disrupting his reactions until the barrier shattered and the corrective force left him dizzy.
• Uchiha Mai slashed Orochimaru’s abdomen with Dragon Star Style: Gluttony, and Orochimaru retreated using the Body Flicker Technique.
• Orochimaru deduced that Uchiha Mai’s eyes had developed a powerful ability and coveted them, while Mai offered to show him more but avoided escalating the fight.

Orochimaru made peace with Uchiha Mai after testing his strength and proposed they hunt the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, Roshi, before Mai returned to Konoha. Mai agreed to stay for five days, and Orochimaru planned to use him as bait to draw Roshi out.

• Orochimaru claimed his attack on Uchiha Mai had been a test for a dangerous plan, and the two eased the tension by laughing together.
• Orochimaru warned Mai that Sarutobi Hiruzen might reprimand him for disobeying orders over Hanzo, but Mai said he was no longer afraid of the Naruto.
• Orochimaru proposed that he and Mai hunt Roshi to earn Mai another merit before he returned to Konoha.
• Mai agreed to remain in the war zone for no more than five days.
• Orochimaru planned to use Mai as bait because Roshi had repeatedly tried to kill him and usually brought only a few Jonin.

Uchiha Mai returned to his war zone and, with Orochimaru’s authorization, took command and prepared to strike back at a troublesome Iwagakure unit. Two days later, a tall, fair-skinned female ninja arrived, and Mai led his assembled forces toward the enemy camp.

• Uchiha Mai agreed to Orochimaru’s plan, and the two prepared to make Roshi believe they were operating in separate war zones.
• Uchiha Mai returned to his war zone, where Yamato reported that Iwagakure’s repeated attacks had pushed Konoha’s forces back toward the Land of Fire.
• Yamato identified an Iwagakure unit of more than three hundred fighters, led by Sato Gojugo, Ueno Tsuru, and Ito Masayoshi, as the most troublesome enemy force.
• Uchiha Mai ordered nearby troops assembled so they could wipe out the Iwagakure unit within three days and avenge two fallen Uchiha Jonin.
• Konoha’s forces assembled two hundred fighters, and two days later Uchiha Mai led them toward the Rock Shinobi encampment after a tall, fair-skinned female ninja arrived.